About Fingerboard

Let's meet fingerboard


What is a fingerboard?


A fingerboard is a working replica (about 1:8 scaled) of a skateboard that a person "rides" by replicating skateboarding maneuvers with their hand. It can also be referred to as a fingerskate or fingerskateboard. The device itself is a scaled-down skateboard complete with moving wheels, graphics and trucks. A fingerboard is commonly around 10 centimeters long, and can have a variety of widths going from 29 to 33mm (or more). Skateboarding tricks may be performed using fingers instead of feet. Tricks done on a fingerboard are inspired by tricks done on real skateboards.





History


Fingerboards were first created as homemade toys in the late 1960s and later became a novelty attached to keychains in skate shops (but were also mentioned as a model for a skateboard.)[3] In the 1985 Powell-Peralta skateboarding video "Future Primitive," Lance Mountain rode a homemade fingerboard in a double-bin sink. It is widely accepted that this is where the idea for the Animal Chin ramp came from. Some consider this the earliest fingerboard footage available for public viewing. That homemade fingerboard was built from wood, tubes, and toy train axles.

Fingerboards have been a peripheral part of the skateboarding industry since the late 1980s and were originally marketed as keychains.Although barely "rideable," they were improved upon by the Tech Deck brand which mass-produced a "rideable" miniature skateboard. The first entertainment licensed fingerboards were introduced by Bratz Toys, released through a Hong Kong-based toy company named Prime Time Toys, and designed by Pangea, the company that helped develop the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy line for Playmates Toys. The designs were harnessed from entertainment properties such as "Speed Racer," "Woody Woodpecker," "NASCAR," "Heavy Metal," and "Crash Bandicoot." The licensed boards drove the Tech Deck brand into licensing strong urban brands, rather than simply creating their own designs. In the late 1990s, as fingerboards became more prominent outside the skateboarding community, X-Concepts' Tech Decks licensed "actual pro graphics from major skateboard brands" riding "the 1999 fingerboard wave right into Wal-Mart and other major outlets." In 1999 there was a Tech Deck fashion of collecting one of each design similar to the Beanie Baby fad months prior. Thus, Tech Deck, and its distributors at Spin Master Toys, suddenly found themselves a large market to milk. Entertainment-based fingerboard brands couldn't compete against the urban juggernaut, and eventually disappeared. Other "major players in the skateboard industry" soon followed in hopes of reaping profits as young toy-playing children would choose to take up fingerboarding.[1] More modern fingerboards feature "interchangeable wheels and trucks, a fairly accurate scale size, and pad-printed graphics reproduced from the most popular skateboard companies in the business."They thus developed the fingerboard into a collectible toy and the practice into a "form of mental skating".

Fingerboarding is popular in Europe, Singapore, Asia and the United States, and there is growing popularity in Eastern Europe. Besides skateshops and the internet, Fingaspeak, a fingerboard store opened in Steyr, Austria although rumored to be the world's first fingerboard store, it joins a very small list of fingerboard stores that are available.[3] Although the sport of fingerboarding originated in the United States over 25 years ago it has really caught on fire in the European scene. The United States is following and it is estimated that although the popularity seems to be in favor of the Europeans, the American Fingerboard scene has equal sales. This may be due to the flooding of the market and the availability of resources in the United States. Fingerboarding has evolved from a hobby to a lifestyle for some people. Fingerboarders have regular "contests, fairs, workshops and other events". Example of these events are: FastFingers, and FlatFace Rendezvous. Fingerboard-product sales were estimated at $120-million for 1999.









Components of fingerboard


DECK TRUCKS WHEELS
One of the main parts of a fingerboard (and also a skateboard) is the shape. The wood is usually made with five plates of various woods (mostly ivory). The difference in shape of a fingerboard for a skate, besides finishing, is its variety of options. The truck is also one of the main parts, but does not have as many varieties as the deck. A good truck, in good condition and with good bushings is better than a normal truck. It consists of two parts: Base and hangar. There are 29 trucks and 32mm. Part of great importance for optimal functioning of the fingerboard. A good wheel greatly improves the performance of the fingerboard, generally the more expensive and higher quality wheel contains bearings (four millimeters) inside.
TUNING KIT TAPE OBSTACLES
A tuning kit can contain anything from bumpers, pivot cups, washers, boardrails, risers and screws. They serve to let your fingerboard with a better look. Besides leaving the truck more stable, these parts help a lot on the performance and durability of the trucks. The tape is a kind of sponge. One of the most important accessories which is cheaper and conventional. Tapes have extra grip and comfort to practice fingerboard, and, besides being more comfortable and better than sandpaper, gives a better shape to the fingerboard. As the skateboard, there are also ramps for fingerboard. Are fully equal ace full size. There are many types of ramps available for fingerboard. May vary in material. May be wood, iron, concrete and even plastic.






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