How to Choose the Perfect Custom Fingerboard for Your Riding Style

Fingerboarding has become much more than a small desk toy. It has nowadays become an actual hobby and even a sport which requires skills and the riders train tricks, build mini skate parks and develop their own style. As in the real-life skateboarding, the skateboard you are riding can make a big difference. The correct custom fingerboard that fits your personal style of riding is one of the most appropriate methods of improving your experience.

But all these choices open up and sometimes it is difficult to know which deck to use, which one to purchase, which one to play with, what size, what shape, what material, and so on. The best thing is that, after knowing the main aspects of a custom fingerboard, it becomes significantly easier to select the ideal arrangement.

Know Your Style of Riding

The first factor to be considered when choosing a custom fingerboard is your style of riding. Each rider has his/her way of going about fingerboarding. Other riders are fond of technical tricks such as kickflips, heelflips and complicated combinations. Instead, others want to ride smoother with some grinds, slides and flowing lines over obstacles.

When you like doing technical moves, a medium concave deck would be better, but it needs to be a little lighter. This assists the board to turn over with a lot of ease and react to any finger movement.

Conversely, riders that prefer grinds and real-life street-style riding may prefer slightly broader custom fingerboard. The bigger decks are also more stable thus assisting during the landing of tricks or locking into rails and ledges.

The first thing you need to do is to know your riding preferences, then you are sure to find a rig that just feels comfortable.

Selecting the Proper Deck Width

One of the factors that are most important when purchasing a custom fingerboard is the deck width. The modern fingerboards are 32mm to 36mm in size.

Riders prefer a 32mm deck because they like to do flips which are faster and prefer lighter boards. Due to the fact that it is slightly narrower, the board is more likely to rotate faster when performing tricks.

A larger deck, e.g. 34mm or 36mm, is more controlled and stable. The reason why many riders opt to use these sizes is that they find it easy to land tricks every time.

When you are just getting into fingerboarding, a medium breadth (approximately 34mm) can be a good compromise between being able to do flips and balancing.

Deck Shape and Concave

A second major consideration during the selection of a custom fingerboard is the deck shape. This consists of the nose and tail angles, and the concave of the board.

Concave is the slight curve between the width of the deck. Close concave may be useful in control and flicking tricks and a gentle concave may feel easier and more natural to ride and transition.

High nose and tail are more preferred by some riders due to the fact that it provides the board with more pop and the tricks are easier to start. Some of them want a skateboard that is more realistic in shape and is similar to the street skating.

Experimenting with shapes in the course of time may also assist you to find the kind of custom fingerboard that suits you most.

Materials and Build Quality

The performance of the board is also largely determined by the materials that are used in making the board. Newer and better quality fingerboards are produced using several layers of actual wood veneer, just like full size skateboard decks.

Wooden boards are more poppy, stronger and more authentic to touch than plastic boards. Most custom boards are hand made and shaped under pressure to ensure the consistency in shape and strength.

A strong custom fingerboard will be solid to the hand and will offer more control on your tricks. The difference might not be that much, but the experienced riders can instantly see the difference.

Graphics and Personal Style

The ability to show your own style is one of the most interesting aspects of owning a custom fingerboard. Custom decks usually have special graphics, colors, and artwork which you will never see on board mass-productions.

There are those riders who like plain and clear graphics and there are those who love the daring graphics which are noticeable. Because fingerboarding is a creative sport also, you can make the experience even better by having a deck that is aesthetically motivating to you.

Your personality and mode of riding are manifested through your board.

Matching Your Setup

Although the deck is the primary component of the board, you should also have your custom fingerboard as the total set up. Trucks, wheels and grip tape all impact the performance of the board.

As an illustration, the balance and control will be enhanced by matching a broader deck with appropriately sized trucks. Smooth wheels will also be useful when riding through courses of various surfaces or obstacles.

Creation of the appropriate combination of parts will make your own fingerboard work the way you desire it to.

Take Time to Experiment

Lastly, one should not forget that sometimes it is necessary to experiment with the perfect custom fingerboard. Most seasoned riders experiment with the size, shape and configuration of their deck before determining what fits them best.

The fun about fingerboarding is trying out new configurations and what each configuration does to your ride. With time, you will understand what is comfortable and can help you move on.

Final Thoughts

To make the correct choice of custom fingerboard it is only dependent on the knowledge of your riding style, preferences and kind of tricks you feel the most. The deck width, the concave, the materials and graphics are all factors that provide a sense of the feel and performance of the board.

An appropriately selected custom fingerboard is able to ensure that tricks are more reliable, riding fun, and overall experience is more fulfilling. You may be just beginning or you may have been already enhancing your skills and it is always worth taking time to make the right set up.

Ultimately, the board that seems comfortable in your fingers and gives you the desire to practice, learn new tricks and stretching your creativity is the ideal board.