While the skateboarding hobby appears to be extremely dangerous at times, there are precautions that you can take to render this action considerably safer. One action of course would be taking the time to buy a proper skateboard, though this is often more difficult than it sounds. For starters, you need to take a look at the width of the skateboard. The width you choose will depend on your height as taller individuals will want to choose wider boards. In other words you need to feel proportionate to the board you are riding, and you need to feel comfortable.


In the interest of buying complete skateboard decks, you need to make sure you're looking at the wheels. Wheels have varying hardness levels, and they also have different sizes. Those who enjoy street skateboarding may find that they like a harder wheel around 55 millimeters in width, though it is possible to buy a much larger wheel. The largest wheels of course are available for longboards and they are approximately 65 millimeters in width. The biggest difference between longboards and short boards is the application, and those who enjoy using their boards as transportation devices will undoubtedly want to stick with the longer models.

Another thing that many people tend to forget when purchasing complete skateboard decks is the bearing used in the boards. Bearings will keep the wheels spinning long after you've stopped pushing the board, and the type of bearing you choose will determine just how fast your skateboard moves after you have stopped putting effort into it.


Complete skateboards use a rating system of ABEC, and AA are the slowest types of bearings. What types of bearings are inside your skateboard? If you purchased your complete skateboard from a retail store rather than a professional skate shop then you more than likely have substandard bearings, or even worse, no bearings. Sometimes the cheaper boards are only aesthetic or even designed for children. That being the case, you will want to make sure you ask as many questions as possible before you commit to a purchase.

The type of bearings you find yourself looking for will generally depend on your experience level in the skateboarding hobby. It is understandable that a beginner might want a complete skateboard with the fastest bearings possible, but this could easily result in an injury, and with that being the case, you may want to stick with something a little slower until you gain more experience.

As you have probably guessed by now, purchasing a skateboard involves much, much more than simply going to the store and picking one out. A complete skateboard deck needs to match the needs of the individual, and it needs to match the skill level. If you're ready to jump into the amazing world of skateboarding, now would be a great time to head to your nearest skateboarding shop and start learning!