Complete Surfskates

Surf Skateboards Transform Concrete into Waves

Peruse our broad selection of surfskates fashioned to replicate the sensation of surfing. Delve into what distinguishes surf skateboards and find the board that perfectly suits your style and proficiency level.

What Precisely is a Surf Skateboard?

A surf skateboard, also referred to as a surfskate, is a specialised skateboard outfitted with a sophisticated front truck system that allows for smooth carving and the generation of speed through pumping.

How Does a Surf Skateboard Differ from a Standard Skateboard?

The primary difference between surfskates and standard skateboards resides in the trucks. The approach to turning and gaining momentum is entirely distinct when comparing surfskates to other skateboard varieties.

Design of Trucks

Standard skateboards rely on conventional trucks with a single-axis pivot.
Surfskates are equipped with a dual-axis front truck, mimicking the movement of a surfboard, allowing deep, smooth turns and speed creation through body movement (pumping).

Gaining Speed

With a skateboard, speed is achieved by pushing (or kicking) backward against the ground with one foot.
On a surfskate, you gain speed by pumping - shifting your weight from heel to toe, and manoeuvring your body fluidly.

Explore our guide: Surfskating for beginners.

Height and Flexibility

Surfskates tend to be taller than regular skateboards. This added height prevents the deck from contacting the wheels during sharp turns, reducing the risk of wheel bite (which occurs when the wheels touch the deck, potentially causing falls).
Regular skateboards are usually less flexible and lower than surfskates due to the absence of needing to accommodate the steep deck angles seen in surfskates.

Are Surf Skateboards Suitable for Novices?

If you are new to skateboarding or longboarding, you might question whether a surfskate is an appropriate beginner's skateboard. The answer largely depends on your intentions for taking up the sport. Here, we present some considerations.

Novices Interested in Skateboarding:

Surfskates are less stable (read: extremely lively), making it harder to master balance.
In small areas like driveways, small gardens, or confined parking spaces, a surfskate provides substantial enjoyment for a novice, enabling tight turns in restricted spaces.
If commuting, covering long distances, travelling, or descending hills is your goal, a longboard or standard cruiserboard might be a more appealing and stable option than a surfskate.
If your aim is to learn tricks such as ollies or kickflips, then simply “get a skateboard”.

Surfers Interested in Skateboarding:

The turning mechanics closely resemble the sensation of carving through waves, allowing practice of pumping, balance, and flow when away from the sea.
Surfskates serve as a valuable means to maintain surf skills in times when the ocean is calm or when reaching the beach is impractical.

Novices Enthralled by Surfskating:

Neither cruiserboards, longboards, nor skateboards can deliver the surf-like experience available with a surfskate.
You are certain about your preference: Acquire a surfskate!

Can Regular Skateboards Be Used for Surfskating?

A standard skateboard lacks the responsive, pivoting front truck essential for surf-style motions. To transform it into a surfskate, you can fit surfskate trucks to your current deck. However, using a standard popsicle deck results in a shorter wheelbase than a deck purposefully built for surfskating.

If your skateboard is equipped with small, hard wheels, substitute them with suitable cruiser wheels for a smoother, more fluid ride. Riser pads will also be necessary to ensure additional clearance, preventing wheel bite during sharp turns.

Surfskate vs. Cruiser Skateboard: What Sets Them Apart?

The distinctions lie in their purposes: cruiserboards are built for cruising, whereas surfskates are tailored for surf-like manoeuvres.

A cruiserboard facilitates smooth, leisurely travel on streets, typically featuring soft wheels and a short, wide deck.
Surfskates focus on dynamic carving and pumping, delivering a sensation akin to riding waves.

The lateral movements required by surfskates make them less suitable for cruising, as they occupy more space on pathways and streets.

Is It Possible to Ollie on a Surf Skate?

Ollies are indeed possible on a surfskate, and some boarders merge skateboard tricks into their surfskating with considerable success.

Nevertheless, most surfskates possess a steep pop angle, making the execution of a proper ollie more challenging. Stability during landing can also present difficulties without extra effort to prevent excessive wobbling.

To be frank:

If the main focus is performing ollies, kickflips, or shuvits, a surfskate might not be the top choice. A traditional skateboard, designed for tricks, would be preferable.
If you are casually considering integrating some skateboard tricks into your surfskating, then yes – there's no need to limit yourself.