1. Deck. The deck is the wooden part of the skateboard that you will be standing on. This is the the most important part of your skateboard, in my opinion. The deck is what wears the fastest and what will need replacing most often. The deck also comes in many different sizes which can affect your comfort level and how you feel on the board. The average width is between 7.5 and 8 inches (19.05 to 20.32 cm) and the average length is about 32 inches (81.28 cm).

2. Trucks. These are the metal pieces that attach underneath the deck that hold your wheels; These are more or less axles. The trucks are comprised of smaller parts, including axles, bushings and kingpins. They are generally made of aluminum or titanium. The trucks are held onto the deck by hardware, which are screws and bolts which are generally about 1″-1.5″ in length.

3. Wheels. Wheels are very important because these are what help you to move, obviously. Wheels are made out of urethane and can vary in different sizes and hardness, depending on what surfaces and terrain you will be riding. Smaller wheels offer less resistance when maneuvering tricks, while larger wheels provide more stability.

4. Bearings. These go inside of the wheel (2 to each wheel) and these are what allow you to move. Bearings come in different ABEC Ratings which measures the tolerance and accuracy of the bearings. Basically, the higher the ABEC rating, the higher the quality and the higher the price. But, generally, any ABEC rating is good enough, so don’t waste your money there.

5. Grip Tape. This is the black, sand-paper like material on top of the skateboard deck. This is what allows traction and for the rider to perform tricks. If not for the grip tape, the surface would be slippery and make tricks much more difficult. Grip tape is self adhering and applies easily. This is another component that is fairly stable across companies; any kind of grip tape will work just fine.

6. Riser pads. This is a completely optional component. Riser pads simply change the height from the board to the ground. they are inserted between the trucks and the deck, and thus will require longer hardware. This, again, is based purely on personal preference and is not necessary to ride.

These are all of the components of a skateboard. When purchasing a skateboard, you can personalize it by picking out each individual piece yourself, or get what is called as a complete skateboard, which is one that is already put together with the necessary parts, all of which sync in terms of size and performance.