Which Side of The Skateboard is The Front?

When we learn to skate, we need to get the basics of skateboarding. A lot of skaters do not have any idea about any of the parts of the skateboard. Among them, the common confusion that we have is Which Side of The Skateboard is The Front.

Skateboard decks vary in a range of styles, sizes, and foot placement techniques. The majority of front-and-back-based decks are long board-style.

On skateboards, the front and back are referred to as the “nose” (front) and the “tail” (back). The front and back can be spotted by looking at the nose or tail. However, there are many ways to accurately determine the skateboard’s front and back, or nose & tail. Let’s have a discussion about finding the front of the skateboard.

How to Determine Front and Back of a Skateboard

skateboard nose and tail

A skateboard’s nose & tail may have close similarities. However, you can skate on either side on some skateboards with an equal angle at the nose & tail.

Choosing your front and back of a board with twin tails might be problematic. The front and back of a twin tail deck have exactly the same size, form, and angle. 

Yet, practically all of the skateboards had one of three different deck shapes. flat nose, double kick, single kick, and cruiser skateboard. Also, it’s simple to identify between the front and back of cruisers, longboards, and penny boards.

The shapes of these boards should indicate their front and back. Anyway, you can easily determine the front and back. Let’s share the possible ways to find out your front and back.

  1. Check out the graphic’s front and rear directions. Unless you have a blank skateboard deck, a skateboard often has a heat-transferred graphic that runs from the rear to the front. On the board, we frequently see a logo or typography.
  2. Take the measurements of both sides. The nose will always be longer than the tail. If the nose size is 7 or 8 inches, the tail should be less than that.
  3. Make a cutout with the grip tape close to the skateboard’s back. Make any form, including a circle or a square. Fakie is the term for riding backward on a board with the tail pointing in the direction of travel, which we often do. Some rider who prefers to skate tail-first will use grip tape so that they can make a gap above the back trucks that allows some board to show through.
  4. Another easy method is to simply scratch deeply at the end of the nose.
  5. Look at the shape, and remember that the longer and higher-end is the front. A skateboard’s nose is wider and rises off the ground than its tail.
  6. Use bolts and wheels of various colors. Your front and back can easily be distinguished if two different colored bolts and wheels are placed there.
  7. A steep and narrow nose does matter a lot! The nose of the skateboard is frequently narrower or steeper. The nose is frequently referred to as the catch since it technically catches your foot when you do an Ollie trick.
  8. Also, the tail should be wider and have a little more pop than the front of your deck. Keep this in mind!
  9. Verify the lengths; they should be the same by comparing the measurements. The slope’s height and length, or essentially the skateboard’s nose end, is at an inclined angle.
  10. Basically, skateboards with double tails have the proper front and back specifications.
  11. You can find the curving nose & tail of the board by placing the deck on the ground. 
  12. The skateboarding deck’s wood flares up from the length at the curve.
  13. A visual indication is important! See the sharp curves on the ends by moving up to the surface’s eye level. A more angled end should be noticeable compared to the other. 

Which Side of the Skateboard Is The Nose?

which side of the skateboard is the nose

The conventional skateboard is slightly wider than the tail and has a nose that we call a front kicktail. It is also considered an old-school board, which is much wider than the rear or back tail.

While the tail is typically curved considerably upward, the nose is relatively flat. Determine the front nose width from one end of the deck base at the beginning of the curve to the other of the curve’s ends.

The back of the skateboard is typically curled up at roughly a 10-degree angle from the rest of the deck. Also, traditionally, measured from the back truck bolts to the skateboard’s end.

Which Side of the Skateboard Is the Tail?

Do you want to determine the tail end? Take a look at the narrow end. On longboard style decks, the back of the deck is indicated by a flared and less narrow nose and a long, narrow tail. You can measure the back end at the bend. You will notice the front curve is shorter than the back curve.

But how do you tell which end of a skateboard is the tail? The nose is always going to be steeper, longer, and taller than the tail. Remember this! All you have to do is lay it on a flat surface and get it to eye level. However, take out a tape measure and start measuring from the first two holes.

To have a faster jump and a quicker response, the skateboard’s tail is smaller and slightly closer to the ground. But when you use the skateboard’s larger end as the tail, skating becomes challenging!

How To Tell The Nose & Tail Apart On A Skateboard

Your tail is the end that doesn’t stand out when you look at your board from the side. However, if you only use one end to skate, it might wear it down when enjoying trucks, decks, and brushings.

To make it easy for skaters to tell the nose from the tail, most skateboards feature unique, brightly colored components on the nose. The nose & tail of classic skateboards is both curved and flat. Alternatively, you might use a tape measure to measure them apart.

The nose will always be longer than the tail. For example, if one board side is 7 inches, the others should be more or less than that, and then we can fix that nose or tail or front and back part of the skate. To enable the attachment of the trucks to the deck, eight mounting holes are drilled in the skateboard, four of which are placed near each kicktail.

What We Usually Do When Skating On The Nose Or Tail?

Usually, at the back, we use our dominant foot to pop a deck. We do flip tricks faster on the front foot and are used to them for a longer and steeper nose. Typically, you either skate normally or in a goofy manner in which your back foot is always on the tail.

Typically, you either skate normally or goofily, generally landing on your back foot. We don’t try to use the front foot on the nose unless we try any skill like nollie. The shorter your board’s tail, the less time it will take to pop. Also, you can flip your board more quickly if the nose is longer and steeper.

Which Side Can You Choose to Roll Forward?

You can approach by using either the front edge or the back edge to roll forward. We usually roll forward by using the nose and use the back to assist with jumping and ollie. We advise using both ends as your side for pushing forward. It will help to reduce pressure, wear, and tear on a specific side.

FAQ

1. Which foot goes in front of a skateboard?

Skateboarding positions may be both regular and goofy. When you push your board while riding normally, you skate with your left foot as your front foot and push with your right foot. Goofy-footers, on the other hand, push with their left foot while skating with their right foot in front of the board.

2. Does it matter which end of a skateboard is the front?

Absolutely. The nose generally has a unique quality to the tail. The nose tends to be larger than the tails, so it does matter during skating time as the performance gets faster in the front or when we choose the nose.

3. How do you tell the difference between the nose and tail on a skateboard?

The size, shape, and design emphasize the major distinctions. The difference will be visible through the graphic, measurement, cutout mark, shape, colorful wheel and bolts, and visual cue.

4. Which side is the correct front of this longboard?

Actually, the wide end facing forward should be appropriate. You’re riding goofy if it’s to your right. Your front foot stays right in front of the front trucks, bearing the majority of the load. You’re a regular rider if your front foot is also on the left.

Final Words

Now, it’s time to conclude the article. So, it’s quite easy to pick Which Side of The Skateboard is The Front. Simply look at your skateboard nose or tail’s size, shape, and appearance to select the front & end.

However, both of them are vital during the skating session as they help to move for any tricky skating skills. Whatever we said below will help you perfectly determine the right side and, of course, the front and back for skating. Now you won’t have to puzzle over choosing the front.

Hello, this is Jose Lewis, a skateboard and skate shoe club coach who has been skating for over 20 years. I have been a professional skater for 10 years and have been coaching for the past 5 years. I am very passionate about skating and love to share my knowledge and experience with others. I strongly believe that anyone can learn to skate and that it is a great way to stay active and have fun.

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