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History of Longboarding – Interesting Longboarding Facts You Didn’t Know

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Longboarding, which today seems extremely popular and famous has so much history to trace back to. From street walking to contemporary downhill racing, the longboards have recorded a great evolution where the manufacturing industry, as well as styles of this game, have witnessed a revolution. Starting in the 1950s as a hobby, longboarding in the present times has been recognized professionally on large platforms that are largely responsible for attracting people in the field.

Longboarding emerged as a combination of snowboarding and skating and started the trend of riding the large decks in the waves of Hawaii. The mass production of these boards and invention in the field has resulted in massive saturation, where you see the market flooded with innovative and quality longboards designed for distinct styles. Here, this article brings an in-depth record of the history of longboards, from the side walking technique in Hawaii to downhill racing in present times. So, lets get right in.

History of Longboards: From Sidewalk to Contemporary Longboarding

1950-60s: SideWalk Longboard Era

The history of longboarding originates from the Hawaii streets in the 1950s, when they were typically used by surfers. When the waves were not overpowering and large, surfers usually used to use the large and sturdy wheels to ride over them for fun and adventure. The longboards, at that time, were designed with a certain rolling motion that made them exciting and thrilling to ride over water waves.

This trend became famous in the 60s in California, where surfers used to wait for wide and short waves on the sidewalks of the water. Most of the boards at that time were largely handmade and designed with cruiser-like decks. Even wheels, at that time, were nothing but large and simple pieces of steel or clay. This created a demand for long, stable, and sturdy longboards among surfers.

1970-80s: Early Skateboarding and Urethane Wheels

As early skateboards were largely the wood decks attached to steel at home, there were some gaps that needed to be addressed. Then came the time when people no longer found the clay wheels attractive and wanted something revolutionary. This led to Frank Nasworthy creating a company called Cadillac, which came to be known as the first big manufacturer to introduce urethane wheels. These wheels are relatively a lot more stable and balanced and allow users to maneuver freely without losing their momentum.

Likewise, the trend of using urethane wheels grew stronger and gained wide recognition in the 1970s, be it for pool surfing. This was the time when people started enjoying longboarding and surfing in empty pools that gave them not only the thrill of the ride but also the freedom to flex their skills. Many skate parks came up with the idea of introducing empty pool spaces; however, people largely leaned towards building their own spaces that led to crazy interests in the field in the 1980s.

In addition, during the 1980s, most professional skaters like Stacey Peralta or George Powell came up with their own business model, Powell Peralta. This led to an increasing number of interested companies such as Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Kevin Staab, and much more. Likewise, it highly influences the clothing and styling industry that makes longboarding a lifestyle for skaters.

Bringing Back the Nostalgia of 1990s

Now that street skating was the talk of the town, and every other person appeared so much interested in this field, the 1990s was the time for longboards to shine. The first-ever company designed for manufacturing longboards was called Sector 9 that produced these boards on a mass level and sold them. During this time, many free rides, dancing, and downhill techniques emerged as people were free to experiment with these longboards.

During the 1990s, you will also notice some technological advancements in the manufacturing of longboards. Here, the most prominent invention was reverse kingpin trucks that gave them much stability, control, and balance. At this moment, people started to realize that it is much more than just a hobby and started investing in them professionally. Downhill skating and Game X were the events that led to making them a professionally recognized field.

In addition, speaking of the Sector 9 history, it started off with a group of young friends that wanted to build longboards. For this purpose, they used their old snowboards in their backyards in the early 1990s. After getting success from this experiment, they turned their backyard into a small business and started producing these boards. They eventually started a warehouse and became what today is known as the first longboard factory.

Contemporary Longboarding

Likewise, with increasing recognition and internet popularity, longboards are even more popular than they were at any other time. Now, it has become easy for people to communicate through mutual skating interests over the internet. Because of technological advancements, you also see the trend changing for manufacturing as most upcoming companies are using bizarre and even more proficient alternate materials that can provide you with stability, balance, freedom, durability, and easy to maintain.

Consequently, you will find the market saturated with companies that have come up over the years. Some of the inventions in this field are the use of carbon fiber, glass fiber, and even foam and bamboo for the construction of decks that makes them even more sturdy and balanced. My favorite advancement in the field is the precision trucks that make them easy to ride on, even beginners who have little to no experience in longboarding.

The Longboard Culture

Longboards were originally designed for getting the pleasure of this thrilling and adventurous ride while everything revolved around speed and maneuverability. This increased the fashion of free-riding and downhill, where players used to enjoy the freedom of movement against the air. Therefore, it led to increasingly popular and most-learned techniques such as cruising, commuting, and carving that helped them throughout the learning process.

Over the years, many people have also become fond of technical sliding longboarding that involves a complete package of balance, stability, and freedom to move. It further allows the user to curve in between and freestyle flexes his/ her abilities with these longboards. All of these types are designed for longboards and have their own functions, making the game even more fun, thrilling, and energetic. Therefore, you should choose your longboard according to your needs and desires

FAQS About Longboards History

What is downhill longboarding?

Downhill or speed boarding is the most intense style of longboarding, done by professionals and fully skilled riders. This technique involves going down the hill with your longboard while maintaining momentum and speed. It has become fairly popular in recent times with increasing inventions in the manufacturing fields. Do not ever try this technique if you are a beginner or using longboards as fun.

Is freeride longboarding more difficult than downhill?

No, freeriding is a bit more relaxed and comfortable than downhill longboarding. During this technique, you will have to go down the hill between 38-48 distance that makes it relatively stable. If you are a professional and have some intermediate skills with longboarding, you can do freeride styling. On the contrary, downhill boarding is absolutely for extremely experienced and skilled riders.

What are some of the popular longboarding styles?

There are a number of popular styles you can do with your longboard, such as carving, cruising, dancing, freestyle, and even downhill. For beginners or people with intermediate skills, styles like carving and cruising are the most suited as it provides you a scope to move freely while maintaining speed. However, downhill and freestyle boarding are not for everyone, and only skilled users should go for these styles.

When was the original longboard invented?

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Originally, longboarding started in Hawaii when surfers used to ride over small waves with these hard and wide boards that today came to be known as longboards. Typically, these were designed with wood decks and steel wheels that allow users to gain speed and enjoy this thrilling ride. The longboards, at that time, were designed with a certain rolling motion that makes them exciting and thrilling to ride over water waves.

Who invented the longboard?

The first-ever longboard was created in the 1940s by Preston Nichols, who used the deck design for surfing in the 1950s. He used wood decks and steel wheels that allowed the surfers to gain momentum and enjoy the thrill of the ride. It started off in Hawaii with the emerging trend of sidewalks at that time that allows you to ride freely over small waves.

Final Thoughts

As longboarding has progressed over the years, you will find this field even more thrilling and dangerous. Now, tricks such as downhill racing, speed surfing, commuting, and even cruising are in trend that has enhanced the demand for invention and manufacturing. This is one of the primary reasons why the market is full of options and companies.

Likewise, the internet and communication have made the field even more interesting and talked about. Starting from street surfing to the 2000s and present time, the field has emerged as undoubtedly the most popular, known, and professionally recognized athletic one. Now, you can even choose your distinct skill and can improve in only that specific technique.

We hope that you have learned so much about the History of longboarding here and will be excited to share this knowledge with your friends.

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Spencer Barton Lands Every Flat Ground Trick

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After 29,968 trick attempts in a span of roughly two years, Youtuber skater Spencer Barton was able to land every flat-ground trick.

He documented his journey on his YouTube channel.

Spencer Barton participated in the Battle at the Berrics 12 under the influencer category last year, competing against Jamie Griffin. Griffin won the influencer bracket and eventually came out as the overall champion.

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How to Look Cool Wearing a Skateboard Helmet – Flaunt Them Looks

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Wearing helmets is considered odd in a fashion sense, while it’s nothing more than a myth. You can look dashing and modern with a skateboard helmet if you know what and how to wear it. Well, that sounds a little tricky because there are too many options in today’s market, and I can’t review each. So I decided to help you provide a guide on How to Look Cool Wearing a Skateboard Helmet regardless of the product you choose.

Since we are talking about helmets, we must be aware of their benefits. A helmet is not something included in a fashion wardrobe but safety gear that should be worn while you’re on the board. There have been a lot of accidents, even deaths, in the past, which happened because of the absence of a helmet because a helmet protects our head region where the most crucial organ of our body locates, i.e., the brain. So, none of us wants to risk our lives on risk.

Still, I am sure many teenagers might be thinking about their looks more than their safety, while others are worried about the irritating comments by their fellows. Don’t fret, folks! This article is dedicated to all those outlook-sensitive riders who think wearing a helmet is not cool because I will change this mindset by giving the best possible ways to look great with safety gear.

How to Look Cool Wearing A Skateboard Helmet

I started skating very early when I wasn’t aware of safety precautions and considered the harsh nicknames seriously. With time, experiences taught me that there is nothing more important than your health; as we all heard, “Health is Wealth, “I decided to never give up on any precautionary equipment, but what about those ruthless comments? I started trying some ways to look cool anyway and I am sharing those methods below:

Change Your Mindset

Your mindset is the leading cause behind all this dilemma! Let’s suppose you’re wearing a beautiful outfit but inside, you kept thinking wrong about that; what would happen? You will lose your self-confidence, and stress will appear on your face. So, you see, the problem is not in the dress but in your mentality, which needs to be changed immediately.

I know things take time to become smoother, but try to change your mind as fast as possible. Trust me; you will feel better only if you will think better! It is always a better idea to assume positive thoughts rather than considering the adverse outcomes only. What do you think is better: neglecting your friends’ stupid comments or lying on a hospital bed? The decision is all yours!

Select the Best Option

Come on, skaters! We are already living in 2022; the market has expanded by introducing various modern, stylish, and highly convenient helmets. There are hundreds of options, each claiming itself the excellent one, but the best one for you should suit your head size, fashion sense, etc. To purchase the best skateboard helmet, buyers should consider the following factors: build quality, size, brand, reliability, color or visuals, breath-ability, comfort, and resistance.

Sounds confusing? I know; that’s why I will share a few perfect skateboard helmets, which I found excellent. However, there is no restriction, you can choose according to your preference freely. The first choice is the “Thousand Heritage Helmet,” which stays on the head uniformly and provides a great fit. This helmet comes with a magnetic lock system which is pretty modern, convenient, and reliable. The best thing is that this is ASTM and CPSC-certified safety gear.

Secondly, I found “Triple 8 Gotham” one of the most comfortable and reliable helmets. It boasts effortless adjustment, which will save you extra time. This helmet has holes over it which ensures breath-ability, and air ventilation also facilitates sweat-free rides.

Third and last, I refer “Protec Sticker Bomb,” which looks so cool and beautiful. If you’re conscious about fashion sense, then you’ll love this funky colorful helmet. Its incredible visuals don’t compromise its quality; it is a highly durable and reliable helmet. The best feature of this safety gear is its unique ventilation mechanism because of its eleven open vents. Isn’t it flawless?

Embellish Your Helmet

What if you got a plain black helmet? Seems dull? Don’t stress! You can decorate it with your favorite colors, patterns, stickers, or whatever you have. It will be fun if you perform this creative activity with your skating partners. All you have to do is collect some markers, stickers, or labels like retro, matte, vivid colors, Osiris labels, and more. Then, gently attach those onto your plain helmet randomly, and you’re done!

Moreover, you can also create patterns using markers if you’re good at drawing. Please make sure to use good quality waterproof markers for this activity to avoid fading away later. When you are done with the decoration, keep the helmet for drying, and guess what? It is all set to wear!

FAQs

Does Tony Hawk wear protective gear?

Yes, Tony Hawk, who is a famous American skateboarder, does wear all safety gear. At the professional level, it is strictly prohibited to ride a skateboard without precautionary equipment. A helmet is one of the essential protective gear for skateboarding.

What do professional skateboarders wear?

As I said before, professionals are not allowed to ride without wearing protective gear. All skateboarding competitions follow this rule strictly. During skateboarding, riders wear helmets for head and face protection, arm pads for securing their limbs, and knee pads for the safety of joints. Some skateboarders wear goggles, too, for eye protection.

Why is skateboarding bad?

In my opinion, skateboarding is not bad if done protectively. However, some people think that skating is a risky activity, especially for younger kids, because they have poor stability, coordination, and balance. Plus, their bones are less developed, which puts them at high risk of injuries.

Conclusion

I hope that all your concerns related to the outlook of wearing a helmet will be clear now. Please never forget that safety always comes first. You need to be careful about yourself, be a bit creative, and choose the best helmet from the market. Then, there will be no way you look odd wearing a helmet!

Happy Skating 🙂

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How Long Do Skateboards Last – Skateboards Lifespan FAQs

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Most skaters wonder how long do skateboards last before buying a new one. Tricky yet important to know because it will help you decide which kind of board you should buy for yourself. Judging the life of a skateboard is tricky because it depends on multiple diverse factors.

The lifespan of the skateboard really depends on the usability and the riding style. After spending years in skateboarding, we came to the conclusion that a skateboard can last between 5 months to 2 years. Don’t forget the factors like maintenance, built quality of the deck and weather conditions also determine the life of your skateboard. Some skaters will still be shredding the same skateboard for years and some will get it broken within months.

The quality of production, the technique of use, the environment of use, and maintenance all will affect how long the board stays in good condition. Skateboarding is a fun and healthy sport that is now becoming a source of commuting as well. Keep in mind that different shapes and types of boards are used for different purposes, and so their life span will also vary.

Due to an increase in demand and interest, skateboards with different lengths, widths, strengths, heights, and durability are available. For an occasional skater who rides on smooth surfaces and takes proper care of parts, the board will last for years.

For passionate users that use daily or learn different stunts in harsh environments, the board will last only months after which the deck will break or either the bearings will rust. Deck, bearings, trucks, and wheels are the most important parts of a board and are affected differently by use. These parts are individually available, and only the affected part can be changed without any need of purchasing a new one.

To learn how long do skateboards last we’ll go through the life of individual hardware parts, their cleaning technique and factors most often damaging them.

How Long do Skateboards Last?

Board decks are the most expensive and the ones most easy to wear and tear. Longboards used just for riding last longer. On average, a longboard lasts between 2 weeks to 5 months. Material and frequency of use also determine life expectancy of the skateboard. Usually, thicker decks last longer than other ones and occasional smooth is most safe than flipping and jumping. Keep these two listed points in consideration to increase the deck life.

  • Keep deck away from moisture

Decks are made up of wood. Wood absorbs water and becomes damaged. Immediately dry off the deck after water skating or keep the board in the air to let dry off completely.

  • Proper maintenance at home

Whether the edges have become sharp or some small cracks are visible use glue to seal off the spaces. With cracked decks, it’s necessary not to overload the deck or perform technical stunts.

 

 

How long do skateboard trucks last?

How long skateboard trucks lastTrucks last for years as they are made of metal so no need to change a truck unless few small cracks occur or the axle is bent. Truck parts are available in the market so no need of buying a new set frequently. Trucks provide attachment for wheels to the deck and so are very important. Whenever the deck is damaged, it’s best not to be careless and go out on a ride as it can have severe consequences and the rider can get severely damaged. Do you feel a problem taking turns? Has the ride become jerky with time? These are the signs that your trucks need attention. If the size of the truck is fine, then get individual parts from the nearby shop, and your issue will be solved. Clean trucks after a dirty ride with a cloth soaked in soapy water and then properly dry them.

Do you feel a squeaky noise every time you ride the board? Lubricate your pivot cup and bushings. When these surfaces are too dry, turning the hanger in the pivot cup causes the noise. If you don’t know about how to select the right skateboard truck, you can read the reviews of best skateboard trucks.

 

 

How long do skateboard bearings last?

How long do skateboard bearings lastAre your wheels not spinning properly? Check the bearings on your skateboard. Cleaning and lubricating bearings solve the issue. Bearings are the part of the board that tends to accumulate most dirt and dust. Bearings last for years with proper maintenance. Each wheel has two bearings so to clean remove the bearings from the wheel and spray them with a cleaner or use a bearing cleaning kit manufactured by brands. Please don’t place the bearings in the water at all or don’t try cleaning them with water. Water rusts and erodes bearings and leaves you with the only option to buy a new set. Completely dry off your bearings or else get ready for a new purchase. Use an air dryer for drying off moisture. Lubrication is a must for bearings so that the ride is smooth and stable.

You can read the reviews of some of the best skateboard bearings here.

Bearings are made of steel. Steel is sensitive to water, so avoid using skateboard in water. After frequent rides, the board will be dirty. The bushings will have accumulated dirt and will cause issues while riding. Don’t make the mistake of lubricating a dirty bearing because then the dirt will get more dissolved and clog the bearing. Remove your bearings and clean them properly using a brush and cleaning solution once every three months if you are not a frequent user and once every month if you use your board in harsh environments often.

 

 

How long do skateboard wheels last?

How long skateboard wheels lastWheels are affected by how frequently and in what manner you use them. The wheels will get flat spots and get rugged due to daily use. For experienced pro skaters, the wheels will last only two weeks to 3 months due to excessive use but for beginners the wheels can last for years as. When wheels get flat spots the speed reduces, and the rider needs to push harder, so it’s better to change wheels. The wheels turn yellow as the urethane degrades with time.

Rotating the wheels is best to ensure even wearing and prolong life span. Remove all four wheels and put your right front wheel in place of the left rear wheel similarly put your left front wheel in place of the right rear wheel. When wheels are often rotated, changes of quick tearing are reduced. Moreover, If you don’t know which skateboard wheels are best for you, you can read the reviews of Skateboard Wheels and can easily select the right wheels for your skateboard.

Do you own high-quality skateboard wheels? If yes, then you’ll enjoy a fast ride and long durability. Hard wheels can endure more than soft wheels, but both wheels have different speeds and features. Soft wheels work with longboards for street skating. If you feel instability during the ride first adjust the axle nut, it should be loose or tight. The nut does become loose after use, and you can tighten it using a skate tool or screwdriver.

 

 

How to prolong the life of a skateboard?

Now you know all the individual parts of life and what affects them the most. Skaters often wonder how long do skateboards last, but nobody can give a perfect number. Some good tips for every skater about how to take care of their board, so it lasts long enough.

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  • Don’t use skateboard in wet conditions

Water is harmful not only for your deck but trucks, bearings, wheels as well. The deck wood will absorb the moisture to become weak and break easily or slit open. Protect your board from rain and if it does get wet, somehow use an air dryer to dry it off quickly. Do not dip board in water for cleaning it’s worst it will do a lot of harm and damage. If you want to clean the deck, use a cloth to wipe off the surface.

  • Proper maintenance of skateboard

Like any other machine, your skateboard needs your attention and needs to be cleaned off from time to time. If you pay no heed and let dirt accumulate for long, the damage is irreparable, and you need to buy a new one. Cleaning a skateboard is very simple and easy for even beginners. Sand the edges of your skateboard to avoid tearing. Sanding will make edges smooth and avoid any damage from chipping. Use a skate tool to take wheels off from the axle. Remove bearings from a wheel. Place them in a cleaning solution and brush and dry off afterwards. Lubricate bearings using grease and wipe away dirt from wheels and trucks. Wheels can be dipped in the cleaning solution for enough time to soften the dirt and grime, but all other parts shouldn’t be.

  • Using tail guards for the skateboard

The most frequent issue of every skater is tail scrapping. If you learn the proper technique to stop the board, and you can avoid this problem. Tail scrapping causes razor tails thus damaging your board deck. The board will chip and tear down. The right way to stop the board is to use your shoe heel to stop. Dragging tail along the ground is what wears it down so keep tail above ground. Avoid using your ground on rough hard surfaces if you want to prolong the life of the board. Skateboarding in skate parks and car parks saves board from a lot of damage as they have smooth surfaces.

  • Symmetrical shape skateboard

The front and tail surface of a deck have different lengths and shapes, but now many companies are offering symmetrical skateboards which means you can ride your board anyway there’s no tailor front end. And considering how long do skateboards last it’s important to consider the shape of the deck.

How to prolong the life of skateboard

How to Clean Grip Tape

Don’t soak the grip tape in water or brush it off you’ll rip it off and destroy it. Use Company manufactured grip tape cleaners so it will last you long. You can buy some of the Best Grip Tapes for your skateboard.

 

 

FAQs

Skateboarding is a trendy fun sport that’s equally beneficial as well. The people intending to buy one might be thinking how long do skateboards last, for all beginning skaters it is encouraging to know that skateboards last long and individual parts can be purchased and replaced. Some queries which some people have regarding skateboards are listed next

Is cleaning parts important for skateboard life?

Yes, individual parts maintenance affects the whole board. Cleaning a skateboard is easy even for beginners. Clean deck, trucks, and wheels with some cleaning solution while for bearings use bearing cleaning kit. Dry off all parts afterwards as moisture is very harmful to the whole board. It causes irreversible damage to different board parts. Lubricate the bearings and use sandpaper to make the edges smooth. Also, it avoids it from chipping off.

Does tail guard help prolong board life?

Yes, it does help. Due to tail scraping the tail becomes thin and is called razor tail. Tail scrapping is a technique of stopping a moving board by dragging the tail along the ground. Harsh grounds damage the tail wood extensively and cause it to chip off. Using a tail guard is one way to save the tail from damage; otherwise, the rider can learn the proper technique of stopping the board, riding on the smooth ground, or use an asymmetrical board.

 

Conclusion

We hope that you must have cleared your question about how long do skateboards last. Skateboarding is a fun, cheap and a pretty cool sport. The life of a skateboard depends on its manufacturing, maintenance, use, and quality. The factors are so diverse that no one time limit can be given for all boards. The Skaters should be cautious about using board only on smooth, dry surfaces if they want it to last for years. Cleaning and lubricating parts are key to a good ride experience even after long. Rough use damages all parts and ultimately leads to the need for buying a new one. If you have never bought a skateboard, we recommend checking out these Best Skateboards For Beginners.

Skateboard has very few simple parts which can be changed about damage. Skater won’t need to buy a whole new one. Thus avoid all such acts which destroy board, e.g. tail scraping, flipping, jumping, dipping in water, and overloading. For smart users, the board will last in good condition for years.

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