Longboarding what is cruising

Meanwhile, full-size longboards come in varied shapes, but many longboards focusing on cruising are either pintail shaped first image below or symmetrical cutout shaped second image. See this post for more about the different longboard shapes. Longboards may also have kick tails to enable some freestyle or dancing tricks. A cruiser typically has a narrower nose and wheel flares to reduce the risk of wheel rub. Cruiser trucks are generally very loose for fast turning, so having good wheel clearance is essential for tight carving when riding in small spaces.

For regular longboards, both topmount and drop-through, wheel clearance can vary quite a lot. Some longboards are meant primarily for distance pushing , focusing on riding fast and far on straight roads, as opposed to continuously carving and turning, and so they have more limited wheel clearance. Others, like the Loaded Icarus, are made essentially for carving and pumping and can take very large wheels without suffering wheelbite thanks to their ample wheel cutouts and deep flares.

Check out my full review of the Icarus. Most mini-cruisers are topmount , meaning the trucks are bolted underneath the deck. This means cruisers are relatively high off the ground, making them harder to push on — your kicking foot has to drop more to reach the ground, your standing knee has to bend more.

Top mount also means less stability at speed because of higher center of gravity. Cruisers are generally not the best choice for downhill speed. A full-size cruising longboard , on the other hand, can be either topmount like most pintails or drop-through — where the trucks traverse the deck through holes.

A pintail longboard, such as the Sector 9 Lookout , will be tougher to push on for long distances and less stable at speed than a drop-through longboard, but it will be faster-turning. A drop-through longboard will be more stable at downhill speed. Mini-cruisers typically run traditional kingpin TKP trucks, which are street skateboard type trucks. Regular longboards, on the other hand, typically use reverse kingpin trucks RKP. TKP trucks are designed to respond to very small movements of the feet, making them well suited for boards with kicks riding at lower speeds.

TKP trucks are shorter than RKP, so on a cruiser this partly offsets the ride height caused by the topmount design, making it easier to push than on a longboard. Besides wheelbase length, RKP trucks e. Turning on them requires leaning harder. TKP are twitchier and more prone to wobbles.

Truck size on a mini-cruiser varies. By default, the Dinghy runs very narrow mm Polar Bear trucks, making the board very reactive and fast turning, but not nearly as stable as with a bigger truck.

The Loaded Poke , on the other hand, is a bigger cruiser that comes with RKP trucks in either mm or mm in size, similar to a regular longboard. Because of this, the riding feel on the Poke is quite different from the Dinghy, less twitchy but more stable.

Note that the Poke can also be set up with carver trucks, which makes for a totally different experience see this article about surf skateboards and this one about carving longboards. Cruisers often have small wheels by longboard standards, typically in the mm range, matching smaller trucks and a smaller deck — bigger size wheels cause wheelbite. Cruiser wheels are generally bigger than on a traditional street skateboard, though, which are typically around 50mm.

Most importantly, wheels on a cruiser are usually on the soft side , with durometers between 78A and 82A. Soft wheels are better for cruising because they help absorb shocks, particularly on uneven terrains, and offer better traction when carving.

Some riders prefer to use slightly harder wheels which are more slideable and roll faster on smooth surfaces less friction. Urethane quality also plays a role. In comparison, wheels on a full-size longboard used for cruising are typically bigger, starting at 70mm.

When cruising along the beach or on a park trail, you often use a laid back position since your longboard is typically large and stable enough not to worry about balance. Many larger pintail longboards more lean than turn , meaning you can press on the rails without causing the board to turn a lot. A board not too reactive or fast turning allows you to relax and look around as you ride.

The main techniques you need to learn for this kind of cruising are mellow pushing and foot braking, and leaning for wide turns. Pushing on a large pintail is easier than on smaller boards : you lean forward to balance your weight onto your front leg, dropping your rear foot to the ground for kicking.

When cruising on your longboard, make sure to keep your spine braced no spine bending , your rib cage high not tucked into your hips , and your shoulders externally rotated, to avoid back issues over time.

The board type and skills for commuting are focused on getting more speed and mileage with less effort in order to get further faster.

This type of cruising board is not only very push-friendly but also very stable as your center of gravity lies so close to the ground. A dropped platform will often have more lean and less turn, than a classic pintail — pintails are usually topmount hence more turnable.

Stability, lean and slow turning is what you want for long distance cruising. You also want to get some good quality bearings e. Bone Reds to maximize distance from each of your pushes. When long distance cruising on a longboard, you may get into a slightly tucked position to minimize air resistance after each push so as to get the best mileage from each impulse. However, you also want your position to be sustainable without too much strain over a potentially long time.

When riding on a long deck, you typically stand up front, closer to the nose, for better control and speed, with most of your weight lying forward. The main skill you need to build up for long-distance cruising is power pushing. You first need to master balancing on your front leg, with your front foot facing forward or at a slight angle and your front knee bent to lower your center of gravity and keep your body stable as your rear foot kicks the ground.

Then through practice, you will find your optimal pushing range — that is, how far back your foot should stay in contact with the ground — and frequency — time lapse between successive pushes so as to not lose momentum. In some cases, if your itinerary grants it, you may need to push upwill on mild slopes, which requires more effort and higher fitness level. If you use your longboard primarily for moving around the city, learning how to cruise involves both a different type of board and different skills.

City cruising requires a more agile and nimble board compared with beach or long distance cruising. For this kind of cruising, a longboard with a shorter deck, e.

Besides short length, you want the deck to be stiffer to give you more leverage in turns, that is, better power transmission, making it easier to cut street corners and ride along those narrow sidewalks.

Shorter longboards are often more lightweight. What is Urban Cruising? If you want to make a trip around the city with your longboard, it is urban cruising. The city is chock-a-block with traffic, so it requires you to prepare a more agile and nimble longboard. This design lacks stability due to the short wheelbase. What are Urban Cruising Techniques? The city has full of small and large obstacles, so you are always in the can-do mood for anything. Try to keep your body in tension, and your knees flexed to make quick turns and tail kick anytime.

What is flat ground carving cruising? The majority of people believe that carving is a riding form of its own without relating to cruising. But, now I will prove that it is a wonderful part of cruising longboard. Which Kind of Board Suits this Style? You can experience flat ground carving cruising on any longboard, but I strongly recommend you use a model specifically designed for this purpose such as cruisers and shorter pintails.

The deck designed with concave keeps your feet in place while swaying back and forth. What are Flat Ground Techniques? You ought to practice a wave-like body movement when turning to generate speed.

Is Longboard Safe for Cruising? You are safe if you comply with the rules. Thus, keeping up to date with traffic laws plays a vital role in saving your life. Here are what you need to do Follow all signs and signals. Keep a watch on where you are riding. Listen behind and to your sides. What is the Best Brand of a Longboard? There is a wide range of longboards available on the market. I am sure this is not a perfect answer for everyone. Wear something comfortable and straightforward as well. Because it affects your psychological behavior.

There's no downside of being extremely careful. Hence, always wear protective essentials such as elbow pads, flat-bottomed shoes, knee pads, etc. If you keep practicing different styles of cruising or improvise your style, eventually you'll become a pro in your genre and understand different cruising styles as well.

As safety comes first, you shouldn't wander in narrow streets just after starting cruising. It's better to always stick on flat roads. Happy Cruising! These longboard cruising tips and tricks won't make you a pro overnight. You'll need adequate practice to beckon everyone around you. I hope you have a pleasant ride! James Mason here. Surfing, skateboarding, and longboarding enthusiast currently living in Rio, Brazil.

Started boarding since I was old enough to wear a helmet, except I often didn't. Think that explains a lot :. Longboard Cruising Tips for Starters. Is Riding a Cruiser Easier than a Skateboard? Longboard Cruising Tips. Stick on to The Ideal Board for You Well, it's not anyone's cup of tea to find out the best longboard for cruising at the beginning of longboarding.