Skateboard Design and Fabrication

During Winterim, students will immerse themselves in the culture of skateboarding, learning to ride while exploring the design elements that shape how a board looks, feels, and performs. We'll visit local skateboard shops to talk with industry professionals about the history of board design. We will explore how different board shapes evolved and how features like the tip, tail, wheelbase, and concavity influence the riding experience. Students will also explore how artwork and branding on skate decks have shaped skateboarding's identity over the years and linked it to art movements like punk, graffiti, and street art.

A major component of this Winterim will include participants learning to skate. No prior skateboarding experience is required, but students should have an interest in developing their skateboarding skills. We will visit local skateparks throughout Winterim to practice riding and test out a variety of skateboards. While there, we'll also talk with riders about their preferences and the ways board design affects their style and the environments in which they skate. By looking at a wide range of skateboards, from vintage models to modern designs, students will gain a broad perspective on the possibilities and evolution of skateboard design.

Back in the Makerspace, students will put their knowledge into practice by crafting two of their own decks: one in an "old-school" style and another in a modern "popsicle" shape. Using custom two-part molds in a skateboard press, they'll learn how mold design determines the final geometry of a board. Once their blanks are formed, students will design custom profiles and use the CNC machine to cut them out.

Finally, students will finish and assemble their complete decks, including custom graphics created in the Makerspace, trucks, wheels, bearings, grip tape, and hardware. With both boards in hand, they'll test them at local skateparks, experiencing firsthand how each design performs in different environments. By riding and comparing their creations, and gathering feedback from experienced riders, students will reflect on which design choices were most successful and why.

NOTE: All students must have a skateboard helmet in order to participate in this Winterim. The cost of a helmet is NOT included in this Winterim.

Educational Goals:

  1. Learn to use manufacturing tools and techniques to fabricate custom skate decks.

  2. Understand how various skateboard shapes impact riding profile and performance.

  3. Use 3D modeling and manufacturing software to design custom skateboards.

  4. Develop foundational skateboarding skills and confidence while riding at local skateparks.

  5. Develop students' durable skills as they work through the design, iteration, manufacturing, and testing the processes involved in creating functional end-use products.

  6. Embrace and engage with skateboarding culture and history and its influence on skateboard design.

Instructors: Jeff Ellenbogen and Chris Supiro

Open to: Grades 9-12
Limit: 10 students
Cost: $425
Dates: March 5 and March 8 –12, regular school hours