Fingerboard (skateboard)
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The fingerskate or fingerboard is a miniature version of the skateboard. It takes the same shape as a skateboard, but is only 96 millimetres long, and hence is simpler, composed of a board, griptape, two trucks, and four wheels.
A wide variety of fingerboards exists. At one end of the spectrum, there are collectables which usually do not have grip tape on the top side and are made almost solely of plastics. These are generally seen as unsuitable for serious fingerboarding, as the individual parts (bolts, axles, and so on) are not removable.
The other main class of fingerboard represents an original more faithful copy of a normal skateboard. These consist of mostly wood parts (though some include hard plastics), have griptape, and are in general very similar to full-size skateboards. It is possible to copy genuine skateboard tricks with the fingers and the use of these particular boards.
Fingerboarding as an institution is said to have begun in Germany with the advent of fingerboard championships, the last of which was delivered in Loerrach in 2002. There are also a number of fingerboard professionals (Martin Winkler, Boris Dietschi, Timo Lieben, Ben Winship), many of whom also endorse and manufacture their own products.
Miniature fingerboard ramps and props also exist that bear a striking resemblance to genuine skateboard obstacles.
History
Fingerboards first started appearing in 1986 in keyring form, before people realised they could be used as toys. In the late '90s, Tech Deck Fingerboards was invented. They started an online community for people to talk to other people interested in the toy. Other subforums such as RZF, Blackriver-Ramps forum, Fingerboard.de and FFI were coming up. FFI, which has been through many changes over the years. Many big companies have come around, some being; +SUBSTANCE+, Chromosom 24, Madness Griptape, WinklerWheelz and tuning, and Public Trucks which are a completely different trucks than Tech Decks. Epidemic, and Eurollt Wheels. Now, it is very easy to obtain a completely non Tech Deck setup. Fingerboarding is largely becoming popular throughout the world.
Brands
The most famous brands making fingerboards are Tech Deck, or Blackriver-ramps, but many smaller companies such as Evolve, and Arctic Hardware, Berlin Wood and many many more also exist.
Tricks
Almost all the tricks possible on a skateboard are possible on a fingerboard. Many popular tricks include; Kickflips, Boardslides, 5-0's, Nollie Kickflips, grinds , and many, many more.
Here is an example of a combo trick on a fingerboard :
You can check out videos from teams of companies at: