Help me choose a skateboard for 9 year old

[MumNeedsTea]

Hi all,

DS is about to turn 9 and really wants a skateboard for his birthday. He's really tall for his age and is often mistaken for a 11 year old! So should I be buying him a full sized skateboard or a mini board, because he has no skateboarding experience?

Also, where is the best place to get one?

Thanks!

My daughters are both skateboarders, I would get a full sized board at that age. Best place to buy is usually a local independant surf/skate shop but if you don't have one nearby then Surfdome have a good selection online.

Thanks @GoodVibesHere

Depends what he wants to do as well, skatepark tricks, cursing around, or a combination?

This isn’t necessarily the best place to, buy from, (it’s not bad either) but the article is helpful www.skatewarehouse.co.uk/blogs/buyer-guides/buying-your-first-skateboard-a-beginners-guide

And has links to suitable boards.

Not sure how much you were planning to spend, but as a guide, £60 —100 gets you an adequate entry level board. I wouldn’t go cheaper than that, it will be crap and put him off.

And yy to a local independent if you are near one.

Given how personal a board is (feel, and the art) it might be nice to take him to a shop and get him to try one before buying.

Thanks @BillMasheen

Does anyone have any skateboard shop recommendation? We're in South East (Bromley) and willing to travel up to an hour. Thanks!

Skatehut are a great online provider but they do have stores too x

Full size board from your nearest independent, they will advise you on what width etc. Please don't buy anything from decathlon or sports direct.
You can get a 'complete' for around £50 or choose a deck, wheels and trucks for £125+

I have bought a board from these guys in person when I lived nearby.. they are in SW7

www.slickwillies.co.uk/

I don’t know how good the advice is, because I already knew what I wanted, I just wanted to see it, and feel it under my feet before I bought it.

My 18 year old skates. A board will last maybe 6 months. Wheels and bearings last longer. He generally buys polar, hockey, carpet, FA. He buys trucks, bearings and wheels separately. You’ll need to buy grip tape too - don’t get them to apply it as they always do it badly and it’s easy to apply.

Boards chip at the end and then they start to lose their pop.

Does he have a favourite skater? FA have their skate teams class photos on their boards which are cool if he’s into one of their skaters?

I ordered from a website called Skate Pro as I'd heard good things about their customer service and knowledge. Sent them an email to ask what I should buy / sizes / kit required for a newbie and they were indeed great.

Also managed to book a 1:1 starter session at a local skatepark which I'd recommend if you can. He adjusted the wheels a bit (loosened them off I believe) to make turning easier.

You can buy separates as kitty suggests, but for a beginner, I wouldn’t bother. It’s a faff and needs decisions on things you just won’t know until he gets going.

But it is a great way of upgrading what you do have. And by great I mean bottomless money pit.

And just to reassure the OP, I doubt a 9yo will wear out a board as quickly as a 18yo. He‘ll ‘grow‘ out of it as his style changes, or will decide he needs a longboard and a surfskate as well, and maybe a Racing board and…..

Thank you all... This is all very helpful!
@KittyMcKitty he doesn't have a favourite skater yet. All he knows is that he wants to skateboard, because he thinks it's cool

Google shows a few independent shops about an hour's drive away, and I think I'll take him to check out what he likes.