What Does a Wedge Riser Do?
A standard truck has its kingpin at a fixed angle — typically 50° on most skate trucks. This angle determines how much the truck turns per degree of board lean. Lower kingpin angle = less turn per lean (more stable). Higher kingpin angle = more turn per lean (more responsive).
A wedge riser pad tilts the baseplate, which effectively changes the kingpin angle without modifying the truck itself. This is the geometry behind all surfskate and carve-oriented setups.
- Wedge inward (thick side toward the center of the board): lowers effective kingpin angle → MORE turn per lean
- Wedge outward (thick side toward the nose/tail tip): raises effective kingpin angle → LESS turn per lean (dewedge = more stable)
Front vs Rear Truck Configuration
The standard surfskate wedge setup uses opposite configurations front and rear:
- Front truck: wedge inward — makes the front truck hyper-responsive. When you lean, the front turns sharply, initiating the carve.
- Rear truck: flat or dewedge outward — keeps the rear truck more stable. The rear follows the carve rather than turning equally with the front, creating the S-turn surfskate feel.
Running both trucks wedged inward makes the board extremely responsive but harder to control. Running both dewedged makes for a stable but boring setup. The asymmetric configuration is what creates the surfskate feel.
Wedge Angle Reference
| Front Wedge | Ride Feel | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 0° (flat) | Standard truck response | Street, baseline |
| 3–5° | Slightly more responsive turn | All-around cruising |
| 8–10° | Noticeably sharper carve | Surfskate, pump skating |
| 12–15° | Very aggressive, snappy turns | Short-radius carving |
| 20°+ | Extremely loose, hard to control | Specialized pump setups |
Wheel Bite With Wedge Risers
Wedge risers don't add uniform height — the thick side adds height, the thin side may be near zero. This creates an uneven clearance situation: the rear of the truck may have very little gap to the deck while the front has more.
Always check clearance on both sides of a wedge riser. The minimum clearance point is at the low edge of the wedge, which is usually toward the nose or tail of the deck. Use soft wheels or perform the press test on both sides.
For surfskate setups with 60mm+ wheels on wide decks, a wedge riser often needs a minimum of 5–6mm on its thin edge just for baseline clearance, plus the wedge angle on top.
Designing Custom Wedge Risers With RISER 3D
RISER 3D lets you specify both front height and rear height for each riser pad. The difference between front and rear creates the wedge angle. For example, a riser with 3mm at the front edge and 9mm at the rear edge has a 6mm height difference over the ~63mm width of a standard baseplate — approximately 5.4° of wedge.
The builder shows a live cross-section diagram as you adjust heights, so you can see the wedge geometry before exporting. Export the STL and print in PETG at 100% infill.
FAQ
What does a wedge riser do to a surfskate?
A wedge riser tilts the truck baseplate, changing the effective kingpin angle. Wedging the front truck inward makes it turn more sharply. The rear truck is typically left flat or dewedged for stability, creating the asymmetric carve feel of surfskate setups.
How many degrees of wedge for a surfskate?
Most surfskate-style builds use 5–15° of wedge on the front truck. A 5° wedge noticeably increases turn response; 10–15° creates very aggressive carve. The rear truck is often flat (0°) or lightly dewedged (1–3°) for stability.
Can I 3D print a wedge riser?
Yes. RISER 3D lets you set different front and rear heights, creating custom wedge geometry. Print in PETG at 100% infill. The thin edge of the wedge needs at least 1–2mm minimum thickness for structural integrity — don't go to zero on one side.