The Parts of a Longboard

For those who are looking into longboarding, and want to buy their first longboard, there are many parts that you must know on a longboard that are very important.

1. The Deck

2. The Wheels

3. The Bearings

4. The Trucks

5. Hardware and Grip Tape

1. The Deck:

This is the actual "board" of the longboard, and where you stand on. There are MANY different types of decks, and there are a lot to chose from.

Photo Credit: theboardguide.com

2. The Wheels:

There are many different shapes and sizes for wheels, as well as the hardness of the material that makes up the wheel. All these factors affect the way you ride, and it all depends on personal preference.

Photo Credit: theeasyrider.com

3.The Bearings:

Bearings go in the center of wheels to allow them to spin. Without bearings, it would be very difficult to keep going on a longboard or skateboard, because the wheels wouldn't roll. There are also many different types of bearings. Some have metal ball bearings, and some have ceramic ball bearings, which don't rust.

Photo Credit: Bustin Longboards

4. The Trucks: 

Trucks are what allows the longboard to turn, and they differ in the amount of turn and lean they have on your longboard. No two sets of trucks are the same, and they all have a different feel when riding them. There are two on each longboard, one in the front, and one on the back, and the wheels go on each side of a truck.

Photo Credit: Tactics.com

5. Grip Tape and Hardware

Grip Tape is a sheet of gritty sandpaper-like material that goes on top of your longboard that keeps you from slipping off. Many different companies use different materials for their grip tape, and there are different amounts of "grit" on grip tape, which means some have more grip than others. You can also cut grip tape into different designs and stick them on your board, for looks.

Photo Credit: longboardlife.com

Photo Credit: hello-berlin.net

Hardware is the nuts and bolts that hold all of your longboard parts together. The screws that secure your longboard to your trucks can come in different lengths, so that you can put blocks of plastic, called risers or shock pads, in between your board and trucks, to make the board higher, or to make the ride softer.

Photo Credit: Khiroskateboardproducts.com

Now that you know all the parts of the longboard, you can do some research on the different parts you like, and put one together!