Awesome! I would buy one. If I could balance on a skateboard for more than two seconds.

Maybe you could start practicing the way Fiona does; without wheels attached to the board.

I should. I think I'm goofy-footed, too- I'm imagining doing it, and standing left-foot forward doesn't seem right.

To test it out I made a MeFi deck which is so-so.
posted by mathowie at 2:55 PM EST

Well, they say they're real 7-ply canadian wood decks like every other deck you can buy at a shop but I have no idea what the paint/printing is like.

I just ordered one to see though.
posted by mathowie at 3:07 PM EST

Something tells me Matt was one of those guys who'd walk up to you, and ask to check out your wheels. A few moments would pass, and after a cursory inspection, he'd mutter, "Meh - it's particle board", and walk away, leaving you standing there.

Particle board or MDF would make a really shitty (and dangerous) skate.

There's a reason why skaters prefer 7 or 9 ply "rock maple" plywood decks. The plywood they use bears little resemblance to construction plywood, as it's hand-sorted, hand-laid and glued with better glues under extreme pressure in specialized skateboard "presses" or molds. They're light, stiff and strong, and a skateboard often has to withstand tons of force on landings, impacts and boardslides. The more cross-grained plys in the buildup the stiffer and stronger the deck and the more spring or "pop" it has.

There have been a few companies (Like Libtech) that have been making synthetic-composite and even metal boards, but they tend to be more expensive, less wear resistant and more dangerous, not to mention they're often heavier and less springy. Composites fray, leaving sharp fiber edges, and they often fail "spectacularly" whereas a wood deck usually gets soft and spongy before you know it needs to be replaced. The metal-composite and/or honeycombed decks I've seen require plastic "tips" on the nose and tail to keep the metal from wearing down to a dangerously sharp, axe-like edge.

They've been looking for years for a suitable replacement for modern skateboard decks. Plastic/fiberglass composites suck, metal is heavy and dangerous, carbon graphite is too brittle. So wood it is and probably will be for some time.

loquacious, the smae thing applies to circuit race boats - despite all sorts of attempts with carbon, kevlar, aluminium and all sort of materials, wood is the only thing that works consistently.

Mother nature knows best, even when it comes to the different ways we try to hurt ourselves.

Wow, never knew skate decks had so much in common with hockey sticks.

I used my brother's skateboard a few times and I'm definitely goofy-footed. Which, uh, doesn't surprise me.