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Step 1
Select the deck size you are most comfortable with. Longboards come in a variety of lengths, but the general rule is to pick one that is about waist-high. Just make sure that yours is easy to carry around, so you aren't struggling with the board.
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Step 2
Go wide for street surfing and narrow for downhill speed. While this isn't a hard-and-fast rule, you will find that more streamlined boards give you better speed. Besides the width, you'll find that the actual shape of board differs for each style of skating.
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Step 3
Buy bearings, trucks and wheels that are built specifically for longboarding. Since this style of skating is vastly different from pulling off flip tricks in a skate park, you want to make sure all of the hardware works for your style of skating. Larger, softer wheels tend to work best for a longboard, and some manufacturers create parts specifically for this type of skateboard.
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Step 4
Avoid longboards from discount or toy stores. While these may be cheap, they are not meant for high speeds, which can cause injury when a truck flies off or a bearing breaks.
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Step 5
Take baby steps by purchasing a Sector 9 longboard deck, which is very similar to a normal skateboard (see Resources below). For skaters new to the longboards, this is the easiest way to familiarize yourself with the style.
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Step 6
Find a variety of decks and supplies at the Longboard Store (see Resources below). This store offers everything you need to build a custom longboard.
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Step 7
Find durable longboard decks in a variety of styles at Landy Achtz (see Resources below). Manufactured since 1997, these boards have quickly become the choice for racing and slalom pros.
