Hey,

I'm 20 years old and recently decided I would like to get back into skating (I tried in my early teens - wasn't very good!). I live in Lincoln which doesn't really have much to work with. Anyway, my old Renner deck is absolutely knackered, its split, warped, damp, smooth griptape and just generally knackered. It was however a nice board compared to some of the £20ish Airwalk complete boards.

I would like to build my own board. Not top of the range, just good. I was hoping if I list some of the things I expect from the board, people could give me some information. I'm aiming to spend in the region of £60-£70 total, and I'm not much bothered about the brand of the actual deck.

• I'm 6-foot tall and I have size 9-10 (UK) feet. What sort of width/length board should I get?
• I want to learn a few basic flip-tricks, so I'd like it to be low/light-ish
• I would also like to use it as transport, this includes some uneven pavement slabs etc

What sort of kit am I looking at? I've already decided to get 'Bones Reds' bearings. The things I'm not sure about are mainly board width, trucks and wheel softness/size.

Any help/advice is appreciated, cheers!

I'd suggest you go for a complete from a proper skateshop (NOT JJB)..
For that price you're going to probably get a good British deck, and cheapo wheels and trucks...

£70 will get you this: From Big Woodys skateshop

Maybe have a look at rollersnakes sale

Maybe try an 8 inch wide board as you're tall and have big feet.

Do 8 inch boards look noticably bigger? I have considered buying a complete deck but to be honest I'm a bit of a tinkerer and I enjoy the process of choosing parts and assembling myself. I guess that might limit the what I can buy though.

Thanks for the help so far!

For £70 you're going to have to get a complete unless you want something poo.

We'll I've looked at a few things:

£17.50 - Venture Truck Salt And Pepper Black 5.0 Lo
£12.00 - Bones Reds
£20.00 - Wheels (not chosen a type)

TOTAL = £49.50

This leaves me with £20 for the deck. Rollersnakes has some for this price range. Like I said, I'm not concerned with the brand/art of the deck so much, but quality is important to me. I've been told before that the £50 decks, are almost always the same thing, you just pay more for current designs/art. I'd also been told that sub-£100 completes are almost always pants.

Sorry if I'm completely mistaken, you are the guys with the knowledge!

Any deck that is £20 isnt worth pissing on if it was on fire. Save up a bit more and get a blueprint/herion/landscape/thirdfoot team board for £35-£40.

Yeh, I think that your best option is to probably try to save and get a good british deck. Maybe try to get some pricepoint wheels and cheapish trucks.

Make sure thats for the pair of trucks and not just for one of them

I can almost guarantee it will only be for one because i got a new setup at the weekend and was looking at venture trucks.
Or instead of getting a brand new setup, see if a mate will sell one cheap, i got a decent-ish one for £15.

Sorry to add to the confusion but I would heavily recommend you try standing on boards of different widths rather than choosing due to your shoe size. I am size 11 uk, ride a 7.5... have friends size 8, 8 inch deck etc.
It really is down to what feels comfortable for you.

And if you look on a ruler, theres not actually that much difference.

Agreed entirely.. although it 'feels' somewhat different... to me anyhow.

Thats just for one truck, and you need two

Here is a starter set up from my local skater owned shop that i reccomend to most people, everything is a decent make and for the price you cant really go wrong.

Blueprint latest series team board, complete with Venture 5.0 trucks, Blueprint 52mm/53mm/54mm pricepoint wheels, abec 3's, bolts, risers, fitted with Jessups griptape - £90 - The board you get wont be the one in the photo, however it will be one of the latest blueprint team boards, you just need to decide what width you want.

The direct link to the set up on scenes website is: http://www.scenepreston.com/catalog/produc...fc3efd0cc32e788




Indeed on a ruler there is very little difference from a 7.5 to 8 however how they feel and behave underfoot is completely different.

TBH Sken I had a look at the scene website and thought the stuff was a bit expensive compared to Woodys and Rollersnakes.


And Chapter78:

£17.50 - Venture Truck Salt And Pepper Black 5.0 Lo (you need 2 as already pointed out)
£12.00 - Bones Reds
£20.00 - Wheels (not chosen a type)

You also need bolts that'll cost you £3-6

You may want risers.

You'll need griptape too. It sometimes comes free with a deck, sometimes costs £5. (More for stupid colours)

You're NOT going to get anything decent in your price range unless you go for a complete.

It may be worth having a browse through ebay perhaps... might be able to pick up a steal.

Where are you getting bones reds for £12, because everywhere I've looked they're about £18 or so....even in Woodys and Rollersnakes.