Four free skateboarding tools covering deck size guidance, trick progression, calorie burn, and obstacle identification. Suitable for beginners through to intermediate street and park skaters.
Choosing your setup
Skateboard setup starts with deck width. The most common adult sizes run 7.75"–8.5". Narrower decks (7.5"–7.75") suit smaller riders and technical street skating; wider decks (8.25"–8.75"+) suit larger riders, transition skating, and vert. Truck width should match deck width. Wheel size (50–54mm for street; 54–60mm+ for cruising and transition) and hardness (99–101a for street; 78–87a for cruising) complete the setup.
All skateboarding tools
4Skateboard Deck Size Guide
Find the right skateboard deck width for your shoe size and skating style.
Open toolSkateboard Trick Progression Guide
Follow a logical progression of skateboard tricks from beginner to advanced.
Open toolSkateboarding Calorie Calculator
Estimate calories burned skateboarding by intensity and bodyweight.
Open toolSkatepark Obstacle Guide
Understand the common skatepark obstacles and what each is used for.
Open toolFrequently asked questions
What size skateboard deck should I buy?
For adults: 7.75"–8.0" for smaller riders and street skating; 8.0"–8.5" for general use and transition; 8.5"+ for larger riders and bowl/vert skating. For children: 7.0"–7.5" for ages 8–12 depending on shoe size. Width is the most important measurement — length is fairly standard. When in doubt, go slightly wider rather than narrower.
What is the first trick a beginner should learn?
The ollie — jumping with the board without using your hands — is the foundation of modern street skating. All flip tricks, grinds, and most technical tricks build on the ollie. Before the ollie: get comfortable rolling, pushing, turning, and stopping. A stationary ollie typically takes days to weeks to learn; a rolling ollie with height and control takes weeks to months of regular practice.
Is skateboarding good exercise?
Yes — skateboarding provides a mix of cardiovascular exercise, balance training, and lower body conditioning. Calorie burn varies enormously: cruising at low intensity burns 150–250 calories per hour; active skating with repeated tricks and runs burns 350–500+ calories per hour. The sport also develops coordination, proprioception, and spatial awareness that transfer to other physical activities.