Longboard (skateboard)

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A 59" longboard

A longboard is a type of sports equipment somewhat similar to a skateboard, but in a certain way "longer". Often faster because of wheel size, it's commonly used for cruising, downhill racing, slalom racing, sliding, and transport.[1]


Most boards measure 84 to 150 centimetres (33 to 59 in) in length while widths vary from 22.8 to 25.4 centimetres (9.0 to 10.0 in). There are several longboard shapes, such as pintails, swallowtails, flat-nose riders, drop-through decks, drop decks and boards with the same shape as a standard skateboard. Pintails permit looser trucks and larger wheels which are better suited for carving or a "smooth" feel, whereas drop decks and drop throughs allow the rider to be closer to the ground, hence a lower center of gravity which increases stability and allows these boards to support more high speed downhill riding disciplines. Mid-length boards, 94 to 127 centimetres (37 to 50 in) are the most versatile. Their greater weight and bulk makes them less suitable for many skateboarding tricks, but contributes to a fluid motion by providing more momentum. The longboard's design allows for big turns or quick short carves similar to the motions of surfers or snowboarders. Longboards have 3 axes: the tail axis (running from tail to tail), the central axis (running straight down through the center of the board), and the short axis (running from the width of the board and perpendicular to the tail axis).

The previous record for the longest distance traveled on a longboard was set by David Cornthwaite in 2006 when he skated 3,638.26 miles (5,855.21 km) from Perth to Brisbane across Australia.[1] This record has since been broken by Rob Thomas of New Zealand, who skated 7,555 miles (12,159 km).[2] The land speed record on a longboard was set in 2012, when Mischo Erban reached a speed of 129.94 km/h (80.741 mph).[3]

Equipment & protection[edit]

The ‘helmet culture’ is more prevalent in longboarding than in skateboarding.[4] Most riders wear protective equipment in all disciplines, and nearly all professionals wear a helmet and gloves. Longboard protective equipment is similar to standard skateboard equipment, with the exception of slide gloves. Most longboarders wear slide gloves and helmets[citation needed], as these are considered the bare minimum for protection. Additional protection includes: leathers, wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads and sometimes spine protectors and padded shorts. Many professional longboarding teams and riders are required to wear and advocate all aspects of protection. In the sliding and downhill disciplines, riders wear "slide gloves" which are specialized gloves made out of a strong materials such as leather and synthetic fabrics, and have large discs called "pucks" attached to the palms. These are attached to protect the hands as the rider uses them to pivot during slides along the ground. The pucks are usually made of synthetic polymers: delrin, UHMW, or corian.


Longboards are skateboards in terms of parts and general construction. However, the parts generally have different dimensions and the wheels are most likely a lot softer. Some, however, have relatively hard wheels for sliding, which makes longboards feel quite different than the ubiquitous skateboard.


A 44-inch (110 cm) pintail shaped deck



The "drop deck" has a lowered foot platform that sits below the height of the trucks, as a result, there is a lower center of gravity which adds to stability but gives you less traction and maneuverability. Wooden drop decks with concave have foot pockets by the drops. However, some carbon boards are able feature concave by the drops instead of foot pockets giving you more leverage in your turn.

The "drop through" design has cutouts that allow the baseplate of the truck to protrude through the board, thus lowering the deck and providing more stability. In addition to this, drop through decks decrease grip, as the deck is closer to the axle and Moment arm of the wheel. There is also less leverage on the truck, which makes turning negligibly more difficult.




Longboard decks can be shaped in such a way that they bow up or down along the length of the board. They can also have a downward bend along the width of the board. Concave boards, which bend upward on the sides, give the rider more friction for their toe and heel, thus giving them more control. Longboards, typically boards designed for downhill and or freeride, can also have W concave which is concave with a ridge in the middle forming the "W" shape. W concave is helpful in a slide or corner by giving your feet extra grip so that your feet (especially back foot) stays on the board. A camber board is a gradual upward arch along the length of the board. This sets the center of the board above the truck mounts. This is often used on flexible boards to prevent the board from sagging when it is being ridden.[citation needed] A "rocker" shape is the opposite of camber, which sets the center of the board below the truck mounts when it is being ridden. This lets the rider more easily perform tricks like sliding by locking your feet into the board.[citation needed]

















Riser pads[edit]



Bearings connect the wheel to turn smoothly. Bearings can be made of many materials, including steel (which is most prevalent), titanium, or ceramics. Ceramic bearings are the most expensive. Bearings are usually rated in the ABEC scale. The ratings run from 1-9, using only odd numbers. The higher the rating, the more precise tolerances the bearing has been machined to. However, ABEC rating is not compulsory and not all bearings use ABEC ratings. Some companies will use other methods to describe the bearings' resistance and durability.[citation needed] Optionally, longboarders add bearing spacers between the bearings in the wheels. This allows for the axle nut to be tightened all the way down eliminating the high frequency wobbles and increasing the lifetime of the bearings.[6]



Centerset wheels[edit]


Side-set wheels[edit]


Offset wheels[edit]


Additional equipment[edit]

Slide gloves[edit]


Kahuna Stick[edit]

Land paddling with the Kahuna Creations Kahuna Stick.

The Kahuna Stick is a large pole or stick, usually with rubber or something similar on the end. This can be used to propel the rider far distances without the use of the riders legs, and is primarily a form of locomotion derived by the riders arms. The rubber end sometimes resembles wheels however they can not turn as they are fastened. Being in a wheel shape allows even wear as you can losen, turn and fasten them again instead of having to replace the rubber. The Kahuna Stick was invented by Steve McBride of Kahuna Creations.[7]

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b Board shapes and their uses., additional text.
  2. ^ "Around the world in 850 days - on a skateboard". 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2012-06-02. 
  3. ^ "B.C. longboarder breaks world speed record". 2012-07-26. Retrieved 2013-08-20. 
  4. ^ "Longboard uquipment, helmets, slide gloves, pads". rideasf.com. Retrieved 2014-05-31. 
  5. ^ a b c "Anatomy of a Randal and FAQ". Randal.com. Retrieved 2012-05-01. 
  6. ^ "Fastest Skateboard Wheels, Bearings and Bearing Spacers". YouTube. 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2012-05-01. 
  7. ^ Goodman, Liam. "Land Paddling is Coming to a Bicycle Lane Near You". Vogue. Vogue. Retrieved 30 June 2009. 

External links[edit]