No matter what kind of skater you are, odds are that you won’t be happy unless your dancing surface has the right texture and shape for your particular routine. Whether you haunt the streets or the skate park, dominate the quarter-pipe or the curb, choosing a deck that suits your needs will take a combination of trial-and-error, observation, and setting priorities for your skating.

The skateboard deck underwent a major design revolution when Richard Stevenson patented the concave structure in 1973, introducing front and rear kicks while opening a whole world of possibilities to the previously flat board. Today “concave” has become a technical noun in the glossary of the sport, despite appearing as adjective in standard dictionaries. The “concave” of your deck refers to the variance between kicks and the flat middle of your board. A shallower concave is choice for beginners, who will find a flatter board easier to control, whereas a deep spoon is favored by advanced trick skaters.

If you want an independent look with a professional feel, there are a number of companies that will accommodate skateboard artists who wish to add their own design to a custom-built skateboard deck. You can send in your design and order just one, though this can be expensive and the cost per unit goes down dramatically when you order in bulk.

Opportunities exist aplenty for a talented graphic artist in the skateboard world. One option would be to offer freelance skateboard deck design services. Of course, if you feel you’ve got what it takes, you can submit your design to the variety of deck and logo contests sponsored by bigger, already established skate companies. Winning decks can be released in a limited edition artist series, and sometimes a talented artist even lands a day job as a salaried designer.

Quality skateboard decks are made from virgin Canadian Maple, still the lumber of choice for skateboard bases. The standard deck is compiled from at least seven ply of lumber for strength. For traction, you’ll need a layer of grip tape, which comes stock with many decks, although applying your own gives you more control over the style and texture of your board. Blank decks are like canvases, and once you get the habit of installing rare graphics via the grip tape, you’ll never go back to a stock deck again.

On the other hand, maybe having a signature model from your favorite pro will lend you the confidence you need to mount that challenging half-pipe or take on that stairwell with the inviting handrail. In that case, you’ll probably pay a little extra for a pro edition or team model-but maybe the extra inspiration will be worth it.

Your skateboard deck is more than just the wood mounted to the two trucks; it’s the essence of your board, the platform for your performance, your personal billboard. Brand loyalties, personal philosophies, political statements and musical preferences are all expressed on the colorful decks of today’s skater. Making it your own creation can be half the fun.

Here is some information about Erik
Erik Ellington (born August 9, 1977 in Anchorage, Alaska) is a professional skateboarder. Ellington is goofy footed. He currently resides in Hollywood, California.

Ellington rides for Baker Skateboards, Spitfire Wheels, Thunder Trucks, Supra Footwear, KR3W Clothing, Active Mailorder, and Black Hole Griptape. He turned pro at the age of 21 for the Zero Skateboards team.

Ellington was a member of the “Piss Drunx’ c. mid-to-late 1990s to 2000s with Jim Greco, Ali Boulala, Andrew Reynolds, Dustin Dollin.

He has appeared in videos such as Zero’s “The Thrill of It All”, & “Misled Youth”, Emerica’s “This Is Skateboarding,” & “Kids in Emerica” and “Baker 3″.

In 2005, Ellington left his shoe sponsor, Emerica. He started a new footwear company, Supra, along with Jim Greco, Tom Penny, Antwuan Dixon and Chad Muska. In 2006, his pro model shoe from Supra hit stores named “DOUBLE E”. The shoe’s design resembles his older shoe, “Ellington 1″ from previous sponsor, Emerica. The Ellington 1 was remade by Emerica as the “Vettes”.

Ellington co-founded a new eyewear company called Brigada with Jim Greco in 2007. They started the company without the help of any distributor and finance it with their own savings.

Ellington is married to Lucianna. They have one child, Julius Luther Ellington, born September 17, 2005.

Element Skateboard Deck Stitches - Bam Margera Skateboard Deck Designed and engineered with lightweight materials, featherlight products perform above and beyond what is currently on the market without sacrificing quality or strength. element will be offering a full line of products including boards, bearings, wheels and apparel.

Description: Also known as the deck, this is the infamous wooden platform on which trucks are mounted to the bottom and griptape is applied to the top. The nose and tail of the board are, typically, concaved and raised slightly to provide a more functional kicktail for the rider.

Additional Info: Industry standard boards typically consist of 7 or 9 plies of hard maple wood laminated together and pressed into whatever concavous shape makes skateboarders happy. Most technical decks are in the range of 7.25 to 8.5 inches wide and between 29″ and 33″ inches long (longboards and the increasingly popular ‘old school’ board shapes vary much greater in width and length). Being made of wood and stomped on ruthlessly by aggressive human beings, decks do break frequently. Despite this, wood is continully used due to it’s comfortable, responsive nature. We do kill a lot of trees, but it’s for a good cause…