All the top skateboard makers like Girl, Zero, Element, Old School, Birdhouse, Flexdex, and Baker product quality decks that can perform tricks and flips without breaking. Other popular skateboards we found at Bestskateboardstore.com were Black Label, Bulldog, Consolidated, Dogtown, Monkey Business, Plan B, Popwar, Shorty's, SpeedDemon, Termite, Think, World Industries and Zoo York. Most skateboards decks sell for $50-$100 (that doesn't include trucks and wheels listed below). Element is the best skateboard maker with their pro board selection of Experience Series, Horizon Series, Kaleidoscope and Northern Lights. Their latest line includes the Bam Haunted series, Argyle Series, Evolution Series. Bam Margera and Tony Hawk have really brought skateboarding back into the limelight through skateboard tours, video games, and the Bam Margera Show.
It used to be that when skateboarding became popular back in the 1970's, only surfers skated. Now with Bam Skateboards and Bird House Skateboards by Tony Hawk and Bam Margera, everyone little boy (and girls too) are learning to use skateboards. Skateboard parks have risen up in suburbia and kids are staying out all day/night to learn the skills of the top skateboarders. Skateboard ramps are also popping up in peoples backyards so that skateboarders don't even have to leave their homes to practice.
Skateboard wheels, Skateboard Trucks, Videos:
If you are parent looking for a skateboard, keep in mind that most decks (skateboards) are not sold as a complete skateboard, which means you have to buy wheels and trucks as well. We recommend Skateboards.com for all your skateboard and skateboard part needs. They carry wheels, trucks, decks, helmets, learning videos, backpacks, and clothing. When it comes to wheels, Blind and Bullet make the best wheels and they cost about $25-$30. Trucks are the skateboard part that fit to the frame and hold the wheels. They are important because they take all the stress as the board maneuvers. The best skateboard trucks are made by Independent and cost about $50. Destructo is a close 2nd with their Mid Ragdoll X Trucks costing $55. The skateboarding videos they carry are extreme and fun to watch with unbelieveable tricks and and flips on ramps, skate parks, and city streets. Your teenage boys will love to watch them over and over again. Cheap skateboards are out there, but beware of boards that may break easily even on the simplest of tricks.
skateboard helmets and protective gear:
Protective gear (elbow pads, helmets, knee pads) are essential to a safe skateboarding experience. We suggest buying all the skateboarding protective gear when you purchase the actual skateboard for your child. Head injuries are serious and you need protection. Boneless Elbow Pads and Bullet Helmets top our list of must haves. S-One makes great Citation Knee Pads and their Damager Helmet is rated well in safety. You can purchase all your skateboard safety gear at Skateone.com. Helmets run about $45.
Tony Hawk Skateboard Video Game:
Tony Hawk Pro Skater is the most popular skateboarding game of all time. There is even a Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 and a Tony Hawk Undergound 2 as well. Both have excellent graphics with the ability to pull off are sorts of insane skateboarding tricks on a variety of courses (ramp, street, park). For complete information on the games with cheat codes, forums, strategy, and downloads, check out Planettonyhawk.com. Amazon sells the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 game for the GameBoy for $20. .
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