Buying your first complete skateboard for Christmas? The 2020 skateboard boom shows no sign of slowing down so we though this would be timely. Across the world, participation numbers have reached heights not seen since the THPS boom. Not only are we up in sheer numbers, but the Covid boom is obliterating the gender/age gap finally. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you this - head to any skatepark and you'll see it for yourselves. Female skaters, tiny kid skaters, middle-aged shredders returning to the fold and everything in between - skateboarding is booming right now. You can read more about this Covid-era phenomenon here: the unlikely boom of skatebarding during a pandemic. With the above in mind, and aware of the fact that many of you will be buying your first complete skateboard for Christmas, it seemed a good time to post a little info. You have masses of options as regards buying your first complete skateboard. We're stocked to the gills so how you go about it is entirely up to you. The two main routes that most beginners take are a) buying a preassembled complete skateboard, or b) buying the components separately and having us assemble it. See below for a handy guide on the major things to consider. Deck size You need to select a deck that suits your height, weight and shoe size. If you pick something too big or too small it will make it difficult for you to control when you start learning. We can advise you on this but it is important to consider deck width (usually between 7.5 and 8.5 inches) and length (usually between 28 and 33 inches) when choosing your first skateboard. New skaters with smaller feet or children should opt for a narrower board (around 7.5 wide) and slightly shorter board. If you're looking at buying your first complete skateboard for a smaller child - try our child range here, or click below to see our complete stock. Other things to take it account when it comes to your deck. Wheelbase: This is the distance between the two trucks. Most modern decks have a wheelbase of between 13 and 15 inches - fine for the average teenage/adult skater. For children or smaller people, look out for slightly smaller wheelbase. As with width/length, this will make it easier to control. Concave: This relates to the curvature of the board. There is no right or wrong with this and all manufacturers will offer different concaves. Some people prefer a flatter concave whereas others prefer a deeper one for board feel. Feel free to call us and ask for advice. Trucks: these are crucially important when buying your first complete skateboard. There are various things to consider but the main two issues are - hanger/axle width and truck height. The rule of thumb is, the wider your deck, the wider your trucks need to be. Truck width is usually calculated on the length from axle to axle, (the bit that sticks out beyond the hanger that your wheels fix onto). Truck height varies from one brand to the other - a good rule of thumb here is - the larger your wheels, the higher the trucks you will need. As always - don't hesitate to contact us for advice on truck selection. Skateboard wheels and bearings Selecting the correct wheels and bearings will have a huge influence on your experience of learning so here are a few crucial tips. The main variables with skateboard wheels are size (measured by wheel diameter) and hardness (measured by durometer reading - usually represented by a number follwed by 'A'). Wheel size runs from around 50mm to 70mm. The average skater (street and park) will usually opt for something in the 50-60mm range and pick a relatively hard wheel with something along the lines of a 95a to 101a duromteter reading). Smaller sized wheels reduce weight and harder wheels slide more easily on concrete and wood surfaces. For people more interested in cruising around than in doing tricks - larger and softer wheels (around 80a durometer) may be a better choice. Each complete skateboard requires a set of 8 skate bearings (that's 2 in each wheel). Bearings are all a standard size but performance and price varies hugely. Basic bearings sell for between £5 - £25 and will last, provided you care for them and keep them away from water. If you want to treat yourself to a set of really high-end bearings offering heightened performance and durability then the recognised industry standard of excellence is the Bones brand and their Bones Swiss and Bones Ceramic bearings. Looked after properly, a set of high-end Bones will last you for years and years. As always - feel free to call us for advice on wheels and bearings before buying your first complete skateboard for Christmas. Cruisers and longboards: For those of you more interested in skateboarding as a form of transportation and for the pure joy of rolling, we offer a full range of cruisers and longboards. Generally these will come as preassembled completes with softer wheels for comfort and speed with a shape more akin to a miniature surfboard. Hit the links above and below to see our full range.