Equipment Guide

At Evolve Camps, it is mandatory to wear a skateboard helmet during camp activities. When selecting a helmet, look for one that is certified to CPSC standards for skateboarding.

Bicycle helmets are not acceptable – here’s why: skateboarding helmets provide full coverage to the back of the head and usually have less ventilation compared to bicycling helmets. They are specifically designed to withstand multiple impacts before needing replacement. On the other hand, bicycle helmets are designed to handle extreme force from a single impact, such as a severe collision with a motor vehicle, and should be replaced after such an accident. 

Visit our camp store, Cosmic Pro Scooters, to check out an example of a CPSC-certified skateboard helmet.

To ensure proper head protection, it’s crucial to measure your head correctly for a skateboard helmet. Regardless of the brand, a well-fitting skateboard helmet should have protective padding, stay securely in place while skateboarding, and fit snugly and low across your forehead.

Here’s how to measure your head accurately for a skateboard helmet:

1. Use a soft tape measure and wrap it around your forehead, ensuring it sits just above your ears and eyebrows as the helmet will rest low on your forehead. Keep the measurement level from the front to the back of your head. Avoid wrapping it too tightly or loosely.
2. If you don’t have a tape measure, you can use a string following the same steps. Once properly wrapped around your head, mark it and measure it against a ruler.
3. If you’re unable to measure your head, you can estimate your helmet size based on your hat size. Check the tag on a well-fitting hat you already own, as it will provide a rough estimate of the correct helmet size.

By following these guidelines, you’ll ensure a perfect-fitting skateboard helmet that offers optimal head protection. So, gear up and get ready to ride with confidence at Evolve Campers!

Skateboard wrist guards are essential for protecting and supporting your wrists during skateboarding, especially during wipeouts. These pads provide shock absorption upon impact, fully padded on all sides for optimal safety. With their wrap-around Velcro design, they are easily adjustable. From beginners to advanced riders attempting risky stunts and tricks, skaters of all levels wear wrist guards to stay protected.

Sizing: To ensure a solid fit, it’s important to accurately measure your hand and knuckles. Most wrist guards are adjustable, but precise measurements guarantee the best fit. Use a soft tape measure to wrap around the four knuckles at their widest point, excluding the thumb.

You can conveniently purchase wrist guards from our camp store, Cosmic Pro Scooters.

Skateboard elbow pads are essential for protecting your bones during falls or wipeouts. They come in adjustable designs to ensure a secure fit. Elbow pads can feature soft, dense foam for cushioning or a hard plastic shell for extra protection. Today’s elbow pads are lightweight and flexible, providing both safety and comfort for high-octane skateboarding. They are sold in sets of two and are often available in combo packs with knee pads and wrist pads.

Sizing: To find the perfect fit, measure your arms correctly. Wrap a soft tape measure around the center of your elbow and measure around your outstretched arm at the middle, top, or bottom where the pad will rest. If you don’t have a flexible tape measure, use a string and measure it against a ruler.

Stay protected and skate on!

You can conveniently purchase elbow pads from our camp store, Cosmic Pro Scooters.

Skateboard knee pads are a must for protecting you during falls and wipeouts. Knee injuries are common in skateboarding, making knee pads essential. They are made of stretchy cloth material with adjustable Velcro attachments behind the knee. The knee pad’s cap features foam or hard plastic for impact protection. Knee pads are sold in sets of two and often available in combo packs with elbow and wrist pads.

Sizing: To ensure a perfect fit, measure your knee properly. Wrap a soft tape measure around the center of your knee, measuring either at the middle, top, or where the pad will rest at the bottom of your leg. If you don’t have a flexible tape measure, use a string and measure it against a ruler. Choose the right size and ride confidently!

You can conveniently purchase knee pads from our camp store, Cosmic Pro Scooters.

The classic skateboard deck is made from 7 plys of wood, usually maple, laminated together.

Decks are often decorated with graphics from the brand that makes them. Brands don’t really matter until you’re more of an advanced skater. Some companies have different shapes and “feel different” for different skaters. At most skate shops you will be able to find ‘blank” decks that are super cheap. These decks are usually made in the same factory as the branded boards. You can then put any sticker you want on the board.

The important thing about the deck is its shape:

Width

We generally recommend a board that’s 7.75-8.00 for our style of skateboarding. The wider the board, generally the more stability. However, like anything else, this is all about personal preference. It doesn’t have too much to do with the height or weight of the skater.

Concave

This is the curve that starts at either end of the board and continues through the middle of the deck. This allows you to grip the board to perform tricks. The easiest thing to do is step on the deck at the shop (without trucks or wheels on it); so you get to feel how the board feels under your feet.

Other styles of decks like pool boards, long boards, or ‘old school boards’ are super cool. Sometimes these shapes will be okay at camp, but to get the most out of our program, we recommend the New School shapes discussed above. Skateboards are generally not chosen based on size or weight of the individual – it is all about personal preference. Nevertheless, we have outlined some size ranges here for our younger campers.

Skateboard wheels have two classifications: Hardness (Durometer – measured by an a-scale) and Size (Diameter – measured in mm). The harder the wheel the higher the number on the a-scale.

At camp we mostly ride vert and street:

• Vert Riding involves steep bowls, curves and inclines
• Street Riding involves urban obstacles to perform tricks on or over.

For Vert

Campers want larger wheels that roll a lot faster. Try 55-65mm wheels with a hardness of 95-100a.

For Street

Campers will want smaller wheels that are a little bit softer. To start we recommend 50-55m wheels that are 97-101a.

The truck should be made with aluminum alloy. The three important parts of the trucks are the baseplate, the hanger and the bushings. The bushing is the rubber pivot point where the truck turns the skateboard. There is a screw or kingpin that connects the pieces. The tighter the kingpin, the tighter the truck. The tighter the truck, the more stability.

The width of the truck should be fitted to the width of the deck. This is usually the same width or slightly smaller. Trucks that are too big can make doing tricks difficult. Trucks that are too small can limit your stability.

As a rule of thumb scooter bars should sit around hip to waist height when standing on the deck flat footed. If bars come up above waist height then the rider will have more difficulty in controlling the scooter and could ultimately lose control.

Types of Bars

• Steel Bar

  Stronger compared to aluminum bars, but also weigh more.

• Aluminum Bar

  Lightweight construction, and depending on the quality, pretty durable too.

Diameter

Please note if the outer diameter of your bar is oversized or standard, as this will determine what clamp will fit. You should also note the inner diameter to determine which fork will fit, e.g. with or without HIC.

Width of Bars

Scooter riders have different preferences when choosing a width. A good hint is to choose a bar with the same width as your shoulders. If you`re mostly into technical tricks like barspins, choose a narrow bar. And if you`re more a big air and no hands tricks rider, then choose a wider bar. (Remember you can always choose a wide bar and cut it to your preference! )

Height

Stunt scooters are usually lower than standard scooters. Choosing a height is also a matter of preference. Skilled riders often choose lower bars to gain stability and better control. A tip when choosing the right height is to make sure the bar reaches somewhere between your thighs and hip. Avoid making your bar wider than its height as this is considered unstylish by skilled riders and can be uncomfortable for transportation.

Thread

If choosing a bar with thread you should also have a fork with thread. Most bars without thread will fit on forks with & without thread. Most new bars are without thread for added compatibility.

SCS

You cannot use a bar with a cutout with SCS, since the SCS clamp will have nothing to tighten around. You can cut your bar, this will however void warranty. If a bar is without the cutout, we call it SCS-ready.

The more basic scooters come with 100mm or 110mm wheels for a low, stable center of gravity, pro riders tend to ride with 110mm. Most Scooters are made of similar materials to each other and have similar design and construction.

Wheel hardness is measured in durometers. Lower numbers indicate a softer wheel and higher numbers indicate a harder wheel. Durometer is denoted by the suffix “A” (example – 82A). The typical Scooter wheel is 82A. The hardness of Scooter wheels are most suited to indoor riding and outdoor, providing they are used on a smooth surface.

Bearings

Bearings are the seven or eight balls at the center of each wheel. Each bearing has an ABEC rating that indicates the precision of their manufacturing.
The general ABEC range is ABEC-1, ABEC-3, ABEC-5 although bearings are not always measured in ABEC’s. Bearings don’t need to be cleaned after every use, but if they become wet, they should be cleaned and dried. Never lubricate the outside of a bearing because that will attract dirt and contaminants.

Deck

This is where you stand and balance yourself while riding your pro scooter. Most decks have a measurement of 4″- 4.5” wide by 19″ – 21” long. Be sure to choose the right size of deck for your scooter. Generally the smaller the rider, the smaller the deck within the above sizing parameters.

A decent to advanced scooters range from $99 to $450+. Price will range depending on brand, and level. In most cases you will get to choose from intro, intermediate and advanced.

This is likely your least costly option. We always encourage parents not to rent but to purchase all of the equipment that they need for the season. You can easily find all of the equipment that your camper will need second-hand from another parent that is selling their child’s gently used equipment. We suggest starting your search online on sites like Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, there are many ‘Ski Swaps’ that you can visit where people bring their used equipment to sell.

This is a more costly version than purchasing used equipment, but probably still less expensive than renting all season. If you would like to purchase new gear, we recommend visiting our friends over at The Sign of the Skier (2794 Yonge Street, Toronto ON). They are super knowledgeable and they might even give you a deal if you mention that your child is an Evolve Snow Camps camper this winter.

This is probably your most costly option as it will be up to $45 per Saturday for the skis/snowboard & boots, along with $14 per Saturday if your camper also needs to rent a helmet (see rental prices at MSLM and Mt. Norquay). Along with the cost, we do not recommend this option as your child would also have to go with their coach to get their equipment every Saturday morning, which will mean they will miss a lot of riding time.

This is likely your least costly option. We always encourage parents not to rent but to purchase all of the equipment that they need for the season. You can easily find all of the equipment that your camper will need second-hand from another parent that is selling their child’s gently used equipment. We suggest starting your search online on sites like Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, there are many ‘Ski Swaps’ that you can visit where people bring their used equipment to sell.

This is a more costly version than purchasing used equipment, but probably still less expensive than renting all season. If you would like to purchase new gear, we recommend visiting our friends over at The Sign of the Skier (2794 Yonge Street, Toronto ON). They are super knowledgeable and they might even give you a deal if you mention that your child is an Evolve Snow Camps camper this winter.

This is probably your most costly option as it will be up to $45 per Saturday for the skis/snowboard & boots, along with $14 per Saturday if your camper also needs to rent a helmet (see rental prices at MSLM and Mt. Norquay). Along with the cost, we do not recommend this option as your child would also have to go with their coach to get their equipment every Saturday morning, which will mean they will miss a lot of riding time.

For our Learn to Bike Programs your child will need essential equipment, including a properly sized bicycle and a well-fitted, CPSC-certified helmet. Training wheels are not recommended, and closed-toe shoes are necessary for proper grip on the pedals and foot protection. Encouraging comfortable clothing suitable for biking is important, while gloves and eye protection can offer added safety. Regular maintenance of the bike ensures continued safety and performance.

For our Bike Camp Programs, your child will need a properly sized bicycle and a well-fitted, CPSC-certified helmet. Training wheels are not allowed, and closed-toe shoes are necessary.

Campers can use any bicycle that meets standards and is appropriate for the chosen program, but that doesn’t mean it will be safe, fun or progressive for them. Choosing the wrong equipment can be hazardous and may hinder your child’s progression or lead to unnecessary accidents.

You want to make sure your child is comfortable on their bicycle to maintain balance and be able to touch the ground with their feet. The seat should be set at an appropriate height for the rider. Handlebars should be the right height and width and set at the right angle for the rider and bikes geometry.