Parts
The descriptions of the skateboard parts following are what are most prevalent in popular, modern forms of skateboarding, but many niche disciplines exist with exotic or alternative constructions and designs that fall outside of much of the descriptions listed.
Skateboards are composed of the following parts.
Deck
Most decks are constructed with a seven ply[1], cross-laminated layup of North American maple. Sometimes other, more exotic decks, such as fiberglass, bamboo, Kevlar carbon fiber, and plastic are incorporated into deck construction, usually to lighten the board or increase its strength or rigidity. Modern decks are 7 to 8½ inches wide. The width of a deck depends on the personal preference of the person who uses it. Most people use 7.5-8 inch wide decks for street skating. Generally, riders use a wider deck for vert, to provide more stability. Skateboard decks are usually between 28 and 33 inches long.
The longboard, a common variant of the skateboard, has a longer deck. "Old school" boards (those made in the 1970s-80s or modern boards that mimic their shape) are generally wider and often have only one kicktail. 1970s variants often have little or no concave, whereas 1980s models have deeper concaves and steeper kicktails.
The double-kicktail skateboard was not introduced until the 1980s. By adding an extra "tail" to the front of the deck, possibilities were multiplied drastically. This also led to nollie, fakie, and switch stances.
Most decks are pressed with concave in the body, i.e. the area of the board between the nose and the tail kicks. Concave means the deck dips inward on the top side (where the skater stands), to cup the foot for more control, and to add strength by stiffening the flex.
You can now get resin deck's which provide more flexibility with the deck so that it does not snap as easy. Almost Skateboards were among the first skateboards to use resin. This proved successful so other skate brands followed. You can get 7ply, 8ply, 9ply and even 10ply.
Trucks
Attached to the deck are two metal (usually aluminum alloy) trucks, which connect to the wheels and deck. The trucks are further composed of two parts. The top part of the truck is screwed to the deck and is called the baseplate, and beneath it is the hanger. The axle runs through the hanger. Between the baseplate and the hanger are bushings, also rubbers or grommets, that provide the cushion mechanism for turning the skateboard. The bushings cushion the truck when it turns. The stiffer the bushings, the more resistant the skateboard is to turning. The softer the bushings, the easier it is to turn. Technical street skaters generally use hard bushings because a skateboard that leans a lot is more difficult to perform tricks and ollies on, and riders change direction with kickturns rather than carves. A soft bushing also absorbs some of the energy applied to the board by the rider, which makes pumping on transitions less efficient (This is scientifically true but the difference is minute). Slalom riders generally prefer bushings of medium hardness for a compromise between turning ability and rebound. Downhill skateboarding incorporates the widest variety of bushing hardnesses. Some riders prefer soft to medium bushings for carving, which is making fluid turns alternating in direction for the purpose of controlling speed, avoiding obstacles, or just looking and feeling good. Downhill sliders most often use soft bushings so they can easily whip their board out into a slide with a very tight turn. High-speed downhill riders have been known to use any bushings, but generally they want something on the harder side to reduce the "speed-wobbles" that can occur when traveling at a high speed. Heavier riders are also recommended to use slightly harder bushings than light ones. A bolt called a kingpin holds these parts together and fits inside the bushings. Thus by tightening or loosening the kingpin nut, the trucks can be adjusted for steering.
Bearings
A skateboard wheel uses two iron ball bearings, usually a '608' (8 mm internal bore) bearing. Many skateboard bearings are graded according to the ABEC scale. It is a common misconception that higher numbers are better for skateboarding. The ABEC rating only measures tolerances which do not necessarily apply to bearings used for skateboarding. The ABEC rating does not determine how fast or how durable a bearing used for skateboarding will be. [1][2] [3]
Hardware
Mounting hardware is a set of eight 10-32 bolts, usually a truss head, and matching self-lock nylock nuts. They are used to attach the trucks to the board.
Optional components
Rails
Narrow strips of plastic that are fastened under the deck lengthwise along the edges. Used for additional grip for grabs, and to enhance sliding while protecting the deck's graphics at the same time. Not to be confused with the obstacle also known as a rail which tricks are performed on.
Copers
Copers are plastic guards that fit over the top of the truck hanger. They serve to protect the truck during grinds (as well as the surface they are grinding), as they can be easily replaced when worn through. They also give a much smoother grinding surface than the hanger itself, allowing for grinds to be longer and cleaner.
Lappers
A lapper is a plastic cover that is fastened to the rear truck and serves to protect the kingpin when grinding. It also prevents hang-ups by providing a smoother transition for the truck when it hits an obstacle.
Nose guard
A plastic bumper used to protect the tip of a skateboard.
Tail guard
A tail guard is a plastic skid plate used to prevent wearing of the tail, and is used as a means to stop the board.
Risers
Riser or riser pads are made of plastic and go between the truck and the board to provide additional clearance for the wheels to prevent wheel-bite (when the truck turns to a degree where the wheel will contact with the deck and stop spinning). They usually range in height from ⅛″ to ½″. Shock pads are a variation of risers that are usually made of rubber or neoprene. They absorb impact and reduce vibration, which in turn helps prevent hardware from loosening and they can also prevent pressure cracks from forming.
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