Beginners Start Here
If you are beginner you will benefit greatly from the home page. Every single thing you need to know about longboards is there. After you read that page it is best to come here. Below you will also find some tips and tricks for buying your first board and getting started in riding. FAQs and more tips to be added soon.
Best Tips and Tricks for Longboarders
- Bushings are important.They will change your riding experience a lot and it is highly recommended to buy different types and mix and match before settling on a pair.
- Budget bearings are one in the same. You will not see a big change between Zealous or Bones Reds or any other type. So don’t stress over them and just grab a pair. You will only notice a difference when you get into the high end ceramic bearings.
- Get a drop through. Get a double drop or drop through board because you can actually take off the trucks and make the board a top mount once you are ready. This will give you the ease and stability at the beginning but you also have the option to turn the board into a top mount and get those sharp turns you have prepared for.
- There are two different types of trucks. There 50 degree trucks but there are also 44 degree trucks. Make sure you check before you buy if you are building your own. The 50 degree are not really for downhill so be mindful.
- Beware of grooves. Some drop down boards have ‘W’ shaped decks. If you get this type of board you need to be sure your legs are comfortable inside those permanent grooves. Try looking at specific measurements and test out that length before you buy.
- Measure your trucks. If you are getting a deck with a cutaway (the part that mounts the trucks are thinner than the rest of the board), MAKE SURE your trucks are wide or short enough that you don’t get wheel bite. That is where a sharp turn makes your wheels touch the board. The wheels can also be an issue here too if they are too big. This can be very dangerous so do your research on your parts. A complete board does not usually come with this problem so this only applies to those building their own board.
- Wheels. Choose wheels very carefully. Some are heavy and large and some have a plastic center to make them more lightweight. Decide your style. If you want to slide and do tricks you want a lighter wheel. If you want to cruise or bomb hills you want a nice, large heavy wheel.
- Left and Right. Practice on both sides in the beginning once you get a hang of your natural riding side. Once you get into more advanced styles you must be equally comfortable on both sides to do well.
- Shoes. People don’t usually mention this but it is important to get a pair of extremely durable shoes. When braking and doing so many other things you need to slide your shoes on teh ground. A bad pair of shoes could rib mid brake and scar your foot badly. Me and many other longboarders recommend Vans. They are simply amazingly durable shoes at a very affordable price.
- Don’t forget your risers. They will protect that expensive board you just got from damage. They will also give you just a tiny dot more stability for your drop-through or double drop.
Before and during your first ride…
- Find your footing. Go to a flight of steps and note which foot you step with first. The foot you step with first is going to be your forward foot. You will push with the other one. But it is always recommended to become a natural with both eventually.
- Find a small slope. A small slope. Do not try and bomb a hill on your first ride. Find a small slope to simple ride down. Then push back up that slope for practice.
- Now as you go back down the slope, try and do some carves. This is where you simply go from left to right on the board. Now don’t try and weave in between cones or cars right now. Just go back and forth to get a feel for your board. Try going around simple things like sticks, leaves and sewer plates.
- To brake in the beginning simply put your foot down on the ground. You want to find your balance and bend your forward leg so your pushing foot is gently sliding on the ground. As you control your balance more, simply plant your foot into the ground even harder until you come to a stop.
- Just cruise and carve around. Get a feel for it. You should now be thinking about what you want as a longboarder. Do you want to do downhill or freestyle? You have no limits. Once you begin longboarding your longboard collection is going to increase. You want to do downhill, freestyle, freeride, and cruising? Get the boards. Don’t feel you need to limit yourself. But make sure you invest in what you are going to do the most. As we all can’t just buy whatever we want.
Ready to get a board? Here are the Best Longboards for Beginners
| Title | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Quest Super Cruiser Get the Quest Super Longboard | -44-Inch Artisan -Bamboo Longboard -Multi-ply hardwood maple and beautiful -Artisan bamboo deck -Rugged 7-Inch aluminum trucks -Durable 70mm PU wheels -Kick tail | 4.5/5 |
Atom Drop Through Board Get it Here Now! | Deck: Maple/Bamboo hybrid laminate with photo heat transfer graphic Trucks: Navigator Drone - 40 degree base - 180mm hangers Wheels: Atom AREA 51 - 70mm, 78A - SHR Bearings: ABEC 9 with high-speed lubricant Grip: Coarse 46 grit | 4.5/5 |
Atom Drop Deck Longboard Get it Here! | Full maple laminate deck Reverse King Pin (RKP) longboard trucks 245-millimeter axles Wide-Lip 70-by-51-millimeter super high rebound (SHR) urethane wheels ABEC 9 bearings with high-speed lubricant 80S grip tape | 4.5/5 |
Sector 9 Blue Wave Dropthrough Longboard Get One Here | Deck: 5-ply vertically laminated bamboo Trucks: 9" Gullwing Charger trucks Wheels: 74mm, 78A Center Set Nineball wheels Bearings: Abec 5 PDP bearings Grip: clear grip | 4.5/5 |