Beginners Skateboards Buyers Guide for Kids and Children - buying a new skateboard for your child for Christmas or a birthday? It can be tough to know exactly what to buy. You basicly have two options:
Build a skateboard from scratch
Photo: Jamie O'Clock
This is where you buy each of the parts of the skateboards (deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, etc) and either put it all together yourself or have someone at a skateboard shop put it together for you. For step by step help in picking out the right parts, read the Skateboard Buyers Guide. This guide is pretty in-depth, and might be overwhelming to some parents. If that's the case for you, you might want to consider option number 2:
Buy a complete skateboard
Birdhouse
Complete skateboards are all assembled and ready to go. Often, complete skateboards (called "completes") have most of their parts from one brand, and there are a lot of good quality completes out there. I have four great compete skateboards to recommend, perfect for young or brand new skateboarders! But first, a little bit of help in understanding the difference between cheap, moderately priced, and pro-grade skateboards:
Beginners Skateboarders Buyers Guide - CHEAP means DANGEROUS
The first thing you need to know is to NOT buy a cheap children's skateboard from the toy store or nearest superstore. I'm referring to skateboards with Spiderman or Spongebob on the bottom, made by companies that have mass produced their skateboards with little concern for the quality of their product.This is important to remember, because giving your child or kid a poor quality skateboard will give them a bad skateboarding experience. Skateboards are, by nature, dangerous. You don't want to skimp on the skateboard, and get something that will make skateboarding even more dangerous. Read Are Cheap Skateboards OK to Buy?
The Difference Between Cheap, Moderate, and Pro-Grade
Pro grade skateboard companies actually spend a great deal of time trying to make their boards better, safer, and last longer. Unfortunately, these skateboards usually cost at least $100 US, often more for better brands. There are cheaper solutions listed below, but I want to make sure that you know that these are NOT as good as pro grade skateboards. They should work well for a kid's first skateboard, but if your kid is serious about skateboarding, they will outgrow these boards. If you want to get a higher quality complete skateboard, check out the Top 10 Boards list for some brand ideas, or just ask your kid, and then go down to your local skateboard shop to pick one out. You can also buy them online.Beginners Skateboarders Buyers Guide - Some Good Suggestions
The skateboards recommended here come complete, with all of the parts you need, and run from $60 to $70 US. That might seem like a lot compared to the $20 Batman skateboard at the store, but please believe me - those cheaper boards are poorly made, dangerous, and no fun. You are far better off buying a better board and some Batman stickers!And buying a good skateboard is easy - just pick one out from the three suggestions below! I recommend letting your child pick the one that they like the picture on the most - that's a very important feature of skateboards, especially the younger you get (but it never really goes away...)!
Angelboy Complete Skateboards
Angelboy
Angelboy complete skateboards have everything you need, and are manufactured by Powell Skateboards. Powell has a long-lasting good name in the skateboarding world - they've been around longer than most, and know what they are doing. Angelboy skateboards aren't the same quality as Powell skateboards, because they are manufactured in China, but they do have a very good quality to them. I have personally tested them out. Plus, they have very good graphics that most kids will like, along with parents. They all feature a little angel with attitude. (see the Angelboy website).
Andy Mac Complete Skateboards
Andy Mac
Andy Macdonald is a famous professional skateboarder who has done extremely well in competitions. He also loves kids, and has decided to try and make affordable skateboarding equipment for children and beginner skateboarders. Andy Mac Skateboards are made in the same place as Angelboy skateboards, but feature different graphics - they are a little more grown up. Not that the graphics are inappropriate, but they are less cartooney. (see AndyMac website)
Termite Complete Skateboards
Termite
Termite also makes complete skateboards for kids. Termite enjoys a strong name in the skateboard community, focused very strongly on making skateboards for children and beginners, along with pads and other gear for kids. Termite's graphics feature cartoon bugs - take a look and see what you think. (see Termite website)
World Industries Complete Skateboards
World Industries
World Industries used to be a hardcore brand, with rough and raucous graphics, but then they started making kid's boards, too! It's odd, but the World Industries cute little characters Flameboy and Wet Willy just caught on with the younger skaters. But, they are good and trustworthy completes, but more conservative parents may not approve of the overall imagery of World Industries. (see the World Industries website)
Beginners Skateboarders Buyers Guide - Helmet and Shoes
Photo: Steve Cave
Remember to also pick up a helmet, and look into skateboarding shoes if your child doesn't already have them. Some of the above companies make helmets and shoes, and can give you a great deal. The helmet doesn't have to be too fancy, it just needs to be on your kid's head! For the shoes, most tennis shoes will work, but skateboarding shoes are made with flatter soles and other features, to help with skateboarding.
Then, you should be all set! Except for cool skate stickers to slap all over the board and helmet, building ramps for your skater, taking him or her to the skatepark, then to competitions, and eventually to compete in the X-Games!
