Santa Cruz Skateboards

With more than 15 years of experience in the skateboard business, skatedeluxe is your shop when it comes to skateboarding. You can buy your new skateboard comfortably online in our shop and get the necessary know-how about skateboarding.

Find the answer to your question:

• What are skateboards made of?
• What types of skateboards are there?
• Which skateboard for what?
• Are there skateboards for kids & beginners?
• What should I keep in mind when buying a skateboard?
• What size skateboard is the right one?
• What kind of skateboard do I need?
• Why are skateboards so popular?

• The deck is the wooden part.
• The trucks are made of metal and you need two of them to steer.
• Skateboard wheels are made of plastic. You need four of them to roll.
• You need two bearings per wheel. You won't get far without them.
• To connect the skateboard deck and trucks you need bolts / hardware.
• Griptape is attached to the deck & gives you firm footing.

There are different types of skateboards, depending on which parts are used to make them. Besides the visible differences, skateboards can also be distinguished by how they are used. In other words: depending on how and where you want to skate, there's the right skateboard for you.

Choose your skateboard according to how you want to use it

Skateboards are "unisex" in every respect: there are no special skateboards for women or men, for boys, girls or any other gender identities. It's much more important to think about what you want to do with your skateboard.

If you want to learn tricks like Ollies and Kickflips, we suggest you buy a "classic" skateboard. All "regular" components of skateboards are suitable for tricks.

If you'd rather take a relaxed ride through the city, it makes more sense to order a skateboard cruiser.
Longboards are best for long and laid-back tours. You'll find a wide assortment of all kinds in our shop.

Skateboards for kids & beginners

For children there are skateboards that are a little smaller than conventional skateboards. In terms of quality, skateboards for children are manufactured according to the same standards as normal skateboards. As such, you don't have to search for tests and comparisons - all kids' skateboards in the skatedeluxe skate shop are ideal for young, aspiring skaters.

Skateboarding has no age limit and you can learn at any age. We have a guide for beginners that shows you what to look out for when choosing a board.

When purchasing a skateboard there are some things to consider. The most important thing is that your skateboard consists of high-quality components (hardgoods). In our shop you'll only find high-quality components from the best-known and most popular skateboard brands.

That's why you can be sure that your skateboard parts are made with quality and years of know-how. With high-quality hardgoods you'll learn tricks and how to skate more easily and you'll have longer-lasting fun with your skateboard.

Your skateboard's parts have to be compatible with each other. For example, not all skateboard trucks fit every deck. If you don't want to create your own skateboard setup, but want to start right away, we recommend buying a complete skateboard.

The complete boards in the skatedeluxe skate shop are high quality, pre-assembled and therefore ready to skate. Especially since they're beginner models these skateboards make sense, because they're usually a bit cheaper. Our cruiser skateboards are also pre-assembled and can get you comfortably from point A to B.

Skateboard width and shoe size

Your shoe size can help you find the right skateboard deck width. The rule of thumb is: the bigger your shoe size, the wider your skateboard deck should be. However, this does not mean that you can't ride a narrow skateboard with big feet.

Example: For shoe size US 9 we recommend a deck width of 8.00″ to 8.375″. This ensures that your skateboard deck isn't wider than your feet are long. This gives you better control over your skateboard at the beginning.

For shoe size US 7 we recommend 7.875″ - 8.125″ wide decks, for US 11, 8.25″ - 8.5″ wide decks are suitable, etc.

Skateboard length and body height

The length of the skateboard deck can also help to make your selection. However, deck length plays a less important role compared to deck width and time will tell which length suits you best. Skateboards for children in particular should be a little shorter.

For a body height of 160cm we recommend a deck length of 31.5"″ - 31.875″. This gives you more control over your skateboard, as it should not be much longer than your legs.

If you are 170cm tall we recommend 31.75"″ - 32.00"″ long decks, if you are 180cm tall we recommend 31.875"″ - 32.25"″ long decks, etc. A complete chart and more information about how wide and long your skateboard should be can be found in our Skateboard Wiki.

In the skatedeluxe skate shop you can easily create your own skateboard in a few steps with the help of our Skateboard Configurator. This way you can make sure all the parts fit together and you'll also get useful tips for selecting the individual components. Just choose the parts, follow our recommendations and hints & order your new skateboard.

All skateboards have a similar structure and consist of the following components.

• Skateboard decks
• Skateboard trucks
• Skateboard wheels
• Skateboard bearings

• Skateboard hardware
• Skateboard griptape
• Equipment
• Protective gear

Skateboard decks

The deck is the part of your skateboard that you stand on. Skateboard decks usually consist of seven plies of maple wood, which are glued together and pressed into shape. The shape of a deck determines where the front and back of the skateboard is. There are different decks for different styles of skateboarding.

Skateboard trucks

Your skateboard needs two trucks to steer. Basically, skateboard trucks consist of two metal components: The hanger, where the wheels are attached, and the baseplate, which connects to the deck. Between the hanger and the baseplate there are two bushings that allow you to steer.

Skateboard wheels

You need wheels to make your skateboard move. Skateboard wheels are made of the plastic urethane and make the contact with the ground. Depending on where you skate or the condition of the ground, there are different degrees of hardness, widths and sizes for skateboard wheels.

Skateboard bearings

Without bearings your wheels won't rotate. There are also different types of skateboard bearings, which more or less differ. All the skateboard bearings offered in the skatedeluxe skate shop are suitable for skateboards.

Skateboard hardware / bolts

To mount the trucks to your deck you need the appropriate nuts and bolts. Skateboard hardware kits contain all the nuts and bolts you need for your skateboard. For tightening the bolts there are suitable skate tools available.

Skateboard griptape

Griptape is a sandpaper-like material that is glued to the top of skateboard decks. It ensures that you have firm footing on your skateboard and is essential for many tricks.

Optional skateboard parts

Besides the necessary components, there are a few optional skateboard hardgoods. With riser / shock pads you can increase the distance between your deck and the wheels. This way you can skate with wheels that have a larger diameter. Shock pads also protect your deck from impacts when landing and rolling on rough asphalt.

Furthermore we have a wide range of Skateboard accessories and spare parts in our range: exchange bushings, skate tools, skate wax, deck rails and other small parts like single nuts, spacers and more.

Dont forget: Helmet & protective gear

Unfortunatelly, falling is a part of skateboarding. In time, you'll learn how to take a fall properly. But in the beginning it's important that your skateboarding equipment includes a helmet and protective gear. A helmet is especially important when you start skating ramps.

In the skatedeluxe skate shop you'll find a wide range of skateboard helmets and protectors for your wrists, elbows & knees. It's not true that skating with a helmet is uncool. Professional skaters like Mark Gonzales, Lizzie Armanto, Tony Hawk or Nicole Hause prove just the opposite.

Skateboarding is different from other sports in many ways. You don't need a club or anything of the sort to ride a skateboard. Usually a bit of asphalt and of course a skateboard are enough. That's why so many different forms have developed since the beginnings of skateboarding: from skating on the street ("street skateboarding") to skate parks, freestyle or contests.

In addition, skateboarding has developed into a culture that is closely linked to photography, art and many subcultures. All in all, skateboarding offers a lot of freedom for creativity. There are certainly many more reasons why skateboarding has become so popular. One thing's for sure: it's really fun and once you start skating, you rarely stop.

Do you want to offer a skateboarding course or workshop and urgently need equipment? At skatedeluxe, you get the right offer for high-quality skateboards and everything you need for your course.