We found that there were far more things that inhibited young women’s skateboarding than enabled it.

…

Our maps indicate that, except in woman-only sessions, girls tend to stick to the edges of the space, often semi-concealed behind ramps or other barriers. Even expert girl skateboarders worried about being ‘in the way’ of others, something not mentioned at all by men.

…

Young women discussed being undervalued as skaters and their abilities being questioned by male skaters. They felt they had to ‘prove’ themselves as competent skateboarders immediately on arriving in a skateboarding space, and that even expert skaters were seen as being ‘good for a girl’. They also felt constantly watched by male skateboarders, and that, while this could just indicate curiosity, sometimes it had an element of sexual harassment. Making Space for Girl Skateboarders

I doubt many will find these conclusions surprising, but it’s the first attempt I’ve seen to quantify the way girls experience skateparks by mapping out the way girls use them. (I would like to see the map, but this blog post contained early findings from the study, not a formal report.)

Girls interviewed for the study felt the general public directed disapproved of them out of proportion to skater boys. They felt like the best they could do would be “good for a girl.” And they felt like they were constantly watched by skater boys. Obviously, no male skater shares those experiences.

However, as is often the case in design, improving something for one population (skater girls, in this case) is likely to improve it for everyone else, too. (See also: curb cuts and telephones.) For example, the author suggests that skateparks should be “designed so that there are quiet places for beginners to practice, relatively undisturbed by more expert skateboarders,” which would be great for all beginning skaters, not just girls.

For the rest of the early findings and recommendations, see the study author’s blog post on Making Space for Girls, or watch the video.

Thanks @unchartedworlds for sharing the link on Mastodon.

If you bought a kid a skateboard and it is starting to look beat to hell or a skater kid you know has a birthday coming up, it’s time for a new deck. While wheels, bearings, and trucks last for a while, decks usually last about 1–3 months, depending on how hard they are skated.

Plus it just feels awesome to stand on a fresh deck.

If it is your first time setting up a new deck or helping a kid set one up, this video will get you through it!

Here’s what you will need:

• An old complete skateboard.
• A new skateboard deck.
• New grip tape.
• A skate tool or a screwdriver and wrench.
• A utility knife.

What skateboard to get for a beginner

When shopping for a skateboard, you will find “completes” or you can buy the components separately. Either way, here are the essential components of a skateboard, which are what you will get when you buy a complete:

• Deck (the wood part)
• Grip tape
• Trucks (the part with the axle for mounting the wheels)
• Wheels
• Bearings
• Hardware (the bolts that hold the trucks to the deck)

If you order a skateboard, you can order a complete skateboard or separate components and assemble the skateboard yourself. Or if you buy a skateboard at a local skate shop, they will probably help you pick out the components and assemble it for you. If your kid keeps skating, they will probably start assembling their own skateboards by the time they get their third deck.

You don’t need to keep buying completes, though! You can replace components as they wear out. The deck gets the most wear and tear, and will need replacing once it has some big chips or missing grip tape or the tail is worn to a sharp edge (“razor tail”). Wheels also wear out, but will usually survive at least a few decks unless your kid is really into power slides. You can reuse trucks, bearings, and hardware many times as long as you don’t leave the skateboard out in the rain. If you do, the bearings will rust and they will need to be replaced.

Now for sizing. As a general rule, here’s what to get:

• An 8″ wide popsicle stick–shaped deck is a fine starter size for most kids (plenty of experienced skaters like 8″ popsicle decks, too). If you are buying a skateboard for a kid who is 5 or younger, a 7″ “mini” deck might be a little easier to handle.
• Grip tape is sold in standard sheets sized for most common skateboard decks. Black is fine, but there are lots of cool options. For kids 5 and younger, look for soft grip tape, which will be easier on their hands and pants while they are sitting and kneeling on the skateboard as much or more than standing on it.
• Truck axle length should match the width of the deck, but you may have to translate from centimeters to inches. If it’s within about a quarter inch either way, it’s good enough.
• Start with 53mm wheels. Or 52mm or 54mm. It’s not all that important. Get really hard ones, like 99a. They will slide more easily when your kid wants them to. (Which is a good thing.) Or if your kid is 5 or younger, or will skate mostly on rough roads and uneven sidewalks, here are some suggestions for bigger, softer wheels.
• Get bearings. It’s not all that important which ones, as long as they are skateboard bearings.
• Get skateboard hardware. It’s not important which hardware as long as it’s meant for a skateboard. For a typical setup, 7/8″ bolts are just right.

Feel free to deviate from this if your kid knows what they want or you get different good advice. Skateboarding is about creativity and individuality, not rules.

Where to buy

Buy local if you can. I’ll explain why it’s a good idea. But if after reading this you would rather buy online, that’s okay. It’s more important that we get your kid a good first skateboard. Just be careful buying from Amazon. And whatever you do, don’t buy a skateboard from a department store.

Buy local

The easiest and best way to buy a kid a skateboard is to go to a local skate shop and ask them to help you. You can pick out a deck with graphics your kid will love, and the staff will help you pick out components that fit together. Then they can put it all together for you.

Before you leave, ask them where to find good skate spots for beginners!

I know it seems old school to go to an actual brick-and-mortar store, but trust me on this.

I do feel the need to point out, however, that skateboard graphics can be R-rated. In a typical skate shop you will probably see some skulls, some drugs, and some scantily clad women on the skateboards. That’s probably because skateboarding is, unfortunately, still dominated by 14-year-old boys who seem to particularly enjoy that sort of thing. But don’t let that stop you!

Or buy online

If I haven’t convinced you to buy from a local skate shop, that’s okay. Your kid will start haunting the skate shop on their own if they get hooked. For now it’s more important to get wheels under their feet.

There are plenty of places to shop online, but since you’re here why not support one of the board companies listed on this site? They sell kick-ass boards your kid will love.

Okay, okay, if you just want cheap and easy but good enough, go ahead and get this complete from CCS. It’s fine. And once your kid falls in love with skateboarding you can teach them the value of supporting local and women-owned companies. (Although you could just do that by buying from local or women-owned skateboard companies in the first place. Just saying.)

Don’t buy from Target or Walmart

Department store skateboards suck.

There’s a reason they cost a fraction of the price of a real complete. The decks are flat and flimsy. The trucks don’t turn. The wheels don’t spin.

Can you imagine what it might feel like to ride a bicycle made entirely of cheap plastic, frame and all? That’s what skating a department store skateboard feels like. Only buy them for kids you hate.

Be careful buying from Amazon

Some of the skateboard equipment on Amazon is great. I buy skateboard stuff from Amazon sometimes. But some of it is the same crap you can find at Target and Wal-Mart. The reviews aren’t very helpful because they are often written by well-intentioned but clueless parents or grandparents.

If you know what you want and you want to buy it from Amazon, go ahead. But if you aren’t sure, don’t guess.

Get them a helmet

What teaches you how to skate? The fuckin’ concrete. —Jake Phelps

I always wear a helmet if I’m doing anything more advanced than cruising around, and so should anyone whose brain is still forming.

Here’s the thing: your kid is going to fall. They are going to get bumps and bruises and scrapes, and every once in a while when your kid falls they are going to land on their head.

Protect their melon. Get them a helmet.

Take them to a skate park

Skateboarding on the sidewalk out front is fine, if it’s all they have. But take your kid to a skate park for the first time and you will blow their mind. Many cities and towns these days have at least a few skate parks. You can usually find them on Google Maps (try searching “skate parks near me”).

Go with your kid and be a voice of encouragement. And when they fall (because they will) help them get up and try again.

When I decided I wanted to buy my next deck from a woman-owned company, I couldn’t find any up-to-date lists. I checked with Skate Like a Girl, but they didn’t know of any lists either.

So I made this site.

I’ll keep looking for more woman-owned skateboard companies, but if you know of one that isn’t listed here, please use this form to tell me.