Skateboarding for Heavier People with a Midlife Crisis
Am I having a midlife crisis? Maybe. Am I very nostalgic? Definitely. Am I parted with my money easily? It’s a given. I recently bought my daughter a skateboard and became smitten with the idea of myself skateboarding again.
I used to do a bit of skateboarding when I was younger but was never really that great at it. Now I'm a 45-year-old, 250lb man with considerably bigger feet and less agility so an off the rack board wasn't going to be an option. I set out to see what kind of setup I'd need. I did the usual pillage of YouTube videos on the subject and some research on other related blog posts. The following is what I came up for myself. I also invested in a pair of wristguards for the money makers.
Deck and Griptape
I went with a blue Santa Cruz Classic Dot Skateboard Deck because the design here appealed to me and Santa Cruz have been around for an age. I decided on an 8.25" deck with some black Jessup Original 9" Griptape.
![Skateboard decks for heavy people](https://assets.johnhenry.ie/transforms/articles/6314/skateboard-decks-for-heavy-people_01ca611cbad556caefd5c7dec6dff414.jpg)
Wheel Setup
From my research on heavier people skateboarding, I heard a bigger diameter wheel faires better in the long run. I went with Orangatang Centerset Skiff 62mm Longboard Wheels combined with Bones Reds Bearings 8-Pack.
![Skateboard wheels for heavy people](https://assets.johnhenry.ie/transforms/articles/6315/skateboard-wheels-for-heavy-people_01ca611cbad556caefd5c7dec6dff414.jpg)
Trucks
Technically I don't know a lot about trucks themselves but went with the Tensor Aluminium Skateboard Truck Set. I needed some 1/2" Risers to deal with the extra-large wheels so they wouldn't bite on the board and some Bones Hardcore Bushings (91A). These are all tied together with Independent Phillips Bolts (1.5" to deal with risers)
![Skateboard trucks for heavy people](https://assets.johnhenry.ie/transforms/articles/6316/skateboard-trucks-for-heavy-people_01ca611cbad556caefd5c7dec6dff414.jpg)
Anybody else taken up skateboarding at a late age? Difficulty finding a board to suit your weight? Would love to hear from you below.