Skateboard Decks

Defining a Skateboard Deck

The skateboard deck is a pivotal component of the skateboard. It serves as the board's base and significantly influences your riding experience and skateboarding style. Besides acting as the platform for your feet and linking elements such as the trucks and grip tape, skate decks also offer a medium for showcasing personal style and character. This is due to their availability in a vast array of colours and designs, making it straightforward to find a deck that suits your preferences.

Features of Skateboard Decks

Contemporary skateboard decks are predominantly crafted from robust maple wood. It's important to recognise that variations exist in the durability of different maple types. Canadian maple is esteemed as the strongest with high resilience against breakage, making it ideal for those seeking longevity in a deck. Another favourite is Hard Rock Maple, known for its hardness and strength.

Typically, skateboard decks are constructed with 7-ply to 9-ply wood layers, with 7-ply being the norm. This means the deck is composed of seven to nine layers of wood that are compressed, enhancing the board's strength. Moreover, nearly every skate deck is equipped with double-kicktails—upward curves at both the nose and tail—which aid in popping and controlling the board for tricks.

Concave is another attribute of a skateboard deck, referring to the curve inward along the deck's surface. Decks with low concave provide better foot placement due to a larger flat area. Conversely, a deeper concave facilitates easier flip trick execution. Medium concave is a balanced design and the most frequently seen.

Choosing the Right Skateboard Deck Size

The skateboard deck’s size should generally correlate with your shoe size. The deck size is primarily determined by its width, and ideally, your shoe's tip should slightly overreach the deck to help with trick control.

A narrow deck can compromise your balance and increase the likelihood of shoe bites, potentially damaging your shoes and causing you to lose control of your skateboard. On the other hand, an overly wide deck can make tricks and flips challenging. A good starting point, known for being well-balanced, is a deck width of 7.75 to 8 inches.

Unsure about your choice? Consult our Skateboard Size chart which offers suggestions on deck width based on your skating style and shoe size. Additional details for selecting the right deck can be found in our Guide To Skateboard Decks.