🛹 Longboard Types & Beginner Guide

From choosing your first deck to your very first safe ride—everything at a glance

1. Prologue — Why Are Longboards Trending Again?

Measuring 90–130 cm in length, the long and wide deck lets you bring the vibe of surfing or snowboarding into the middle of the city. Once a niche for downhill enthusiasts, longboarding now attracts complete beginners and many female riders thanks to its smooth cruising, dancing and carving styles. This article clears up the confusion around board types, gear selection, basic techniques and safety rules—step by step for first-timers.

▲ The most popular shape for beginners: a pintail cruiser

2. Longboard Types at a Glance

Category	Typical Size / Shape	Ride Character	Best For
Cruiser	90–100 cm, pintail	Slow-pace strolling, commuting	Absolute beginners, city riders
Carving	95–110 cm, camber	Deep edge-to-edge turns	Surfers & snowboarders seeking dry-land flow
Dancing	110–130 cm, double-kick	Footwork & flat tricks	Riders who love rhythm and board “dancing”
Freeride	100–110 cm, drop-through	Slides & speed checks	Intermediate riders
Downhill	95–105 cm, drop-deck	High-speed bombing	Advanced riders with full pads

▲ A rider enjoying longboard dancing on a long, wide deck

3. Deck Anatomy & Key Terms

• Pintail — teardrop tail that helps prevent wheel bite.
• Drop-through — trucks mount through the deck, lowering the center of gravity.
• Flex rating 1–5 — lower numbers mean softer, springier decks.

4. How to Pick Beginner Gear

① Deck length ≈ your height × 0.9 cm.
Choose flex ≤ 3 for easier speed control. Wheels around 70 mm, 78A absorb road vibration nicely. A complete starter setup costs roughly KRW 150,000–250,000.

5. Basic Stance & Techniques

1. Find your stance — the foot you place forward naturally when you slide the board is your lead foot.
2. Push — lock your front foot, push with the back foot, then bring it onto the deck.
3. Foot brake — drag the back heel gently against the asphalt to slow down.
4. Carving — shift body weight heel-to-toe to draw smooth S-curves.

6. Five Essential Safety Rules

• Keep at least 3 m from pedestrians—never ride on busy sidewalks or roads.
• Helmet, wrist guards and knee pads are non-negotiable.
• Attach LED lights and reflective tape for night sessions.
• Practice below 15 km/h; if listening to music, leave one ear free.
• When falling, roll from knees → hips → shoulder instead of catching with your hands.

7. Community & Learning Channels

Browse Instagram’s #longboarddancing, watch tutorials on YouTube’s Hans Wouters channel, or join offline groups like Board and Beer to get video feedback and level up faster.

8. Epilogue — Catch the Rhythm of the Road

Longboarding is less about raw speed and more about flow, lines and freedom. Even if your first push and brake feel clumsy, every session carves fresh balance and rhythm into your muscle memory. May this guide mark page 1 of your riding story—enjoy the glide!