How to Clean Your Skateboard Bearings and Wheels

If you notice that your skateboard wheels are not gliding the way they should be or creating a distinct squeaking sound, then it is time to do some maintenance cleaning.

1. Using a +" socket wrench or a skate tool, remove the wheels from the trucks.

2. Then, remove the bearings from the wheels. To do this, barely hook the wheel back to the axle (the bearing should be hooked to the tip of the axle) and slowly pry the wheel, pooping the bearing out. This requires extreme care as you might damage the bearing in the process. (But if you are planning to throw the old bearings away and replace them with new ones, you can pry as hard as you want but make sure that you do not damage the wheels.)

3. Once you have separated the bearing from the wheels, you can now clean them separately.

4. To clean the wheels, use water or mild soap and water solution. Brush the dirt off the wheels or simply wipe them with rag or towel. Check and remove dirt embedded in and around the wheel. Dry the wheels with cloth or towel.

5. Now, clean the bearings. Take one bearing and spray every edge with a generous amount of Tri-flow Superior Lubricant. Do this on both sides of the bearings. Make sure that you are able to flush away all the dirt inside and in between the ball bearings. Repeat the same procedure to the rest of the bearings.

6. Once you are done with all the bearings, you can attach them one by one back to the wheels immediately or let them leak and dry first.

7. Reattach the wheel and bearings assembly back to the truck.

If you do not have the time to do all these, you can clean the bearings while still inside the wheel. To do this, remove the wheel from the truck and spray Tri-flow Superior Lubricant directly to the bearings. Pat down the wheel assembly to remove the lubricant inside. Then, reattach the wheels back to the trucks. While this cleans the bearings, you may want to periodically remove the bearings off its wheel for thorough maintenance.

Cleaning your skateboard bearings and wheels not only will improve your skateboarding experience, it also will extend your bearings' and wheels' lifespan. The process may be meticulous but it is all worth the effort.

More than Just a Fashion Statement

The resurgence of the popularity of skateboarding can be attributed to a lot of factors. It is a simple sport that can be very exciting especially if you learn to do the complicated tricks. The movements are incredible and many people get a rush when doing these tricks, especially when they get to impress a lot of people. But as mentioned, the sport can be highly dangerous and many injuries have been attributed to skateboarding.

That is why it is essential that you have sturdy and durable equipment and good safety gear as well. But aside from your skateboard, your pads and your helmet, having proper skateboarding shoes will allow you to have a safe ride. Not all shoes are tailor fit for skateboarding.

When you skateboard, your ankle and feet need ample protection. A good skateboard shoe should be able to have a good grip on the board and be able to protect your ankle and foot and should have the right fit. Slips and slides can happen anytime and it does happen even to the best of them. The perfect skateboard shoe will be able to prevent injuries when these accidents do happen. Also, if your shoes have a good grip on the surface of the board, you will be able to do your tricks more effectively without letting the board slip from under you.

Good skateboarding shoes should be sturdy and strong enough to withstand the constant beating and pounding shoes absorb in skateboarding. But, it should also be flexible enough to allow a variety of foot movements especially when a rider is going fast and preparing to do tricks. The sole of the shoe should also be thick enough so that they will last a long time. Skateboarders push often for momentum and the rough surface of the skateboard can also eat through the sole in time.

You should also take into consideration comfort. Skateboarding requires hours of practice and the constant foot movements can take a toll. If you are not wearing comfortable shoes, you will end up with a blistered sore foot which can be very painful. An improper fitting shoe can take away your stability and balance which will result in accidents.

Buying a good pair of skateboarding shoes may mean more expense on your part as some of these good shoes can be quite expensive. But this extra cost will also spell the difference between effective riding and a trip to the hospital.

Making Your Skateboarding Experience Better For You

Now that you are good at skateboarding, you will definitely want to have a pro grade skateboard. Basically, there are two ways you can get a pro grade skateboard. The first is by buying one that is completely assembled with all high quality materials installed, and the other is by assembling it piece by piece with different brands of wheels, boards, and trucks and bearings to accurately suit your riding needs.

You can always buy a complete pro grade skateboard. But, if you want a skateboard that fits your preferences, you should try building your own custom board.

The first thing that you need to do is pick the deck size. The length and the thickness depend on the tricks that you plan on performing and the width will depend on your feet size.

Skateboard wheels are also an important factor that you should know. Different skateboard wheels come in different colors as well as sizes and degrees of hardness.

For vert and transition, you will need larger skateboard wheels in order to get a faster roll. If you do verts or transitions try 55 to 65mm wheels. For street or technical, get smaller wheels with a hardness of 97 to 101. The skateboard will be a lot slower in rolling, allowing you to do technical tricks easily as well as have wheels that can withstand a lot of pressure.

The bearings are also important. These are metal rings that fit inside the skateboard wheels. As a skateboarder, you will want bearings that are precise and durable. So, go for 3 or 5 ABEC rating on the bearings you choose. This will be smooth enough when you ride your board and durable enough that it will not break when you jump on your board.

The trucks are another important part that you should carefully choose. These are axles that connect the board to your wheels. To choose the truck that you need, you will need to match the truck side to the deck or your board. The bushings in the truck are also an important factor to consider. For vert, you will need stiffer bushings and for street, you will need softer bushings to allow you to turn easily.

The truck height will also vary. Lower trucks will make it easier for you to flip the board and are very stable. However, lower trucks will mean smaller wheels. If you do verts, which will require speed, you will need larger trucks to accommodate larger wheels.

These are the things that you need to remember when building a custom pro grade skateboard. Also, try getting a good grip tape, risers and other hardware, such as nuts and screws.

If you want a good board, you will want one that is made with high quality materials. So, if you want a skateboard that will accommodate your riding needs, try building a custom pro grade skateboard.

Learning How to Do This Impressive Skateboard Maneuver

Knowing how to go back and forth on a skateboard is one thing. However, you also have to remember that there is more to skateboarding than just riding it forward, stopping, and then riding back to where you came from.

If you know how to ride the skateboard comfortably, then it is time for you to learn about the different basic maneuvers that you can do with your skateboard.

One basic skateboarding skill is Kickturning. This particular skill can be easy to look at but it is rather complicated or confusing to do it. In this skill, you will need to have good balance on your skateboard.

Kickturning is basically where you will balance your back wheels for movement and swinging the front of the board to go in a new direction. This takes some practice to master and a lot of balance.

Before you start, make sure that all you are wearing all of your safety skateboarding equipments are to prevent injuries during falls when practicing.

The first thing you need to learn is how to balance your body and skateboard on two wheels, particularly the back wheel. Try to practice it on the carpet or on the grass outside to prevent it from rolling too much which can send your skateboard flying off and land your bottom on the pavement.

To balance the skateboard on two wheels, you need to get your back foot across the tail and your front foot just behind the front trucks. Try imagining your foot when you are going to attempt an Ollie. This is the same stance that you need to have to attempt Kickturns.

Keep your knees bent and relaxed. Your shoulders should be level to the skateboard deck.

Then shift your weight to your back foot. Just a bit of weight shift is good. Now, lift your front foot just a little. This will make the front of your skateboard pop up. To turn to the direction you want to go to, just rotate your back foot to the left or right along with your body.

Try practicing the duckwalk with kickturns. This will be like shifting the board from left to right with the kick turns. This will improve your balance and enable you to practice your kickturns.

You should also practice the tic tac. This is where you combine the left and right kickturns. Try doing a little kickturn to the left and another to the right. Do this continuously and you will be able to a great skateboard maneuver.

You may fall when attempting to do kickturns on the first few attempts but this is natural. Almost everyone falls when practicing this move. By knowing how to kickturn, you will be well on your way in becoming a good skateboarder.

Skateboard Safety Tips

Fractures, sprains, abrasions, contusions, and even head injuries are frequent among skateboarders. These can be prevented with the following safety tips:

Wear a helmet 21 percent of the total reported skateboard-related injuries are head injuries. So it makes sense to wear a helmet. Make sure that the helmet you wear has a chin strap and fits around your head perfectly.

Wear protective gear Elbow pads, knee pads, wrist pads, and gloves may not fully protect you from fractures but it can reduce the severity of bruises and cuts.

Do not ride in traffic While modern skateboards are designed for maximum control, it is not advisable to ride when crossing the street. Also, never attempt to "skitch" (or riding while holding on to a moving vehicle) on motorcycles, trucks, bicycles, or cars.

Skate on the right place Many skateboard-related injuries are caused by skating in the street or in places with human or vehicular traffic. Go to parks, empty parking spaces, or indoor skate parks. It is equally important to skate on the grounds with smooth surfaces as small bumps, sticks, holes, and stones on the riding surface can cause falls.

Do not take chances Learning new tricks is cool but you have to make sure that you perform it with caution and lots of practice. Never show off.

Never skate alone Like swimming, do not attempt to skate alone. This way, when accident happens, there is someone to help you.

Learn to fall from the skateboard properly Most injuries happen because the skateboarder losses his balance. Learning how to fall will reduce the risk of injuries. The best way to fall is to crouch down as it reduces your height and amount of impact during the fall. Try to relax your body rather than go stiff. Roll rather than absorb the full impact of the fall. And try to fall on the fleshy part of your body rather than absorb the impact with your arms.

Choose the right skateboard Boards vary differently. Some are designed for speed while others are designed for freestyle or slalom. Choose a specific board that fits your requirements. If you did some serious skateboarding before, you should know. If you are buying for the first time, seek advice.

Know what to do in case of emergency No matter how much protection you have or how faithful you follow all the safety tips in the book, accidents can happen. Make sure that you remain calm and seek help immediately.

The Great Fun Involved with Skateboard Ramps

First off, you have to fully understand that using skateboard ramps is highly dangerous and the event of an injury is likely. But because most skateboarders live for the thrill of doing tricks and catching big air, skateboard ramps are essential in any skateboard park and there have also been many skateboard ramps that have been homemade and used on their own property.

Ramps for those that are newbies to skateboarding, although it is unlikely that a person who wants to go skateboarding hasn't seen or heard about one, are sloping, usually wooden, objects that allow a person to ride a bike, skateboard or such to give them leverage when they do leaps. In buildings, ramps are used for easy access to those who are disabled.

As mentioned, ramps are great obstacles in a skateboard course which can allow a person to do jumps and to perform tricks after taking off. Some ramps are also used for taking off to allow a skateboarder to gather momentum easily. Skateboard ramps that don't have a sloping or curving surface are called wedge ramps. They look like triangles and have a straight line going up.

Using the internet, you can purchase ramps and avoid having to build one your own. Many websites offer large and small ramps and some of them even offer free shipping and delivery. All you have to do is find the right one for you. Factors that determine which type of ramp you will need will include the space you have where you will place the ramp. Take into account the obstacles that are lined up near the allotted space.

Another factor to consider is your skateboarding skills and abilities. If you are a new to using ramps, then you may want to stick with the smaller ramps first. Practice with the small ramp then as you get used to doing jumps and other tricks, you may move on to larger ramps.

For the do it yourself kind of guy, there are skateboard ramp plans available for download on the internet. Some plans can be downloaded for free, but for the more comprehensive plans, you may purchase them for a low fee.

But always remember, when it comes to skateboarding, like in other different types of sport, safety is the main issue. Don't forget to wear your safety gear and don't get over eager.

Tips for Becoming a Better Skateboarder

Although it looks easy, dropping in on a ramp in a skateboard park is not a very easy thing to do. If you haven't done drop ins before, try attempting them and you will see how difficult they are to do and there is a high chance that you will just end up with your body sprawling down below with your skateboard flying off across the ramp.

So, if you don't want to make a fool out of yourself or worse, spend time in the hospital, you will want to know about the basics for doing drop ins properly.

First of all, you need to remember that safety is everything. Always wear your safety equipment whenever you are skateboarding. Even pros wear safety equipment.

The drop in doesn't necessarily take a lot of skill. However, beginner skateboarders will tend to get nervous whenever they attempt to drop in on the ramp. This means that their body will tense up which will force them to shift their weight and eventually fall.

Drop ins are basically what skateboarders do to enter bowls or the vert ramp. This will allow the skateboarder to instantly gain a lot of speed and get big air to perform their tricks.

If you are just a beginner, you first need to get comfortable riding your skateboard by riding on the ground around the park.

Dropping in won't necessarily mean that you need to know a few skateboard tricks, but it just means that you should know how to ride your skateboard comfortably and with proper balance.

You have to remember that once you've dropped in, there is no turning back. You will gain a lot of speed at a very fast rate. So, you will need to know how to be comfortable riding your skateboard.

To drop in, the first thing that you need to do is check out the ramp. If it's too big, start off with mini ramps. This will not necessarily give you a lot of speed, but it will be good for practicing.

After checking out the ramp, set the tail of the board on the coping which is the edge of the ramp. Hold the board with your back foot by stepping on the tail. If you are ready to go, place your front foot just behind the nose or just above the front trucks of the skateboard. Then shift your weight forward and stomp your front foot and let gravity do the rest.

As mentioned before, there is no need for you to know different tricks when dropping off a ramp. Just get good balance and you will also need a bit of guts and will.

How to Buy a Skateboard for the First Time

When deciding which skateboard to buy, there are 4 basic things to consider: cost, trucks, bearings and wheels, and decks.

1. Cost. A skateboard can be very expensive so the basic principle to remember is to settle for something functional -basic. Do not aim for the best board that will set you back a hefty 3-digit figure that does not even include bearings, trucks, and a set of wheels. Set your budget at around $50 to$80 for a brand new beginner skateboard.

Any higher and you'll be paying for something you don't need; any lower and you'll be paying for junk. The point is, you should buy an average beginner skateboard so when you realize that the sport is not for you or you happen to destroy your skateboard in the process, you have not spent your fortune for nothing.

2. Trucks. There are different types of trucks suited for specific tricks and functions. Some are made heavy while some just look tough. While price is your main concern, always go for quality. Go to a proper skateboard dealer and seek advice or bring a friend who really knows what trucks are right for your skill level.

3. Bearings and wheels. Bearings keep the wheels spinning when you stop pushing. Now, there are different ratings (measured in ABEC value) that determine the speed of the bearings. The slowest are the 'AA' bearings. While this will help you maintain a very slow speed downhill, it won't give you that needed speed on flat surfaces.

'AA' is then followed by ABEC 3, ABEC 5, ABEC 7, and ABEC 9. Beginners can go for ABEC 3 or ABEC 5 at the most. These bearings may not give you the best movement but going for the fastest bearings is not a good idea either.

4. Deck. If you want to go for the best deck, choose the one without any graphics. Why? Brandings and designs are what make skateboard decks expensive. Aside from that, deck designs can easily scratch off with a decent amount of skating. Instead of focusing on the cool graphics, get a 7-ply deck and pay attention to the shape of the deck. Get one with a good amount of curve to the kicktails.

Therefore, your ideal beginner skateboard should consist of a 7-ply deck, durable tracks, and ABEC 3 or 5 bearings at a reasonable price.