What Is a Longboard?

Longboards are boards with extended and wide decks. They come in various shapes tailored for specific riding styles and typically feature large soft wheels. These characteristics make longboards ideal for cruising, freestyling, downhill, or everyday riding.

Compared to a standard skateboard, a longboard skateboard offers a much smoother and more surf-like riding experience. Longboards also enable faster rides due to their large wheels. They are generally excellent beginner boards, as you don’t need to learn any tricks to enjoy them.

Longboards - What to Know?

When selecting a longboard, there are several factors to consider before making a choice. There are various longboard types available, each designed for a specific use, typically categorized as follows: longboard cruisers, carving longboards, freestyle longboards, dancing longboards, freeride longboards, and downhill longboards.

These different types vary in construction and shape. A cruiser longboard is usually the best option for beginners, often featuring surf-inspired shapes and designs. It is also likely the type of longboard that comes to mind when thinking about longboards, especially a pintail longboard. Dancer longboards have the longest decks, while downhill and freeride longboards are built to be stiff for optimal speed and control.

Longboards also come with two different truck mounting options: top mount and drop-through installation. Drop-through trucks are very easy to push and generally well-suited for downhill riding due to their stability, while traditional top mounting is typically found on cruiser and dancing boards.

A Complete Longboard Is a Good First Choice

Whether you're new to longboarding or an experienced rider, a complete longboard is an excellent choice with many advantages.

Firstly, a complete board ensures that you get a longboard setup where all the components are compatible. The manufacturer has assembled a setup tailored to a specific purpose and riding style. Secondly, the board is ready to ride straight out of the box. It’s convenient, quick, and easy!

Lastly, with a complete, you’ll get a high-quality longboard at a great price. When the manufacturer assembles all the parts in one place, they reduce costs without compromising quality.

You can find more information on the different longboard types, shapes, and trucks in our comprehensive Buying Longboard Guide.

What Size Longboard is Best for Kids?

The most important decision regarding longboard size is the length, which should be between 32 - 40 inches depending on their height. The taller they are, the longer their longboard deck should be. Choosing the right size longboard is crucial - a board of the wrong size will be harder to master and can diminish the fun of longboarding. Generally, teenagers should be fine with regular-sized longboards.

Remember that falling is part of the learning process, so it is essential that your kid wears the appropriate Skate Protection.