Complete Longboard

A complete longboard consists of the deck, grip tape, trucks, risers, wheels, bearings and all the necessary hardware to hold it all together.

Deck

The deck is that piece of wood you stand on while riding a skateboard, or in this case a longboard. It is usually made of laminated maple layered together, is also commonly made of bamboo using a similar technique to maple. There are also decks made of carbon fiber and other composite materials.

• Maple is very sturdy and solid, not very much flex

• Bamboo is strong and very flexy

• Carbon fiber is very strong and can vary in flex although it is usually flexible

Grip Tape

Grip tape's main function is to keep your feet from slipping off your deck, very important! From what I understand there are two kinds of grip tape; the kind that is like sand paper that sticks to your board like tape and the kind that sprays on like paint.

• Stick on is usually black
• Spray on is usually clear

Trucks

There is a lot you can write about trucks, but I am going to try to make it short and sweet. To start a truck is what connects the wheels to the board. There are two on every longboard, or at least there should be.

To make it a little easier here is a diagram of a truck 

 Here is a link to a more in depth look at the truck

http://www.local124.com/portal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=1

Here are some important points about trucks

• Longboard trucks have the kingpin face outward on the deck

• Wider trucks are more stable
• Skinnier trucks have a smaller turning radius
• The riser sits in between the truck and a deck to prevent wheel bite or straining the deck with the trucks

Truck Mounting

Most trucks are bottom mount, some are drop through and others are flush mount. There are pictures below showing each kind of mount.

Drop through: base plate is seated on top of the deck 

Bottom mount: baseplate is seated under the deck

 Flush mount: there are pockets cut to mount the baseplate flush with the deck 

Bearings

Bearings hold your wheels on your trucks axles and let them spin freely. Not much else to know except you get what you pay for and keep them lubricated and clean.

Here is a link about maintaining bearings properly

http://bonesbearings.com/support/maintenance/

Wheels

There is a lot to know about wheels. But basically they are what you roll on (obviously). Anyway wheels are made of many different compounds of urethane, they come in many shapes and sizes, they come in many durability's and all have different applications in a wide variety. As I write more in the blog later about the different types and styles of riding I will mention what type of wheel and durability goes with it. Hopefully it will make it a little easier on both of us that way.

Anyway that’s it for now, thanks again

Andrew