Archive for September 2009
When Buying Cheap Skateboards Could Jeopardize Your Safety
21. September 2009 by ZachPlay.
Author: John
Cheap skateboards aren’t a bargain when you consider the possibility for injury. A skateboard that is not well made could fall apart and leave you and the pieces of your cheap skateboard on the ground. That would terrible and very dangerous. A cheap skateboard could be made with inferior parts which could lead to it falling apart and causing injury to you. However, you need to look at more than a skateboards price when trying to buy a safe skateboard.
The price of a skateboard may not reflect quality since manufacturers increase the price of a cheaper skateboard to make it seem like a better product than it is. They know that a lot of consumers equate price with quality. Make sure you aren’t buying a cheaply made skateboard with a marked up price or you won’t get a good quality product. Also, just because a professional skateboarder endorses a certain brand of boards does not mean that those boards are necessarily the best quality for the price. Educate yourself about how to tell a quality skateboard from a dangerous, cheaply made one.
A good quality deck is the key to a safe skateboard. The skateboard deck holds your weight and allows you to maneuver and steer. Good quality wood must be used on a skateboard deck for it to be safe. The wood should be firmly secured and the edges should be adequately sealed. The best test for a deck is to stand on it and jump slightly to see if you hear a cracking noise. A good quality deck should be flexible to be safe.
Examine the wheels of any prospective skateboard very closely. Wheels will be what allows you to achieve the speed you want. Be aware the you’ll need different size wheels if you are planning on using the skateboard for stunts more than for speed. Plastic wheels are something to look out for, especially on cheaper skateboards. You won’t get enough grip from plastic wheels to adequately control your skateboard.
The wheels must have good quality bearings to be safe. The bearings, which are inside the wheels, are rated on a scale of 1 to 9 (odd numbers only) and anything less than a 3 is not recommended because it will negatively affect your control of the skateboard. Spin the wheels several times to be sure the bearings move easily and there is no grinding going on in the wheel. Problems with the wheels of a cheap skateboard are going to lead to injury.
The trucks, the axles located on the bottom of the skateboard deck, are also an important part of the board. When looking at skateboards, look for trucks made out of strong, high quality metal that is secured with a good rubber sealant. Rubber holds much better than the cheaper plastic sealants used on poor quality skateboards. If the trucks are not secured well and good quality the skateboard is not worth the money no matter how cheap and will not be safe to ride.
When shopping for a new skateboard, you’ll have to find a balance between a safe board and a board in your budget. Buying the cheapest skateboard you can find is not a good idea because it may not be safe. If you can’t find one in your price range that is well made and safe, you might think about making your own skateboard. You can make a safe, long lasting, well built skateboard for not a lot of money. Don’t risk your safety to save a few dollars on a skateboard, it isn’t worth it. Skateboarding is a safe sport as long as you have good equipment.
Article Source: When Buying Cheap-Skateboards Could Jeopardize Your Safety
Skateboard Accessories
17. September 2009 by ZachPlay.
Author: John
Most skateboarders enjoy being part of a group of peers who have the same hobby. However, most skateboarders want to express our individuality as well. Luckily, there are plenty of accessories the avid skateboarder can choose from to customize your skateboard and make it match your own unique style. All of the different accessories can become overwhelming, so it is important to explore all of your possibilities before making changes to your skateboard.
If you are looking to quickly make your skateboard your own, the deck is a great place to start. By adding stickers, decals, stenciled pictures, or by painting your deck, you can give your skateboard a design like no other board.
Another way to personalize your skateboard is to use uniquely colored wheels instead of standard skateboard wheels. Depending on the type of appearance you want to give your board, you can match all of your accessories or mix the colors up a bit. You could even find glow-in-the-dark wheels at some specialty stores.
Adding grip tape is another great way to accessories your skateboard. Grip tape is a necessity for your board and comes in great colors such as; neon green, blue, yellow and black to name a few. Besides adding stability to your board so that you have better controls for maneuvers, it is also a great way to change the overall appearance of your board.
Logos are also a popular addition to skateboards. Most skateboarding retailers offer logo decals for the leading skateboard gear. You can also find my skateboard specialty stores online that offer logos. You could also take this idea a step further and have your own custom logo created to let everyone know who the skateboard belongs to.
You do not have to be limited to skateboard accessories either. There are many products out there that can be used to accessorize your skateboard, it just depends on how creative you want to be with your personalization. There is no right or wrong way to accessorize your skateboard. You can go as extreme or as basic as you want. It is all about portraying your individuality. Some skateboarders want to stand up for their particular sport and add stickers with wording such as, “Skateboarding Isn’t A Crime”, or something similar. While others prefer to be more subdued in their choice of skateboard add-ons.
No matter how you choose to accessorize your skateboard, the most important thing is to make if fun. Always be sure to purchase quality products so that you do not end up with peeling stickers or faded paint. Using quality accessories will ensure that the overall appearance of your skateboard will look great no matter how old it is.
Remember, no matter how nice your skateboard is, it won’t last forever. Don’t go overboard spending money on accessories that you will not be able to use on another board. Take the time to compare prices so that you always get the best deals when creating your totally unique skateboard.
Article Source: Accessorizing Your Skateboard-Adding-Your Personal-Touch
Professional Skateboarders and Their Gear
15. September 2009 by ZachPlay.
Professional skateboarders need more than just a great skateboard to succeed. Equally important is the equipment used by professional skateboarders to keep them safe. Skateboarding looks easy when professionals do it, but it actually can be dangerous and can result in serious injury. Professional skateboarders know that the responsible thing to do is to wear protective gear to keep themselves safe when skateboarding. The most important body part professional skateboarders worry about protecting is their heads. Head protection needs to properly fitted so that it is able to protect all parts of the head including the front, back and sides. In order to avoid sweating and discomfort, head protection often will contain more padding specifically for this purpose. Any helmet or head protection needs to be able to withstand multiple impacts so that a professional skateboarder can do their whole program of tricks with the most protection possible. Any good skateboarding helmet should provide protection to your whole head including the back of the head. Many newer helmets are able to absorb some of the impact from a fall which will greatly decrease your chances of being seriously injured. If you don’t have the right protective gear, you may not be able to recover from a fall and may be seriously injured. Elbow and knee pads are also crucial for professional skateboarders. These pads can keep you from seriously injuring yourself in a fall. For professional skateboarders, a serious injury will put them out of the competition. Professional skateboarders will do whatever it takes to protect themselves from injury while performing - they want to be able to do their best every time. Some may go as far as wearing something like an ankle brace if there doctor tells them it will help support their weight and prevent injury. Professional skateboarders often wear special clothing designed to help reduce the impact from a fall and reduce the chance of injury. These suits can be very colorful or very plain, depending on what the skateboarders decide they want. Often, a professional skateboarder will have a certain color or pattern suit that is his signature and that makes him more recognizable. Shoes can also be important for professional skateboarders. They want shoes that will help them grip the board with their feet and shoes that fit perfectly so they will be comfortable. Even the type of sock can make a difference in how comfortable the skateboarder’s shoes will be which will affect his performance. A good performance takes not only skill, but the right combination of all the right gear as well. Professional skateboarding gear can be expensive but often professionals get the gear for free or for a reduced rate. Companies that make the gear and sell the gear want their gear to get as much exposure as possible which can be accomplished by having a professional skateboarder wear the gear. Fans are likely to try and find the same gear as their favorite skaters so sales will increase. Often, skateboarders will endorse a specific company which means they wear all their gear and only their gear. If a successful professional skateboarder is wearing something, all his fans are going to want the same thing so this is a smart marketing strategy. Professional skateboarders don’t use the same gear year after year. They keep updating their gear as new technologies and products come out that will help them be better and do more stunts and tricks. Competition among professional skateboarders is very tough so in order to be as successful as possible skateboarders need to take advantage of any opportunities to be better. The right gear can make all the difference for a professional skateboarder. Comfort is very important in order to perform at their best level so they need the best gear with the best fit. The better the gear, the better the skateboarder can do in competitions. Safety is also very important because professional skateboarders need to be able to safely keep improving their skills and trying new tricks and stunts.
Article Source: Professional Skateboarders And Their Gear
