If practice makes perfect, Paul Schmitt must have reached manufacturing perfection 10 million skateboards ago. Known as “The Godfather of Skateboards” and “The Professor,” Schmitt has earned his reputation in the skateboarding world for creating top-quality, professional skateboards. His company, PS Stix, now produces over 4,000 skateboards a day. Along the way, Paul also designed the Create-a-Skate program, which dives into the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) behind skateboards.
When Uli and Toni, cofounders of Surf Skate Science, visited the Surf Expo in 2007, they met Paul Schmitt and were introduced to his Create-a-Skate program. They loved the idea of blending STEM education with skateboarding and brought it back to Ramp 48, the skatepark they ran, which shared space with a local private school. This unique setup allowed them to combine STEM and skateboarding in a fresh, innovative way.
Fast forward to 2018, when a community need inspired them to launch the Surf Skate Science program. They continued to incorporate the Create-a-Skate program and the valuable lessons they learned from "The Professor" himself, Paul Schmitt. One key takeaway was the importance of young skaters choosing the right board to progress faster. They even integrated Create-a-Skate into how they sold boards at the park. Over the years, they saw countless professional skaters develop, thanks to the incredible facility, the passion of the skaters, a strong sense of community, and access to both science and skateboarding knowledge—especially when it came to selecting the right board.
The Best Skateboard Type for Your Riding Style
Not all skateboards are the same. A board that’s great for cruising around town or riding downhill might not be the best for doing tricks or riding in skate parks. That’s why it’s important to choose a skateboard based on where you like to skate.
There are two main types of skateboards to consider:
Classic Popsicle Skateboards: Perfect for street skating, doing tricks, and riding ramps. (This is the type we use at Surf Skate Science)
Longboards: Best for downhill racing and smooth cruising.
Beginner Skateboarder
If you’re just starting out or if you’re a younger skater, a complete skateboard is a great choice. Completes come already put together with everything you need to start skating right away.
We are stoked to offer our own completes designed by skateboard artist Henry Jones and manufactured in Paul Schmitt's PS Stix Factory. These boards are the first boards created with wheelbase in mind for younger skaters.
For beginners, it might be hard to see the differences between skateboards. Many brands have unique features, but to someone new, all skateboards can seem the same.
We suggest that when buying your first skateboard deck, you focus on two things: size and design. Choose a board that feels comfortable and has artwork you like—that way, you’ll love riding it!
Intermediate and Advanced Skateboarders
Once you've learned how to balance and do some basic tricks, you’re ready to move to the next level. Intermediate skaters may want to build their own skateboard by putting together different parts or upgrading parts of a complete board, like wheels, trucks, or the deck.
Advanced skaters often build their own custom skateboards to choose the best parts for their style, like higher trucks for better turning or smaller wheels for more speed.
Understanding the Skateboard Deck
The main part of the skateboard is called the deck. Decks are usually shaped like a popsicle and come in different sizes, measured in inches. Before you ride, a rough sandpaper-like layer called griptape is applied to the top to help you grip the board.
Nose: The front part of the deck.
Tail: The back part of the deck.
Concave: The U-shaped curve across the width of the deck.
Each brand has a different level of how much the nose and tail are raised, which affects the deck’s pop—how the board reacts when you press down on the nose or tail during tricks.
Beginners might not notice all these details right away, but as you skate more, you’ll start to prefer certain features. Here’s what else you need to know about skateboard decks:
How is a Skateboard Constructed?
Most pro skateboard decks are made from Maple wood from North America or Canada. They glue seven layers of wood together and use a heated mold to shape the board. After molding, the decks are cut, drilled, shaped, and decorated with cool graphics on the bottom or sometimes the top.
Many skateboard brands use the same woodshops but create their own unique shapes and concaves to make their decks special. In fact, Paul's PS Stix factory, who manufacturered our Surf Skate Science decks, all manufacturers most pro boards around the world.
How to Choose the Right Size
The single most important measurement that doesn’t get talked about much is the wheelbase. But it’s super important for how your skateboard handles. Let’s dive into what wheelbase is and why it matters.
What is the Wheelbase?
The wheelbase is the distance between the front and back wheels of your skateboard. Think of it like the skateboard’s skeleton. Just like cars with shorter wheelbases can turn quicker, skateboards with shorter wheelbases can make sharper turns. Longer wheelbases make your skateboard ride smoother and feel more stable.
How to Measure Wheelbase:
Find the middle of the holes where the trucks (the metal parts that hold the wheels) attach to the deck.
Measure the distance between the front and back truck holes. That’s your wheelbase!
Average Wheelbase for Street Decks: About 14.25 inches.
Some decks have longer wheelbases, over 14.75 inches. This is typical for street decks that are 8 to 8.25 inches wide.
Height
Your height affects the right wheelbase for you. Taller skaters with longer legs usually prefer a larger wheelbase. This helps them feel more comfortable and balanced on their skateboard. Use the chart below to help find the right size for you.
Skater's Height | Wheelbase |
Under 4' | 12" Wheelbase |
4' to 4' 5" | 12.5" Wheelbase |
4' 5" to 4' 10" | 13" Wheelbase |
4' 10" to 5' 3" | 13.5" Wheelbase |
5' 3" to 5' 8" | 14" Wheelbase |
5' 8" to 6' 1" | 14.5" Wheelbase |
6' 1" and above | 15" Wheelbase |
But what about width?
Most skate shops that aren’t familiar with the importance of wheelbase will typically sell you a skateboard based on width. While we don’t recommend choosing a board solely on width, it does have an impact on your skateboarding experience. Width affects how much control you have over the board.
Shoe Size
The width of your skateboard should match your shoe size. If the board is too narrow, it will be hard to balance. If it’s too wide, doing tricks can be difficult.
Here’s a simple guide:
Smaller Shoes: Choose a narrower board.
Larger Shoes: Choose a wider board for better balance.
Deck Size (inches) | Age | Height | US Shoe Size (Men) | US Shoe Size (Women) |
7 - 7.375 | Under 6 | 3'5" or less | 3-3.5 | 4.5-5.0 |
7.375 - 8.0 | 6 to 12 | 3'5" to 5'2" | 4–6 | 5.5–7.5 |
8.0 - 8.25 | 13 and older | 5'3" and over | 6.5–9 | 8–10.5 |
8.0+ | Adults | 5'3" and over | 9.5 and over | 11 and over |
Deck width can range from very narrow (6.5–6.75 inches) to wide (over 8.5 inches). Here’s why width matters:
Too Wide: It can be harder to do tricks and control your board.
Too Narrow: It can be difficult to balance and stay stable.
Guidelines:
Narrow Decks: Great for younger or smaller skaters.
Medium Width: Best for street skating and tricks.
Wide Decks: Ideal for cruising and riding in pools or ramps.
Board Length
Measure from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail to find the length of the deck. Most decks are between 28 inches and 32 inches long.
Knowing the length can help you estimate the wheelbase if it’s not listed.
Example Sizes:
7.25" Wide = 29.5" Long (12.5" Wheelbase)
7.50" Wide = 31.12" Long (14.0" Wheelbase)
8.25" Wide = 32.0" Long (14.38" Wheelbase)
Recommended Total Board Lengths:
Kids: 28-29 inches
Teens and Adults: 30-31 inches
Taller People: Longer decks for better balance
Here’s a helpful chart to choose the right deck size based on your measurements when you can not find the wheelbase measurement:
Board Length | Height Range | Stance Width |
29.5” / 75 cm | Up to 5’6” (167 cm) | 20” |
30.3” / 77 cm | 5’6” – 5’8” (167-172 cm) | 20.8” |
31.5” / 80 cm | 5’8” - 5’10” (172-179 cm) | 22.0” |
32.7” / 83 cm | 5’11” - 6’1” (180 – 185 cm) | 23.2” |
33.5” / 85 cm | 6’0 and up (185 cm and up) | 24.0” |
Remember, there’s no perfect size for everyone. Your personal preference, how you like to skate, your shoe size, and your height all play a role in choosing the right board. Use the charts above as a helpful guide!
Here are a few more reasons why wheelbase matters
Turning Radius & Stance
Short Wheelbase:
Sharper turns
More responsive
Great for tricks and tight spaces
Long Wheelbase:
Smoother ride
More stable
Better for cruising and downhill
Stance
A longer wheelbase gives you more space between the trucks, which means a wider stance. This is especially important for taller skaters, as it provides more comfort and balance.
The Lever Phenomenon aka Pop
The lever phenomenon refers to how your skateboard acts like a lever when you pop it into the air during tricks. The distance between your trucks (wheelbase) plays a big role in how easy or hard it is to lift the board off the ground.
Short Wheelbase:
With a shorter wheelbase, the front and back trucks are closer together. This creates a shorter lever, meaning it takes less energy to lift the board into the air. Tricks like ollies or kickflips feel easier to perform because you don't need to press down as hard on the tail to pop the board.
However, the trade-off is that you don’t generate as much force or height. A shorter wheelbase gives you quicker, more responsive pops, but the board won’t go as high compared to a longer board.
Long Wheelbase:
With a longer wheelbase, the front and back trucks are farther apart, creating a longer lever. This means you’ll need to press down harder to pop the board, requiring more energy.
The upside is that you can get more height and power out of each trick. The longer lever gives you more potential energy, so even though it’s harder to pop the board, when you do, the board goes higher and gives you more time to complete tricks like 360 flips or shove-its.
In simple terms, a shorter wheelbase makes it easier to pop the board quickly, but it won’t go as high. A longer wheelbase requires more effort to pop, but it gives you a bigger, higher pop for tricks that require more air time.
Turning Behavior
Think of the wheelbase like a car’s turning radius:
Short Wheelbase: Easier to steer and make quick turns.
Long Wheelbase: Smoother and more stable but harder to turn quickly.
Length
The wheelbase also affects the overall length of the skateboard. Decks with a longer wheelbase are usually a bit longer overall. Most standard decks have a wheelbase between 13.5 and 14.5 inches.
Final Tips
Don’t Overthink It: While wheelbase is important, don’t stress too much about every small detail. Focus on what feels comfortable for you.
Try Different Sizes: If possible, try out different skateboard sizes to see what works best for your style and comfort.
Have Fun: The most important thing is to enjoy skating and have fun with your board!
Happy skating!
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