Skateboarding: A Popular Sport for Today's Teens

Skateboarding is a sport in which many compete and some make a career; it's a means of transportation, and a way of life. Sure, you've seen it in operation, but how's a skateboard manufactured?

The basic material is maple, selected for its tight, close grain; from straight stock. Cut and stripped, the maple is cut and prepared for laminating. Maple wood is a sustainable resource, and offers a stable wood that is not prone to warping in the presence of moisture. Sliced thin, seven layers of veneer are fed through a machine that applies just the right amount of glue; then the layers of veneer are placed in a hydraulic press that forms the nose, tail, and concave of the skateboard under pressure.

Some manufacturers specialize in 'slick' boards, which means that a layer of slippery plastic has been bonded to the bottom. When the veneers emerge from the press-shaped like a stretched 'U'-they're ready to be drilled and cut. These blanks are mounted in a drill press, and drilled out to mount the desired wheelbase.

Skateboards are further shaped on the band saw. Once they're cut, boards are sanded and routed out by hand; it's a skilled operation. With the decks completely sanded, they are ready to be sprayed with a sealant. The next step is to apply the graphics. Decks are screen-printed by hand, one color at a time, starting with the darkest color first. Now printed, the decks are stacked in a rack to dry. The paint can take three to five days to cure, depending on its formulation. Boxed and crated, the skateboards are ready to ship to your local shop. How much should you expect to pay for a skateboard? Well, it all depends.

In the US, you'll pay about $100 for a locally-manufactured board. Keep an eye on advertisements in industry magazines Big Brother, Slap, Thrasher, and Transworld Skateboarding (all US-only titles). Of course, here we're talking about 'new school' boards that are skinny, short-ish, and almost symmetrical, with small, hard wheels.