In case you are a snowboarder who doesn’t have the posh of touring to far off lands to seek out snow through the summertime months, chances are you’ll be on the lookout for methods to cross-practice within the low season. Cross coaching on a longboard is nice as a result of it retains you within the groove all summertime lengthy, making you that rather more in tune whenever you first hit the slopes every year.
There are just a few stability boards and different snowboard-training merchandise in the marketplace which will assist with stability and different facets of snowboarding, however, there is no such thing as single merchandise that actually covers the overall snowboard expertise. Most of these objects encompass you standing on a board and balancing on a cylinder, or strapping on a mini board and leaping on a field, rail or trampoline. Whereas all of these items will be enjoyable and have some worth by way of snowboard coaching, they lack the vital sense of movement — truly using down the mountain. Most individuals that I do know love snowboarding for its sense of fluid motion, carving and terrain park exercise. You don’t get that sensation when staying in a single spot.
Skateboarding versus Snowboarding
For those of us who don’t stay close to an important surf break, skateboarding is the plain alternative to contemplate should you’re on the lookout for some solution to get the free-flowing really feel of using a snowboard when there is no such thing as snow to be discovered. Skateboarding can also be one of many extra accessible and cost-effective methods to remain within the using groove through the hotter climate.
However, does skateboarding actually assist together with your snowboarding? Will it hold you in form and in using mode till the snow flies once more? In my expertise, the reply is a particular sure — particularly in case, your skateboard is a longboard. To be clear, I’m not saying that longboarding is a precise substitute for snowboarding, however from the views of stability, stance and carving sensation, it’s about as shut as you may get on dry land.
Conventional skateboards are nice enjoyable and have their place. Nonetheless, in case you are a snowboarder who’s by no means stepped on a skateboard earlier than, a smaller skateboard generally is a little intimidating because of their small relative measurement and their more durable wheels.
Without getting right into a debate in regards to the reserves of every kind of skateboard, in case you are a grownup or teen snowboarder who’s on the lookout for a solution to get the sensation of using and carving through the summertime, then a longboard is the best way to go.
Longboard Skateboards
A range of some of the longboards and skateboards presently within the household lineup. On the left are my daughter’s Penny Nickel (at 27″) and Santa Cruz Doodle Shark cruiser (at 33″). On the far proper is one in every of my very own MJB Design longboards — The Thruster mannequin — which is available in at 52″.
Longboards are Nearer in Dimension to a Snowboard
Longboard skateboards had been invented in Hawaii within the 1950s and surfers beloved them (and nonetheless do) as a result of they’re the dryland cousin of browsing. It’s for the exact same causes that I discover longboarding to be an excellent complement to snowboarding.
There isn’t any exhausting and quick definition of a longboard by way of measurement and form, however, I take into account longboards to deck which might be 39 inches or longer. Cruiser boards are typically shorter than longboards and have components of each longboard and brief boards. Nonetheless, whereas I personal a few cruiser boards, they typically aren’t lengthy sufficient so that you can get your full snowboard stance on the deck. So because of this, I like to recommend a full-length longboard within the vary of 40 inches or extra to actually get the sensation of standing on a board like your snowboard. There are a lot of properly revered longboard firms. A couple of-of my private favorites embrace.
Longboard and Skateboard Wheels
The common longboard wheel (left) is greater and softer than the typical skateboard wheel (proper). This implies better speeds with much less pushing and a lot smoother experience on pavement and rough surfaces.
Journey with the Identical Stance as Your Snowboard
One of many most important advantages of longboards is that their measurement means that you can use your snowboard stance whereas cruising the streets or bike paths. Most longboards additionally carve fairly properly, providing you with an identical feeling to freeriding on the snow. Using a longboard in the summertime will hold you in tune together with your stability, stance and related physique actions in order that whenever you first strap-in within the winter, you’ll really feel far more assured and able to go. That is notably useful in case you are a more modern snowboarder who has solely been using for just a few seasons.
For youthful youngsters, they might not wish to begin instantly on a full-size longboard as a result of the size could also be intimidating (bear in mind, you do should push together with your different foot so some sense of measurement ratio is necessary). My daughter snowboarded for 4 years (beginning at age 4) earlier than she first took up skateboarding. She is now seven (occurring eight) and he or she prefers to experience her Penny Nickel board (it has delicate wheels like a longboard). She additionally has a 33-inch cruiser board (Santa Cruz Doodle Shark) that she additionally likes to experience and that board provides her a sense a lot nearer to her snowboard stance. So for youthful youngsters, it could be worthwhile to start out them out on cruiser kind of board till they construct their confidence. Take a look at just a few boards within the store and have them stand on just a few to see what they suppose (with you holding them, after all).
Amelia Belobradic Skateboarding on Penny Nickel
My daughter Amelia (age seven and two weeks into skateboarding when this photograph was taken in 2016) can nearly get her snowboarding stance on a Penny Nickel skateboard. This board measures 7.5″ x 27″.
The Studying Curve on a Longboard
Whereas longboards are nice for stability, stance and the sensation of carving and cruising, using a board on wheels is rather a lot completely different than using a snowboard.
You probably have by no means been on a skateboard earlier than, the educational curve generally is a little steep. As with making an attempt something new, use warning whenever your first step on. Keep in mind: wheels transfer. Stepping on to a skateboard just isn’t like standing on a snowboard on flat snow. A skateboard of any sort on flat pavement goes to maneuver whenever you step on it (particularly the primary time whenever you don’t know what to anticipate). So watch some on-line how-to movies about finding out how to skateboard and observe on the grass the primary time that you just step on.
Ensure that you know the way to cease. There are a ton of fine movies on YouTube about find out how to cease on a longboard. Watch them and observe.
Security gear is really useful as properly. By all means, put on a helmet and wrist guards on the very least. Knee pads and elbow pads are a good suggestion as properly — at the very least when you’re first studying. Falling on concrete is a loss much less forgiving than snow, so don’t let vainness get in the best way.
I’m typically requested “which is less complicated: longboarding or snowboarding.” If you are able to do one, you’ll more than likely be capable of choose up the opposite one, however, everyone has its personal distinctive factors to be taught. One factor I’ve observed, nonetheless, is that longboarders who strive snowboarding suppose snowboarding is more durable. Whereas snowboarders who strive longboarding suppose longboarding is tougher. Regardless, should you snowboard then you’ve got some sense of stability and odds are that you may be simply tremendous in choosing up longboarding and having fun with the sensation of carving on a board in the summertime solar?
Different Skateboard Choices for Snowboarders
Along with longboards, there are a few different boards in the marketplace that you could come throughout.
The Longboarding is a Nice Strategy to Preserve the Snowboard Feeling all Yr Lengthy
So to reply to the unique query, I consider that longboarding is a good way to cross practice within the snowboarding low season. It is going to assist to maintain you in tune with the sensation of using on a deck in your snowboard stance all summertime lengthy and that can assist to make the primary day trip on the hill within the winter that rather more comfy. Plus, it’s simply plenty of enjoyable to cruise around on a longboard deck on a sunny summertime day.
One last phrase about board high quality. When you do plan to purchase a longboard or skateboard, do your self a favor and go to a board store (or a web-based board store) to select up your full deck. Skateboards and longboards offered at massive field shops usually don’t have the identical high quality as a model identify skateboard that you will discover in a specialty skateboard store. There’s a motive why massive field boards are cheaper (notably within the high quality of the bearings, wheels, and vehicles from what I’ve seen). You actually do get what you pay for in the case of skateboards, so hold that in thoughts.
Thank You.
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