Introduction
One of the most frequently asked questions for those new to skateboard is, “How much weight can a skateboard hold?” If you wonder about the same thing, then bingo! You are on the way to gain a proper understanding of this challenging sport.
In this article, you will read about the importance of weight in skateboarding and general details about the specification of several current skateboards as a newbie-friendly purchase guide. Skateboard Cast!
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Does Weight Affect How You Skate?
No doubt, the answer is yes. Weight plays a crucial role in rolling or riding a skateboard. In fact, heaviness affects how you can perform skating tricks and the possibility of falling or riding on a sloping surface.
That’s why you can see most skaters are quite skinny or physically fit. They can easily balance their boards, thanks to their lightweight but have difficulties rapidly reaching a higher speed.
Compared to skinny skaters, heavier skaters can build greater momentum when going downhill. Yet this is also a huge disadvantage because momentum can turn into serious injuries. It is not easy to slow them down when they are at high speed.
That said, being overweight makes skateboarding more difficult. Heaviness also prevents skaters from doing complicated tricks like bounce, flip, or landing safe and sound.
Some newbies may have watched a trending YouTube video about a 330-pound guy doing interesting kickflips and tricks without any injury. Looks inspiring, right?
How could he possibly pull it off? The short answer is proper foot placement and knee bending skills.
But wait, there is another piece of good news! Skateboarding can be a great exercise for weight loss.
Practicing this thrilling sport requires an excessive amount of energy; thus, you can certainly slim down by riding it on a daily basis. Driving at high speed and enjoying the bustling outdoor vibe while still burning out abundant calories. Skateboarding is probably the best sport that caters to your needs.
For the reasons above, it is advisable to take the skateboard’s weight and its bearing capacity into account.
What is the capacity of the skateboard?
Scientific research of Priyanka Muhunthan, a Graduate of Stanford University, proves that the maximum weight that a skateboard can carry is 220 pounds.
However, with the growing trend of skateboarding, manufacturers now provide various skateboards that can support people weighing over 220 pounds to meet the demand of skate lovers.
For example, the longboard can hold up to 300 pounds. Meanwhile, the cruiser board can carry 192 pounds.
That said, heavy people can purchase a skateboard without worrying about their weight. Still, remember to skate with carefulness and patience. No one wants to get injured a few days after buying their boards.
Who Is The Heaviest Professional Player?
Usually, professional skateboarders’ weight is less than that of the adult, which is around 195 lbs. For instance, the two well-known American professional skateboarders Tony Hawk and Steve Caballero’s weight are 171 and 134 lbs, respectively.
There are, though, some heavy names in this field, namely Ben Schroeder, Jason Lee, Stacy Peralta, and Bam Margera.
Ben Schroeder or “Big” Ben Schroeder is a household name in professional skateboarding. He is impressively 6’66’’ tall and weighs 230 lbs – the highest weight ever recorded in this sport.
“Big” Ben Schroeder
Unfortunately, Big Ben put an end to his career in 2011 because of an accident. He had his tibia severely broken as he bumped into a car driving at a stop sign. He was going down a steep path at 40 mph before hitting it.
So, How To Choose A Decent Skateboard?
Basically, there are 3 main types of boards. Skateboards are designed for performing intricate tricks and flips, so they look more concave with two steeply curved upward. Meanwhile, flat boards or longboards have a greater length with tapered noses and tails adapted for longer distances.
List out your needs for a skateboard: commuting, doing tricks, or just simply for fun. Then check out the below comparison table about various types of current skateboards to choose your most suitable size:
| Size | Micro | Mini | Small | Mid | Full |
| Deck Width | 6.5’’ – 6.75’’ | 7’’ | 7.3’’ | 7.5’’ – 7.6’’ | 7.7’’ – 10’’ |
| Age | Under 5 | Under 8 | 9-12 | Over 13 | Adult |
| Average Weight | 45 pounds | Under 59 pounds | 63 – 89 pounds | 102-152 pounds | 195 pounds |
| Height | 3’44’’ | 3’5’’ – 4’4’’ | 4’5’’ – 5’2’’ | 5’3’’ – 5’6’’ | Over 5’7’’ |
The following is a few suggestions for specific needs of skateboard
- For performing tricks: Penny board, Old school
- For rolling through streets: Longboard, Cruiser board
Apart from board size, deck construction and truck durability are the two secondary key factors when it comes to picking up a skateboard. These two elements are responsible for the boards’ strength – how long and how strong the board can hold.
Remember that your skateboard must be convenient while you are riding, especially for beginners. You have an array of options on the market to choose from based on your interest. A decent-quality board equates to a good riding experience. Again, consider how much it could carry.
Don’t purchase things on a whim because you will soon regret it. Take a little time to research to have a life-long fascinating skating experience.
Although there is no longer an official maximum weight for a skateboard, the high risk exists if the skater weighs more than the average number – 220 pounds. So, in any case, skates must wear protective gear such as helmets, knee and elbow pads to avoid irreparable injury.
Conclusion
Hope you got a satisfactory answer to your problems. Let us know your opinion about what other criteria make a suitable skateboard. Indeed, these sharings would be helpful to the skateboarding community.
