It can be hard to see the difference among both skateboards and longboards if you don’t understand something about them. Both boards, trust it or not, serve fundamentally distinct purposes. Consider your main reason for wanting one when deciding which one to ride: do you really want to rip up half-pipes or fly down a hill? To assist solve the skateboard vs. longboard controversy, we’ll look at the distinctions between the two.
Skateboards and Longboards: Their Beginnings
Let’s look at the history of longboards and skateboards to better grasp the differences. Surfers in the early 1950s were so enamoured with the sensation of riding waves that many wanted to recreate it on ground on flat days. The skateboard was created by taking a plank of wood, carving a deck out of it, and gluing wheels below it. Skateboarders reduced the size of these boards after realizing they were just too large and flat to perform tricks on.
Surfers recognized the board was far too tiny to cruise through by the 1990s, and it no longer rode like a surfboard. They changed the size and shape of the skateboard once more to create what we now call a longboard.
Main Differences Between a Skateboard and a Longboard
Shape and Size
When you compare a longboard to a skateboard, you’ll note how flat the longboard’s tail and nose are. On a skateboard, the tail and nose have more of a curve to make landing flips and tricks simpler.
It should come as no shock that longboards are longer than shortboards. They can be up to 59 inches in length, although the average skateboard is roughly 36 inches in length. Longboards are also available in sizes as tiny as 28 inches in length, which might be perplexing.
If the length concerns you, keep in mind that the primary difference is that longboards are flat while skateboards angle. So, if you see a short, flat board, it’s most likely a small longboard and definitely not Australian longboard skateboards.
Flexibility of the deck
The deck is the foundation of your skateboard for any beginner skaters out there. If you really want to learn and adapt, you’ll want a board that’s thinner and has some flex. The rigidity of your boards is determined by its flex.
You wouldn’t want the flex to be too gentle unless you’re indulging in relaxed cruising. You need your flex to be soft to medium for flips, as this offers you some durability and a springy feel, making leaps simpler to nail.
Most longboards are designed to accelerate as you race downward. Longboards often have thick decks with little flex to ensure you are stable during the ride.
Wheels and Trucks
Longboards and Skateboards both have wheels, but the foundation that connects them is referred to as the truck. Both boards have different aesthetics and functions. The trucks on a skateboard are stiffer and thinner, making it simpler to slide and perform stunts. They’re the very same width as the board deck’s wide section.
Longboards have a much more flexible truck, which provides a better ride for longboarders who prefer to cruise over long ranges or race downhill. Longboards can also accommodate trucks with a width of 150 mm to 180 mm.
