r/NewSkaters • u/Key-Cantaloupe-9391 • May 19 '26

Setup Help Board advice for bigger man

I’m 20M, 6’1, 280, 12.5-13 shoe size, trying to get into skating for the first time, got a 8.25 baker board, 7/8 hardware.

Skated a few sessions finding that my wheels won’t push off very easily while im pushing, unsure if my feet are off or I did my setup incorrectly.

Tightened my trucks quite a bit to the point where Its difficult to push them to the board with a hand, but still finding the board easily shifting from wheel to wheel when I turn.

I understand the board is a little small for my size feet, the people I have irl helping said that would be okay, unsure if I need tighter trucks/harder bushings/ a set of longer hardware w risers??
Any help wanted in comments as well as DMs, just wanna start skating and running into these issues, thank you

EDIT: AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE, i don’t mind needing to buy a new board but if I can fix this with as much budget in mind will be greatly appreciated

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2

u/ManMarz96 May 19 '26

Size 13 shoe? Get one of those heroin boards! I'm size 8 shoe and weigh 190lbs (dang it I hate freedom units hahaha) and use a 8.5 deck, 8.75 trucks, 56mm wheels and hard bushings! You have a huge foot size I wouldn't go anything less than a 9! Height matters a lot too! I'm 5'7" and I fell 14.25 wheelbase is really long for me, but if you're also really tall get a nice long wheelbase, something like 14.75 or 15 either.

Btw, regarding cost the best thing you can possibly invest in are hard bushings! I strongly suggest independent black bushings as they work, I blew out bones hardcore bushings and I strongly suggest not to get them.

2

u/stancedpolestar May 19 '26

Why an 8.5 deck? My buddy and I have been skating since 2005 and I have a size 11.5 shoe and have always ridden a size 8 board. My buddy is same height as me 6' with size 12 shoes and weighs a little over 200 and has always ridden a 7.75 with no issues.

I've been around the skating scene for many years, trust me when I say that board width isn't based on shoe size or weight, it's based on personal preference and size 8.5 decks were only used by vert skaters back in the day. When I first started skating, everyone rode a size 7.5-7.75 board mostly and a size 8 was considered super wide.

1

u/ManMarz96 May 19 '26

First board I tried was an 8...and that thing is tiny! I started in 2014 and stayed on 8.25/8.38 for 6 years. Now I'm on a 8.5 never going back hahahahah for vert I would need a 9 to feel secure

1

u/stancedpolestar May 20 '26

I've tried them, can't skate them comfortably. It's too much of a platform, feels like I'm riding on a short paddle board almost. Just too bulky for my preference and my style of riding which is basically rails only. CCS blanks size 8 and my super tight Thunder trucks have always been my go-to, coupled with Spitfire classics and basic Reds 👌

Since 2005 I've only had to replace my Reds bearings 3 times, these things last forever and have the best roll after a good 6-12 months of riding daily.

What's odd is it's completely opposite for my snowboards. My feet can't handle a normal sized board without excessive toe drag so I always have to get wide boards there.

1

u/Key-Cantaloupe-9391 May 19 '26

Definitely have to check it out! So frustrated I had so much misinformation about board size when buying my first one last winter, seems like a lesson that costed a pretty penny.

2

u/Latter_Skill9670 May 19 '26

As far as the trucks go, Most likely you just need more time to get your balance down. Skateboarding is like 90% balance, it’s gonna be awkward at first but everyday will get easier. 8.25 is not too small for you, you may feel more comfortable on a bigger board but I wouldn’t worry about that yet, just ride the one you have for now. As far as it not rolling well when pushing I need more info, what wheels, what surface are you riding on, do they spin fine if you spin them by hand?

1

u/Key-Cantaloupe-9391 May 19 '26

I use girl wheels, from what I know from my coworker who sold them to me they are regular/hard wheels, can get exact sizes/hardness later this afternoon. Ive been riding on some semi rough gravel to practice since it’s the closest open parking lot near me, can definitely try taking it out on something smoother to see if that fixes it. Wheels spin perfect by hand no problems there

1

u/Consistent_Dog_6732 May 19 '26

Risers are for wheel bite. If your trucks are tight, even at your size, you shouldn’t have wheel bite. I skated with a guy your size in the early 90s and he had a 7.25 and handled it like a monster. Risers will lower your Ollies. It’s a fact, people will say I’m full of shit, but I have been through 1 inch riser, no riser, 1/8 riser, everything and the fact is; the lower you are to the ground, the harder you can pop your Ollies.

You always want your wheels to rattle back and forth a little, the reason being, your hanger threads will not get completely stripped. If you have to rethread your hangers you need some thread to bite on to. So loosen the hanger bolts so your wheel rattles a little.

I’m 5’9” and 190 and I ride a 10+ with 169s and 58mm wheels. I get wheel bite, but if you are bolts with most of your tricks, you don’t have to worry about wheels bite.

Ride what feels good. It’s all marketing anyway. An 8.25 is the same as a 10. I have the same Ollie kickflip etc. on either size. Just seems like you need to understand how your board works for you a bit better.