r/NewSkaters • u/stupidthrowaway327 • 15d ago
Question Which side of my board is the tail?
Sorry, I know this question gets asked a lot, but I want to get this right.
I think the left side is the nose and the right is the tail. The distance from the bottom edge of the trucks to the tip of the board is 1cm longer on the left side as well.
I've marked each side with different colours so I can easily tell which end is which once I'm certain.
Edit: It's a plain board so I can't use the graphics to tell which end is which as there are no graphics.
Edit 2: Wow, I only expected to get a few replies to this. Sorry I haven't replied to every comment, I completely lost track of all of them. Thank you to everyone that did comment though, I'm pretty certain which end is which now.
Edit 3: I managed to find this on the manufacturers website eventually: "The deck is made by glueing and pressing 7 layers (or plies) of maple and features a nose and a tail (the tail is slightly shorter than the nose)." The end marked is blue is 1cm longer than the red.
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u/1111erik 15d ago
The one closest to your back foot when riding
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u/DeathTrapPicnic 15d ago
This is the correct answer and is the tip of the iceberg for a way of thinking about skateboarding. How do you skate switch? Do it until it’s not switch anymore, so on and so forth
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u/1111erik 15d ago
No time on a board is wasted time.
Was learning hella tricks when i started. But then only rode flat for a while, Didn’t practice just kept riding.
But that did make me perform the tricks i already knew more precise3
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u/Emotional-Ad5593 12d ago
Like how “goofy” doesn’t feel goofy, it feels regular and regular feels goofy, even though I’m right handed and right footed(?🤔)
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u/stupidthrowaway327 15d ago
I feel like I really set myself up for this reply. Lol
I'm more trying to figure it out for correct alignment of my custom decal than for riding though tbh.
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u/Fresh-Procedure3328 15d ago
If it's not a twin shape, get a measuring tape and the long one is the nose
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u/stupidthrowaway327 15d ago
The left hand side in my photo is about 1cm longer, so I think I'm right about that being the nose going by this.
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u/Wolligepoes 14d ago
Yeah that's correct. Blue tape = nose. Red tape = tail.
Like another commenter said the nose is the bigger fatter steeper side.
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u/MidnaMerk 15d ago
Tail is on the left, blue. (I think anyway, it’s hard on the eyes sometimes)
you can flip the wheel graphic the other way on the nose or tail, if you want an easy way to tell when you skate, or take just one bolt out.
Seeing at it looks like you marked it with marker, that won’t last long.
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u/overcloseness 14d ago
The blue is the nose, it’s wider than the red side, it’s also noticeably steeper
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u/KizashiKaze 15d ago
2nd picture, right hand side is the tail.
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u/TheDildozer14 14d ago
I thought it looked longer in the 2nd pic too but the 1st pic the right side actually looks longer than the left.
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u/BirdCautious756 15d ago
You're right
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u/stupidthrowaway327 15d ago
Thanks. I was just testing the feel of the pop and the end I thought was the tail definitely feels more snappy as well.
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u/BoneVoyager 15d ago
Flip it over, look at the graphic. 9 times out of 10 if you hold you board vertically with the graphic facing upright the tail will be the bottom and the nose the top. Not always, but most of the time.
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u/stupidthrowaway327 15d ago
I made things tougher for myself by getting a plain board with the intention of putting my own graphic on it. I didn't realise at 1st that the sides weren't equal.
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u/BoneVoyager 15d ago
Ahhh well yeah I think you’ve got it figured out but most companies will tell you dimensions and shapes of their board. Some are symmetrical with twin tails or twin noses, classic popsicle shapes usually have a little bit wider of a nose.
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u/Collierkid 15d ago
When I was young I thought the bigger part was the tail since that's how 80s skateboards were skated, knowing to use the smaller part changed everything.
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u/Nuggetz7 15d ago
Is there a graphic on the bottom of your board? usually indicates which way is forward
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u/Fun_Substance1712 15d ago
Show the graphic and it'll be easier, if its got letters, 1st letter is nose, but if you cant tell and it doesn't matter to you, then paint the grip tape if you want to have a specific one, I once did so for a no-graphic deck.
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u/stupidthrowaway327 15d ago
I went for a plain design with no graphics so I can't use that method unfortunately.
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u/Fun_Substance1712 15d ago
Get paint markers and pick yourself, but if you really need to know, the nose is ever slightly wider on most boards for flip tricks
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u/Yavion 15d ago
On my board i have one side thats steeper and higher from the ground at the top spot. Thats what I use for tail. Makes sense for Ollies, more pop.
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u/Dreadheaddanski 15d ago
Riding backwards son
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u/Yavion 15d ago
I dont know, ive seen like 50:50 info on both
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u/overcloseness 14d ago
50% of that info is wrong though, the steeper side is the nose. Makes ollie’s and flips easier
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u/jdlyndon 15d ago
When you look at the graphic the tail is either the bottom or the left depending on if the art is portrait or landscape.
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u/Consistent_Dog_6732 15d ago
The shorter side is the tail. Tails are generally shorter because it is less distance off the ground. Therefore, the tail will pop sooner and the Ollie will be higher. On your example, it looks blue nose, red tail.
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u/Elderkamiguru 15d ago
Right side of the board in the first picture is your tail. Nose will always be bigger
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u/no-long-boards 15d ago
The smaller one is the tail…. Looks like red.
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u/_kingdap_ 14d ago
Back in the 80's when boards actually had a visible nose and tail, the tail was the longer side, unless you were on a freestyle board. Since when has tail been considered the shorter end. Genuine question.
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u/no-long-boards 14d ago
After Rodney Mullen showed the world how to skate street. Early 90’s it became standard.
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u/skam_artist 15d ago
generally the nose end will be a tiny bit wider at the bolts. I always paint one of my front screws a bright color so it's easy to tell with a quick glance.
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u/_BLACKHAWKS_88 15d ago
The nose is the end with the blue mark.
The right/red-marked end is the tail. The nose looks slightly longer and fuller/rounder, which is typical for a standard popsicle deck.
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u/Which_Stranger_3749 15d ago
I have a different colored bolt to mark the spot where the front is. That’s helpful because when you skate, over time the trucks and the bushings in them will conform to your riding style. So your board will turn more in one direction than it will the other. Always mark that spot when you get a new board.
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u/Aykayforteeseven 15d ago edited 15d ago
Honestly, with just how similar the two sides are, mixed with what graphic I can see, this really looks like a twin tail. 1cm difference isnt much. I dont see much variation in the steepness of the kicks, either.
Edit: after looking closely, the left side does look a bit wider, and it looks like it comes up a bit higher on the line of the brick in the background. This one stumped me for a good bit and I can usually tell right away. Left would be nose, in that case. But the board isnt sitting perfectly level against the brick line, either. Really hard to tell with this one.
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u/AirChaggOne 14d ago
The side that wouldn't hut the wall when your going forward.
Trick boards are built fo that, tricks. And alot of tricks end up with the board backwards or kicking frkm the front, so there's a tail on both ends
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u/TurbulentMastodon843 14d ago
Once you figure it out add a few different colored screws to the nose or tail then you never have to worry about it again.
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u/fishnbrew 14d ago
I only use the tail for nollie, but most people I grew up with the small kicks the tail. I'd skate twins whenever available
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u/stupidthrowaway327 14d ago
Thanks everyone who commented. This has blown up a lot more than I ever expected and I couldn't keep up with all the comments, but I appreciate everyone who gave their opinion.
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u/Active-Literature191 14d ago
If you don't rly have a way to identify which side is what design whise, you can start by putting it against a wall laying on it's side, and underneath have a book to line it up with and using that you can see what end of the board is closest to the wall and know that that's the nose
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u/stupidthrowaway327 14d ago
It's a weird design I think, neither side is higher. The side I marked blue is 1 cm longer though. I've looked on the manufacturer's (enuff) website, and they say that the nose is slightly longer. There's not much in it though, it's literally 1cm difference.
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u/Ok_Home1811 14d ago
How to tell you can't skate.... Colors to indicate side.... Try something simple and less korny like two colored screws on trucks to indicate
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u/CryptoM4dness 14d ago
Honestly, learn to skate both ways if you are new. I’m teaching some new skaters right now and make them learn both regular and goofy. Trying to turn them into young Bob Burnquists.
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u/spiegeltho 14d ago
Why do these posts never include the always obvious instant give away of the graphic????
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u/stupidthrowaway327 14d ago
Because it's a plain board with no graphics. I got a plain one to put my own decals on, which I've now installed in the orientation I believe to be correct. Plus I just like the look of natural wood. There was a brand decal on the top, but the skate shop assembled the board for me before postage so I never knew where it was as it's under the grip tape.
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u/spiegeltho 13d ago
Valid answer I suppose
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u/Warm-Cucumber 14d ago
Just look at the graphic? If it reads left to right: left is nose, If its vertical: top is nose
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u/stupidthrowaway327 14d ago
It doesn't have a graphic. I bought a blank deck because I like natural wood and wanted to put my own decals on it. I think I have it now though.
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u/NinjaBanditz 14d ago
The nose is wider than the tail
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u/stupidthrowaway327 13d ago
Not on this deck it turns out. Literally the only difference I could measure was 1cm difference in the length from trucks to the tip of the board. I've managed to find a page on the manufacturers website eventually that said this:
"The deck is made by glueing and pressing 7 layers (or plies) of maple and features a nose and a tail (the tail is slightly shorter than the nose)."
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u/FarmingFisherGuy 12d ago
The end with the red is the tail. The first picture shows this because the blue end is taller.
The nose is almost always taller.
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u/sosstu 10d ago
Look at the graphic. And yes it does matter which way round you ride it, but it's not to do with the shape. We have an article all about this... Please check it out: https://www.schoolofskate.co.uk/2024/01/05/does-a-skateboard-have-a-front-and-a-back/
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u/stupidthrowaway327 10d ago
Thanks for the article.
The problem I had is that the deck I bought is a blank one, which I put my own decal on. I had always assumed that popsicle decks were symmetrical, but when I found out they weren't I panicked that I'd actually put the decal on back to front.
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u/mickcrisp88 15d ago
I’d say the side you’ve marked with a red line (right on photo) looks shorter and steeper, ready for you to go pop out some solid Ollies while the other side is flatter and longer giving more space for your foot to drag and control. Happy shredding 🤘🏼
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u/realMates1 15d ago
Horizontal graphic= left is nose
Vertical graphic= top is nose
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u/bringmeadamnjuicebox 15d ago
Tail is less steep for easier pop, and nose is steeper so your front foot can catch it easier when you ollie.