A longboard is a long board, typically between 33 “and 60” in length. Its unique shape distinguishes them from traditional skateboards. Longboards are a great option for cruising, carving, freeride, downhill and slalom or just to get around quickly and comfortably. They can be made of a variety of materials. Maple is the most common one, it is very sturdy and durable, because it remains solid and reliable over time. Bamboo is also growing in popularity, it is a little more flexible than maple and is extraordinarily light, making it ideal for both riding and carrying.
The concave is an important factor in the performance of a longboard. Manufacturers are always experimenting with new concave shapes to adapt to new types of riding or rider preferences. For this reason they allow more points of contatc than a normal skateboard, to have a firm grip of the foot on the board but also to have stability in speed or more ease in turns.
The longitudinal curve of the deck also plays an important role. Decks with a raised center are known as camber and low decks are rockers. With positive camber there will be a lot more flex due to the higher center of gravity. The rocker ones have a low center of gravity, much more stable in downhill and at high speeds.
There are 2 types of truck mounting on the longboard: the top mount and drop through. Top mount means that the truck is hooked directly under the board and therefore will be more responsive to commands. While drop through trucks have their baseplate attached to the top of the deck, so you will have a low center of gravity for more stability.
While their purpose is similar, longboard trucks are extremely different from skateboard trucks, as they are obviously wider to accommodate the size difference (most are 150mm or 180mm). A longboard truck is known as a reverse kingpin, because the axle is located on the other side of the kingpin compared to a standard truck, in order to have a greater turning angle and more maneuverability. They are also equipped with softer bushing for easy maneuvering and steering. For downhill use, harder rubber pads are used, for greater stability at high speeds.
Longboard wheels are larger than normal skateboard wheels, 60mm and up, and travel better on rougher surfaces. This allows the rider to achieve a higher top speed than the smaller wheels. Durometer for longboard wheels usually ranges from 75A to 90A. Wheel diameter and durometer affect how the longboard behaves but it remains a matter of personal preference and riding style. Wheels with rounded edges are better for cruising and freeride than downhill. The wheel is allowed to slide easily but also has less grip.
Because of their characteristics, Abec 9 or 11 bearings are often mounted on longboards, usually fast and used to travel considerable distances. The Abec 7s are also used for a more urban use. The Abec rating does not take into account other factors such as the quality of the bearing itself. So it is not certain that an Abec 9 of “x” brand is faster than an Abec 7 of another brand.
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.