Skateboarding has waxed and waned in popularity over the decades, but the solitary demands of Covid-19 have oxymoronically created another golden age for the sport. Parks and spots are packed with new youngsters and returning old-timers (tons of us!) riding alongside the die-hards that never left. The best part? It's a lovefest out there—the cross-community skate support has never shone brighter, with hand-holding, tip-sharing, encouragement, and celebration happening by all.
If you've thought about starting skateboarding, or maybe haven't stepped on a board since that old Kamikaze you used to ride in middle school, there's no time like the present. Here are our suggestions on solid supplies to get you going.
A piece of advice: Do what you can to buy from your neighborhood skate shop—they're the main ones keeping the skate scene in your town alive, stocked up, and totally stoked. If they don't have what you're looking for, they can likely order it for you. We'll provide some links here in case that doesn't work out. Now get out and skate!
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Get on Board
Photograph: Meow Skateboards
Most decks today are popsicle-stick shapes, manufactured by just a few different factories for hundreds of different board companies. Under the feet of a newcomer, any of these decks are essentially going to feel and ride the same. People, especially when starting, generally select a board based on the graphics they like, which is fine if the deck is coming from a reputable brand or manufacturer.
The real difference between boards—and this is something that doesn't get talked about much—is who benefits from the proceeds of their sales. Who runs the company? Who are the sponsored riders? The sport is more diverse than it was in the ’70s and ’80s, but skate teams are still pretty homogenous. However, with little effort and no price difference for the same seven-ply wooden board, you can help broaden the skateboarding community by buying from a company that focuses on skaters who have historically been on the periphery.
I've been riding Meow skateboards (manufactured by PS Stix), a woman-owned company that sponsors an all-women skate team. Meow decks are available at Amazon ($68) or direct from Meow ($60).
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