Which longboard is right for me?
If you want to buy a longboard, you should have some knowledge of skateboarding beforehand. To determine which longboard will suit you best, you should give yourself a few thoughts about where you would like to skate with it. In addition to the design, the length is an important selection criterion. Beginners should also look out for other characteristics than advanced skaters.
What are the differences between the longboards
- Basically, longboards differ greatly from skateboards in terms of length and axis spacing. They are about 90 to 150 centimeters long and the wheelbase (German: axis distance) is of course longer than is usual for skateboards. Typically, the roles are also significantly larger. This has the great advantage that it can sometimes drive over a branch or small stones without falling.
- The greater distance between the axles and the length result in decisive advantages when skating. The greater the distance between the axles, the greater the driving stability. The longer the board, the higher the speeds you can get with it.
- There are many different driving styles in skating, such as slalom, downhill and freestyle. In order to do justice to these riding styles, many longboards are offered that are specially suitable for each style. You can also have a skateboard shop put together one that is just right for your needs. A freestyle board needs to have a strong grip and shouldn't be too stiff. The same goes for slalom. A short board is suitable. Downhill riding depends on the speed that you can achieve with a stiff, very long board.
Which longboards are suitable for beginners and which are suitable for professionals
- Which longboard suits you depends on the one hand on whether you are a professional or a beginner and on the other hand on how you want to skate. Some boards are well suited for downhill skating, freestyle skating or slalom skating. You should first narrow down how you will predominantly skate.
- Think about how much money you want to spend. A beginner should buy a finished board that consists of a deck, two trucks and rollers. You can get this on the internet or in a skateboard store. You can get such a board for around 100 euros. A professional will prefer to have a board put together in the skateboard shop and choose trucks and higher quality wheels. That can cost up to 300 euros.
- If you mostly skate in the city, the board shouldn't be too long. A length of 90 to 120 centimeters is sufficient. You are more agile while skating. You can also easily transport the board on public transport. If, on the other hand, you drive in the country and want to achieve high speeds, the board should be 120 to 150 centimeters long.
- Never use conventional skateboard axles for a longboard. The axes must match the board, otherwise you will not be able to achieve high speeds.
- Check how resilient the deck is. The stiffer it is, the better you can control it while driving fast. If speed is not important to you, you can also choose a less stiff board.
How do you recognize a good longboard?
Longboarding differs from skating mainly in that it is more leisurely ...
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