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.

A New Zealander called Rob Thomas currently holds the record for travelling the longest distance on this board. Thomas set a record of 12, 159 kilometers. On the contrary, 129.94 km/h is the highest speed one has ever reached on the board. The record for the highest speed is held by Mischo Erban. Disciplines for which longboards are used include sliding, transport, slolam racing, downhill racing, and cruising.

Longboarders have the culture of wearing helmets than skateboarders. Professionals in longboarding are required to wear protective equipment whenever they are skating. Some of the protective devices they wear include helmets, wrist guards, slide gloves, knee pads, leathers, and elbow pads among others. Slide gloves are manufactured from strong materials such as synthetic fabrics and leather. They protect hands from injury when pivoting on the ground.

The deck is usually manufactured from plywood and consists of between 2 and 11 layers, which usually measure 2 millimeters in thickness. Woods that are typically used in construction include koa, oak, maple, bamboo, and birch wood. The decks are designed with the main goal of making them as stiff and light as possible. The wheels vary in hardness depending on the kind of discipline the equipment is meant for.

The differences in the shape and size of the deck present different advantages and disadvantages that only manifest during use or based on personal preferences. Some designers make the decks flexible. Flexible boards are specifically meant for lower speeds because using them at high speeds usually causes torsional flex. Pliability of fiberglass make it to be used more often in modern flexible decks.

One can purchase a longboard from any store that deals with similar equipment. One can also buy from online sellers. There are many factors upon which prices are dependent, including material of construction, measurements, wheels, location, and shape.




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