How To Choose A Longboard

Choosing the right long board can be a tricky thing. Long board equipment has become very specialized and specific to different styles of riding. Most long boards measure between 90 and 150 cm. Longer boards need more room to maneuver and are rarer. Mid-length boards, 94-127 cm (37-50 inches) are the most versatile. There are several different board shapes to choose from; pintails, flat nose riders, and boards shaped like a longer short board. Pintail boards permit loser trucks and lager wheels which will give you a smoother tighter turning board. Some long boards use plys of fiber glass, carbon fiber, or even bamboo for less weight and increased stiffness. A board that is bent up in the middle (when view from the side) is said to have "camber."  While a board that bends down in the middle is said to have "rocker". Camber will make a board bouncier and allow it to turn harder, while rocker will lower the center of gravity and allow it to turn easier.

Long boards are usually equipped with polyurethane wheels between 60mm and 100mm. Softer wheels are going to have a better grip with the ground than harder wheels, allowing for harder turns without sliding out. Wheel size may be a concern due to the type of deck being used. The larger wheels have a better chance of biting; this can stop the board suddenly and throw the rider from it. This can be avoided by getting a deck that has wheel cut outs or by increasing the distance from the trucks to the deck using riser pads. There are several different kinds of bearings you can choose from. Most bearings are made of steel, the more high quality bearings are made of ceramic. Steel ball bearings are main stream and are meant for the more average skater, while the ceramic bearings are more expensive and meant for the more advanced riders. The abec rating of the bearings will differ, the higher the rating the faster the bearing.

The trucks used for a long board will be quite different than those found on a standard skateboard. The biggest difference is that the hangers are often wider to accommodate the different sized decks, with 150mm and 180mm being two of the most common widths. Most long board specific trucks are equipped with special features, such as inverted kingpins, as well as spring-loaded trucks, and variable tilt designs. Trucks that are designed more for maneuverability will have softer bushings that will allow them to turn easier. A downhill style truck will usually have a harder bushing or spring to stabilize the board at high speed. All skateboard trucks have different turning angles, also known as the trucks geometry. Some long board specific trucks are manufactured to be angled. A 50 degree angle is good for general purpose trucks, it allows for the board to turn well at a variety of speeds. 35 degree angled trucks are better suited for high speed. The geometry of your trucks can also be adjusted by using angled risers or "wedges". Angling the trucks toward the nose or tail of the deck will increase the turning angle. If they are angled toward the inside of the board the turning angle will decrease. The torsion truck is another type of truck that is unique to long boards. Torsion trucks operate by twisting a urethane bushing or metal spring rather than using two compression bushings. Using torsion trucks can feel quite different than any other style of truck, but once a rider is used to them a torsion based setup can easily handle bombing a hill at 30-35 mph (fast enough for only the most experienced of riders).