From Wheels to Deck: Why Custom Skateboard Modifications Reign Supreme for New Enthusiasts

Americans endeavored to be healthier in 2025, with 80% of those aged between 18 and 34 having goals to exercise more, research from Ipsos revealed in late 2024. While picking up a hobby like skateboarding can be a wonderful way to do just that, many may feel easily discouraged when first starting out, especially when the goal is to master a specific skate style or trick. For those who aim to better their skills and add a bit of personal flair to their boards, the opportunity for customization can be found from the wheels to the deck itself.

Calculated modifications for better boarding

Skateboard modifications can seem like frivolous additions, though it’s crucial to recognize the value they can bring to the skateboarder. Grip tape is just one option for a small modification that has the potential to go a long way. This is especially true if your goals involve honing more advanced tricks, which require better traction on the board, though new grip tape can be particularly useful for replacing older tape on a secondhand or worn skateboard. The addition of deck rails, on the other hand, can be another great modification option for skaters that want to practice tricks that involve slides and grinds, as it will (slightly) reinforce the board. Deck rails can also be beneficial in protecting the underside of the deck, which can be of value for those who have a special edition deck design or custom artwork they’d like to protect.

Wheel choice is a significant modification that many skaters undertake, often to elevate the overall skate experience and fine tune their boards to suit a preferred style. For example, wheels may be upgraded for the sake of a smoother ride overall. This is primarily due to the fact that a new wheel choice may help enhance speed or traction on the ground. One Redbull article by Shayna Waltower outlines how to choose the right wheels for your board, which can vary based on these styles. For instance, it’s noted that larger wheels that are on the softer side are “best for riding on rough surfaces” — in contrast, smaller, harder wheels are noted to be more ideal for trick riding.

For those who wish to cater their wheels to a vertical (vert) skating experience, Waltower points out that this style can benefit from wheels with a hardness of “between 95a and 100a.” The article further goes on to highlight that skaters with a goal to get into street skating (in which the main surface skated on is street pavement), can benefit from wheels with a 99d durometer rating. Spitfire skate wheels are an ideal option for beginner skaters who wish to upgrade their board in a beneficial way. To underline one among many options, the Formula Four Conical Full Skateboard Wheels is just one solution. These wheels boast a hardness of 99d (the equivalent of 99a), as well as Formula Four Urethane, which facilitate controllable grip and enduring speed regardless of terrain.

Discovering the artistic side of the board

Some skateboard modifications can err on the side of the extreme. Professional skateboarder Matt Tomasello is just one individual who is leaning into the artistic side of the activity, especially where board modifications are concerned. One 2023 Wired video showcases Tomasello’s unique skateboard inventions, which consist of modified boards that facilitate unique tricks. Speaking of a skateboard with an extra ‘flap’ affixed to the bottom of the deck, Matt explains that the skateboard was designed to flip “one and a half flips back” after the skateboarder performs half a flip. “This one did not take me long to make, but it took me forever to land the trick that I intended to do with it,” he remarked.

While Tomasello’s inventions are a major showcase of just how creative skateboarding can get (especially in the realm of modifications), others can show off their own unique style in simpler, more easier-to-attain ways. The underside of the deck itself is the ideal place to show off a skater’s individual interests through limited edition designs, decals, personal or custom artwork, and even stickers. A 2021 BBC article highlights then 16-year-old Bristol teen Ruby Parker, who uses the skateboard deck as a canvas for her own unique works of art. Having picked up skateboarding as a hobby the previous year, Parker began selling design commissions through her business, Fuzzy Decks. Often highlighting her designs on social media (which range from cats to detailed space themes, skulls and more), the BBC article notes that Parker creates her designs with acrylics, brushes, and paint pens.

Skateboarding is a great opportunity to stay active, and it doesn’t have to be a dull experience. Through key modifications to elevate the boarding experience to those that help show off your own individual style, skateboarding can become a preferred artform in more ways than one.