Longboard: how to choose? How to ride a longboard?

A few years ago only a few knew about longboards in our country. But today, almost everyone saw these "long skateboards": young people ride on them in the streets, they appear in advertising on television. In this regard, we propose to learn today what is a longboard, how to choose it and how to learn how to ride it.

The history and appearance of the "long skateboard"

For the first time, longbords became known in the 60s of the last century. It is interesting that they appeared earlier than the skateboards we have known since childhood. By the way, these shells have significant differences between themselves. They differ not only in the width of the suspension, but also in the features of the deck, the size and the wheelbase. In addition, the technique of riding on a longboard is completely different than on a standard skateboard.

So, skates are meant for use in the city and in specially constructed parks. Riding on them is aggressive, tricky. Skateboarders can perform a variety of slides on the parapets, faces and rails, jump, performing various combinations of rotation, both riders and boards. Longboarding can be compared to surfing, but not on waves and water, but on ordinary asphalt. Therefore, its dynamics and technique are not much different from surfing. How to ride a longboard? Use this shell can be in skateparks, and you can race on it in a straight city street, overtaking not only pedestrians and cyclists, but also cars. In addition, longboard allows you to write out clear arcs of carving, only for this there is no need to go to the mountains, as in the case of snowboarding. The projectile can be put on the rear or front wheels, carry out cross-steps, ride slalom. Longboard allows you to speed up to 100 kilometers per hour and make extreme slopes. At the same time, thanks to the special design of the projectile, it moves gently, which allows the rider to not feel the small unevenness of the asphalt.

Longboard: how to choose? Tips for Beginners

If you are interested in this unique projectile and decided to try your hand at skating on it, then do not rush headlong into the store and buy the first board you got. In order to make the right choice, thus saving both your time and your money, read some of the recommendations of specialists on this topic. So, you decided to buy a longboard. How to choose the most suitable board for you?

Determine with style and form

First of all, you must answer yourself to the question of how and where you plan to use the longboard. After all, each style of riding implies the presence of a board of a certain type. So, we suggest to understand the varieties of longboards and find out what each of them is used for.

Cruiser

The vast majority of manufacturers of this type of boards make it cruisers (for example, longboard Dusters). They are ideal for comfortable driving around the city. The wheels in these longs are soft or of medium rigidity, and also have a wider width than the boards of other types. It's safe to say that the cruiser will be an ideal option for a beginner.

Fish

A board with such a sweet name is a shorter version of the cruiser and in most cases is equipped with a kicktail. Shells of this type are also produced by many famous world manufacturers (for example, Penny). Longboard of this type is very compact and maneuverable, but it is characterized by less stability (in other words, it is easier to fall off such a board). This must be borne in mind by beginners who do not have the experience of skiing. Beginners can be recommended to pick a medium-sized fish. It will be very convenient and manageable in urban conditions, and also fairly stable.

Longboard for downhill

These boards are characterized by the presence of a rigid deck and a strong transverse bend (concave). Quite often, the deck is made understated with respect to the suspensions. Pendants have a small angle of rotation. Longboard for downhill, as a rule, have an impressive weight, which gives them stability and stability when driving at high speed. Also, this type of board is great for long distance travel.

Longboard for freeride

The boards of this type are very similar to the longs intended for downhill. However, they allow the rider to perform such an integral element of the freeride, such as sliding, that is, sliding, controlled skid on the road.

Longboards for freestyle

The boards of this type have a symmetrical shape, they have curved tails and noses (kicktails) and a coarser skin. In form, they can resemble skateboards, but the sensations of riding here are completely different. The most famous firms producing such boards are Loaded and Sector9.

So, you have decided on the style of riding and figured out what type you need a longboard. How to choose the right shoes for buying a board?

Going to the store

Going to buy a longboard, be sure to put yourself right. After all, you do not just need to choose a board you like, but at least test it a little (as a rule, most shops offer this option). And to do this, being shod in narrow leather shoes or sandals on stiletto heels, it is unlikely to work. Therefore, for buying long, you should go exclusively in sneakers or at the worst of sneakers. This will help you feel the projectile and decide whether it likes you, listens well, etc.

Material selection

Typically, newcomers are wondering about whether to choose a board of plastic or wood. So, if you plan to move around the city, the most optimal is the plastic long. It is more durable than wood, and is not afraid of water. However, getting involved in driving in puddles is still not worth it, as this will spoil the bearings. The wooden longboard (photo is presented in the article) is more light and, as a rule, immediately comes complete with a skin. In the case of plastic, if you want to feel more control, you have to purchase the skin separately.

We hope that our advice will help you choose the right longboard for you and enjoy the ride on this amazing and unique board.