Ride a Skateboard or a Longboard? 4 Easy Steps To Learn

Is it easier to ride a skateboard or a longboard? Skateboarding and longboarding may look so similar, yet they are so different in:

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• Purpose
• Functionality
• Movement and control
• Safety
• Directionality and shape

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Their differences in manufacture, purpose, and performance make each a unique entity on its own. With a little more insight, you will differentiate the two and decide which the best fit is for you at a glance. The ease of learning either of the boards is dependent on the features, activities, and level of skill you would love to learn.

Purpose

Before you begin learning to ride a skateboard or longboard, you need to ascertain the activity’s purpose and which board would better perform.

What would you like to achieve? Longboarders have the following styles:

• Carving – This is longboarding while doing sharp turns in an S manner. It requires skill and practice to perfect this type.
• Cruising – In cruising, you ride your longboard in a relaxing way without much pressure. It is a perfect style for beginners.
• Freeriding – This is a form of downhill where there are a lot of tricks and skills involved. As a result, speed is reduced and managed.
• Downhill – The act of longboarding downhill. It requires a lot of precision and control due to the high speeds gained in the process. It would help if you were careful of any obstacle that might arise to stop, evade or drift.
• Skateboarder’s activities are:
• Bowl – This type of skating is done in a block of concrete made in bowl shape used by skaters.
• Vert – These are ramps, a half-pipe form, that have vertical surfaces on both ends. The vertical section ensures maximum speed is achieved.
• Street skating – This is technical skating that focuses on obstacle evasion with style and tricks.
• Ramp – The ramp offers various activities where the skateboarders can do a variety of tricks and stunts. There are numerous types of ramps with different actions attached to them. The speeds and maneuvers that are used in these ramps are specific to the kind.

Skateboarding is designed for ramps to showcase your skills like landing and airborne moves, while longboarding is for transportation services: long and short distances.

The type of activity you choose will determine the complexity and variety of board that you will use. If it is for fun and entertainment, it would be best to select the most straightforward styles of the two, take a try and determine which you would prefer.

Movement and Control

It is also easy to control your movements while using the longboards since you can accelerate, decelerate and change direction using your body. The ability to incorporate the body in gyrating and pumping makes the longboard easier to use.

Pumping is the act of generating momentum using one leg as you start moving. Gyrating is the strategic movement of the body to allow the longboard to have direction and controlled speed.

It is easier to learn turning and cruising while using longboards since it is specifically designed for this purpose. Most skateboarding activities require skills and practice to get the hang of it, making it slightly more challenging.

Agility and stability

Skateboards have short trucks, which provide greater agility than longboards. On the contrary, longboards have wider trucks but are more stable. The balance achieved by longboards through the wide trucks and long decks is perfect for amateurs. It makes it more straightforward to learn since it is more balanced. It also makes the longboards better for high speeds, while the skateboard is good for stunts such as flips.

The wheels’ shape and styles determine the type of activity that can be performed on each board. The wheels from both boards have a standard size ranging from 52mm to 58mm. Long-distance skaters prefer the larger wheels that will assist in movement. Small wheel skaters are for city skaters: those who operate within the environs.

Directionality and shape

Numerous longboards provide smooth rides, which is perfect for beginners. The type of shape and grip on the longboard helps it ideal for beginners. There are different types of longboards: pintail, fishtail, blunt, cruiser, cut down, dropdown and speed.

Specific shapes like the pintail, which has a more expansive center, sharp nose, and tail, make it a unidirectional board, can only move in one direction. It makes it easy for beginners to use since they do not have to worry about the board hovering all over. You only need to concentrate on your movement and controls.

Blunt and twin cut-outs are also suitable for amateurs. They are fitted with wider nose and tails and stable boards respectively that help the beginners to master necessary skills without much fuss.

Safety

The features of both boards will determine the safety it offers. Using a board for the wrong purpose will lessen the competence of the board. It is important to learn the essentials of skate and longboarding before engaging in the activity.

Longboarding is considered relatively safe because of its widespread nature. It provides a larger surface area (deck) for the user to maintain balance and stability. Always ensure that you have your protective gear on before skating.

 The big question remains, which is more straightforward: the longboard or skateboard? Numerous types of longboards have proven perfect for amateurs. They have features that ease the learning process for beginners. Their associated activities also provide excellent training regimes as they use simple skills. Constant practice on the board will help you grasp the techniques quickly.

Get yourself a good board. Consult the pros for quality and pricing as you do not want to have high maintenance costs, yet you are still a beginner. Ensure you start with the basics that will help you build the foundation. Practice regularly to raise your confidence till you can take on complex techniques. Do not be quick to rush as it can be a dangerous sport.

Finally, it is essential to note that the ease of learning either of the boards lies in the time and effort you are willing to put in. The skill and type of skateboard you choose to learn will determine the ease of learning.