The Best Aggressive Skates for Beginners

The Best Aggressive Skates for Beginners
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After mastering the fundamental skating techniques, young riders might feel the urge to move on to freestyle tricks. Aggressive skating involves jumping ramps as well as sliding across rails and ledges. Beginners require a model of aggressive skates that include a few standard features.

Boots

The boot refers to the component of the aggressive skates that surrounds your foot. While many avid skaters use custom-made boots, beginners can save money by purchasing an off-the-shelf model. The outer construction of the boots commonly features a hard plastic design. Choose a pair of boots that offer a padded lining for increased protection and comfort. The Grind Side Beginner's Guide recommends a pair of aggressive skating boots that are around one size bigger than your regular shoes.

Wheels

Each aggressive skate has four urethane wheels. The hardness of the wheel varies depending on the skill level of the skater. Beginner wheels commonly have a softer construction because that offers a smoother ride. Soft skate wheels allow you to grip an asphalt riding terrain. The width of the wheel, measured in millimeters, fluctuates based on the intended type of riding terrain. Wide wheels offer increased balance and remain ideal for beginners in the aggressive skating community.

Bearings

Each of the aggressive skate wheels houses two ball bearings. According to Skate Log, the skate bearings are assigned a speed rating by the Annular Bearing Engineer's Committee. Skate wheel bearings that receive an ABEC rating of seven or more have the ability to reach breakneck speeds. Beginner aggressive skates often feature bearings with a speed rating of five or less. Store your aggressive skates in a dry location to prevent the accumulation of bearing rust.

Frames

The wheel frame on recreational skates commonly has a metallic construction. The best aggressive skates for beginners feature a plastic wheel frame. Beginner aggressive skates comes equipped with a specialized component built into the wheel frame. The center of the plastic frame features a concave shaped section that allows you learn grinds and slides. This U-shaped piece, known as the grind plate, features a reinforced design that can withstand metallic handrails as well as concrete ledges.

References

Article reviewed by Kirk Ericson Last updated on: May 26, 2011

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