Mountainboard Terms FAQ

Deck - A deck is the wooden or composite platform that you stand on.  This can be plain wood or a mix of fibreglass/carbonfibre/wood (or more) the extra materials make the deck tougher and almost impossible to break but also can add more flexibility to the deck which is your suspension (along with your legs ;-) )


Channel Trucks -  Trucks are the items at the end of the deck with the wheels on the end.  Channel trucks are trucks that pivot around a fixed bolt and mostly have springs and dampers (eggshocks etc) to change the stiffness of turn or stability.


Skate Trucks - These are enlarged trucks the same design as you would find on a skateboard and as such work the same way with rubber bushes.  These are generally a lot lighter than the channel trucks but can be more unstable at high speeds.  These are popular with kite boarders and light riders as they are easy to turn and nimble.


Bindings - These are what your feet fit into and are essential for both downhill mountainboarding and kite landboarding.  They come in three main types, velcro soft bindings, ratchet bindings and snowboard style bindings.  Velcro are popular for beginners and kite flyers as it is easy to get feet in and out.  Ratchet like the mbs f3 binding is great more intermediate downhill and kite flyers who want their feet in tight and secure.  Snowboard style are full locked bindings as on snowboard and are more suitable for intermediate riders and should be used with supportive boots.


Heelstraps - These are back straps that fit to bindings to hold feet in while in air or going fast. Many riders feel more safe or secure having their feet solid in the board so they know they can't slip out.  This is not ideal for beginners and should be used with supportive footwear to reduce chance of injury.


Leashes - A leash is a method of attaching the board to the rider.  They normally fit around a binding and attach above the knee pad on that leg.  Coil leashes are the only safe leash and don't get in the way.  The leash is there to stop the board rolling off on it's own and hurting anyone else in a public space and so you don't have to walk to the bottom if you come off at the top.  All hire centres in the UK require riders to have a leash or heelstraps so no loose boards are on site.


Bearings - These are the roller bearings that keep the wheels rolling.  They are all generally sealed bearings to keep the mud out.  There are several sizes depending on your hub and axle sizes.  IF in doubt please consult our bearing page for a size guide.  There are also stainless steel bearings if the board is being used on the beach these can extend the life the bearings but are more expensive.

Tyres - These are the inflatable/pnumatic tyres with inner tubes.  There are basic tyres for beginner boards and then more advanced specific tyres for more grip or speed


Hubs - These are the plastic or aluminium centres for the wheels and there are various designs to be lighter to stronger or cheaper depending on requirements.