Beginner Skateboard for a Kid recs?

[Alter]

I am thinking of getting a skateboard for my 8 year old boy. The ones at ToysRus look like cheap crap so thinking to order something online. Anyone have any tips about brands or size of deck and wheels for a beginner?

 

[Hazad]

I know when I started skating (around 10 years ago or so), the CCS Catalog was the cool thing to order from and they had their own brand of decks that usually cost a lot less than the "name brand" stuff. A couple friends ended up getting some to test out and they worked out pretty well, but that was some time ago.

But, browsing on their site, it seems like they have some complete decks for good prices: http://shop.ccs.com/catalog/browse.c...=&sortby=model

Note that the CCS decks are about $40 cheaper for a complete than the "name brand" ones, which I'd avoid anyway when your kid is just learning how to even ride a board let alone become a decent skater.

 

[ConcernedParent]

Buy a blank deck from a reputable skate store.

 

[oneeightyseven]

my frist ever deck was a world industries with destructo trucks and blind wheels

such a little brand whore at 10 y.o

 

[Wrigglez]

+1 for getting a blank deck from a good skate store, some middle of the road trucks and wheels with better that average berrings. but most importantly saftey gear, helmet and knee pads are A MUST! i still skate but not so much these days.

 

[GQgeek]

Don't mean to intrude, but does your kid hang out with skaters already? If not, I'd encourage him to find another hobby. Every skater I knew when I was young was a fairly heavy drug user... I don't mean they did hard drugs, though some messed with acid and shrooms, but they were big weed/hash smokers... Most kids do some drugs occasionally these days, but I mean above and beyond that... Not saying your kid is predestined for that but skaters in general aren't exactly good influences...

 

[spertia]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

Don't mean to intrude, but does your kid hang out with skaters already? If not, I'd encourage him to find another hobby. Every skater I knew when I was young was a fairly heavy drug user... I don't mean they did hard drugs, though some messed with acid and shrooms, but they were big weed/hash smokers... Most kids do some drugs occasionally these days, but I mean above and beyond that... Not saying your kid is predestined for that but skaters in general aren't exactly good influences...

 

[ConcernedParent]

Originally Posted by spertia

Plus 90000000.

Somebody must have been picked on in school.

 

[limester816]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

Don't mean to intrude, but does your kid hang out with skaters already? If not, I'd encourage him to find another hobby. Every skater I knew when I was young was a fairly heavy drug user... I don't mean they did hard drugs, though some messed with acid and shrooms, but they were big weed/hash smokers... Most kids do some drugs occasionally these days, but I mean above and beyond that... Not saying your kid is predestined for that but skaters in general aren't exactly good influences...

lollersaurus rex



Just get him a basic good skateboard, any skateshop will hook your kid up, they [usually] never try to swindle you. Good blank/basic deck, basic trucks, some good bones bearings, hard durable wheels, but they can hook all that up for you. 80 bucks should get a really good, functional board that will last for a good bit.

 

[Nouveau Pauvre]

i am 12 and what is this

 

[Seanallen]

Blank Deck, then for trucks try to go with venture since usually blank trucks are heavy; then your choice of bearings and wheels. I would also look into these rubber pads you put between the trucks and deck for a smoother ride.

 

[Neo_Version 7]

Element deck. Tensor trucks. Toy Machine wheels. Alien Workshop bearings. Don't forget the grip tape.

All that should run you about $200+.

 

[dave]

I've been skating for about 25 years now and still pick it up at least 2-3 times a week. I would personally recommend avoiding blanks and shop decks as they tend to be made in china of inferior laminates and use sub-par glues so they warp in humidity changes and they snap like twigs.

find something that uses canadian maple (black label, zorlac, anything from dlxsf i think) and you're kid can flog em till the cows come home and be happy.

alien workshop makes some nice logo decks in smaller sizes that would be perfect. (the Spectrum is a killer throwback to early 90s AWS designs)

as for trucks, most kids today tend to crank em down so tight they may as well be welded together so geometry no longer plays into it. go nostalgic, go independent! I've skated indys since 85 and i STILL do if that tells you anything.

Wheels are wheels in a lot of ways. with your kid being so young he'd benefit from something a little smaller in diameter like a 50-52 so he can keep up with it. I like softer duros but most will point you towards a 110 or so.

for a decent low maintenance bearing, bones reds are perfectly fine.

good luck and, if you're into it, get yourself a setup and skate with the kid! i ride with my niece and nephews and it's an awesome time every time.

 

[steviecakes]

mini-logo deck. made in the same factory (california skate factory) as powell and the like. $10-15 cheaper due to lack of graphics. god knows where shop blank decks come from.

bones reds bearings. they will last him through many set ups. clean every few months.

as for trucks, it's a lot of personal preference. i like grind king lows.

jessup grip tape. just enough grip, not too much (like black label)

like someone above said, 50-52 mm wheels. much better for a kid who probably wants to learn ollies and flip tricks.

 

[Alter]

Originally Posted by dave

Great info

Originally Posted by steviecakes

More great info

Thanks! This is exactly the kind of info I need. Are there any good Japanese brands these days?