A novice may mistakenly believe that skateboarding and longboarding are the same thing, but they differ considerably.
Longboard vs skateboard: Skateboards are around 31″ (78 cm) long with an upturned nose and tail primarily used for tricks and skateparks. For cruising and transportation, longboards are primarily used.
Choose the option that best suits the kind of riding you intend to do.
For more specific information, keep reading.
Table of Contents
Origins Of Skateboards And Longboards
As a byproduct of surfing, skateboarding first gained popularity in the 1950s. The first skateboards were made by surfers who put wheels on wooden planks in order to take advantage of the flat days.
Skateboards were undoubtedly very different in the beginning from what they are now, but over time, they were refined into the designs we are familiar with today.
Later on, longboarding gained popularity, and it is now very common.
Skateboards’ designs were so dissimilar from actual surfboards that they were never really able to fully capture the surfing experience.
Longboarding culture really took off in the 1990s, and this was no passing fad. In order to experience the surf directly on land, snowboarders and sea surfers teamed up during this time.
These individuals began equipping their boards with roller-skate wheels and gradually began to shape longboards into what we know today. The concept was to maintain the surfboard’s original shape while incorporating soft, flexible wheels to mimic the sensation of riding waves.
In the 1990s, truck technology also underwent a change. Reverse kingpins made boards more stable.
The longest longboards had nearly identical designs, despite being much shorter than actual surfboards.
Due to their adaptable size and shape and ability to be used on a variety of surfaces, longboards began to gain popularity.
Differences Between A Longboard And A Skateboard
Here are the key differences between a longboard and a skateboard:
Shape And Size
You can see how flat the longboard’s nose and tail are by comparing it to a skateboard when they are side by side. To make it simpler to land tricks and flips, skateboards have more of a curve on their nose and tail.
Longboards are naturally longer, which is not surprising. While the typical skateboard is about 36 inches long, they can be as long as 59 inches. The problem is that longboards also come in sizes as short as 28 inches, which can be perplexing. If the length confuses you, just keep in mind that the main distinction between the two is that skateboards curve, whereas longboards are flat. Therefore, a flat, shorter board is most likely just a short longboard if you see one.
Deck Flexibility
The deck is the foundation of your board if you’re a beginner skater. You want your board to be thinner so that it will have flex if your goal is to learn new tricks. Your board’s stiffness depends on how much it flexes. Except when you’re doing leisurely cruising, you don’t want the flex to be too soft. For tricks, you should have soft or medium flexibility, which gives you some stability and a springy feel to make jumps easier to master.
Numerous longboards are designed to accelerate as quickly as possible when going downhill. Longboards typically have thicker, lower-flex decks that support you while you ride in order to keep you steady.
Trucks And Wheels
Both skateboards and longboards, of course, have wheels attached, but the base to which they are fastened is referred to as the truck. Both boards have a different appearance and functionality. It is simpler to grind and land tricks on a skateboard because of the rigid and narrower trucks. The maximum width of the skateboard’s deck is also the same size as them.
Longboarders who want to travel far distances or compete in downhill races will love the smoother ride provided by the more flexible truck of a longboard. Longboards also feature wider trucks, which typically range in size from 150 to 180 millimeters.
A longboard’s wheels are big and soft for faster and smoother rides. To make it simpler to shred rails, ledges, and gaps, skateboards have smaller, harder wheels. Softer wheels provide a smoother and more coordinated ride if you simply intend to cruise around on your board.
Balance
Try a longboard first if you’ve never used a skateboard but want to learn and master new tricks. They are easier to balance on because they are bigger and more stable. Switch to a skateboard once you feel more at ease riding a longboard, and work on improving your balance there.
Speed And Tricks
Consider your riding goals if you’re still having trouble choosing a board. Or do you prefer to fly by at top speed while pulling off impressive tricks?
Skateboards are perfect for riders who:
- Want to learn new tricks
- Grind rails
- Skate mini ramps
- Master kickflips
- Conquer ollies
Riders with longboards usually enjoy:
- A more stable riding experience
- Cruising with friends
- Bombing hills
- Riding the board to the beach
- Using their board to get around town
Take a longboard out for a spin if you want to skate with friends or race them. Use a skateboard to tour some of the most renowned skate parks. If you’ve never skateboarded before, practice your balance by riding a longboard first, then try a skateboard. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll soon be competing against friends in downhill races or showing off your new tricks.
Pumping
Skateboarders need to use their feet on the ground to get the thrust and speed.
When you’re cruising at a high speed, this is neither safe nor practical.
However, the longboard design makes it possible to ‘pump’ the board instead, by shifting your weight back and forth. This creates the thrust and force without your feet having to leave the board.
This allows longboard riders to cruise indefinitely on flat and downhill surfaces with both feet stationed on the board.
A variant of pumping is called gyrating, where you move by slightly turning the board left and right as you go forward.
The Purpose
If you’re wondering whether to get a skateboard or a longboard, the most important question to ask yourself is “what do you need it for?”
Despite all of their differences and similarities, skateboarding and longboarding still serve very different purposes.
Longer rides on skateboards are very uncomfortable due to their length and wheels. They work better in skateparks with flat, hard surfaces and lots of room for tricks.
Skaters can use obstacles in the streets to pull off cool stunts while riding their skateboards there, but this is more commonly known as grinding.
Overall, they are designed to be used for practicing tricks like ollies, kickflips, darkslides, airs, and so forth. A skateboard is the best option if that sounds like something you would enjoy. Be cautious though, as they are frequently less stable and riskier to ride, and in some regions of the world, they are even illegal to use on public streets.
Cruising and transportation are the two primary uses of longboarding.
Regarding riding on city streets, its design is flawless. Even on a rougher surface, it is comfortable and simple to maneuver thanks to its shape, flexible truck, and soft wheels.
A longboard is also fantastic for longer journeys. For instance, you could use one and have fun while traveling to work.
However, you can still pull off some tricks while riding a longboard. You can try carving, sliding downhill, noseriding, and paddling, depending on the model. They’ll look more impressive on longboards, I promise.
Final Words
Longboarding and skateboarding both make strong cases for themselves and promise a ton of fun. You only need to take into account what you require from a board. Are you more of a laid-back, cruise-type person? Or do ramps and stunts interest you more?
Longboarding is still the better choice if you’re just starting out because it’s easier to learn. The boards’ dimensions and shapes make it simpler to adjust to them, find your balance, and master your first moves.
Longboards are less maneuverable than skateboards, but with the right technique, flipping, ramping, and barrel rolls are all possible.
We hope that this article has helped to clarify some of your concerns about longboarding vs. skateboarding.
So, what will it be? A longboard or a skateboard?
I appreciate you reading.
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