the LONGBOARDER

Is from a very diverse demographic. As it is so accessible, age ranges are from teen to fifty, with a much more even spread across the sexes than other boardsports. As the skating, surfing and snowboarding population ages, so longboarding benefits. This is a growing, strong market and it isn’t going away soon.

Longboarding is growing - fast. It used to be an offshoot of street skating, a toy for surfers. Now it is a movement in its own right, with its own customers and styles.

Owns or aspires to own many setups. Each deck, wheel and truck fulfils a different role - speed, carving, slalom, sliding, commuting. While a street skater will usually only have one setup at a time, a longboarder will usually have several setups. A good choice for the customer and a spread of completes on offer is very important.

BUYERS GUIDE FOR RETAILERS

{ }

built stiff for stability and supreme corner tracking at speed. This is the cutting edge of construction and usually most expensive category as skaters will pay whatever it takes to win races.

D i f f e r e n t K i n d s O f L o n g b o a r d

SPEED/RACE

Ultra stiff deck, often with composite construction.

Adjustable wheelbase for fine-tuning

Low ride height, with drop down, drop through, rockered decks, and wheel wells or cutouts

RKP (reverse kingpin) trucks for stability at speed. Speedboard often use a low-angle

Top- brand wheels with fast, technical shapes, using high-end urethane

Fast bearings

one

FREERIDE/SLIDING

built for sliding and carving, a fast-evolving, aggressive style of longboarding. Think snowboarding on the road and you’re close...

Low ride height, with drop-down, drop-through, rocker and big cutouts

Slidey wheels

Stiff flex deck for response and control

Some decks feature kicktails and noses to allow for progressive tricks

two

your “regular” longboard, still selling as well as ever. Built for a smooth ride, a huge variety of shapes, sizes and price points.

CRUISER

Flexy for a smooth ride

Big, soft wheels roll over cracks and bumps with ease

Turny trucks compensate for longer wheelbases to give a good turn

three

think big skateboards... perfect for transport and hitting the local skatepark on the way to work.

HYBRID

Stiff flex, a good pop make ollies easy

Functional nose and tail for street and skateparks

Shorter wheelbase and TKP trucks give a ride like a “regular” board

four

retro styled mini cruisers have been huge for the last few years thanks to the Dogtown movies. Great for skating to school, work or college and stashing under the desk!

MINI

Super short deck, turns quick and easy to carry/stash

Tail for easy kickturns and ollies

Small, soft wheels for quick acceleration

Narrow trucks turn super tight!

five

on a Drop Through deck, Trucks are mounted through the deck from the underside of the baseplate. This gives a very low ride, making footbraking and pushing easier. It also makes the deck slide a little easier.

flexy decks give a smooth ride, easy to pump and translate to a super flowing, carving feeling. Flex is achieved with a cambered, all wood or fibreglass at higher price points.

D e c k s E x p l a i n e d

(The Lush Generator uses 2 layers of Fibreglass and a Cambered deck to give a springy flex)

six

stiff decks are more suited to the technical skater, giving better response, control , grip, corner tracking, sliding and stability.

rockered decks give a subtle lowering of the foot platform, allowing for “dished” concaves for confidence and a lower ride height for stability and slide control.

topmount decks are standard truck mounting, giving a better turn, pump, carve and more grip than a drop-through deck, but with harder footbraking and pushing.There are various other boards available such as drop-down, 3 piece and microdrop, all have the effect of lowering the ride height.

(9 Plies of Maple and 2 opposed layers of directional fibreglass make the Lush Vandella race-stiff)

seven

tKP (Traditional Kingpin Trucks) are wider versions of “reular” skate trucks. Adapted for longboards with bugger, softer bushings for a deeper turn. Popular as they are low, proven and more suited for kickturns and ollies.

rKP (Reverse Kingpin Trucks) give a better turn AND more stability at the expense of a higher ride height. Most high-end longboards use this style of truck.

T r u c k F e a t u r e s

eight

B u s h i n g s

bushings are very important in a longboard, as they dictate how well a truck will turn, and turning is the essence of longboarding. Many brands skimp here on completes, making bushings a popular upgrade.

Cones offer more turn and less stability - better for flat-ground skaters and slalom

Barrels offer a more restricted turn and better rebound to centre, better for downhill and race.

Height Skaters will want lower bushings to fit TKP trucks, and taller bushings for RKP trucks.

Durometer varies like wheels - from 78A (super turny) up to 98A (Super stiff)As you can see - it’s important to have a spread of choice on offer!

nine

longboard Wheels are generally larger and softer than their street cousins, to give a smoother, faster, grippier ride.

W h e e l s

75-90A Durometer (hardness)60-80mm Diameter

80-88A Durometer

60-70mm Diameter

“Radissed” edges for a smooth slide

Narrow contact patch for less grip

75-82A Durometer

70-80mm Diameter

Square edges for grip

Wide contact patch for more grip

SLIDING WHEELS

RACE/GRIP WHEELS

ten

all longboarders need slide gloves. Some will make their own - a cost effective way to get started. However, a branded slide glove can offer many things:

SLIDE GLOVES

Advanced materials kevlar, high-grade leather on the gloves, Polycarbonate and UHMWPE on the pucks

Technical designWith protection where you need it, and a comfortable, functional fit

w w w . s h i n e r d i s t r i b u t i o n . c o mw w w . l u s h l o n g b o a r d s . c o m

eleven