What kind of skateboard should a newbie get?

[ross097]

I've just gotten into skateboarding but i don't know where to start. For example, i'm not sure what type of skateboard to start with. I'd like to know if I should get an expensive one or start with cheap ones, or buy an ok second-hand board off my friend? i'm also not too sure about the brands, and which ones produce the best quality boards etc. So if someone can maybe tell me what type of skateboard and what brand(s) i should get/aim for, i'd be very grateful! thanks

 

[Jack A]

Your best bet would be to get your friends second hand board. I've found a lot of people start skating, buy an expensive setup and then within 2 weeks realise its not for them. My general rule of thumb is skate it untill its unskatable, ie untill the board snaps. If your friends board does not come with trucks/wheels, don't look too much into expensive trucks, your mostly paying for build quality and brandname, and as a beginner the build quality is sort of obsolete anyway. Same with wheels, theres not much point investing in expensive wheels. Just get a cheap-ish pair and try them out, if they feel to soft, get harder ones.

As for brands, I've always been fond of enjoi. Their boards are thinner (7.25" or something) and light with good pop. Element boards are the opposite, quite heavy and a bit wider. Thats just personal experience anyway.

Truck brands... meh they're all the same anyway. Street skating doesn't require a huge selection of trucks, and one pair should last you 4-5 boards anyway.

Bearings... Get bonez reds. No questions asked. They are by far the best skateboard bearings on the marker, in terms of price to quality. Super quick, roll for ages, all round good.

Skating isn't about brand names or labels, its about expression and having a good time. Worry about landing tricks and other things instead

 

[kid_of_the_k-hole]

When I started skating I went into my local shop and bought their generic board, a cheap pair of lightly used royal trucks, generic wheels and Bonez Reds. I would recommend going this route to anyone. Ive had Zeros and Darkstars and Elements and many more but i always find myself coming back to my good ol generic. when you pay top dollar for brand name stuff, youre paying for the brand name, the fancy graphics and the country of origin. If you buy swiss bearings, theyre mainly expensive because theyre being shipped half way across the world so you can skate em. If you buy a Darkstar deck with sick a$$ graphics, youre just gonna scrape that crap off as soon as you start grinding. Its not worth the money. Leave that stuff for the sponsored skaters, id be willing to bet 9 times outta 10 thats the only reason they use that stuff