What Do Risers Do On A Skateboard?

Skateboard parts are important for the whole skateboarding tricks. Risers are one of them and they have various purposes. What do skateboard risers do? Do they make you go faster? Higher off the ground? People seem to think that risers are for making your skateboard faster or for giving you more height, but this is not always the case.

For those who don’t know, risers are small pieces of plastic or metal that are placed in between the deck and trucks of a skateboard. Their primary purpose is to provide extra space between the deck and trucks in order to increase stability.

In this blog post, we will be discussing what risers actually do and how they can help improve your skateboarding experience. So if you’re curious about risers and what they can do for you, then keep reading! 

What Do Risers Do On A Skateboard? – Purpose And Advantages

Risers have a few purposes. We are going to discuss the main ones.

Extra Space

The first and most obvious one is to create space between the deck and trucks. This extra space provides more stability, which is important for skateboarders who want to perform tricks.

Absorb Shock

The second purpose of risers is to absorb shock. When you land a trick, there is a lot of impacts that are absorbed by the risers. This helps to protect your deck from damage and also makes for a smoother landing.

Grip

Risers that are made of rubber or another similar material can provide extra grip between the deck and trucks. This is helpful for skateboarders who want to perform tricks that require a lot of grips, such as manuals or grinds.

Enhance Looks

It can improve the look of your skateboard. Risers come in a variety of colors, materials, and sizes. Some skateboarders like to use risers that match their deck or trucks, while others use risers that contrast with their setup. This is purely a matter of personal preference.

Prevent Wear And Tear

The fifth purpose of risers is to prevent skateboards from wear and tear. By creating space between the deck and trucks, risers can help to reduce the amount of wear and tear that occurs on your skateboard. This is especially important for skateboarders who ride a lot or perform tricks that put a lot of stress on the board.

Increase Ground Clearance

Riders who want to avoid obstacles while skating can benefit from the additional ground clearance provided by the riser. This is especially useful for street skaters who may encounter dents, or cracks in the pavement while skating. Risers can keep the skateboard on the track and protect it from damage to the truck or board by increasing the ground clearance.

When To Use Risers?

There are a few different scenarios where you might want to use risers.

Scenario 1

If you’re just starting out skating, then you might want to use risers that are 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch in height. This will provide extra stability and grip while you’re learning the basics of skateboarding.

Scenario 2

Wheel bite is a common problem for skateboarders, especially those who like to do a lot of turns and carve. If you’re experiencing wheel bite, then you can try using risers that are 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch in height. This will help to prevent the wheels from biting into the deck, which can cause damage or make the board difficult to control.

Scenario 3

If you’re an experienced skateboarder who wants to perform tricks, then you might want to use risers that are 1 inch or higher. This will provide extra space between the deck and trucks, which is important for stability when landing tricks. You might also want to use risers that are made of rubber if you’re going to be doing a lot of tricks that require grips, such as manuals or grinds.

The Different Types Of Risers For Skateboards

There are various types of risers available for skateboards. Some of these are made up of soft materials like rubber while others are made from hard plastics. The type of riser you choose will depend on your skating style and the tricks you want to perform.

Rubber Risers

Rubber risers are a good choice for skateboarders who want extra grip and shock absorption. They’re also relatively inexpensive and come in a variety of colors.

Plastic Risers

Plastic risers are made from a variety of materials, including polycarbonate and ABS. They’re more durable than rubber risers but don’t provide as much grip or shock absorption.

Now that we’ve gone over the purpose of risers and when to use them, let’s discuss how to install them.

1. Start by loosening the kingpin nut with a skate tool. You don’t need to remove the nut entirely, just loosen it enough so that you can adjust the height of the trucks.
2. Next, place the riser between the deck and the truck. You might need to use a few different sizes of risers to get the desired height.
3. Once you’ve found the right size, tighten the kingpin nut to secure the riser in place.
4. Repeat this process for the other truck.
5. And that’s it! You’ve now installed risers on your skateboard.Metal Risers

Metal risers are the most durable type of riser but can be more expensive. They’re a good choice for skateboarders who want maximum durability, especially if they’re going to be doing a lot of tricks that put stress on the board.

How to install risers – Step by Step Guide

Tips For Using Risers

Now that you know how to install risers, let’s go over a few tips for using them.

1. Be sure to choose the right size riser for your skating style and the tricks you want to perform.
2. Risers can affect the turning radius of your skateboard, so be sure to keep this in mind when choosing the height.
3. If you’re using tall risers, be sure to check the clearance between the deck and trucks. You don’t want the trucks to rub against the deck, which can cause damage.
4. Be sure to tighten the kingpin nut when you’re finished adjusting the height of the trucks. This will prevent the riser from coming loose while you’re skating.
5. And lastly, have fun! Skateboarding is all about experimentation, so don’t be afraid to try different setups.

Conclusion

Risers are a great way to customize your skateboard and make it perform better. Be sure to choose the right size and material for your skating style and the tricks you want to perform. And don’t forget to have fun!

We hope that this article was helpful in teaching you about skateboard risers. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible. Happy skating!