A skateboard is a type of sports equipment used primarily for the sport of skateboarding. It usually consists of a specially designed maplewood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability. Most skateboards are made with 7 plies of this wood.
A skateboard is moved by pushing with one foot while the other remains on the board, or by pumping one’s legs in structures such as a bowl or half pipe. A skateboard can also be used by simply standing on the deck while on a downward slope and allowing gravity to propel the board and rider. If the rider’s leading foot is their right foot, they are said to ride “goofy;” if the rider’s leading foot is their left foot, they are said to ride “regular.” If the rider is normally regular but chooses to ride goofy, they are said to be riding in “switch,” and vice versa.
A skater is typically more comfortable pushing with their back foot; choosing to push with the front foot is commonly referred to as riding “mongo”, and has negative connotations of style and effectiveness in the skateboarding community.
Recently, electric skateboards have also appeared. These no longer require the propelling of the skateboard by means of the feet; rather an electric motor propels the board, fed by an electric battery.
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There is no governing body that declares any regulations on what constitutes a skateboard or the parts from which it is assembled. Historically, the skateboard has conformed both to contemporary trends and to the ever-evolving array of stunts performed by riders/users, who require a certain functionality from the board. The board shape depends largely upon its desired function. Longboards are a type of skateboard with a longer wheelbase and larger, softer wheels.
The two main types of skateboards are the longboard and the shortboard. The shape of the board is also important: the skateboard must be concaved to perform tricks. Longboards are usually faster and are mostly used for cruising and racing, while shortboards are mostly used for doing tricks.
As more interest and money has been invested into skateboarding, more skate parks, better skateboards have become available
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The first skateboards were made from roller skates (attached to a board). Skateboarding gained in popularity because of surfing; in fact, skateboarding was initially referred to as “sidewalk surfing”. Initially, skateboards were handmade from wooden boxes and planks by individuals. As the sport became more popular, companies started manufacturing skateboards.
Skateboarding has gone through its ups and downs over the years. However, since 2000, due to attention in the media and products like skateboarding video games, children’s skateboards and commercialization, skateboarding has been pulled into the mainstream. As more interest and money has been invested into skateboarding, more skate parks, better skateboards have become available. In addition, the continuing interest has motivated skateboarding companies have to keep innovating and inventing new things.