The deck is easily the most important part of your setup. The deck you choose can greatly affect how you skate. So which deck is best? Well, that all depends on what you're looking for in a deck. Which one ollies highest? Which one is best for sliding? Which one lasts the longest? These are the questions I get bombarded with each and every day, so let's take a look at the different types of boards, shall we?
The shape is the most often criticized part of the skateboard, and the most technical. When choosing a shape, you must consider many different factors. Length, width, nose, tail, and wheelbase. Most of today's skateboards fall within the width range of 7.5 inches, to 8 inches. There are several that are a bit smaller, and a bit bigger, but for the most part, they fall within that half of an inch. The smaller boards tend to be easier to control and do flip tricks in the driveway with, whereas the wider boards are easier to carve and manipulate in a pool. Lengths generally don't stray from the 31" - 32.5" mark. Likewise, the smaller boards are easier to control while flipping. The other dimensions are geared towards personal preference. Some people like a long nose, and some people like a short wheelbase. The best thing to do is to experiment, try a few out, and decide what is good for you.
So, what else? When do you need a new board? If it breaks, or cracks, it's probably time to look for a new one. If you skid the nose or tail a lot, the edge will get sharp. This is called "razortail", and your board will chip a lot easier. This takes away from the amount of "pop" you get out of a board. So does getting it wet, or if it cracks. All of these will affect the amount of "pop" you get out of your board (or the strength of your board, if you will).
As far as durability goes, there is no conclusive evidence as to which ones are strongest. Most boards are 7-Ply, which is seven layers of plywood glued together. Some companies claim to have lighter decks, usually due to using thinner layers of plywood, or not as many, or crossing beams, which is laying the plys in different directions, creating a cross grain. These things can decrease the overall weight of your board slightly, but at the same time they can make it slightly weaker. Some board companies even add a few thinner plys, just to make their boards that much more durable. Some increase the concave of the boards, to make it more durable.
There are a few board companies out there that offer slight variations, or innovations in their board construction. For example, Flip offers "New Wave Construction" a patented system which uses corrugated stiffening ribs on the surfaces of the board to increase performance. Real Skateboards, too has a unique approach. They have "Triple Beam Construction" which uses seven Hard Rock Maple veneer plys, three of which are cross plys. This maximizes the pop and durability of the board.
If your board is stiff, it will perform at its peak. If it is soggy (from water damage, or just excessive flexing), then it wont perform well. But if it's too stiff, then it becomes brittle. If it is brittle, then it will break easier. So there must be a middle ground, right? Companies are coming up with new innovations everyday, to try and be the next big thing in board construction. But we have yet to see conclusive evidence leaning one way or the other.
It should be duly noted, though, that no matter how bad your board is, too thick, too thin, too soggy, too brittle, too chipped, too cracked, chances are good that the problem with your skating is you. Don't forget to have fun, okay?
