Buying a Skateboard

2. Trucks and Riser Pads

Trucks are the metal parts that connect the deck to the wheels, and allow you to turn by leaning. As with decks, brands and sizes vary. Generally, get a set of trucks that is almost as wide as your board. The height of trucks varies as well, and a medium to lower height will make doing tricks like kickflips or heelflips easier (again, the less height your have to rotate around in the air, the easier these tricks will be.)

Trucks have an adjustable turning stiffness (by tightening or loosening the nut on the bottom of them.) Turning is slower and requires you to lean harder when they are stiff, but this makes doing tricks easier.You will be much less likely to fall off when they are stiff, because staying in control is easier while riding.

Riser Pads are thin rubber pads that sit between the trucks and deck. They raise the board slightly off the ground, but just as importantly, they can make your board last longer. This is because they absorb some of the force when you land, preventing it from cracking.