Longboarding The Basics Why long- board?

The Basics
Why longboard?
A longboard is merely
a method of transportation for some, while
for others it is an artful expression.
A rider rides the board
in one of two stances:
regular or goofy. A
regular rider will
ride with their left
foot forward while a
goofy rider will ride
with their right foot
forward.
Longboarding
For Dummies
For some it is
about relaxation
while for others
it is about the
adrenaline rush.
A rider skillfully performs a feat of balance:
The Cross-step!
Parts of a
Longboard:
• Deck
Some people rely
on it for transportation, some
people rely on it
for fun.
Pick up a board
and find your
motivation!
• Trucks (2)
• Wheels (4)
Join the movement!
A longboard is classified by a deck (at least
30 inches in length)
mounted to a pair of
cast trucks with four
wheels.
Longboarding is
something different for every
rider.
• Bearings (8)
As opposed to skateboards, longboards
are primarily used
to travel quickly and
smoothly. While a
traditional skateboard
is small and primarily
used for tricks, longboards utilize long
wheelbases and larger
wheels to minimize
the negative effects of
pebbles or bad pavement.
• Hardware
-8 screws
-8 nuts
Kick, Push, Coast
Blog
seanvisser63.wordpress.com
Free your body.
Free your mind.
A pamphlet courtesy of
the Kick, Push, Coast Blog
Shred some Urethane!
Longboarding can be for anyone!
Sliding
Dancing
Downhill
Commuting
Sliding is very visually
impressive. It involves
breaking the traction from
beneath the wheels and
turning the board the sideways while still in motion.
Dancing is a display of balance and poise.
Downhill longboarding is
where the sport began.
Unlike learning to dance
on flat land, a board is
always moving. Not only
does this make it more
challenging, it makes it
even more beautiful!
This is where true guts are
put to the test. Riders hurl
themselves down paved
roads sometimes traveling
upwards of 30 or 40 mph.
Commuting is the most
casual of the longboard
disciplines.
To be able to slide a longboard a couple things are
required. First, the wheels
need to be moderately to
very hard in durometer. A
soft wheel will have better
grip on the surface and will
not want to slide. A sliding
board will likely be low to
the ground thus making it
easier to slide.
A brave rider uses some hard wheels and a
fair amount of force to get sideways!
Sliding may be used in
succession with tricks or it
may be useful in slowing
yourself down from high
speed. Some longboarding competitions are based
entirely around sliding.
Longboard dancing
involves stepping on,
around, and under the
board in smooth, fluid
motions.
Dancing tricks may be
combined with flip tricks
and sliding. Tricks may
involve crossing your legs,
riding backwards or riding
on only one leg.
Dancing boards are
tradionally very long to
allow room for feet to slide
around.
Sliding is an advanced
longboard technique.
Safety Equipment
Helmet, Elbow Pads, Knee Pads, Gloves
Downhill is all about
maintaining balance and
control while achieving the
highest possible speed.
Competitions may be
conducted through races
or time trials. Sliding may
be involved or required in
downhill races.
Boards made for downhill are usually very long
and very stiff to provide a
strong, stable surface for
high speed travel.
Anyone who has stepped
on a board knows the
advantage it can give you
in speed and effort. It only
takes a small push to coast
for a long while.
Commuting is simply
achieved by pushing and
propelling the board;
something that every rider
will learn. Advanced commuting involves pushing
with both feet and learning
new pushing techniques.
Commuting boards are
usually shorter in length
and very lightweight. With
travel being the primary
concern of these specially
made boards, they should
also be equiped with good
bearings to increase roll
distance as much as possible.