What To Know About Longboard Skateboards

By Patrick Thompson


There are several classifications of skateboards including longboards. Most aspects are similar in the various types of boards, but longboards are often more exaggerated in their length and other features. The long lengths and widths of longboard skateboards among other features make them more suited for specific disciplines that other boards are not.

Longboards are very long, measuring between 84 and 150 centimeters in length. Their widths vary from 22.8 to 25.4 centimeters. These boards come in many different shapes, including flat-nose riders, pintails, drop-through decks, swallowtails, and drop decks. Some have the same shape as the standard skateboard. Wheels in pintails are larger while the trucks are looser, which makes them more suited for carving.

Conversely, drop decks and drop throughs feature smaller wheels and lower centers of gravity. These features allow them to be more stable and to travel at higher speeds. Longboards are designed to make big turns and fast short turns, which makes their motion to resemble surfers and snowboarders. The short axis, the tail axis, and the central axis are the three main axes on longboards. Tail axis runs from one tail to the other, while the central axis run through the center. The short axis makes a right angle with the tail axis and extends from the breadth.

The record for covering the longest distance on a longboard is currently held by an individual from New Zealand named Rob Thomas. The distance travelled by Thomas is 12, 159 kilometers. On the other hand, the highest speed to be travelled on this board is 129.94 km/h. This record was set by Mischo Erban in 2012. In practice, longboards are frequently used for sliding, transport, cruising, slolam racing, and downhill racing.

The culture of using a helmet is more common in longboarding than it is in skateboarding. Wearing protective equipment is mandatory for professionals. Protective equipment used include helmets, slide gloves, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads, and leathers among many others. Slide gloves are made out of synthetic fabrics, leather or similarly strong materials. They are meant to provide protection for the hands and come in handy for pivoting during slides on the ground.

Decks are predominantly made using plywood, which consists of between 2 to 11 layers. The thickness of the layers is usually 2 millimeters. Some of the hardwoods used in the construction include oak, bamboo, birch, maple, and koa. The decks are usually made very light and stiff in most cases. Wheels are made hard or soft depending on the specific discipline for which the board is intended to be used.

Various advantages and disadvantages are associated with the differences in size and shape of the deck. The advantages and disadvantages are based on personal preferences and often manifest during use. The decks are made flexible by some designers. Torsional flex caused by high speed makes flexible boards to be used for low speeds only. Fiberglass is becoming more preferable for making flexible boards because it pliable.

Longboards can be purchased from stores that stock similar equipment. There are online sellers from whom one may make a purchase. Prices vary depending on several factors such as material, measurements, shape, wheels, and location among others.




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