question about board

[mydeerhunter]

I learned some basics of skating a couple years ago and now I actually want to use my (beginner) "skills." I don't plan on learning any tricks whatsoever. I only plan on doing simple manuals, and maybe in the future, crappy ollies to get over something. Right now, I can skate decently in a straight line, turn a bit, and go moderately fast.

I know this sounds bad, but I just got a cheap single kick board that is about 6inx21in for kids, but I am very thin and it's easier for me to ride anyway, as opposed to ones that are 7x31 or whatever it is. Sorry, don't know =X Well anyway, I just want to use it to cruise around my neighborhood or go to a friend's house.

My question is, for my purposes of skating, is it alright if I take off the grip tape? It's beginning to wear away and I want to take it off after there's no more grip. I don't want to buy grip tape just for this piece of crap, because I plan on buying a real (single kick) board when I get better. I figure that since I am not going to do any tricks, I wouldn't really need it. And I am not going to be speeding down some crazy San Francisco hill or anything like that. Or should I just keep the grip tape on even after it loses all its grip, because it's better than not having it at all?

Sorry, if my question is too confusing.

[crypticpoet]

Hmm ... you're probably better off leaving it there. Grip tape -- smooth or not (haha) -- is for your safety. It kinda ... "glues" you to the board. If you're just going to use it to cruise around, I wouldn't even worry about buying new griptape. Just leave it alone. I hope you can get a double kick board one day and learn some tricks, though. It's awesome. But yeah, for now, just leave it.

[Ramp]