Sam's Skate Store

I started skateboarding about a month ago. I'm really tall, and I have big feet, so a board with a wide deck is the easiest for me to use. A narrow deck feels too cramped. Learning to skate with big feet is a real challenge!

Mostly, I practice around home. I can't do any tricks yet, but I really want to learn to grind. I spend hours skating up and down the driveway, working on my balance and learning to turn. Soon, I hope to start riding on the sidewalk.


	Lately, I've been skating at the skate park, learning new tricks and using the ramps. I started skating a couple of years ago, and my skateboard was really old, but I got a new board for my birthday. It's really cool. It has a narrow deck, which is light and easy to get off the ground. The trucks are also lighter than the ones on my old board. My ollies have really improved, and I can jump much higher. I have more control on my new board.

So you're building your own skateboard? Before you begin, there are some things you need to think about. Are you a street boarder, or do you spend most of your time practicing tricks at a skate park? Have you been skating for a long time, or are you just starting out? Click on Krystal and Leon to find out more about skating.


		Narrow deck	– good for tricks such as flips and ollies – small size is easy to handle – best for skaters who have small feet
		Wide deck	– good for turning and using on ramps – gives more control
		Extra-long deck	– good for riding on the sidewalk
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		Small wheels	– best for tricks such as flips and ollies – give more control because the rider is lower to the ground
		Big wheels	– best for cruising and high speed – give a smoother ride
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	Riser	– used to keep big wheels from rubbing on the deck (wheel bite)
No riser
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		Light trucks	– make the board lighter – give more height to flips and ollies
		Heavy trucks	– last longer (don't break easily) – good for landing after jumps
		Extra-wide trucks	– needed if you have a wide deck
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