Buyer's guide for skateboard and longboard beginners
Which is the best skateboard for beginners?
You'll find millions of wrong answers to this question online! It will probably take another 10 to 20 years before the following insights become widely accepted:
Beginners need a stable stance (nothing new there, right? ;-)). Stable = wide stance. This means the distance between the trucks should be considerably longer than on a board used by experienced pros to perform their tricks. In almost every other area of life, it's common knowledge that beginners use something bigger, but not yet in skateboarding. Even though it's so logical, and the parallels can be found in related sports: surfing! There, beginners are put on longboards. Even in skateboarding, it's well known that beginners adapt more quickly to longboards. But there are hardly any skate shops that offer larger boards to skateboarding beginners. Because longboarding is often frowned upon by "core skaters." And those are the ones who like to be behind the counter "advising."
In almost every other area of life, it's common knowledge that beginners learn faster on longboards. These do exist, though, and are called things like HYBRIDBOARDS. They're about 10cm longer decks. You can do anything on them, but they offer much more stability. These are our recommendation for adults, and (in terms of height) for children up to 10 years old.
But now, the first REAL beginner skateboards are here: they look like a normal "popsicle" skateboard, with the same shape as decks designed by professionals. BUT: the front bend to the "nose," the front lever (analogous to the rear lever, the "tail"), is moved forward, the "nose" is shortened, and the wheelbase is extended by up to 4 inches / 10cm! And every centimeter counts! You can find them under "SkaReCo Beginner Pop."
These decks are handmade in Germany, pressed in small batches for us by a dedicated skateboarding enthusiast. Thanks to direct sales to you, it's still cheaper than many brand-name decks, but you can get it even cheaper if you choose an inexpensive standard skateboard and add the subVert wheelbase extension!
We do NOT recommend children's skateboards for kids!! Kids' boards are great—for more advanced children. They need boards that are the right size for their height. For little beginners, we recommend regular skateboards (usually with a wheelbase extension) or cruisers. With soft wheels (around 80 to max. 90A) and soft bushings – the hardness is clearly determined by body weight (up to 20 kg 70A, up to 30 kg 75A, up to 40 kg 80A, up to 50 kg 85A).
Please read this page: subvert.de/Kids-Skateboards
Regular ("popsicle") skateboards (from 7.5 to 8.5" wide) also have the advantage that after years of sitting unused in a corner ;-) they are still an acceptable size (then they should be at least 8" – hardly anyone rides anything smaller than 8" these days).
Cruisers have the advantage that the decks are often equipped with wheel wells, which are the cutouts above the wheel so that it has more clearance in turns before it touches the deck and causes a sudden stop. A kicknose would be nice, meaning the deck is angled upwards in front of the front truck.
That's all for now... pretty improvised. Hopefully, pictures will be available soon, and the buyer's guide videos should be online by summer.
subVert-Wheelbase-Extension!
Für Kinder empfehlen wir KEINE KINDERBOARDS!! Kinderboards sind super - für FORTGESCHRITTENE Kinder. Die brauchen Boards, die ihrer Körpergrösse angepasst sind. Für KLEINE ANFÄNGER empfehlen sich normale Skateboards (i.d.R. mit Wheelbase-Verlängerung) oder Cruiser. Mit WEICHEN Rollen (um die 80 bis max. 90A) und WEICHEN Lenkgummis - da richtet sich die Härte ganz klar nach dem Körpergewicht (bis 20 Kilo 70A, bis 30 Kilo 75A, bis 40 Kilo 80A, bis 50 Kilo 85A)