Best Longboard For Beginners
Buying your first longboard can be overwhelming.
I am here to help you with your beginner’s guide will help you pick the right one.
Topics I’ll cover…
Owning a Longboard store I talk to a lot of beginners that come in and ask “what is the cheapest longboard?”. I show them What a cheap longboard looks like and rides like, then show them a few other options as they progress. The $50-$100 longboard most likely turn you off from wanting to go longboarding.
Also, if you’re a newbie, check out my youtube frequently asked questions longboard beginner mistakes
Beginner-Friendly Longboards
Wondering what the easiest type of longboard is to learn on?
My top pick is a 40″ platypus drop through. This is the lowest to the ground, easiest to push, widest board, and most surface space with no front or back to the board shape.
Now That you know my top, lets talk about the other boards. I would say the longer the board the easier it is to ride. Why? Well you don’t need to worry about where your feet go, and if they will be on the board compared to a shorter board.
Lets go back to the beginning…………
You can buy the $50 longboard and what you will get…… a really bad piece of warped wood, the cheapest trucks, wheels, and bearings. You will go stand on it and not all 4 wheels will be touching the ground. Then you think, I got this, push off and the wheels barely role, the trucks won’t let you turn, and you stop and say “longboarding sucks”.
This is why I started Ghost Boards. I was that person. So I decided to make a board that everyone would enjoy riding.
Common Riding Styles
- Cruising
- Freestyle/Dancing
- Long Distance Push
- Downhill/Freeride
Cruising, freestyle, dancing, or long-distance push longboards are usually beginner-friendly.
Reference my longboard riding style post for more information. Everyone connects with something different.
Avoid downhill and freeride due to their high speeds and advanced skill requirements. After you build a solid foundation, you can explore those disciplines.
Parts of a longboard
It’s helpful to have a basic understanding of the parts. These are the “TRUCKS” They can be adjusted to your riding style. What are the different types of trucks? Well for starters longboard trucks and skateboard trucks have a big difference. When installing trucks remember that longboard trucks have the “nose” facing out on both directions. This is called the kingpin. Longboard trucks are called reverse kingpin trucks. Usually the size is 180mm and a 44″ or 50″ degree. Skateboard trucks will face in.
Wheels
If the roads you ride on have cracks and rocks, you’ll want your board to have large, soft wheels. Large, soft wheels roll over rough terrain more easily because they deform and absorb the impact.
- 65mm – 85mm+
- 78a – 83a
Reference our longboard wheels guide for more info.
Last is the BEARINGS. You want a smooth fast ABEC 7 bearing.
