How to Clean the Grip Tape on Your Skateboard
Skateboard maintenance is a very important part of being a responsible skateboarder. Maintenance will keep your board working for a lot longer and it also reduces the chance of injury while on your board. One thing you will notice about your skateboard is that the grip tape gets dirty. It just makes sense when the tape is where your feet will be when you’re on the board. So anything that your feet have stepped in, might just end up on your board.
In addition to just looking dirty, cleaning the grip tape on your skateboard is important to ensure it works properly. When it gets dirt, mud or debris on it, your feet can slip and you will not get the grip that is intended with it.
To clean your grip tape, you can use plain water or a window/glass cleaner like Windex. Here’s how to do it correctly:
Spray on the cleaner- Spray on the Windex or use a water bottle to spray plain water directly onto the dirty spots.
Scrub with a toothbrush-Use a toothbrush to gently scrub the area with circular motions.
Press dry- Use paper towels to press onto the tape to dry.
Don’t rub at the grip tape with the paper towels or they will pull apart and leave a mess all over the board. You can press the paper towels on for about five minutes to let them absorb the water and then remove them. Continue as needed until it is dried out.
Don’t just leave the grip tape wet because it might start to grow mold on your board and you will need to replace the grip tape, rather than just clean it. Make sure you don’t spray any Windex or water on the bolts or other parts of your board. You want to avoid getting the rest of the board wet.
It’s also a good idea to prevent dirt build up by wiping off your board with a cloth or soft brush after each time you ride it. Even if you just brush dirt off with your hands before you bring the board in, you will keep scuffs off the grip tape, helping it last longer for you.
How to Throw a Skateboard Birthday Party for Kids
If your child loves skateboarding and you are trying to plan an upcoming birthday party, a skateboarding party might be just the thing to make everyone happy. A skateboard theme can be a lot of fun and it’s a great way to have an upbeat exciting party that keeps all the kids entertained. Here are some ideas on how to pull it off with style and safety in mind.
Skateboard Lessons and Demos
Consider giving skateboard lessons and demos at the party. If you skate yourself, this is a great time to teach the kids some beginner moves yourself or you can hire a trainer (consider GoSkate.com) to help teach the kids at the party. If possible, try to have a few extra boards, helmets and safety gear for the kids who may come without it.
You can also get some kid-friendly skateboarding videos to play at the party or to help teach the kids if an instructor is unavailable. Just be sure adults are supervising younger kids at all times at the party.
Safety First!
Safety should always be your utmost concern in skateboarding. You are responsible for the children who show up for the party so make a rule of no one on their board without a helmet and make sure there are enough adults to enforce it. Give the kids a safe place to practice, ride and play (not in a busy street) or hold the party at a safe location like a skate park.
Cake and Party Favors
There are a lot of great ideas you can do for a skateboarding party cake. You can have one made by a bakery or create it yourself. Consider a cake design of a skate park with ramps or a cake with mini skater figurines. Another idea is to use small fingerboards to decorate the top of the cake. Skateboard Legos are another idea for cake decorating and you can rinse them off and keep them afterwards.
Tech Decks make a great party favor idea for your skateboarding birthday party. Skateboarding stickers are another great idea. You can save money when you buy them bulk and kids love them. They will swap and trade them, collect them, decorate their boards with them and more.
These ideas will help you have a rocking skateboard themed birthday party for the skater kid in your life. It’s easy and guaranteed to be a hit with any child who loves skateboarding.
How to Replace Skateboard Trucks
Skateboarders need to replace their trucks from time to time. They get worn out over time or you may want to upgrade by replacing them with a new, cooler design. Sometimes they get broken when doing tricks and stunts. You can make this change yourself with the four simple steps that follow.
Step One: Gather Your Tools
Take a close look at your board and find out what tools you need and then gather them together. Normally, all you’ll need is either a skate tool or a Phillips head screwdriver and a wrench. Some boards however, use hex screws so you will need a different tool if your board is one of this type. Pick out your tools and make sure you have everything you need in one place before you start.
Step Two: Removing the Trucks
Choose a comfortable place to work and sit the skateboard up on a table. It’s easier to work with if you remove the wheels first. Next, turn the deck up on its side. Place the socket wrench around the nut on the bottom and the place the screwdriver in the head of the screw on the opposite side on the board.
Hold the screwdriver tight and begin turning the socket wrench to loosen the nut. Continue until all of the nuts have been removed. Set them aside in a safe place. Now, pull up on the trucks and they will come right off. The screws or hardware will still be sticking out of the boards.
Step Three: Removing the Hardware
If you’re just replacing the trucks, you won’t need to remove the hardware but in the event you want to replace them with new ones, it’s a simple process. The quickest and easiest way to remove all of the screws at once is to put your board down against a hard, flat surface and push. Your hardware should pop out all at once. If they don’t come out, flip the board over and tap on the bottom of each screw with a hammer until they drop out. Just be sure and replace them if you use this method.
Step Four: Put on the New Trucks
Check to make sure your trucks are lining up with the holes in your board correctly. Next, push the new screws through the holes from the top of the deck into the holes of the new trucks. Place the nuts on and tighten with your fingers. After you have all of the nuts back on, go back over them with the socket wrench and tighten. Then back off about half a turn.
Your new skateboard trucks have been successfully installed and you’re ready to try them out to see how they feel.
Lisa has been skateboarding since she was a young girl and now skates with her husband and four children. She believes that you are never too young- or too old- to love skateboarding.
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How to Remove Skateboard Bearings
There will come a time when you need to change your skateboard’s wheel bearings. Sometimes, they just need to be cleaned so the wheels will roll smoothly, but over time bearings will wear out and need to be replaced. This is a part of the maintenance and upkeep of your skateboard that you can do yourself instead of taking it to a shop.
Removing the wheel bearings can be a little tricky, but if you take your time and follow the two-step process below, you should get the hang of it. Normally, the first time someone attempts to remove bearings, they end up damaging them in the process, so it’s always good to have extra ones on hand.
You can invest in a set of skate tools, which will make the process a little easier but you can also use a wrench and screw driver. You will however, need to set aside a time when you can work without interruptions or being rushed; you need to concentrate on what you’re doing to avoid damaging the wheels or the bearings.
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How to Build Your Own Skateboard
Many skaters choose to build their own skateboard. This has many advantages because you can make it a completely one-of-kind board. Building your own skateboard is not too difficult once you know the process and you can upgrade anytime. This guide is designed to help beginners learn how to build a skateboard by picking out all the parts and assembling them together.
Choose Your Deck Size and Grip Tape
The first step is to choose your deck size. This is based on your height and foot size. Normally, someone under four feet tall will need a deck 29 inches long or shorter. Someone over six feet tall should choose a board 32.5 inches or longer. Everyone in-between should choose the boards ranging from 29 to 32.5 inches long, based on their height.
The width of the board will be determined by your foot size and how you plan to skate but the average size is 8 inches. If you plan to use ramps or skate for transportation, go a little wider and if you plan to do street tricks, go a little narrower.
Grip tape is the sandpaper-like material that sticks to the top of the skateboard deck to help keep you from falling off. Stick the grip tape onto the deck. The main thing to remember is to keep it straight and smooth. You can trim the edges off with a knife and cut out the holes for the trucks.
Choose and Assemble the Trucks
Pick a truck width that is within a quarter inch of your deck size for the best results. You don’t want your trucks to be too small or too big or you’ll have serious balance issues. Most beginners do well with medium trucks.
The bushings look like small donuts made of rubber. They’re soft, medium or stiff and they go inside the trucks. They provide cushion for the trucks when you turn. Stiff bushings are more stable and soft ones make it easier to turn. Beginners should start with stiff bushings and they’ll soften up over time.
Don’t forget the hardware, which are the screws and nuts to hold everything together. Now, you’re ready to install the trucks. Place the trucks over the holes in the deck and use your thumb to push the screws through the deck and into the holes of the trucks.
Place the nuts on the ends of the screws and tighten with your fingers. After all of the nuts are on, go back over them with a skate tool or wrench and tighten until snug and then loosen half a turn for best results.
Choose and Assemble Wheels and Bearings
The next step is to choose and assemble your wheels. Wheels are chosen by diameter and durometer. Diameter is how tall the wheel is in millimeters while durometer is the hardness of the wheel.
The type of skating you do will determine which wheels to use but when you’re first starting out, most skaters find the wheels with a diameter of 52mm to 54mm and a hardness of around 99a works very well. If you choose a larger diameter wheel, make sure you pick up riser pads to keep your wheels from hitting the bottom of the board.
After picking out the wheels, you need to choose your bearings. There is a rating system in place called the “ABEC” but it was not designed for skateboards and does not work very well. If you choose to use this system, pick out bearings with a 3 to 5 rating for the smoothest rides. It’s also best to choose bearings in the medium price range when starting out because they can be damaged easily and you’ll probably be changing them soon.
Place the bearings inside the wheels and press down on the outside of the bearing until they pop into place. Put one on each side of the wheel, eight in all. Now attach the wheels to the axle and tighten.
You have now chosen all the parts needed to build your own skateboard and assembled the parts together to have your very own, one-of-a-kind skateboard that you build yourself.
Louie Baur Skating The 2011 Coastal Carnage Bowl
This looks like so much fun! Wish I was there with you Louie.
Brigade Skate Shop: Central Texas Skateboarding
Are you searching for a great place to buy for all of your skating needs in Central Texas? Then look no further than Brigade Skate, a shop in Belton, Texas. They have a little bit of everything you could want with items suited for the newbie just getting into skateboarding or the professional who wants to take their skills to a whole new level.
Brigade Skate provides quality products that can be trusted and it prides itself on being “100% skater owned and operated”. This is why Brigade Skate is different from many of the other skate shops. Since the owners and employees are skaters too, they know what you need to develop your skills.
They offer a wide variety of items from some of the best companies in the business at the lowest possible prices so there is a wide selection available. You can choose from their selection of Dato Skateboards or decks from Chocolate, Darkstar, DGK, Girl and Habitat. They sell Independent Trucks and an assortment of clothing such as hoodies and a large variety of tees. There’s even a wide selection of hats, beanies, shoes and watches available designed exclusively for skaters. Our whole family gets outfitted here and I’m taking my daughter before the holidays for a new deck.
Hours of Operation and Location
You’ll find Brigade Skate located at 511 Lake Rd. Suite 105 in the River Oats Shopping Plaza. They’re right across the street from the Belton High School. They’re closed on Mondays but you can visit the shop Tuesday through Thursday from 12am-8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am-9pm and on Sundays from noon to 6pm.
The employees here are skilled in the sport and they always provide friendly and accurate customer service. If you’re not sure which skateboarding items would be best suited for your needs, they can help you by providing you with information about the products they sell. They also have an online site where you can shop if you don’t live close enough to visit in person or if you enjoy shopping from the convenience of your own home.
Help Build a Skate Park for Belton and Surrounding Area
Brigade Skate is also in the process of building a skate park where you can go to enjoy all the fun and excitement skating has to offer. You can help Brigade Skate build a skate park by sending in your donation today. You can be a part of helping to create a safe and fun environment where you can go to improve your skills and have a great time skating.
How to Put Together a Skateboard
Putting together your skateboard can be a little overwhelming at first but with a few simple steps, you can get through the process smoothly. Begin by clearing out a spot to work. Lay out all the parts so you can you inspect them to make sure you have everything. Your complete skateboard consists of four wheels, eight bolts and nuts, eight bearings, a pair of trucks, one deck and one grip sheet.
Once you’re sure you have everything, gather up your tools. You’ll need a socket wrench, a file, a knife and an Allen wrench or screwdriver, depending on which type of bolts you have. Now, you’re ready to put together your skateboard.
Step 1:
Place the deck on the floor with the graphics facing down. Peel off the backing of the grip sheet and stick it to the board so that the entire board is covered. As long as everything is covered, it can be crooked. (You will trim it later.)
Step 2:
Use the file to go around the outline of the board. This will create a line that will make it easier to trim off the excess grip. Use the knife to trim around the edges very carefully. Use your screwdriver to poke a hole through the grip for the hardware and you are ready to move on to the next step.
Step 3:
Install the trucks next. This is an important step. If you don’t do it correctly, you’ll have problems later (trucks can slip or if they are too tight, can affect handling of the board). Put the four bolts through the holes and the place the truck on the bolts and tighten. The kingpin is the main bolt that holds it all together. It needs to be facing inward. Repeat the process on the other side. When you’re finished, both kingpins should be facing each other.
Step 4:
Once you have installed the trucks, you’ll need to press the bearings into the wheels. Turn the board over on its side and remove the nut from the axle. Put one of the bearings on the axle and slide the wheel on. Press downward putting pressure on the wheel until the bearing pops into the wheel. Place two bearings in each wheel and if you need spacers, place it between the two bearings. Repeat this step until you have finished all four wheels. Finally, replace the nut.
Step 5:
Attach the wheels with the wrench. Make sure you tighten them securely so they won’t fall off, causing an accident. Your skateboard is now fully assembled and ready for a test run. Before skating, test the trucks and wheels to make sure they’re performing correctly. You may need to make a few adjustments and then you’re ready to ride.
How to Improve Your Skateboarding Style
In skateboarding, style is very important. You can learn all types of tricks but if you don’t have your own style, they won’t be as impressive. If you’re having trouble improving your style or just don’t know where to start, you’re in luck. The following tips can help you improve your skateboarding style so you can get the most from the sport.
The first step is to determine what style you want to use. If you’re not sure, watch some skating videos to learn a few different ones. Then, try them out until you find one you’re comfortable using. After choosing a style, you can begin implementing it to your own skating.
Be Comfortable Skating
Before you can improve your style, you need to feel comfortable skating. This means that you must be comfortable with your board. There are many different types of skateboards designed for different types of skaters. For example, the concave (how much the board curves in from the sides to the middle) will vary considerably in the boards.
You need to find the one that suits you the best. You also need to adjust the trucks to suit you. Some skaters like them tight and others prefer them loose. Adjust yours until you feel the most comfortable. You want to have proper control of your board.
Learn Control
Learn how to control your board. If you expect to maintain a style, you need to be able to control how your board moves even when you’re popping a high trick. If the board gets away from you, it’s going to leave you wobbling around trying to get it back under control and style will be last thing on your mind.
In order to have control, you need good balance. Good balance requires you to lean your body in different directions to prevent yourself from falling. For example, if you’re falling forward, lean backwards until you maintain balance. Bending your needs will help to absorb the shock of the board when you do tricks, which will also help you improve your balance.
Master Your Technique before Showing Off
Before performing a trick for others, learn how to do it correctly. You may still mess up occasionally but you should be able to do it right the majority of the time in order to do it with style. Now, the only thing that’s left to do is practice, practice and practice some more.
76-year Old Skateboarder Began at Age 65
Llyod Kahn is proving that you are never too old to love skateboarding. He tells the San Francisco Gate that he never goes anywhere without two or three skateboards and safety gear in the back of his truck. Kahn, the owner of Shelter Publications in Bolinas, talks to SFGate about how he took up skateboarding and what it really means to him.
In this interview, he admits that he tried out the skateboard of his son’s friend at the age of 65 and became hooked. He loves it most because it’s fun and he enjoys riding downhill. While he doesn’t ride in skate parks or perform tricks, he appreciates skating for what it is.
Says Kahn, “I think it’s good for the brain to be learning a new skill at my age. Good also for balance and coordination. There’s also the element of danger or pain if I screw up, so it makes me pay attention.”
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