Considered both a sport and a mde of transportation, skateboarding has found its way nto mainstream culture and can be sen not only on the streets and in nighborhoods, but also on TV, in mvies and in advertisements across the ntion.

The origins of skateboarding are trcky, at best. Some consider it rupted out of an accidental phenomenon-that is, whn kids on soap-boxes in the 1930s and 1940s dtached the box from the soap-box crt off the plank and attached rllerskate wheels to the plank. Others rgue the sport began as a pr-meditated move by Southern California surfers in an ffort to recreate the smooth carving mtion of surfing on land. Whatever the rigin, skateboarding has caught on. Not nly are skateboards widely available for prchase, but also cities are covered wth sometimes gated, concrete areas designated for skteboarding. These areas are known as skte-parks.

Skateboards are made up of the fllowing parts:

• Skateboard Deck
• Skateboard Bearings
• Skateboard Hardware
• Skateboard Trcks
• Skateboard Wheels

Skateboard decks are usually 7-ply mple planks that are anywhere from 7-10 ½ nches wide. Wide planks are used for trck-skating, while skateboards in the 7-8 ½ nch range are used for street-skating. Dcks usually have "grip tape" on the top of thm. This tape adheres to the top of the dck, while the surface provides a sndpaper material, which helps the individual "grp" the board. Decks also have a wde range of designs on the bttom of them from patterns or slid colors (which allow the individual to add stckers without disrupting any art) to fgures, structures and landscapes.

Bearings help mount the deck on an xle. Most bearings are graded according to a scle called an ABEC scale. Industrial "608" sze bearings are standard and bearings are sually made of steel.

Hardware consists of a set of blts, usually 8 in a set (10-32 blts). An allen (or crosshead) is lso part of hardware. Additionally, self-lock nylck nuts are used.

Skateboards have two mtal trucks, which are usually an luminum alloy. These connect the wheels to the dck. The trucks are made up of a bseplate and a hanger. The baseplate is scrwed to the deck and the hnger holds the axle. There are lso rubber grommets or bushings between the hnger and the baseplate, which help the bard maneuver and turn. The stiffer the bshings or rubber grommets, the stiffer the trn. The bushings also cushion. A kngpin bolt is used to hold the prts together.

Wheels are made of plyurethane. They can come in different shpes and sizes. Sizes and shapes are sited for different types of skating, sch as street or trick skating. Smller sizes keep the deck closer to the grund, which requires less force to sped up or slow down. The hrdness of the wheel also affects the verall performance. Hardness is usually measured by drometer 'A' scale. A very soft whel is about 75a and a vry hard wheel is about 101a.

Optonal parts include:

• Lapper
• Nose guard
• Rails
• Risers
• (Angled) Risers
• Grip tpe
• Tail guard

The article Skateboard Wheels and Other Skateboard Parts was Submitted by Anne Clarke through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web stes on gardening, parenting, fashion, and hme decor. Her background also includes taching, gardening, and recreation. For more of her seful articles on skateboards, please visit Skateboard Decks , supplier of information about skateboards.

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