Can’t decide between a skateboard?  Or maybe you’ve heard good things about cruisers? Whether you’re looking for something you can commute to work on or you’re into trick skating, it makes sense that you find the right board to ride. 

If you’re unsure whether to pick up a skateboard, a longboard or a cruiser, you’ve come to the right place.

We’re going to keep it short and sweet so that you can start searching for your perfect board! Even though these boards might look similar, they’re actually designed for different purposes. From cruising to super speed and performing tricks, each board brings something different to the game, and all have different shapes.

 
Keep reading and find out the fundamental differences of each board, so that you can invest in something you love riding all day, every day (almost!).

SKATEBOARDS

The OG, the skateboard. A standard skateboard is best used for technical skating, performing leaps, ollies, kickflips… and more! Unlike longboards and cruisers, skateboards aren’t really designed for transportation purposes. Much stiffer in the way they move, skateboards are perfect for skateparks (and hard and flat surfaces), where you’ll have heaps of space to perform stunts and have fun.

SURF TRAINERS

The first thing that strikes you when getting on a Slide or Smoothstar surf trainer are their Great Stability. They’re great for pumping and making these boards ideal for Street, Pool & Park riding. A key Advantage of Stability and Low Height is that the Slide is Highly Pushable something rarely found in surf skates. The Limited Turning Angle, Tightness and Tall Risers of the truck makes the board virtually Wheelbite-Free

There is one easy way to improve your surfing technique and muscle-memory for basic surfing maneuvers like "Cutbacks" "Bottom Turns"and general "rail-to-rail" motion, without hitting the waves.  

LONGBOARDS

After gaining momentum in the 90’s, longboarding has two major purposes – transportation and cruising (this is where you need to take note!). Typically, longboards are bigger than skateboards, with bigger decks, trucks and wheels! This means they’re more stable and comfortable to ride on long journeys. From its shape to flexible truck and easy-to-manoeuvre-wheels, longboards are your go-to for cruising the streets! In comparison to a cruiser, think of them as the longer version. When it comes to freestyling and downhill racing, specific types of longboard are required. 

CRUISERS

Okay, so we’ve mentioned cruising with a longboard, but what about cruising with a cruiser? Here’s a little more info to get you started! The main difference between a cruiser and a longboard is the deck size and shape. Similar to longboards, cruiser skateboards are designed specifically for travelling. From the local shop to your daily commute to work, cruisers can take on rough surfaces to get you to where you need to be. 

DIFFERENT COMPONENTS:

Deck shape: Regular skateboards have lozenge-shaped decks which are sometimes referred to as ‘popsicle’ shaped. Cruisers and longboards come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and some include a kicktail to help skaters get over obstacles.

Wheel size: Standard skateboard wheels are small and solid, which is why they work best on smoother, hard surfaces. Cruisers on the other hand have larger wheels crafted from softer polyurethane in order to tackle rough and bumpy surfaces. Finally, longboards require even bigger wheels for tackling long distances and commutes and are usually around 70mm.

Whether you choose a cruiser, a longboard or a skateboard, it’s time to get ridin’! If you've got any questions on the different boards, feel free to give us a call on 09 835 9275.