How Does a Longboard Skateboard Differ From a Regular Skateboard?

General Description

Really, a longboard skateboard is the same overall design as a regular skateboard -- except that everything is bigger and heavier. As their name implies, they are quite a bit longer than a regular skateboard, and many people have claimed that riding a longboard skateboard feels much like riding a surfboard because of their ability to cut and carve, especially down hills. They became popular in California in the 1950s and have been a growing trend ever since. A longboard skateboard can measure anywhere from 35 inches to a whopping 60 inches long!

The Deck

A longboard skateboard deck is much like a regular skateboard deck, but is usually much flatter and pointed, like a surfboard. These big decks can be purchased at most skate shops, or kits can be found which allow the rider to comprise his or her own board. Many times this process is complicated, though, so be aware that there are many steps and the use of presses is involved. Most decks have a fiberglass or resin core surrounded by several layers of plywood.

The Wheels

The wheels of a longboard skateboard are much larger than that of a conventional skateboard. There are two major reasons for this; first, a larger wheel has more surface area and therefore has to spin fewer revolutions to attain the same speed, which creates much less friction and offers a smoother ride. Second, a wheel that is larger in circumference will have much less trouble going over small rocks and branches encountered on the road, which amounts to fewer stops and falls for the rider. A longboard skateboard is intended for smooth, uninterrupted travel, usually down hills. The bearings used in these wheels are commonly steel ball bearings, which provide smooth action for most riders. However, competition riders may add in ceramic bearings, which create far less heat and can endure much higher speeds for racing.

The Trucks

Trucks are what a skateboard uses as an axle to mount the wheels on underneath the deck itself. The trucks of a longboard skateboard are very similar to a conventional skateboard, with the exception of size. Everything is larger on a longboard skateboard truck to accommodate the size of the deck. There are usually two polyurethane bushings in the trucks to allow for turning, and their sensitivity to leans can be adjusted by turning the nut on the kingpin in our out, same as a conventional board. Some competition longboards, however, utilize what is known as a torsion truck. They differ from a conventional truck in that they may only use one bushing, or even a metal spring in the trucks in order to allow the board to turn and then snap back to a straight position. Some of these competition trucks even have bump stops so that the wheels do not contact the deck in extreme turns.