Everything you need to know before your first ride
Your skateboard is in – let's roll!
Yes! Your skateboard has arrived – good job! Time to get rolling… but first, let's make sure everything is sturdy, safe, and adjusted to your riding style. With these steps, you'll lay a solid foundation for all your rides and tricks.
Step 1: Check your setup
- Trucks & kingpin: are all bolts tight?
- Wheels: Do they turn freely and without any strange noises?
- Deck bolts: bolt heads flush with the deck – do not protrude, do not recess too deeply.
Step 2: Adjust to your style
Your trucks are your steering and your suspension. The right setup feels like your board is thinking with you, not working against you.
- Start in the middle: stable straight ahead, yet easy cornering.
- Feel what you need: more control at speed? ¼ turn tighter. Smoother cornering? ¼ turn looser.
- Test in your natural position: lean slightly to the left or right. Too stiff = looser; too wobbly = tighter.
- Small steps: never more than ¼ turn at a time, with short tests in between.
- Tuning for discipline: street/tricks often a bit tighter; cruising/carving often a bit looser.
Pro tip: Your setup is "living." Bushings develop and your skills evolve. Check regularly and adjust accordingly.
Step 3: Griptape check
- New grip: tightly glued, no air bubbles, edges well secured.
- Rough enough: test with your shoe – immediate grip = good.
Tip: Keep your grip clean with a stiff brush. Dirt = less grip and therefore less control.
Common beginner mistakes
- Setting trucks too loose or too tight.
- Going too fast on slopes without control.
- Skating on gravel, sand or wet tiles (slippery = dangerous).
- Choosing the wrong stance (regular vs. goofy) and not daring to switch.
- Do not check or clean new grip tape.
Ready to roll!
Give yourself some time. No one skates perfectly on day one. With a good setup, a fresh grip, some practice, and a little courage, you'll be on your way in no time. Let's roll!