longboarding vs other board types

[Joseph Santa Maria]

On my end I’ve always been drawn to longboarding. I have skateboarded most of my life, before I ever surfed, and I think longboarding feels more similar to skating than shortboarding. You have more time cruising and setting up for maneuvers while looking pretty far ahead and planning your lines. I think they share the similarity of going fast in a straight line and then setting up for something more exciting. I think skateboarding, BMX, and longboarding have that feeling of speed with a longer arch in your line for me. Skiing and snowboarding too. I like what Wingnut says in his Art of Longboarding movie, that it’s like riding a bike down a hill. Effortless speed, wind in your hair, that kind of thing.

Longboard culture ala Sprout or The Seedling also reminds me more of my favorite skateboarding magazines and movies too, which definitely was a draw. All surfing is amazing though. If I was in a place with better waves I might feel differently! Most of the shortboarding in my area looks pretty high effort for low pay off. Not a lot of pumping to do if the waves are amazing!

[Connor Fitzpatrick]

I agree. The effortless glide and speed you get from longboarding is so much fun

What maneuvers do you like to do?

Also where are you surfing? I’m in NE Florida and short boarding here does not often seem worth the effort either 😂

[Joseph Santa Maria]

I’m in southern California in the LA area. There are some shortboarable waves by me for sure, but not all that great. Nothing like Trestles or the better shortboard waves north or south. I’m still working on my noseriding, but the good noserides I have had have been really thrilling! I really like the feeling of trim and a good “s” turn cutback. Bottom turns and just carving on the wave are also really good feelings all by themselves. I really like performance longboards as well as loggy boards so around here I can still go out on bigger days and go fast without worrying too much about getting caught inside or burning out my shoulders.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Joseph Santa Maria.

[Tommy.TenToes]

For me, it’s all about the waves and what I wanna head out and try and do
If it’s short, punchy, and hollow…I wanna get tubed and (try) airs, I’m going with the shortboard or fish (waist high to big, big)

If it’s real sizey, but long rides, with mainly walls…Like a point break or a soft beach break that holds swell, then I’m gonna use a midlength and try work on some turns

The rest of the time? Loggin’ Dayz 🙂

[Connor Fitzpatrick]

I rode a little odyssea foamie the other day in some punchy shore break and it was a blast 😂 Do you ever ride performance longboards or would you rather just be on a mid length if you’re wanting to do more turns?

[Tommy.TenToes]

I do!
I have a feeling it’ll swing back around into popularity sometime…
I frequently go between the two types of longboards and I think they both work hand-in-hand at improving all-round surfing and board control

Favourite conditions for a high-performance longboard are mid size waves with punchy end sections to hit…I also like noseriding in the really steep parts knowing I won’t have hold (rockered board and smaller fins) and I’m going to spin a helicopter…sometimes I land them, sometimes I don’t 🙂

[Brian.James]

I’m drawn to longboarding mostly because it’s like taming a beast. You can’t just turn, you gotta be on the right spot of the board. You can’t just trim, you gotta be on the right spot of the board. I love how dynamic it is in that sense. However, my quiver is only two longboards. I really do wish I had a HP and a mid length because sometimes the waves are just no good for a traditional longboard for sure.

I also think everything goes hand and hand. If you practice on a mid length with punchier waves, it only helps your longboarding as well. And that goes the other way around!

[Joseph Santa Maria]

Haha taming a beast. The board must be proportionate to the beast within! 🐘

[Brian.James]

haha yes!!

[paul]

Similar to @surfninjas1993 I grew up skateboarding and I think longboarding is more similar to skating with the narrow stance, use of ankles and toes to make trim adjustments, etc.. so it just appealed to me. When I watch surfing I am drawn to watching long boarding, a little bit of smooth mid length riding and barrels. So that’s what I aspire to.

I’m in the northeast and ride beach breaks so I don’t have long perfect walls to ride often. Lately I ride a longboard whenever the conditions permit. When it gets dumpy or is barreling I go for my 7’ midlength with a round tail and try to pull into closeouts without getting smashed or do a turn or two.