Skateboarding has been around for years and has gained tremendous popularity as a sport and hobby.
Yet, if you are new to the sport, you probably have various concerns about skateboard limits.
One of the questions, mainly if you are heavier or large-bodied, is whether there is a weight limit for skateboarding.
So, Can You Be Too Heavy to Skateboard?
Although there is no certified set weight limit for skateboarding, the skateboard’s quality you purchase will determine the amount of weight it can tolerate comfortably before you hop on it. A quality skateboard deck can hold up to 220 pounds, but it can still snap if you land incorrectly. Heavy skaters over 220 pounds have an increased risk for injury. Therefore, you should always use protective gear such as pads and helmets for your safety.
Generally, you can still skateboard even when overweight, with some highly durable skateboards supporting a weight of more than 250 pounds.
Longboards and electric boards can also support a weight of more than 330 lbs.
Skateboarders weighing up to 350 pounds have been performing some intermediate-level skateboard tricks.
The weightier you are, the more challenging it will be somewhat more challenging to skate.
So, you can still skateboard when fat or heavy, but it will be more problematic.
Are There Heavy Pro Skateboarders?
Usually, pro skateboarders weigh less than an average adult at 195 pounds.
For example, the popular Steve Caballero is 5 foot 3 inches and weighs just 134 pounds.
Tony Hawk is a bit tall, standing at 6 foot 3 inches but is relatively lightweight at 171 pounds.
However, there are also heavyweight pro skateboarders such as Stu Graham, Big Ben Schroeder, and Sean Sheffey.
While it’s not easy to establish most skateboarders’ weight,
Big Schroeder is an impressively heavyweight at 6 foot 6 inches and weighing 230 pounds.
Regrettably, his career stopped abruptly in 2011 after crashing with a vehicle when going downhill at 40 miles per hour, breaking his tibia.
The Risk of Injury for Heavy Skateboarders
While it is relatively common to snap a skateboard deck, it is more likely to occur if you are heavyweight and land incorrectly.
More so, if you are overweight or heavy, you are more likely to experience severe damage or injury in case you roll your ankle when doing a kickflip.
Some of the common injuries for skateboarders include; foot injuries and ankle sprains.
Other conditions include;
- bone spurs
- plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- and fractures.
While you can eliminate some of the risks by wearing proper shoe support and protective gear, the risk cannot be entirely eliminated.
Skateboarding needs exclusive coordination and balance and will always involve some risk.
This is one of the reasons why most people love skateboarding.
Does Weight Affect the Ability of Skateboarding?
One of the benefits of being a heavyweight skateboarder is that you can quickly build higher momentum going downhill.
Being a heavier skateboarder is also a disadvantage because the speed can easily translate into a more severe injury.
Lighter skateboarders accelerate quicker but will not produce an equivalent momentum like the heavier skateboarder when going down ramps.
Danny Way, a professional skateboarder, has already set several world records at 180 pounds.
This is more than what most of the skateboarders weigh, and it has certainly aided him to get the momentum required to achieve the Guinness World Record for the lengthiest skateboard ramp jump, ’79 feet’ in 2004 at the X games.
While there is a higher risk of injury, heavy skateboarders can still do the tricks with proper knee bending and foot placement.
It can be perilous if you are jumping from a significant height, such as off the rails.
However, even lightweight professional skateboarders snap boards every time.
All you need as a skateboarder is distributing your weight in parts of the board other than the wheel trucks when landing.
The Significance of Deck Width
The deck width is one of the significant factors in selecting the right skateboard for heavy individuals as it gives better stability and support.
Usually, the size range for the skateboard deck is from 7 to 10 inches, although the smaller versions are more minor.
As a heavy person, you will need a deck width of about 8.25 inches or more for distributing your weight evenly.
The disadvantage of having a more expansive deck is that it makes doing tricks more difficult.
When it comes to the length of the skateboard, most of the skateboards are 32 inches long or lower, with anything over this converting into a longboard.
The length of the deck can be an important factor to contemplate for taller skaters. All in all, each person has their preference.
How To Avoid Skateboard Breakage as A Heavier Skateboarder
As a heavier individual, the probability of snapping your skateboard is higher than the lightweight skateboarders.
But this should not see you give up all the skating fun. Some of the tips on avoiding skateboard breakage include;
1. Landing Correctly
To start with, keep in mind that breaking a skateboard is normal.
Although replacing a skateboard can become costly, it happens, and being heavier means you are likely to break more skateboards than your lightweight counterpart.
To avoid breaking many boards, you should practice safe landing with your feet over your trucks and bending your knees deeply when landing.
This move will help save your skateboards.
2. Consider Using Pro Grade Skateboard Decks
Secondly, you should buy high-quality pro-grade and solid skateboard decks manufactured by legitimate companies such as Element, Zero, Plan B, or Powell.
It is also essential to consider the board wheel size because the larger the wheel, the more support you will have.
The recommended wheel size for a fat individual is about 70 mm.
For the strongest skateboards, you should try out carbon fiber board decks such as the Magneto Bamboo Skateboards.
3. Purchase Skateboards Regularly
If purchasing a solid or rigid skateboard is not your style, you should accept that you will have to buy more skateboards.
There are more inexpensive pro-grade quality boards you can ride on even as a heavy individual.
When broken, you can always keep the boards and make something out of them or just store them on a wall to show your friends how intense of a skateboarder you are!
Bottom Line
In the end, even though there is no specific weight limit when getting into skating, there is an additional risk for injury for overweight or heavy individuals, particularly weighing more than 220 pounds.
The good news is that there are various highly durable longboards, including electric skateboards with a weight limit of up to 300 pounds.
With these tips and instructions, you will enjoy skating without worrying about your weight hence having fun.