Skateboard Deck Rails were a must have in the 80s for many reasons. Vert skaters favoured them for the reliable slide they offered on ramp and pool coping, the plastic simply slid further and longer and didn’t stick. They also offered an added edge when grabbing the board. Their appeal transferred to street for the same reasons, crusty spots became skateable, and lipslides and boardslides got longer. Rails also opened up a lot of possibilities when kerb skating, the added rock they offer quickens the contact for those slide to grind combos and makes them a lot easier to perform.
The popularity of rails diminished in the 90s and the following decades but they have seen a resurgence. Older generations and new skateboarders alike are applying rails to their boards these days and sliding on kerbs and coping like never before. If you have never skated a set of rails it’s an easy and inexpensive experiment which can open up a world of possibilities. They are also easy to remove if you don’t like how they feel. This guide will talk you through how to apply a set to your board and give you some advice about doing so.
The popularity of rails diminished in the 90s and the following decades but they have seen a resurgence. Older generations and new skateboarders alike are applying rails to their boards these days and sliding on kerbs and coping like never before. If you have never skated a set of rails it’s an easy and inexpensive experiment which can open up a world of possibilities. They are also easy to remove if you don’t like how they feel. This guide will talk you through how to apply a set to your board and give you some advice about doing so.
What you will need:
• Your new set of rails and the screws they come with
• Phillips head screwdriver or a drill with a Phillips head attachment.
First you will need to decide how you want to line up your rails as they can be placed wherever you want on the board. As a rule we recommend placing them about 1 or 1.5 Inches in from the edge of the board. This is the best option for stability and added balance on the boardslide tricks they will enhance. You will also want to make sure the end of the rail is not too close to the area where your wheel may contact the board when turning. We all want to avoid wheelbite but you certainly don’t want the wheel making contact with the rail.
Once you have the rail lined up where you want it to be it’s time to make the first move. Take one of the screws which comes with the rails and place it into the first hole on the end of the rail. These screws are self tapping which means they will easily cut a thread into the wood of your board. Turn your Phillips head screwdriver clockwise until it bites the wood and then continue to turn until it is sunken into the hole of the rail. If using a drill be careful not to overtighten. It’s surprisingly easy to attach the screws with a screwdriver and you will feel when they are in properly.
You will notice that the first screw will have pulled the rail flush with the deck. Now that the first screw is in you will want to line up the other end of the rail. Insert and attach the screw in the hole on the opposite end. This will hold the rail in place for you when attaching the remaining screws. Once the rail is held firmly in place simply screw in the remaining three screws and repeat the process with the next rail on the other side of your board.
It is as easy as that, the whole process shouldn’t take longer than twenty minutes. Now you are good to go and can enjoy all the possibilities those thin strips of plastic open up. After all of the boardslides you will soon be addicted to doing it is normal for the rails to rattle loose a little so it’s worth keeping an eye on them and tightening occasionally.
This simple experiment could open up a whole new world of trick possibilities. All you need to do is order a set of Skateboard Deck Rails and have a screwdriver to hand. Get sliding!