Skateboard
A skateboard is a narrow wheeled platform (usually made of 7 ply maple), used for recreation and transportation. It was developed in the early to mid twentieth century with the adaption of children's scooters by removing the pushbars. These early skateboards were often used as a substitute for surfing when the waves were low.
The skateboard has evolved a lot since the first mass produced models in the 1950s, not only in shape but also in the materials used create. Boards in the past were often in the shape of a surfboard, with no concave and constructed of solid wood or metal. The wheels were usually made of a 'clay' composite or steel and the trucks (axles) were less sturdy and initially of a 'single action' design compared to today's 'double action'.
Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk is widely considered to be the best skater in the world. He was born May 12, 1968, in California. As a child he enjoyed swimming, and nearly drowned multiple times, trying to see how long he could hold his breath. He has created many tricks, like the "Madonna", and the "Stalefish".
Composition
Skateboards are composed of several parts.
Deck- The deck forms the body of the skateboard and provides a place to stand. It is covered with grip tape, which adds friction to its surface. Decks were originally a single piece of wood but are now usually made from seven plies of Canadian Hard Rock Maple glued together. The plies of maple are cross-laminated, meaning the direction of the wood grain alternates between plies. This is what gives the deck its strength. Sometimes other composite materials, such as fiberglass and Kevlar, are incorporated into deck construction, usually to lighten the board or increase its strength or rigidity. On average, an all wood deck costs about $50 (US) while a deck including a material such as fiberglass in it can cost up to $70 or so (US). Blank decks (no graphics) have become increasingly popular because of their low cost (around $25 USD).
The deck is normally 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 inches wide. The width of a deck depends on the personal preference of the person who uses it. Skateboard decks are usually between 28 and 32.5 inches long. The longboard, a common variant of the skateboard, has a longer deck.
Trucks- Attached to the deck are two metal (usually aluminum) trucks, which connect to the wheels. 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. 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 stable the skateboard. The softer the bushings, the easier it is to turn. 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 steer.
Wheels- The wheels attach to each hanger. The wheels, usually made of polyurethane, come in many different sizes to suit different types of skating. Larger sizes like 60-90mm roll faster, and also move more easily over small cracks in pavement without getting stuck. Smaller sizes like 50-59mm keep the board closer to the ground and require less force to accelerate but also make for a slower top speed. Wheels also are available in a variety of hardnesses measured on the durometer 'A' scale. Usually, wheels range from the very soft (78a) to the very hard (99a). As the scale stops at 100a, any wheel marketed as '101a' can be rejected as a false claim.
Bearings- Inside each wheel are two precision ball bearings of the type '608' (8mm internal bore). Many skateboard bearings are graded according to the ABEC scale, which goes from 1-9, in odd numbers. It is a common misconception that higher numbers are better for skateboarding. The ABEC scale was designed for the likes of electric motors where the bearings undergo very high rotation speeds. Riding on a set of ABEC 1 bearings, you would have to be travelling at over 50Mph before the ABEC rating would be reached. For the highest ABEC ratings, this figure is close to 200Mph. In addition to this common misconception, most skate bearing manufacturers flat out lie about the ABEC ratings of their bearings and the ABEC rating has become little more than a marketing ploy within the skateboard industry.
Bones Swiss and "Rock'n Ron's Rockets" bearings are regarded among skaters as the some of the best precision bearings available, they are used by countless professional skaters although it must be remembered that professionals are paid to use the product.
Risers- Hard Plastic pads to help raise the board away from the trucks and the ground. Risers, also called Riser Pads are placed in between the underside of the deck and the truck. This raises the deck from the ground slightly, helping to avoid "wheel-bite". They range in height from 1/8 inch (Standard on most modern setups) to 1/2 inch. Risers are not always used.
Shock Pads- Shock pads are softer than Risers, and serve to evenly distribute impact force from the trucks to the deck, meaning less chance of dreaded pressure cracks. These days Shock pads have become predominant, because they have all the functionality of Riser pads and also lessen pressure cracks. As a result of this most young skaters use the term Risers to describe what are technically Shock pads.
Hardware - The hardware is a skater's term for the nuts and bolts on a skateboard. These hold the trucks to the board and the wheels/bearings to the trucks. Some people color a few bolts so they can easily tell which end of the board is the tail.
"Obsolete" components
Rails: Narrow plastic strips that are fastened under the deck along the edges. They used to be popular among vert skaters to whom they provided additional grip during aerial tricks and 'street' skaters who found they could slide across surfaces easier with them. They also protect the deck from scratches during slides. Most skateboarders no longer use rails, since the boards have become lighter and thus holding a grab during aerial tricks has become easier.
Copers: Plastic covers fastened over the truck's hanger which provide a more slippery surface when grinding and to avoid wearing down the truck hanger. They were invented during a time when vert skating was popular, and helped pool skaters grind better.
Lappers: Plastic covers fastened on the inside of the truck that cover the kingpin and the baseplate. Their purpose is to prevent the skateboard from being stopped when the truck hits an obstacle (for example when rolling up a curb or re-entering on a ramp). It was also marketed as the "Bird" since its shape resembles the shape a hand makes when giving someone the bird.
Nose guard: Plastic "bumpers" fastened to the nose of a skateboard. Its purpose is to protect the nose of the deck from being damaged when the skateboard hits an obstacle.
Tail guard, aka tail bone: A piece of plastic fastened under the tail of a skateboard. Its purpose is to protect the tail of the deck from wear. Because a tail guard makes the execution of an ollie more difficult, they are quite rare today.