Your first skateboard: the beginner's guide

Want to get into skating but lost between sizes, brands, and jargon? No sweat : this guide gives you everything to pick your first skateboard and start on the right foot.

💡 Want to compare all deck widths and families? Read our complete guide : how to pick the right skateboard.

Complete skateboard or build-your-own: what's best for beginners?

For getting started, grab a complete skateboard : deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, and grip are already mounted and dialed in. Unbox it and ride. Custom builds come later, once you know what you like.

What size (width) skateboard to pick?

In skateboarding, the deck width (in inches) matters most, not length. Quick guide :

• 7.5″ – 7.75″ : light and nimble. Perfect for technical street, lighter riders, kids and teens.
• 8″ : more stable, the modern street standard. More surface = more confidence on landings.

Go by shoe size : up to ~38 → 7.5″-7.75″ ; 39-42 → 7.75″-8″ ; 43+ → 8″ and bigger. But your style (street vs park) counts as much as your shoe size.

The anatomy of a skateboard

• The deck : the board, made of maple wood, with a "concave" (curves) to lock in your feet.
• The grip : the rough tape on top, for grip.
• The trucks : metal axles connecting wheels and deck, let you turn.
• The wheels : their hardness changes how it feels (hard for street, soft for comfort).
• The bearings : how smooth your wheels spin.

Your first skating moves

1. Figure out your stance : regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward).
2. Learn to push and balance on smooth, flat ground.
3. Work on turns by leaning your weight onto your heels or toes.
4. Master braking and stepping off cleanly before you start speeding up.

Safety: protective gear

At the start, a helmet, wrist guards, and knee pads stop a lot of bumps. The skatepark's safer than you think with the right gear.

Maintenance

Keep it dry (water kills bearings and the deck), tighten your trucks and wheel axles regularly, and replace your grip when it gets smooth. You can rotate your wheels to even out wear.

Beginner mistakes to avoid

• Picking a tiny board "to do tricks" : stability helps you progress.
• Trucks too tight (can't turn) or too loose (unstable).
• Riding on wet ground : seized bearings guaranteed.

Which ACTA skateboard to pick?

To start or for a teen, the 7.5″ Wordart is perfect. For versatility, aim for a 7.75″ (Memphis, Monster). For maximum stability, go 8″ (College, Geo). It's all in the Street Skateboard collection.

FAQ

What size for a tall beginner? A 7.75″ to 8″ is the best middle ground.
Do you need an expensive skate to start? Nope, a quality complete is plenty.
Skateboard or surfskate to begin? Street skateboard for tricks, surfskate for that wave feeling.

Designed in Hossegor by riders, for riders.