Need skateboard help (x-mas shopping)
 

My 12 yr. old nephew wants a new skateboard for Christmas this year. FWIW, his current board is 31" long. The problem is that this kid is over 6ft tall and is just too big for a normal board. He wants a regular board, built to a bigger scale. He doesn't want a long board because he wants something he can do tricks on. Its been so long since I broke my ass on a skateboard that I can't possibly make a rational decision about what to buy. What are my options? Where should I look?

TIA

Find a skate board shop and talk to them, as far as I know hieght does not matter. Look at Tony Hawk a 6' + Tall skater.

I decent board make a world of difference. If he is a serious skater then a good board from a pro shop will be awesome. Then you can mix match the decks, trucks, bearings and wheels.

Thats a cool gift to give a 12 y/o.

Gift Certificate and a trip to the ProShop right after Christmas? Can you help him design his own?

A skatepark "tony hawk" type skateboard is pretty much a standard size.

The most impt component is the wheels and bearings. Need good bearings for speed, cheap ones are $10, midpriced are $20, top of the line are $40.

For wheels, you need to know where he is riding it most. Wheels have 2 components - size (measured in MMs) and hardness (some kinda durometer rating). Very hard wheels are a 99 rating, the softest are around 77.

It seems kids that ride in skateparks like the harder wheels, 98 or 99. This is what most skateboard shops seem to sell, really hard wheels.

Problem is, on the street or anything less than a perfect surface, it is a very bonejarring ride. For an all around board, I'd recommend something much softer, something in the 80s. It's a much smoother ride on the street and more fun.

At 12, it's going to be impossible for you to put together something he is going to like, on your own! Kids can be very picky. What is cool in your local area, who knows?!?

Your local skateshop can help you. It would be best, though, if they will agree to take some or all of it back if you save the receipt and he brings it back unused. And tell him when you give it to him that he should take it back to change out whatever he wants, it won't hurt your feelings, you want him to have exactly what he wants.

Most kids seem to like a custom put together board (picking your own components). A pretty much top of the line setup will run around $150-160.

(my kids are into skateboards, so I hear these things!)

2nd that. You can make a big deal out of it. Give him a "gift certificate" in the form of a budget then take him to the skateshop and be a part of the purchase. Take him for brunch/lunch afterwards.

Got opportunity to continue bonding with him. Young men (and woman) need all the positive role models that they can get.

Scott

I know nothing about skateboards but this sounds like a great idea (making it a father son thing and letting him pick out the board)

I have skated for over 20 years. I think it would be great to just take him to the skate shop and let him build his board right there. Maybe go there before hand to get a price range in your mind because things can vary quite a bit. I always liked nongraffic decks because I would always board slide the heck out of them anyways. The decks with little graffics can be $10 dollars cheaper. I remember telling the clowns that made fun of the decks I was skating "at least I use mine enough so you couldn't tell what was the graffic anyways". The more expensive the components doesn't meen they are better. I always skated some of the cheaper trucks as well because they were lighter and I always broke the kingpin on the more expensive trucks.

Happy shopping.

Speedy:)

Get the widest board you can find, it'll be really comfortable and will feel "big" even though its the same length as the others. Also, I suggest you go with really tall and soft wheels, they will be fast and won't vibrate his feet as much as smaller ones.

I did some of my best skating during years of my life when I was over 6', always rode wide boards.

Oh and as far as decks go, there are only a couple different manufactures. All the profesional companies buy the decks from the manufactures and then print thier graffics on them. In skate board decks your are mostly buying a name.

Agreed. I think a shopping trip where you guys can trick out a board at a pro shop would be way cooler than attempting to do it youself.

Oh yeah.....anyone who tells you Indy trucks are not the best is just a god damn liar..... :)

http://www.independenttrucks.com/

Wow....Independent still makes the best trucks. I feel old now :)

Thanks guys. Its been a long time since Ive looked at any of this stuff. I appreciate the help.