When I think about skateboarding, the words that come to mind are “He was a skater boy. She said, “See you later, boy”. Excuse me while I jam in the nostalgia. The stereotype that skaters are hoodlums couldn’t be further from the truth. Skaters are usually the most down-to-earth group I have ever met who love living life to the fullest. My husband grew up skateboarding, and there were various personality types and interests within his group of friends. Skateboarding connects people of all backgrounds.
Most people learn skateboarding while in the malleable stage of life, where falling is not as detrimental. Falling when you are 15 years old is not the same as falling at 25 or 35. Longboarding is for you if you want to learn to ride a skateboard but falling concerns you. Disclaimer: I am not saying you won’t fall, but this board is easier to learn/master. So far, I have stayed off my built-in cushion. My board and I usually just fly in different directions. So, what’s the difference between a skateboard and a longboard?
Longboards are a type of skateboard. Skateboards are smaller and rougher to ride, allowing more control of the board to do tricks. Longboards are broader and longer with larger/softer wheels, which gives the rider more of a cruise. Longboards are less popular, but they are the type of board you usually see someone ride outside on the street or sidewalk. They are better for long distances and can absorb the bumps and cracks that concrete can bring.
If you want to read further on the differences between a skateboard and a longboard, you can check out the article ‘The Pros and Cons of Longboards vs. Skateboards.’
My Experience
In 2020, I asked my husband to teach me how to ride. That year would have been the perfect year to learn. However, I found out that I was pregnant. Between morning sickness and fatigue, I couldn’t hang. 2023 is now my year. At the beginning of this month, I decided to try again. One afternoon, I pulled out his board and had him stand with me because I feared falling. I was riding up and down our street by myself within the hour. Important note: I already had a basic understanding of the board and had often watched my husband riding. Now, while I could get from one side of the street to the other alone, anyone could tell I was a beginner. I couldn’t turn around on the board, so I would have to step off and manually turn the board around.
I bought my first board this month from our local mall. I have never felt so uneducated. My husband kept asking what I thought of each board, and I couldn’t help thinking, shouldn’t the roles be reversed? How am I supposed to know what to think? Yup, that one is pretty. It looks like a longboard to me. The next time I rode was at night with my husband around our neighborhood. (Side note: Riding at night is SO fun! It is such a fun feeling being out at night under the street lights and moonlight and feeling the crisp night air.) That night, my balance increased significantly, and I could turn while standing on my board around the cul-de-sacs. I improved with one more ride.
I was having a blast, but I remember passing by some guy sitting in his car and suddenly felt embarrassed. Why? Human nature, I suppose. Learning something new around others can be intimidating because you don’t want to make a fool of yourself. From someone who gets second-hand embarrassment from watching movie scenes (I literally have to skip scenes in movies to avoid this.), it is important to push yourself through those feelings. Some of my best memories are from pushing myself past my comfort zone and through the sick feeling in my gut. Why should I care what anyone thinks of me? I’m over here living my best life, as should you. Falling will make you feel silly, as will running off your board while it flies in a different direction, but don’t let this put you off from learning. It’s worth it!
Riding a longboard sounds nonchalant and misleading, so we should call it “you actually have to work to move this board.” WOW. My calves felt the burn. I did not realize the strength it took to push a longboard for a long time. It will leave you breathless and with jello legs after a while, at least for newbies with noddle muscles.
I finally rode by a waterside in my area this week with some declines. Going down a slight decline is fun since it requires less pushing and more riding, but every slight movement at a higher speed can take you off course. This is a bit scary, but it will get your adrenaline going. I’m so thankful that there were not many people out that night! Reminder: Wherever there is a terrifying downhill, there is an equally exhausting uphill. On the return trip, I would pick the board up to save my calves from destruction. Likewise, my husband would kick his board to the top of every hill.
Overall, my experience has been quite enjoyable. I don’t longboard every day, but knowing I can get out and have a fun ride anytime I want without spending money is a nice feeling.
The Report
The report is in! I will cover five categories in my evaluation of longboarding as a beginner: Cost, Ease of Learning, Enjoyability, Energy Level, and Time Commitment. Disclaimer: All of the following is my personal opinion. It is not a how-to.
The costs to get started are low. The primary purchase is to buy the board. The nice thing is that you don’t have to pay to ride. I remember buying my husband his current board when we first married, which was about $130. Recently, when we purchased mine, it was around $100. If you look online, you will see a range from $60 to $300. Expect to spend around $100 for a board.
As you master riding, you might want to customize your board with different trucks, colored wheels, etc. In the future, you might want different styles of boards as well. Customizing is optional in the beginning, though.
Tip: Once I rode my board for the first time, my feet were vibrating by the end from the roughness of the road. This surprised me because I learned on my husband’s longboard, and his board absorbs more of the bumps. Upon investigation, his board had a rubber piece screwed in between the trucks and the board. When looking for a board, I suggest buying a board with this rubber piece. The thicker it is, the more your board will absorb the inconsistencies of the pavement.
Learning to ride a skateboard of any kind will have its difficulties. However, learning on a longboard is easier. If you have a good sense of balance, you will have an easier time than someone who doesn’t. If you don’t have a good balance, know that I am someone who trips over my feet regularly and still was able to learn. It is possible if you just believe. (I feel like this is a movie quote, but I can’t quite place the movie. That bothers me.)
If you know someone who longboards, it will make them so happy to hear the question, “Will you teach me to longboard”? If someone teaches you how to ride, Don’t lean on them. You don’t want to train your body to lean. My husband walked alongside me while I rode to give me confidence, but I didn’t lean on him. Balance is so crucial in learning to ride. It would help you to get used to the pressures in different parts of your feet.
It is possible to learn by yourself. There are plenty of resources online to learn the ins and outs. Read up on how the board works. Watch videos of people riding and watch their feet move. Take note of how they place their feet on the board, how their body moves when they push the ground, and the correlation between their feet and the board’s movements. Mimic these movements.
Tip: One of the first steps to learning is figuring out your stance: regular versus goofy. My husband is regular, and I am goofy. I tried to copy him exactly when I first started, and I felt so weird. It was uncomfortable. When I switched my stance, I found my balance quickly. A post on Magneto lists a few ways to figure out which stance you are, but one will feel better than the other. Try both and see what feels right for you.
So fun. Plug in your headphones like a good millennial and go for a solo ride or with a friend. (For those of you already judging me for my choice of headphones, know that it is hard enough for me to keep my phone charged, let alone a pair of headphones. I will always have a pair of tangled headphones in my purse.) Longboarding is a great way to get outside and release built-up tension. It is a fun way to exercise, too.
My favorite time to longboard is late at night when it’s dark and the street lights light the street. There is something so exciting about riding down a vacant street while jamming to a great song, not to mention that riding in the dark makes you feel like you are going faster than you are. Now, that is a life hack. You won’t regret learning to ride!
While you are not running a marathon, you do have to put forth an adequate amount of effort to ride. Depending on where you are riding will determine the level of energy required. A typical ride through the neighborhood will be less strenuous than riding on a hilly landscape unless your neighborhood is hilly. You get the point, though.
Remember that the board is a tool, and you are the power behind the tool. If you are allergic to exercise, bring your epipen. You’ll need it. Your calves will burn, and you will be out of breath by the end of riding. You will build the muscles necessary to not hurt as severely over time. He would say no whenever I asked my husband if his calves were on fire. He has been riding for many years and has built his muscles up.
While longboarding can be physically exhausting, it is mentally freeing. There is something therapeutic about riding. After a long day’s work, a quick ride can release the tension collected throughout the day.
The most significant time commitment comes at the beginning of learning to ride. Once you learn, it’s up to you when you ride, whether daily, weekly, or now and then. It’s like riding a bike. Once you learn, you will never forget. You might get a little rusty if you go for a long time without riding; however, you will master it again quickly.
The weather affects when you can go. You could ride no matter the temperature. The only thing that would affect your ride would be the wetness, whether the rain or snow. If your wheels get wet, it could cause you to slide on turns.
Overall, longboarding is a great new hobby to learn. It gets you outside. You will have a fun new way to exercise and access a great new community of friends. What are you waiting for now? Get yourself a longboard and hit the streets, you hoodlum.