About Sector 9

Brand history: The story of the nineball starts in our La Jolla backyard in 1993. At the time our house consisted of a bunch of good friends, a halfpipe, pool table, ping pong table and shaping room all just across the street from some nice smooth hills down to the reefs. Being that the house had all these fine features, it became quite the hangout spot.

The interest had been apparent from everyone who saw us skate by so we started making skateboards in our backyard. Lots of learning and a couple evictions later we were forced to move into our first warehouse in what would become the Sector 9 skateboard factory.

 

What is good about Sector 9 skateboards?

Popular among fervent cruisers with fondness for carving and speeding downhill. Sector 9 skateboard’s drop-through platform provides a free-riding experience that is seldom seen in the market. With low centre of gravity it provides great stability and is ideal for downhill rides, it is clear why it is a hit in the skater scene.

Designed to enhance fuller range of movements, Sector 9’s longboard has the ability to perform slow speed tricks many other longboards do not allow due to lack of flexibility and lightness. This feature is found in the way its nose and tail kick is designed. It allows versatility and freestyle manoeuvres to be performed with a breeze. Covered in full grip tape seldom seen on many boards, riders can confidently cruise with this added safety feature especially when reaching higher speeds.

Sector 9 covers a full range of skateboard types for all experience levels. Not sure which skateboard suits you best? Don’t worry we have you covered, read our simple buying guide to find the right skateboard whether you’re first starting out or getting it for someone who has been in the field.

 

Buying Guide

• Determine your experience level

• Types of skating styles

• How to choose the right skateboard deck

• Choosing a style of skateboard deck

 

+ Experience Level

Determining your level of experience will help indicate the types of skateboard that best suits your needs. As provided are generalized categorizations of ability and skills level:

BEGINNER

You are ready to start your skating journey with the basics but has yet spend much time on your skateboard. As you are getting more comfortable pushing off with your foot while balancing on your board through the ride there are still gaps between more technical tricks and movements.

Recommendation: Select a skateboard with a super supportive board that will allow you to learn how to balance.

INTERMEDIATE

You are fully comfortable with manoeuvring your skateboard and have started to work on tricks and more technically advanced moves, be it picking up tricks on how to ollie or dropping in on a ramp. Your current goal is to master the foundation to pave the way for more challenging tricks down the road.

Recommendation: You are on your way to collect the full set of skills. Experiment and take chances with different wheels or trucks to explore how it impacts your skating. Find a board that is supportive but geared towards tricks.

EXPERT

Being an expert skaterboarder, you are confident and are well equipped with all tricks. Moving beyond foundational skills, you are focus on more challenging tricks in different environments and landscapes. Indoors, outdoors, skate spots, parks or uneven terrains are your friends than foe.

Recommendation: Expert skateboarders are highly adaptable to environments and terrains, selecting boards that could withstand rigor and propel precision to perfect that kickflip or move.

 

+ Skating styles

Skaters are generally categorized into groups depending on the type of terrains they take on and they usually fall into more than one category. Parts and features of skateboards, trucks and wheels are designed around types of tricks and certain surfaces, as listed are some skating styles to guide you in selecting the right equipment depending on your skating style:

VERT

Riding ramps, vertical structures, performing grabs and spin tricks are some trick sets Vert skaters (aka Pool and Bowl skaters) have. Common spaces that Vert riders inhabit are skate parks with diverse transitional features, occasionally empty pools and some would even DIY ramps to reach greater peaks. Big air, high speed and constantly pushing the envelope dictate Vert tricks. Since transition skaters predominantly travel at high speeds, selecting a wider skateboard deck size will ensure stability.

Recommendation: To add more style to their riding, Vert riders usually go for unique nose and tail shapes.

Shop our full collection of Cruiser Skateboards here.

 

STREET & TECHNICAL

Street skating venues are easier to source and find than a vert ramp, simply get creative and get skating on everything! One gets creative by utilizing every aspect of the urban landscape, riding on different slopes, curbs and infrastructures that predominates every corner of the concrete jungle, that’s the spirit of street style riding. Such features are sometimes duplicated in skate parks where riders can grind to their heart’s content without having to worry about damaging any public or private property. Most street tricks takes time to cultivate, tricks such as nosegrinds, kickflips, 50s-50s requires lots of precision and technicalities as well as patience to pick up and perfect.

Recommendation: Obsessed with throwing their tricks off their back, street skaters generally prefer standard "popsicle" shaped skateboard, those with a rounded nose and tail. The round shape aids the board to flip more easily in the air during flip tricks.

Shop our full collection of Street Skateboards here.

 

ALL-AROUND

This is the category most skaters fall into, as an all-round skater, you typically enjoy the satisfaction generated from having nailed that kickflip you’ve been trying to perfect all day or simply cruising through the street taking in the scene and breeze. Generally, you skate street and transition, in other words whatever you can find. Any terrain and the versatility of riding on whatever skateboard are enjoyed by all-around riders.

Recommendation: Go with a standard shaped skateboard with enough versatility and as your skills progresses, feel free to expand your hardware and board preferences.

Shop our full collection of All-round Skateboards here.

 

 

LONGBOARDING

Longboards are great for cruising, riding down hills, or as a mode of transportation, but are not designed for tricks of street skating or transition style. Designed for a more fluid ride, longboards allow skaters to make wide turns resembling movement of freeride snowboarding and surfing.

Recommendation: Longboards come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Short wheelbase and soft bushings allows riders to be more responsive and playful when manoeuvring tight turns.

Shop our full collection of Longboard Skateboards here.

+  How to choose the Right Skateboard deck

What size skateboard do I need?

The most important part of choosing a skateboard deck is width, not length or wheelbase. Width varies from 7.5" to 8.25", depending on your height, shoe size, skating style, and personal preference.

Choosing a board with a width that is too large will be detrimental when you are trick riding as you would need to exert excessive strength, proving it to be difficult to perform. While choosing boards with width that are too small will make you feel unstable and you may have issues balancing.

As provided are some general guidelines for adults and kids to choose the right deck size.

 

Adults chart

Size	Skating Style
7.5" to 8"	Standard board for adult riders skating streets or doing more technical tricks
8.0" to 8.25"	Skating pool, ramp, rail, and parks
8.25" and larger	Vert, pools, cruising, and just going old school

 

 

Kids Chart

FULL SIZE (decks 7.5” or larger)

• For all skaters over age 13
• Skater’s Height: <5’3”
• Shoe size: 9 or up

MID SIZE (deck width 7.3”)

• Age: 9-12 years old
• Skater’s Height: Between 4’5” and 5’2”
• Shoe size: 7-8

MINI SIZE (deck width 7.0”)

• Age: 6-8 years old
• Skater’s Height: Between 3’5” and 4’4”
• Shoe size: 4-6

MICRO SIZE (deck width 6.5” to 6.75”)

• Age: 5 years old or younger
• Skater’s Height: Under 3’4”
• Shoe size: 3 ≤

 

With Sector 9's comprehensive skateboards that covers all and cool prints to choose from, buy online and enjoy free shipping or come down to our outlets to get yours!

Shop our full collection of Sector 9 now.