Skateboard Decks

Skateboard decks are of fairly simply construction and typically fail on a regular basis because of the nature and intensity of the sport and the riders who utilize them. The construction of the deck is simple. A mold is fabricated where layers of plywood and glue are alternated and pressed together with the side extremes being shaved and polished down to a rounded curve. The shape of the board resembles a banana in some respects and is lowered in the middle of the board with raised edges to make it easier to flip and spin the board with the rider’s toes. The art of the deck comes from the manufacturer and it is typically placed on the bottom of the deck, because that’s the part you see in competitions. Since the board is a fairly uniform item, the bottom is almost the only area where manufacturers differentiate themselves.

On skateboard decks there is always a layer of deck tape. Deck tape is usually a black adhesive that has small pebbles or sawdust in it to create grip against a surface. The deck tape enables the rider to have more traction against the bottom of the skate shoes which attempt to maximize the surface area that touches the board. The deck is the largest single unit on the skateboard and both of the trucks are attached to the bottom of the board with, typically, four screws each.