Skateboard deck reinforcement apparatus and method

A structural reinforcement device for use with a skateboard, the skateboard comprising:

• a deck having a bottom surface and a first plurality of holes corresponding to a bolt pattern;
• and
• a truck including a baseplate having a second plurality of holes corresponding to the bolt pattern;
• the structural reinforcement device comprising:
• a rigid insert having a third plurality of holes substantially corresponding to the bolt pattern, the rigid insert configured to be disposed between the base plate and the bottom surface of the deck;
• wherein the rigid insert comprises a metallic material which is non-bendable and not resilient deformable, and which exhibits structural integrity similar to that of the truck baseplate;
• wherein:
• the base plate is characterized by a first leading edge;
• and the rigid insert comprising a second leading edge configured to extend forward of the first leading edge;
• the baseplate is further characterized by an aft edge and respective first and second sides extending between the leading edge and the aft edge, the first and second sides being separated by a side-to-side distance;
• and at least a portion of the rigid insert has a width greater that the side-to-side distance and configured to extend beyond the fist and second side of the baseplate, respectively;
• where the rigid insert comprises repective structural reinforcement ribs extending in the fore-to-aft direction along opposing sides of the rigid insert;
• and furthermore, the baseplate, when installed on the skateboard deck, is fixed to the rigid insert.