Skateboard Decks

A deck is the large platform part of the skateboard that you stand on. They are mostly made from seven thin layers of wood glued together under pressure and then carefully worked to the desired shape. Dense, slow growing wood like Canadian maple is preferred for its strength to weight ratio. Sometimes other materials or construction methods are used to add durability or other beneficial properties. 

All skateboards have a concave along their length which greatly increases strength. A deck with a deeper, steeper concave will feel stiffer. Boards with a mellow, flatter concave will be more flexible.

Most decks have a “kicked” or angled nose and tail. This steeper angle on the nose and tail helps greatly when attempting tricks by making the skateboard achieve a steeper angle more quickly.

They may often look symmetrical, having the appearance that you can skate them either way, the reality is they nearly always have an identifiable front and back. Most modern decks have a longer nose and slightly shorter tail. It is therefore in most cases important to skate your board the correct way.

Decks are now available in a wider variety of shapes and sizes than ever before. Shape is mostly a simple cosmetic choice driven by personal preference.

Decks are measured in inches only at their widest point. This is easy to understand for modern straight sided ‘popsicle' skateboards but is less clear for shaped decks where the board may be narrower in certain places. 

Deck size is an entirely personal choice and is not directly related to a personal attribute like shoe size or height. People with smaller feet can ride bigger decks and people with larger feet can ride smaller decks. 

The most popular sizes are between 8 and 8.5 inches wide. 

We can apply the grip tape for you. When making a purchase of a new deck there are options for different typs of grip tape and for applying it before it is posted. 

There is a small charge of £3.00 for applying grip tape. Please note that once grip tape has been applied, we can no longer accept it back as a return. 

Most skateboarders ride a modern popsicle shaped skateboard. These have a long nose and tail and can look almost symmetrical in shape. Developed after decades of evolution, this type of skateboard offers the greatest potential in terms of uses and tricks. It is the most common and widely available shape of skateboard. 

Retro and egg-shaped decks offer a sense of fun or nostalgia that can be inspiring. They can even help with certain tricks.

Due to friction with the ground, skateboarding will eventually wear out the deck. Decks regularly suffer from knocks, chips and delamination. All of these combined can significantly reduce a skateboard’s life expectancy.

The main reason to replace a deck is when the tail has worn down sufficiently through abrasion with the ground. As this happens the tail gets shorter. Eventually there will come a point where the tail is so short that it becomes difficult to use. 

Different skateboarders have their own thresholds for when it’s the right time to replace a deck.  For consistency it’s better to not leave it for too long. As the tail reduces in length it’s easy to get used to how that feels, all of a sudden getting a new deck with a longer tail may feel a little strange. Replacing the deck before this happens helps the transition from old board to new board.

Try not to be too protective of the graphic. As amazing as the artwork may be, skateboards are designed to be used. They are only fulfilling their purpose if they get scratched and damaged. A used skateboard is a happy one. 

Delamination is an unfortunate part of skateboarding. When a skateboard impacts another hard object, it can cause a separation of the wooden layers. When this happens, the best thing to do is to glue it as quickly as possible. Wood glue or Superglue can do the job. A repair will be more successful if you can clamp it and leave it overnight. A well glued delamination can be as good as new.