why is my skateboard so slow – [Problem Solved]

Your skateboard may require a lot of pushing and still not be able to move freely. Under such conditions, one may start thinking “why is my skateboard so slow?”

Skateboard can be slow due to various factors. The first thing that makes a skateboard slow is the wheels of the board. Softer wheels tend to absorb momentum, resulting in slower movement. Apart from that, the bearings of the board also kill its speed sometimes.

But that’s not all when it comes to knowing why is my skateboard so slow. To discover all the factors that kill the speed of a skateboard you need to read this article to the end.

Why is My Skateboard So Slow?

As we already know, the wheels and bearings of a skateboard tend to cause slow movement. But there are other reasons as well. Here in this article, we discuss some of the major factors that make a skateboard slower than usual:

Your Skateboard Has Soft Wheels

Skateboarders generally prefer harder wheels for faster riding. Under such conditions, softer skateboard wheels are known to absorb the momentum of skaters leading to slow movement on the board.

Soft wheels are common with beginners who tend to do unbalanced or uncoordinated movements while learning tricks and stunts. If beginner skaters experience slow speed during their initial days of practice, they may find it difficult to improve their skills.

Your Skateboard Has Worn Out Bearings

Bearings play a crucial role in deciding the speed of your skateboard. However, bearings can also cause slow movement if they are worn out or not adjusted properly.

For effective and fast skating make sure that all your bearings are clean, properly lubricated, and adjusted.

Your Board Is Not Properly Adjusted

If you have bought a new skateboard or have changed the setup of your old board, it may start moving slowly. Always keep in mind that the trucks of the board should be perfectly aligned with its deck.

If there is any deviation between the trucks and the skateboard deck, one or both can cause loss of control.

A slight deviation may make the board lose balance resulting in slow movement whereas a major deviation can make it almost damaging to ride on.

Your Board Has A Heavier Deck

If you are using a heavier deck for riding with soft wheels or worn out bearings, your board will be slow most of the time. Always keep in mind that the deck should be light enough to allow quick movement and control.

Your Skateboard Is Not Balanced Properly

When you ride with a heavier deck or wheels, your skateboard may tend to tilt and become unbalanced even if it’s properly adjusted. When you lean forward to ride fast, your board may tilt backward and vice versa.

If you are not able to balance the board properly while riding, it will slow down your speed. So make sure that your skateboard is properly balanced before starting your ride.

Your Skateboard Has A Heavier Weight

If you are a beginner and have been using the same skateboard for a long time, it can also become heavy leading to slow speed. If you want fast riding, consider changing your board or get one that’s lighter in weight.

Your Skateboard Is Unsuitable For Your Weight

If you have recently started riding a skateboard and are not satisfied with its speed and control, consider buying a new model. Always make sure that your board suits you and is appropriate for your weight.

Also, keep in mind that the size of the board matters as well. A larger skateboard can be slow if it’s not adjusted properly with small trucks and soft wheels.

Your Skateboard Does Not Have Appropriate Trucks

The trucks of a skateboard play a major role in determining its speed and control. If your board has large or too small trucks, you can face slow movement issues. Make sure that your truck size matches the size of the deck of the skateboard so that it’s easy to get on and off.

How Can I Make My Skateboard Faster?

There are a few simple techniques that you can use to make your slow skateboard faster and more responsive. Here we discuss some of these:

Improve the quality of the wheels

Always keep in mind that soft wheels absorb momentum and tend to lose control. Over time, they also start flattening out leading to poor rolling on hard surfaces. If you have soft wheels, you can improve their speed by using harder urethane.

Take your board to the skate shop

If your truck is bent or misaligned, it can greatly affect the performance of your skateboard. You should never compromise on the quality of your trucks. If you are not able to get them fixed properly, take your skateboard to a professional and let them do the needful.

Boost up your bearings

If you think that your old bearings are slowing down your board, buy new ones or get them checked and adjusted at a local repair shop. Always keep in mind that lower-quality sealed bearings may not be efficient enough for faster riding. You can also get your bearings cleaned and oiled for better performance.

Use a lighter deck

A board can slow down if it has a heavy deck, especially when you are shifting the weight from one foot to another to make quick turns or stops. If you want faster riding, consider using a deck that’s lighter in weight. In fact, professional riders often prefer light decks for fast riding.

Build up your board to make it lighter

If your skateboard is too heavy, you can consider taking off unnecessary parts or getting them adjusted at a local repair shop. Some of the things that you may want to consider are: Trucks with less metal hardware Narrower riser pads Smaller wheels

Adjust your trucks for better control

If your skateboard has larger trucks, you can consider making the adjustments at a local shop. The wider base of the trucks will improve stability but they will also lose some responsiveness. So if you want faster control on the board, consider adjusting your trucks to make them smaller.  

Wider wheels absorb the momentum

If your skateboard has wider wheels, they will roll slower than normal. However, they are more stable and can help you control your speed better. So consider getting large wheels if you want to ride at a stable speed. You should also be able to take it into account when riding on sloped surfaces or making quick turns.

Make sure your Bearings are clean

If your bearings are dirty or oiled, they will slow down the board. So make sure that you clean them every month and oil them properly for fast performance. You can simply clean your skateboard bearings at home.

There isn’t much to do when it comes to cleaning your skateboard bearings. All you need to do is to choose the right degreaser for the job. It will help clean the grease and oil of the bearing. Take a toothbrush and clean the rest of the bearings with it thoroughly. Don’t forget to oil them again before installing them.

Final Words

Why is my skateboard so slow? there could be many reasons due to which your board may not be moving faster. However, the number one reason behind the slow speed of a skateboard is its wheels.

If you are riding softer wheels then you will not be able to gain much speed. This is because these wheels are designed to absorb impacts and thus it reduces momentum.

Apart from that, your bearings might be dirty or worn out due to which your board may become unresponsive. Under such cases, you can either change your bearings or clean them.