What is a longboard and how is it different from a skateboard? One board cannot be replaced by another

If winding up 10 thousand steps has become commonplace and you want to add something special to your walks, it’s time to try longboarding. And then it’s not far to other board sports. You just have to start.

The first longboard came from Hawaiian surfers in 1959-1965. The guys wanted to keep riding even when the ocean was calm. They decided to make a smaller “surf” out of plywood and screw wheels to it. With this invention, they began to break into the streets and tried to transfer the technique of riding from the waves to the asphalt.

Olga Timm

professional trainer, participant of the World Longboard Championship

Tells more about longboarding.

Longboard and skateboard: what is the difference?

Under the term “longboard” now understand a huge number of boards. The main difference from the skateboard is controllability, maneuverability and non-standard length. The fact is that skateboarding is a jumping discipline. There the board must be stable when landing. Longboard is more maneuverable than a skateboard, and it is used for high-speed riding. These boards are much longer than skateboards: the length varies from 60 cm to 1.5 meters. And this is only in stock versions (boards from the store, without modifications to the design – Editor’s note). The custom ones (homemade or those where components have been modified – Editor’s note) can be much longer: they are more turnable and easier to control . Always. Let’s go in order from the shortest boards to the longest.

What kind of boards are there

Slalom boards are always short longboards that are between 60-70 cm long. They should be very fast and maneuverable. Here the cost of one sports suspension exceeds € 100 (about 9 thousand rubles).

In urban conditions, too, short, inexpensive and at the same time mobile boards like Penny and their analogs are popular. It is convenient to take them with you, to race in the park and on busy streets. They are very popular among board enthusiasts of all ages.

Medium length boards – 80-100 cm – are usually wide and stable. These are the most comfortable to start riding on. In sports disciplines, having screwed to a good “plywood” very technological suspension, you can do “downhill” (you’ve probably seen videos of guys riding at extreme speeds down the hill).

The downhill discipline is very dangerous, the world speed record is over 146 km/h, and the comfortable downhill speed is 60-80 km/h.

Thelongest boards are more than 100 cm. They are chosen for “dansing”. This discipline is less fast, but no less technical. Riding on such boards, mostly avoiding descents, and during the movement make spectacular passes, making a lot of complex coordination movements.

What you can learn while riding a longboard

Longboarding is a great way to develop coordination, longitudinal and transverse balance. It serves as a great training device for beginners in skating, and amateur athletes will be useful as a summer alternative to snowboarding. Professional board slalom athletes train on snowboards in the winter and longboards in the summer.

No special physical training is required to get up on a longboard. In big cities there is a huge choice of schools and instructors. Making the first steps is always safer next to a professional.

What are the prospects for longboarding

Prospects in longboarding are quite large. In the world there are competitions in each of the sports disciplines, but in the list of Olympic longboard has not yet entered the Olympic list.

Where to start

In Moscow, there are longboard rentals and schools in almost every recreation park that has asphalt. Pre-registration is usually required.