Today longboards come in a variety of different styles and shapes. Each one has a unique distinct purpose and qualities, which provides an amazingly thrilling experience to riders. Internet is also filled with tons of information on longboards, but none are useful. So to tackle this situation, I have given essential information on different types of longboards in this article.
So If you’re looking for some quality information about different types of longboards, or if you’re thinking about purchasing a new longboard but aren’t sure which one to choose. Then in this blog post, I have done my best to provide essential information on the most often used longboards in a good concise manner that will be extremely useful and easy to understand.
“Following Are The Different Types of Longboards”
1. Pintail Longboard
Pintail-shaped boards are your standard longboards. They’re the type of board that will make you feel like you’re surfing on land. They are relatively simple and the greatest cruising board, with nothing technical.
These boards are suitable for both beginners and advanced riders. Whether you’re a snowboarder or surfer, you can ride this board if you’re carving down a monstrous hill, cruising up and down the boardwalk, or have never stepped on a board before. It is just the perfect board for everyone.
Pintail comes in 37, 42, 43, and 46 inches long, is 9 to 10 inches wide, and is made out of seven or nine maple plies.
The one drawback of pintail-shaped boards is that they are usually a bit higher off the ground, making them a little less stable while you’re initially learning. However, as I previously stated, if you want the vibe of surfing on land combined with the vibe of longboarding, this is the way to go.
2. Drop-Through Longboard
A drop through longboard is one in which the trucks are attached through the top and underneath the board. The baseplate will pass through a slot in the board on either tail, allowing the deck to hang beneath it.
The drop-through trucks on this longboard allow the board to sit lower to the ground and as the board is closer to the ground. It makes the entire board’s center of gravity more stable, which means that while you’re riding quickly, you’ll be more stable and faster.
These boards are built to be as quick and stable as possible, and they are pretty handy for people who want to cruise swiftly and enjoy the enhanced speed and are not concerned with the entire carving and turning experience. Most longboards or longer types of boards will drop through, so if you’re looking for a solid component to your riding with incredible speed, this is the board for you.
3. Downhill Longboard
Downhill longboarding is just going down a slope as fast as possible and then controlling or reducing your speed with foot brake slides.
Longboarders use slides to slow down in curves and then a board tuck and aerodynamic stance to increase speed in straight lines. Downhill longboard decks are stiff with eight to nine plies of maple and a wheel with a base of 24 inches to around 27 inches, making them perfect downhill longboards. You want your deck to be rigid so that you have exact control over your trucks as you gain speed.
If your deck has flex, your trucks will try to do their own thing independently, making it easy to get wobbles as you take up speed. A stiff deck provides exact feedback and accurate control and helps you know what is going on on the road; thus, you must purchase a firm deck.
Downhill longboards must be stable; thus, they often have large trucks, lower degree trucks, and soft wheels to regulate speed when going downhill. When you’re speeding down the mountain and don’t want to slide out, the boards are normally fitted with really rough grip tape, which creates a lot of friction. If you like swift downhill longboarding, you can go for this longboard.
4. Freestyle Longboard
A freestyle longboard is designed for riders who like riding on smooth terrain and want to test their skills with tricks and slides. Freestyle longboarding is when you do a manoeuvre or a trick with your board. It is a longboarding style that involves performing tricks and flips. Freestyle includes jumping, flipping, spinning, and board dancing.
If you’re new to longboarding and want to buy a board but aren’t sure what kind of riding you’ll do, whether you’ll do tricks, slide, or carve with your friends. Then this board is ideal for you. These boards often have a milder flex and are perfect for doing tricks while riding around town.
For freestyle, a deck length of 40 to 44 inches is perfect. Freestyle decks are usually lightweight and sturdy, allowing you to do stunts effortlessly. The nose and tail of the freestyle longboard are rounded, and it has a decent kicktail for flips and hard-hitting tricks.
5. Freeride Longboard
Freeriding is a style that is clearly defined by riding several hills and sliding your board frequently. A freeride longboard is essentially a blend between a downhill board and a freestyle board.
With this board, you can do tricks on flat ground and downhill, so you’ll be doing a lot of stand-up slides, 180s, switch slides, perhaps slicing, and possibly drifting around corners. With this longboard, you’ll be mixing different riding methods, whether freestyle or downhill.
As in freeride longboarding, you will be surfing a little faster. You will need something more sturdy; hence the longboards here are usually stiffer than your typical freestyle deck.
Freeride longboards are bi-directional types of longboards, meaning the front and rear of the board are the same, allowing spinning and riding in both directions. Most freeride boards have a length of 38′′ to 42′′ with a wheelbase of 24′′ to 29′′and the average width is between 8.5 and 10 inches.
6. Top-Mount Longboard
Top mount is your standard skateboard mounting technique. It is essentially a sort of longboard with trucks attached beneath the boards.
Top mount boards do not have the hump on the top of the tails from the trucks like drop-through boards, which means you have more area on the top of the board for your foot movement. This longboard is incredibly responsive and Carvey, so if you enjoy cruising, pumping, and carving, this is the board for you. You’re going to have a fantastic time with all of this fantastic stuff on this board.
These longboards provide a superb riding experience because of their very responsive nature, allowing quick and sharper turns. Top mounts are less stable at high speeds because they are raised above the ground by the truck. On the other hand, these boards feature an adjustable wheelbase, making them a versatile riding option.
Conclusion
That was concise information on different types of longboards out there. If you are thinking of experiencing the thrill of longboarding in your life, it is the right time to go for it. It would help if you went for the board as per your personal preference and riding style. The one that will give you the most amazing, fun experience will be the ideal board for you.
If you are also looking for some excellent deals and guide on best electric longboards you can check our guide on – best electric longboards under 300$.
Keep on Rollin and Ride in Style!!
Thank You 🙂
