Best Longboard

Longboards are, as the name suggests, long boards. The longboard is characterized by the fact that it resembles the skateboard, but has much larger dimensions. Because it is between 70 and 190 centimetres long and there is quite a large distance between the axles. The longboard also needs bigger and softer rollers than the skateboard, because hard shocks can be absorbed much better. The descent with the longboard thus becomes a pleasant experience including ride comfort. Among the longboards, there are some important differences that gain weight depending on the level of proficiency. When choosing the right board there are a lot of things to consider. First of all it is important to pay attention to the quality of the board, because there are different materials which are suitable for the construction of the board. Many longboards are made of horizontal wood. Some boards are made of laminated bamboo. Other vertically laminated wood species such as aspen or mahogany are also processed. After processing the wood, the longboard is often provided with a fibre-plastic composite from the outside. The type of coating later determines the elasticity of the board. Maple wood, which is also provided with this coating, retains its stiffness due to the special hard type of wood.

Longboards are offered in different levels of flexibility in trading. These steps are also called flex and indicate the degree to which the longboard can be bent. When choosing the right board, which is also called deck, the boarder’s own body weight is a decisive factor as well as his preferences. The board should never bend when riding in such a way that it comes into contact with the ground, because this would be much too dangerous for the rider. In any case, harder boards are much better for fast descents than soft longboards. With them it does not become so easily wobbly and they always remain in the trace. With the soft decks, on the other hand, you can drive very slowly, but these behave well in the corners. Moreover, the soft longboards are easier to control than the hard ones. With some driving styles like casual carving, a soft deck is welcomed as it accommodates a casual driving style. A soft board not only passes on the force exerted on the deck, but also uses it to achieve a certain effect when riding.

At the beginning you get to know some basics on the longboard, that is on the one hand the way to stand on the deck and on the other hand the way to repel yourself. When choosing the position of the feet on the board, there is no right or wrong, because everyone should decide for themselves which foot should always be placed in front and which in the back. The appropriate position on the board is called Stance. By trying out and balancing, everyone finds their individual foot position on the board. There are some terms in longboarding that seem a bit strange at first, but which should be known. It already starts with the choice of the suitable position, because if the right foot is placed in front, it is called Goofy and with the left foot Regular. By the way, the front foot is positioned approximately 45 degrees to the direction of travel, the main weight rests on it and the board is steered over it. Once that has worked out, then everything goes as if by itself, because it is then only important to be relaxed and relaxed and to remain and concentrate on the steering. As a rule of thumb, wherever I look, there goes the board. The direction of travel can also be influenced by turning the shoulder. But once you’ve made a few laps with the board, you immediately wonder how you actually brake. Braking with the longboard works well at low speed if you have one foot dragged along on the ground. The foot is placed from the heel over the metatarsus to the tip and slowly dragged over the asphalt. At high speed it is best to cross the board for a short time, this will slow you down immediately. If there is a danger in front of you and all braking techniques fail, it only helps to jump off the board as fast as possible.

Anyone who has driven the first downhill runs will certainly have had the first painful experiences with a fall at the beginning. Choosing the right protective equipment can prevent pain from falling and prevent worse things from happening. If you don’t protect your head, you’re usually playing with your life, because a fall on your helmet is usually mild, a fall on your head can lead to a longer stay in hospital. There are some smart models for the helmets in the trade, which not only protect, but in the scene are trendy. With the purchase of such a helmet you do everything right. The slide gloves are also important because they are provided with a special plastic protection on the inside. This prevents the asphalt from milling an evil pattern into the palms of the hands in the event of a fall. When buying, you should make sure that they are comfortable and not too tight. Knee and elbow protectors help to protect the joints during a fall. These should lie close to the body and be able to be lashed down so that they do not slip in the event of a fall. For beginners who are still insecure when riding, a well padded pair of trousers is also recommended. This is offered in the trade as sport trousers, which can be worn under the clothes. The trousers are equipped with various hard pads that protect the body from bad bruises in the event of a fall. After some time holes form on the longboard shoes, which can be closed with a special glue offered in the trade.