Skateboards have a front and a back, which we call the nose and tail .
The nose and tail are specifically those upward-sloping areas immediately after the trucks.
The nose of a skateboard is longer and has a steeper angle than the tail, often noticeable when standing on one side or the other on the board.
Even experienced skaters sometimes check the front and back of their skateboards because the difference isn't always immediately obvious. There are a couple of ways to make it easier to check the front and back.
The nose of a skateboard is longer and higher off the ground than the tail. Only double-tail skateboards (twin tip) have the exact front and back dimensions, but these are quite rare.
5 Ways to Determine the Nose and Tail of a Skateboard
There are a couple of ways to make it easier to determine the front and back of a skateboard. After completing steps 1 and 2, you can use steps 3, 4, or 5 to avoid having to worry about this again.
Check the graphics, they are usually directional, that is, they develop from the tip (nose) towards the tail (tail).
Check the shape and slope, the highest and longest end is the nose.
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Check your graphics
This doesn't work if you have a blank skateboard deck, meaning nothing printed on it. Usually, there's a printed graphic that runs from the back to the front of a skateboard.
Stand the board upright and look at the design. You'll see that it runs vertically from top to bottom. The top is the nose, the bottom is the tail.
If the design is horizontal, like a logo or writing, the nose is usually where the writing starts. -
Check both ends for length and angle
If you inspect both ends of a skateboard, you'll see the differences. It's clear that the nose is longer and slightly higher.
The front part (nose) is often longer and has a steeper upward curve. The rear part (tail) is shorter and has a less steep angle.
The nose (front) and tail (rear) have a different shape, except on symmetrical skateboards. The nose is slightly longer and more angled than the tail. -
Make a mark on the grip
Take a marker and mark both the nose and the tail differently. If it helps, write it down instead of making a mark.
This makes it immediately obvious which part of your skateboard you are using.
Marking the grip clearly is important if you are just starting out. -
Use colored screws
The final practical solution is to use different colored screws. If you put two colored screws at the front, it's easy to distinguish the nose from the tail.
The only downside is that some colored hardware gradually fades.
It's just a colored coating or paint that doesn't last forever.
Once you've identified the nose and tail, place the colored bolts where you want them. Some brands sell packs with 6 black bolts and 2 colored bolts. -
Use wheels of different colors
You can also mount wheels of different colors on the front, but this requires purchasing 8 wheels or a pack with mixed-color wheels.
Some advice
When building a skateboard yourself and replacing your deck, be sure to be careful when installing old trucks. If you put the back truck in front and vice versa, you'll have steering issues because the bushings are worn differently.
Your rear truck is usually a little more worn and steers differently than the front, so always remember to set them up correctly!
