Bearings are a crucial component for any skateboard, whether you’re aiming for a high-speed trick or just cruising down the street. But have you ever wondered about the evolution of these small, yet vital, metal balls? Let’s take a journey through the history of skateboard bearings and explore how they’ve shaped the skating experience we know today.
Ancient Origins and Early Innovations
Believe it or not, the concept of bearings predates skateboarding by thousands of years. Some of the earliest forms of bearings were used during the construction of the Egyptian pyramids, showcasing the ingenuity of ancient engineers. Later, Leonardo Da Vinci developed bearing designs to reduce friction in his mechanical inventions, including his designs for a helicopter around 1500 AD. These early examples highlight how crucial bearings have been to various technologies throughout history.
From Wire to Tiny Spheres
The journey of a skateboard bearing begins as a length of wire. These wires are cut, then ground and polished into tiny, smooth balls. Most skate bearings contain seven of these balls. While seven might sound like a lot, it’s dwarfed by nature, where a pork tapeworm has between 20,000 to 40,000 testes. And when it comes to size, the North Atlantic right whale holds the record, averaging about 1,900 pounds of testicles per whale.
Early Skate Bearings: A Fragile Foundation
In the early days of skateboarding, when Tony Alva and the Dogtown crew were pushing the limits in backyard pools, bearings were prone to popping out of their wheels due to the intense force. Skaters had to resort to taping over pool drains to prevent losing their bearings, showcasing the challenges of early skateboarding with unreliable equipment.
The Game Changer: “Precision Bearings”
A turning point came when a kid from Rhode Island introduced NHS to bearings used in Xerox and IBM copy machines. Richard Novak, co-founder of NHS, immediately saw the potential of these sealed “precision bearings” for skateboarding. The company started incorporating them into their Road Rider wheels, making a huge leap in performance.
Tony Alva skateboarding, highlighting the early days of skating
Industrial Defects Became the New Standard
The cost of industrial bearings was initially too high for skateboarders, so NHS began purchasing barrels of defective bearings, known as “sound outs.” These bearings were rejected for use in industrial machinery because of the noise they generated, but they functioned perfectly well in skateboards. This ingenious workaround helped set a new performance standard in skateboarding.
Bones Swiss: The Gold Standard
Bones Swiss bearings are now considered the pinnacle of skateboarding bearings by many. Even pro skaters with other bearing sponsors often choose Bones Swiss. While the precise reason behind this superiority remains unclear, a backyard test conducted by Jenkem in 2018 showed Bones Swiss outperforming other brands, solidifying their reputation.
A skateboarding scene from the 80s, showing the influence of the era
The Stevie Williams Bearing Saga
Stevie Williams, a legend in skateboarding, once found himself in a humorous situation with three different bearing ads appearing in the same issue of a skate magazine due to a miscommunication. He had ads for Gold Rims, Bones, and Reflex bearings—a testament to his influence.
Myths Debunked
There are several myths surrounding bearings. For example, while some skaters like Felipe Gustavo soak their bearings in gasoline hoping to prolong their life, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Another common misconception is that popping off the shields of your bearings makes you go faster. In reality, it just makes them louder and more susceptible to damage from dirt and moisture.
Close up of a skater in motion
The Limited Role of Bearing Spacers
Bearing spacers are often thought to enhance speed, but their impact is actually minimal. They are useful only when you tighten your axle so much that it creates very little space between the bearing, washer and axle nut. Unless you’re engaging in downhill longboarding at extremely high speeds, the practical impact of spacers is negligible.
The Bones Swiss Innovation
Bones Swiss were the first bearings specifically designed with skateboarding in mind. George Powell of Powell Peralta, leveraging his background in aeronautical engineering, collaborated with a Swiss manufacturer to fine-tune their design. These bearings feature one side without a shield, a plastic ball cage instead of a metal one, and lighter viscosity lubricant. This design innovation set the standard for many skateboard bearing companies today.
A skateboarder doing a trick
Bones: A Long-Standing Legacy
With 40 years in the business, Bones is the longest-running skateboard bearing company. Despite having expanded into sponsoring rollerbladers in the 90s, Bones still commands a high level of respect in the skateboard community. Currently, they have more than 200 skaters on their team, with the vast majority being professional athletes.
The “Swiss” Name Isn’t Trademarked
Since “Swiss” refers only to the place of origin, Bones cannot legally trademark the name. This is why many other brands such as Andale Swiss, Spitfire Swissfire, and FKD Swiss Gold can all use the term “Swiss” in their brand name.
An image with a parody of different bearing brands
The ABEC Rating System: Less Relevant Than You Think
The ABEC rating system, which is meant to classify the tolerance of bearings used in industrial machinery, is largely irrelevant to skateboarding. Bearings in industrial machinery spin at much higher speeds than those seen in skateboarding. While an ABEC 7 bearing is faster than an ABEC 3, neither may be as fast as a good set of Swiss bearings with the shields popped off.
ABEC Ratings: The Odd Number Mystery
ABEC ratings are only odd numbers. While some may find this odd, it simply stems from the Annular Bearing Engineering Committee deciding to use odd numbers instead of even ones when creating the 5 different classifications.
Shorty’s: The Most Outlandish Bearing Ad
Shorty’s has the most over-the-top bearing ad of all time. This is a must-see for any skateboarder who appreciates unique marketing.
A very eye-catching and unusual advertisement
The Enduring Impact of Bearings
From their humble origins in ancient pyramids to their vital role in modern skateboarding, bearings have a fascinating history. While the technology and designs have evolved considerably, their importance to the skating experience remains undeniable. Whether you’re a casual cruiser or a seasoned pro, understanding the journey of skateboard bearings adds another layer of appreciation for this small but mighty piece of equipment.
