Buying a Skateboard

1. Skateboard Deck and Griptape

A skateboard deck is the plywood board part of the skateboard. They are usually right around 8 inches wide, though slightly wider ones add stability when traveling quickly, and less wide boards make doing tricks easier. Its easier to rotate a board that isn't very wide in a trick like a kickflip or heelflip. There are many different brands of skateboard decks as well.

Griptape is basically sandpaper that is stuck to the surface of the deck to give your shoes grip while you are skateboarding. It is inexpensive, and comes in a sheet that has to be cut to the size of your skateboard, and then stuck on. You should be able to get the skateboard shop where you buy your skateboard to apply the griptape for you though.