HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FIRST LONGBOARD

Most longboard decks are made of Canadian maple or pressed bamboo, both of which are often blended or coated with other materials, such as fiberglass or epoxy. In recent years, new materials have been used more frequently. Although they differ from skateboards, the segments of a longboard deck are the same: in front, there is the nose, in the back the tail and the space between the holes is called the wheelbase.

As you may have already noticed, there is a great variety of materials, shapes, lengths and widths, which of course all have different properties. There are two general considerations to keep in mind when it comes to the length of longboards: the longer they are and the more stable they will be at high speeds, the shorter they are and the more manageable and suitable they will be for city cruising. Therefore, the length of a longboard deck depends on which use it is intended for.

It is difficult to give advice on how to choose the right length and width for a longboard, based on height and weight. However, we can say that the taller and heavier you are, the longer your deck should be. For children, short boards or cruisers are more appropriate.
Remember that the shorter the wheelbase, the smaller the turning radius is when pressure is applied to the side of the board. In short, a short step makes clear turns possible. As a result, small or light riders may find it difficult to control a longboard with a large wheelbase because they are less maneuverable.

Since fewer tricks are performed in longboard than in skateboard, the width of the longboard is not a crucial factor. Often the position of your feet will be diagonally across the board, so choosing a longboard based on your shoe size is not recommended.

More important is the type of flex a longboard can have. For example, when you ride downhill, a soft flex is the last thing you want for your board. In general, you should keep two things in mind: more rigidity gives more stability at high speeds, more flexibility turns into easy and comfortable riding.

However, it is important to note that the flex also depends on your weight. The heavier you are, the more your board flexes. So if you are light, you can easily use flexible decks, but at higher speeds a deck with less flexibility may be more appropriate. If, on the other hand, you are heavier, we always recommend a medium-stiff flex, obviously it also depends on where and how you want to use your longboard, but if you are looking for a longboard to get around town, even a soft flex could be for you.

ON SKIMCORNER.IT YOU CAN FIND YOUR IDEAL LONGBOARD!

On our online shop you can find longboard decks to go around town, longboard cruising, downhill or freeride longboard to have fun at the skatepark with your friends. We also offer single decks, wheels and longboard trucks to allow you to create the best custom set-up.