Kickflip Skateboard | Skateboard Tricks & Tips

Skateboarding Alternative Guide

By Wawan

Skateboard Alternatives

No, I’m not telling you to stop skateboarding and switch to another sport. What I mean with skateboarding alternatives is the things you can do with your skateboard when it is wet, raining, cold, and snowing.

First, a skateboard should not be kept in your house until spring or until the weather permits. There are lots of activities you can do with your skateboard aside from going out and hitting the sidewalks and parks.

Indoor skateboarding :  Do not ride your skateboard and chase your cats, dogs, and brothers around the house. That’s not what I meant. What I mean is you can practice your tricks inside your house, in your room or on the carpet of your living room. You can practice your balance, kickflips, kickturns, ollies, and other freestyle tricks without going out of your house. Be careful though. You don’t want to annoy your mom and dad with broken glasses, and windows.

Garage skateboard :  If your house is not good enough, you still have your garage. Clear out the cars and boxes and you are good to go. Transform your garage into your personal skate park. Construct a mini ramp and short rails. Skating in your garage is the best way to beat the rain, snow, and cold.

Indoor skate parks :  If you are doing all your skateboarding on the street and parking lots, then you may have forgotten all about indoor skate parks near you. Here, you can improve your skateboarding techniques regardless of the weather. It might cost you some money, but if you can afford to buy wheels and trucks, you can definitely afford to pay for the use of the park. After all, you are just paying here to survive over the winter months. When spring comes, go back to your favorite skate spot. 

Snowboarding :  It’s winter and the snow is falling. You can’t roll but you can definitely slide. So, grab your snowboard and head to ski parks. If you don’t have the money, your neighborhood is all yours. Remember this: many skateboarding tricks are derived from snowboarding so you can definitely improve your riding when you get back to your wheels in the spring.

Being a couch potato when you can’t skateboard outside is really up to you. But if you want to improve your skills, be creative. Use every available space you have and get better each day.

Short and Longboards Explained

By James R Shaw 

Longboard Skateboards

If you’re into skateboarding, you’re obviously familiar with the standard short skateboard, but have you ever seen someone ride a longboard? Other than the difference in length, I bet you wonder how these two types of boards are different. Keep reading to learn the similarities and differences of the skateboard and the longboard.

A longboard is just a skateboard that’s much longer than usual, and used for longboarding (as opposed to skateboarding). Instead of street style skating using ramps and pipes, longboards are almost always used for downhill racing, getting from point a to point b, or cruising around town. Longboarding is compared to surfing, like “surfing on land” or “surfing on concrete”. The design of the longboard allows big turns and quick carves just like the surfers do.

People say that longboarding started in southern California where riders enjoyed rolling hills and streets, but some believe longboarding started in Hawaii. You’ll notice longboarders will wear gloves and a helmet at a minimum. Longboarders participating in downhill races will wear special gloves to protect their hands while maneuvering the board (this is done in a lying position). Most longboards are 35-60 inches long. Shorter boards can still be called longboards if their main purpose is the same as longboarding (cruising, downhill racing, travel). Longboards come in all kinds of shapes such as: pintails, flat nose, and boards shaped like a longer shortboard. Pintails allow looser trucks and larger wheels to be installed for more of a smooth surfing feel.

Longboard wheels can be much larger than regular skateboard wheels. The size difference is because smaller wheels have to spin faster to maintain the same speed, so larger wheels create less friction for a faster and smoother ride. Smaller wheels sometimes have problems with sticks, rocks, and cracks in the street or sidewalk. There are a few types of trucks specific to longboards, which make the boards easier to use for downhill racing. Two of these are called Randal R-I Downhill style trucks and Torsion trucks.

Board builders have a variety of materials like fiberglass, bamboo, and even a foam core.  If you’re thinking of building your own skateboard or longboard, everything can be purchased on the internet or local skateshop, including board building instructions.