For my final project, I am planning to build a skateboard mold, press, and deck. I had originally planned to create a deck with a 70s vert-inspired aesthetic. Here I explored what the deck would look like if I went for a surf aesthetic and a minimalist aesthetic.
The surf aesthetic deck would be on the wider side with 9.5″ from rail to rail. A short wheelbase would make this board agile and quick to turn similar to slashing a surfboard. This board would feature a stubby and wide nose with a tapered fishtail. I am unsure of how this fishtail would affect the board’s pop but it would be interesting to experiment with. The tail would have a steep and long kick while the nose would be shallow and short. A striped stringer-like graphic would complete the surf aesthetic for this deck.
The minimalist aesthetic board would need to be stripped of any gimmicks or unnecessary tech. This yields the common popsicle shape with no taper on the nose or the tail. Keeping the rail-to-rail width at 8.25 would allow this board to be versatile and not dominant in any single area of skating. A standard wheelbase would offer both stability and agility with no strong preference for either. Symmetrical kick angles would give this board a classic, recognizable feel while a slightly longer nose would still allow for some extra room during grinds and slides. To finish off the minimalist aesthetic a single color would occupy the graphic real estate on the underside.
While I am a fan of both of these designs, I will likely combine them, using features from each deck to create an aesthetically pleasing yet functional design.
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Hey Lucas, I like both of these ideas. Personally, I have made a skateboard using epoxy and vacuum sealing 8 layers of veneer over a styrofoam mold. I had a lot of fun doing it, but the board was not as strong as I would have liked, I think it was due to the epoxy not setting correctly. This will be a really cool project, are you considering making your own graphics?
The integrity of the deck is certainly something I’m trying to focus on. At the end of the day, no matter how much work I put in, if the adhesive doesn’t hold the plies together then the deck is worthless. Originally, I had planned to do the graphic myself but I have a few friends who are very talented artists and I’ve been thinking about having them draw something to be printed on the deck with a laser cutter.
I really like the aesthetic and the skateboard plan. I’m especially into the swallow tail design on the first board. Are you planning on attaching trucks to the boards, or are they just for show. If you are, you could put carver trucks on the fish board so it feels like a surfboard. Either way, I think it will look great. I can’t wait to see it
I appreciate the feedback, Michael. I’m definitely planning to ride this deck. Skateboarding is one of my favorite activities and I go through a deck every month or two so ideally this project will save me a lot of money. If I made the fishtail deck I’d likely put a wide set of trucks on there with some riser pads and soft wheels for a super smooth ride.