As Told By a Skateboard Shop - All about grip tape
What is Grip Tape?
Everything you need to know about skateboard grip tape.
A skateboard without griptape is nearly worthless. Without grip tape, a skateboarder cannot do tricks, and he would have an extremely slippery deck. A slippery deck is a dangerous deck, and that's why grip tape is so important. If you're interested in decorating your skateboard, or want something else to read, check out the links.
A skateboard without griptape is nearly worthless. Without grip tape, a skateboarder cannot do tricks, and he would have an extremely slippery deck. A slippery deck is a dangerous deck, and that's why grip tape is so important. If you're interested in decorating your skateboard, or want something else to read, check out the links.
So, What is Grip Tape?
Grip tape, as noted above, is one of the most crucial elements of a skateboard. Yes, the wheels allow you to move around, and the metal trucks keep the deck off the asphalt, but what keeps you attached to the board? Grip tape.
Grip tape is basically just a piece of black sandpaper with a sticky backside that keeps it stuck to the skateboard. Grip tape doesn't wear down as fast as sandpaper, though. Grip tape is also quite sturdy and reliable.
Grip tape is so sturdy, in fact, that even if it becomes a little bit, it retains its grip. A little bit of dirt or water is not enough to keep the grip tape on a skateboard from working properly. Grip tape is also versatile enough to be painted on, without losing grip.
Grip tape is basically just a piece of black sandpaper with a sticky backside that keeps it stuck to the skateboard. Grip tape doesn't wear down as fast as sandpaper, though. Grip tape is also quite sturdy and reliable.
Grip tape is so sturdy, in fact, that even if it becomes a little bit, it retains its grip. A little bit of dirt or water is not enough to keep the grip tape on a skateboard from working properly. Grip tape is also versatile enough to be painted on, without losing grip.
Notifying Visitors of Site Enhancements
Another idea for my home page's text is notifying visitors about the enhancements I put on my site. For example, I want visitors to sign my guestbook or fill out my survey Form E-mailer to answer questions about my site, my business, or my site's topic.
Need some extra help building your site? Here are some topics that may be helpful.
More About That Stuff
Old skateboards didn't use grip tape. Many of the very first skateboards were made of a fiberglass resin that was very slippery. This problem was remedied by weaving a waffle pattern into the decks. This sort of solved the problem, but the fiberglass was still too slippery.
Grip tape most likely came about in the early seventies, with the dawn of the first mass-produced skateboard decks. These mass produced skateboards often came pre gripped. This means that skateboard grip tape was already applied to the boards so that the buyers did not have to fret about applying the tape themselves.
Grip tape can be fairly tricky to apply to a deck. There are many videos on youtube that can help a person apply grip tape to their board. If you're looking for a text description of how to apply grip tape, continue reading.
Grip tape can be installed with a tiny bit of effort and some. Before installing grip tape, you will want to ensure that you have enough. Some skateboards are wider than others, and you don't want to apply grip tape that's not going to cover your whole board.
Now that you know whether or not you have enough grip tape for your skateboard, you are ready to apply it to the deck. Peel off the backing, and lay down one side on the tail/nose of the deck, then work your way to the other end. Try to smooth out any bubbles that show up in the grip tape by pushing them to the sides with your hands.
Grip tape most likely came about in the early seventies, with the dawn of the first mass-produced skateboard decks. These mass produced skateboards often came pre gripped. This means that skateboard grip tape was already applied to the boards so that the buyers did not have to fret about applying the tape themselves.
Grip tape can be fairly tricky to apply to a deck. There are many videos on youtube that can help a person apply grip tape to their board. If you're looking for a text description of how to apply grip tape, continue reading.
Grip tape can be installed with a tiny bit of effort and some. Before installing grip tape, you will want to ensure that you have enough. Some skateboards are wider than others, and you don't want to apply grip tape that's not going to cover your whole board.
Now that you know whether or not you have enough grip tape for your skateboard, you are ready to apply it to the deck. Peel off the backing, and lay down one side on the tail/nose of the deck, then work your way to the other end. Try to smooth out any bubbles that show up in the grip tape by pushing them to the sides with your hands.
What's Left?
If you do find a few bubbles in the grip tape, it's easy to remove them. Just take a sharp knife, and slice a hole in the bubble. This will allow the air to get out from under the grip, giving you the chance to flatten out the bubble.
After the grip tape has been installed, scrape the edges of the deck with a screwdriver or other metal object. This will remove some of the grit, and make it easier to cut the excess grip tape off the board. Again, this is better explained via picture or video.
Now that you've taken off some grit, remove the excess tape with a razor blade. You will want to cut in one fluid movement, as it will help the finished product look clean. You should take some of the excess tape and sand the places you cut if you're not happy with the result. It's hard to ruin up a grip install; try to have fun while doing it.
Now that you have learned a little bit about the history of grip tape, why skateboarders use it today, and how to install grip tape on your own skateboard, you should go outside and skate. Don't forget your grip tape, and have fun!
