Free Sample
The Complete Handbook of Skateboard Decks
Materials, geometry, construction, and service life for buyers, builders, and sellers who need to know what actually matters underfoot
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: Understanding Skateboard Decks
Skateboard Decks: A Working Definition
A skateboard deck is the board itself, the platform you stand on, and it is the most load-bearing and most personal component of the entire skateboard. It is the part of the skateboard that is sold separately from the trucks, wheels, bearings, and hardware. When a rider says they ride a "brand X" board, they mean the deck. All other components are interchangeable, but the deck dictates the feel of the ride: the flex under your feet, the height of the pop, the way it twists in the air, and the overall weight of the setup.
Structurally, a standard modern deck is a composite laminate made of seven or nine thin layers of wood veneer, glued together under high pressure into a curved shape. The most common wood is North American hard rock maple. The layers, called plies, are stacked with the grain direction alternating so that the resulting board is strong in every direction rather than weak along a single line. This is the same basic technique used in skateboards since the 1970s, and it works because it creates a panel that can flex and bend without cracking at the glue lines.
It is worth saying plainly: a deck is a replaceable wear item, not a lifelong investment. It is a piece of sports equipment that is designed to flex, impact hard surfaces, and eventually break. A rider who treats a deck like a set of tires, expecting to