A Look At Finger Boards
Today on Leo's Tech and Toy's we are going to take a closer look at these miniature skateboards
A "TechDeck" or "Fingerboard" is a replica of a skateboard that a person can "ride" by replicating skateboarding tricks with their fingers. EASIER SAID THAN DONE. Invented in the late 1960s but popularized by the company "Tech Deck" in the early 2000s. Fingerboarding became a sensation in the Philippines in the early 2010s due to high availability in local toy stores and the rise of skater culture. Tech Deck Philippines held competitions all around the country, leaving audiences in awe of the skills on display.
Tech Decks frequently tied into the larger skating culture by featuring popular brands recognizable to everyone in the community.
Fingerboards, like their full-sized counterparts, have several parts.
- The Deck - commonly made out of plastic or wood, usually 32-34mm wide.
- Trucks - these are the metal parts that connect the wheels to the deck
- Wheels - usually made from polyurethane, same as skateboard wheels.
- Bearings - made of high-quality steel to make the wheels spin smoothly
- Grip Tape - this is glued to the deck for better handling during play and made of either rubber, neoprene, or fine-grain skateboard grip.
- Screws - to keep the trucks in place
- Nuts - ensure the wheels stay on the trucks. Locknuts are also widely used; these do not loosen as easily.
- Bushings - just like actual skateboards, fingerboards have two bushings that work to smooth out riding the board.
Fast forward to 2022, can you STILL buy a Tech Deck? The answer is, Yes. It's as easy as going to your nearest Toy Kingdom. Is there still an active community of players in heated competition to become the very best? Unfortunately no. There are still plenty of collectors around but I don't see any active groups still playing. If you know otherwise please reach out, I would love to get to know how your community keeps on shredding.
After playing with it a little bit the nut on one of the trucks was already loose and it fell apart. I was able to save the minuscule nut and as I was trying to fix it back on, I realized that the pack did not come with tools! I distinctly remember the older versions coming with at least the little screw and nut drivers. This is disappointing as putting this back together took a lot of fiddling with the small easy-to-lose parts.
Anyway, I remember playing with these roughly a decade or so ago. I was never any good at it but it didn't stop me from buying, trying, and adding it to my pile of forgotten toys. Much to the chagrin of people in my household.
No finger boarding experience is complete without ramps and obstacles. These are available from Tech Deck and other manufacturers, but of course, you can also use whatever you can find around the house. There are also custom-built ones available on Shopee and Lazada.