The enduring popularity of skateboarding is somewhat of a phenomenon. It has grown to be one of the most popular and beloved hobbies and sports out there, and it has become a popular pastime for a lot of people throughout the world. It’s something that everyone, both young and old can enjoy, even if it may seem a bit daunting to get into it with no prior knowledge. I’ve already covered how to pick the best skateboard for beginners, but now it’s time to talk about the surf skateboard, which is an incredibly popular type of board.
What Exactly is a Surf Skateboard
Before talking about how to best choose a surf skateboard, it’s wise to understand exactly what it is. Often, people compare it to the longboard, and some people claim there is almost no difference between the two, although that is not really the case. There are major differences between the two, such as length and wheel size. A surf skateboard is designed to be ridden very similarly to a typical surfboard, so you’ll often feel like you’re surfing on land. One of the best features of the surf skate is how easy it is to gain speed. Unlike other types of boards, gaining speed is easy, and you’re not limited when compared to other types of boards in how you gain that speed.
Who Can Use It
In short, the answer is everybody. However, there are a few things you should take into account before starting out, especially if you’re a beginner skater. For beginners, it might seem as if the surf skate is harder to control, especially when you start gaining speed. That’s not to say it’s impossible, but you might not immediately see the joy of surf skating if you have no prior skateboarding knowledge whatsoever. If you’re a longboard skater, you’re most likely used to riding styles such as pumping and carving. These styles feel natural on a surfskate, so if you were uncertain about that previously, then the surfskate might be right for you. Surfers will have the easiest time out of everybody, as almost all techniques that surfers use can easily be used with a surf skateboard.
Types of Trucks
When it comes to surf skateboards, they are relatively similar in concept to other types of boards, such as the longboard or the typical skateboard. However, the difference lies in how the trucks are set and which type is used. There are two main types – trucks with springs and trucks without springs.
Trucks With Springs
This type of truck is meant to simulate the movements of the surfboard on the ocean. Due to the way the internal spring is placed, they have very smooth pumping with tight turning angles. Because they’re softer trucks with smoother movements, they’re not typically recommended for beginners with no experience in skateboarding and surfing. This type of truck might feel unstable because it’s simulating a different type of movement.
Trucks Without Springs
Even though this type of truck will still give you the traditional surf skateboarding feeling, they’re still quite close to the traditional skateboard. They’re recommended to everybody, as they’re the most stable due to not having a spring, making them ideal for moving around the city or performing tricks on the skate park.
Board Types
As with any other type of skateboard, the surf skate board has a variation in the types of boards available. The most common dichotomy is the long board and the short board. The long board is best suited for cruising because it is more stable and features a longer wheelbase. It’s well-suited for taller or heavier people, as it will be easier to ride due to the extra stability.
The short board feels a bit twitchier than its long counterpart, so it’s not quite as suited for casual riding. However, it is great for performing specific tricks, due to the carving style being more pronounced. Wider boards are considered safer and more stable, and the type and shape of the tail also don’t make a big difference, except for the small difference in grip that could be important to specific skaters.
How to Ride a Surf Skateboard
While there is no big difference between other types of skateboards and a surf skateboard at first glance, they are definitely not the same. Surf skateboards are mostly designed to carve on tight turns and for pumping, which is why they’re sometimes referred to as carving boards. They have a short turning radius which allows you to easily turn tight corners, as well as slaloming around any obstacle. As the name implies, surf skateboards are very similar to surfboards, especially when it comes to the riding stance. Usually, your feet will be perpendicular to the board, but that might depend on the type of board you’re riding. There are some designs that revolve around toe-heel shifting to get the board moving, but other boards might require full-body motion. This means that all of the moves the surf skateboard allows are quite different from the longboard. That’s because the surfskate is designed to emulate surfing.
Both surfing and skateboarding are extremely popular in the world, especially in Australia. There is no substitute for the wind in the hair and the feeling of the board beneath your feet. If you want to combine the best of both worlds in surfing and skateboarding, then the surfskate skateboard is definitely for you. It might be just a tiny bit different from both skateboarding or surfing, but it’s incredibly satisfying, just like both. All it would take is an afternoon of practice and you’ll be as good with a surfskate as with a surfboard. Even if you’re a newbie, there is no better time to learn surf skateboarding than now.
