If you are starting with skateboarding, you need to know different types of skateboards for beginners to pick the right one for your needs. Choosing a board depends on the riding style, but it also depends on your skill level. Therefore, in this article, we’ll discuss the kinds of skateboards that are good for beginners to learn how to ride.
Being a skateboard coach, most of the newbies ask what kind of skateboard is the best to start with. There are some boards that are easiest to ride and suitable for new skaters. These types vary depending on the skateboard decks shapes and wheels. We are here to guide you in picking up the right type of skateboard.
Types of Skateboards for Beginners – Three Easiest Kinds to Ride
It is better to start with the right equipment before starting to learn any sport. It will be easier to learn how to ride a skateboard if you pick the right type which is especially designed for beginners. The following three types of skateboards are good for beginners;
1. Longboards
As it is clear from the name – longboards have long boards. Their decks are relatively longer and wider to provide extra space to comfortably stand on. These boards are designed to enhance balance while offering smooth speedy rides. However, it is not necessary to always ride them fast, you can take advantage of extra width and length to stabilize your body and learn how to ride. The wheels of longboards are mostly soft and large and placed in a way to provide optimum support to skateboarders.
2. Popsicle Shape Double-Kick Skateboard
These are the most common and widely used skateboards around the world. These boards are versatile and suitable for multiple types of riding. The slight concave of these decks allows skaters to place their feet comfortably and direct the board in different directions effortlessly. Best of all, Popsicle skateboards not only ensure smooth rides, but their double kick design also allows beginners to practice tricks such as kickflips and backflips. These boards have relatively smaller wheels, do not run very fast – that’s what makes this type suitable for beginners.
3. Old School Skateboard
These classic-looking skateboards are wide, large and slightly heavier. The deck looks like a fishtail with a pointy narrow nose and straight tail. Most of the old school boards have best large wheels with bigger trucks, easier to ride. These boards are not very good to learn tricks due to heavyweight. However, if you are a beginner and still need to learn how to stabilize your body on a moving board – old school skateboard could be the best option.
To understand the type of skateboard, you should know the difference between the tail and nose of a board.
4. Freestyle Skateboard
If you have the intention to give skateboarding a shot, then freestyle skateboard is just what you need. It is a form and style of skateboarding where you need to learn tricks and skills which need to be performed on a plane ground.
To give this a shot, you have to find a skateboard of your comfortable size. Thinner and shorter boards will be a more appropriate choice if you want to emphasize primarily on the board flips. However, if your plan emphasizes the footwork, then the wider and longer boards would be the ideal option.
The small boards are generally easier to control. However, they tend to be less stable. Meanwhile, the larger boards are more stable but are not easy to control. These factors need to be considered when picking your board. As far as the shape is concerned, it is better to opt for a typical street or freestyle deck.
Good choreography and music also play an important role in creating a professional routine of freestyle skateboarding.
5. Slalom Skateboard
Another exciting form of skateboarding is Slalom Skateboarding. This form of the skateboard is a type of race in which you have to skate downhill. This form gained popularity in the 2000s despite its inception in the 1960s.
To learn Slalom Skateboarding, you will need to complete a course. You have to make sure to knock down as fewer cones as you possibly can. You will need to find the finest slalom skateboards to make you a solid contender to prevail in the race.
A huge positive for you to take is that these skateboards allow you to reach high acceleration and make smooth turns. The wheels of these skateboards are bigger and more flexible than the regular skateboards that are available. This enables the skateboard to travel at pace and also enhances the grip.
Furthermore, the length of the boards is longer compared to regular skateboards. They are also equipped with soft foam along with carbon fibers, which enhances the strength and responsiveness of the board.
6. Downhill Skateboard
Downhill-sloping skateboards typically encourage good acceleration and a good pace within a short time. Therefore, it is regarded as a thrilling and exciting sport for which you need tremendous ability and meticulousness.
To effectively ride such a skateboard, you need to perfect the ability to slide, drift, and brake when required. It would help if you also kept in mind that the condition of the surroundings changes at any moment.
It is a complex and difficult type of skateboarding. As a result, very particular kinds of equipment are required. The drop-platform, top-mount, and the drop-through skateboards are some of the boards that are recommended and used to perform downhill skateboarding.
The decks of the downhill skateboards are typically rigid. The wheelbases of such skateboards are usually between 29 to 32 inches. The boards ensure that the feet of the rider does not slip. Moreover, these boards have sufficient stability to ensure steady movement when you reach terminal velocity.
7. Vert Skateboard
Another enjoyable and exhilarating form of the skateboard is Vert skateboarding. In this form, the skateboard is ridden vertically against the walls.
Skateboarders often tend to adapt to this vertical style of riding to add some new tricks to their bags. However, it can be difficult for an amateur, so it is always better to practice before trying out skateboarding.
Initially, you have to master the simple fundamentals of skateboarding, such as pushing, cruising, and carving. You will also need to spend some bucks to get the ideal skateboard for this.
The wheels for your skateboard need to be a minimum of 55mm large, which is the optimum size for this job. Wide decks and huge wheels are critically essential to ensure the stability of the board.
8. Street Skateboard
Street skateboarding emphasized heavily on the transitions and tricks to perform on the streets or other public locations. Skateboarders are typically seen doing their thing in places such as the streets, plazas, or other crowded places.
This form requires you to make use of objects such as stairs, boxes, benches, etc. A narrow board is more suitable for this purpose. The deck and the wheels of skateboards facilitate smooth spin and flip for the board that enables you to do your trickery with ease.
Again, the wheel size needs to small so that the board remains light and can overcome inertia quickly to make sure that the tricks can be performed easily. Street skateboards tend to have a narrow thickness and even shape.
9. Park Skateboard
Park skateboards refer to the type of skateboards that are built to full the purpose of doing skills and trickery in the parks.
The skate parks consist of obstacles such as rails and staircases. Integrating these elements as a part of skate parks makes the experience of skating more exciting and exhilarating.
9. Pool Skateboard
Another exciting form of skateboarding is Pool skateboarding. As indicated by the name, it refers to skateboarding inside a pool. The skateboard has to be ridden across pools or vertical ramps.
Read also: How Much Does It Cost For a Good Skateboard and Proper Guide
10. Cruising Skateboard
Cruising is a form of skateboarding that involved quick travel through skate parks, urban areas, or even ramps. This unique style of skateboarding is the best choice for someone who has interest and passion for both skateboarding and longboarding.
A specially built skateboard is required to perform this. The skateboards must consist of rubber wheels and wider in terms of shape and size. Such skateboards are meant to meet common purposes and not meant for doing tricks.
11. Off-road Skateboard
Another interesting method of skateboarding is off-road skateboarding. A certain design of a board is needed that is suitable to be ridden almost anywhere. These skateboards can adapt well to surfaces such as gravel, dirt, or even hard sand.
Firstly, you will need to find a standard skateboard and then change the wheels to make it adaptable and ideal to meet off-road skating purposes. Change the wheels by using a bigger wheel that is rubber-made to make the skateboard smooth for gliding on various surfaces, like dirt, mud & grass.
You may also opt for off-road skateboards that are manufactured to meet this specific purpose. It has to be capable of handling and sustaining itself against rocky and bumpy surfaces. These are an ideal choice for the skateboarders who use their boards on rough surfaces regularly.
Things To Consider While Choosing Skateboards
An electric skateboard has become a popular choice for all the skateboarding enthusiasts who intend to take this sport to the next level. However, we have already mentioned there are some differences between the types of skateboards. Some of the basic differences are as follows.
A recent model can meet the needs of commuting and also skateboarding. The main difference is that this new model is foldable and more commuter-friendly than others. Moreover, it is even more stylish and appealing to the eye.
Some contemporary skateboard is ideal for frequent and regular usage. It is created to enable and encourage snowboarding on the sidewalk or footpath. Additionally, those skateboards have an additional wheelset equipped to it.
What is the best skateboard for a beginner?
Powell Golden Dragon Flying Dragon is the best skateboard for a beginner. A list of the best skateboards for beginners is below;
- Powell Golden Dragon Flying Dragon
- Element Section Skateboard
- enjoy Skateboard
- Magneto SUV Complete Skateboard
- Cal 7 Complete Skateboard
- WHOME Pro
- Santa Cruz Jackpot Hand
- Beleev Skateboard
- Hiboy Alpha
- Magneto Mini Cruiser
What are the 3 types of skateboards?
The popular 3 types of skateboards are longboards, shortboards and cruiser boards. All of these have different deck shapes and different styles of trucks placement. Longboards and cruiser boards have large soft wheels, shortboards mostly have small polyurethane wheels.
How do I pick a beginners skateboard?
One should know the types of skateboards before picking a beginners skateboard. Always consider the deck shape, size and wheels before choosing one. The concave always plays a pivotal role because that increases the comfort of foot placement. It is advised to pick a skateboard made of a reliable brand to be assured of durability.
What’s the easiest skateboard to ride?
Element Section is known as the easiest skateboard to ride. It is a reliable brand and famous for making boards for all-level skaters. Either you are starting with this sport or a professional who wants to polish his/her skills, we recommend the Element section because it is the easiest to ride and cont
Final Verdict
The Skateboarding industry is evolving and there are new innovations in the types of skateboards. New skateboarders get confused about what kind of board should they pick to start riding. Choosing the right type is essential, otherwise, you might end up getting injured and giving up.
In my own experience of skateboarding, I’ve found the old school skateboards, popsicle shape and longboards are the easiest to ride and the best types of skateboards for beginners. Thus, pick any of these kinds and start rolling in the street.
Read a complete guide and useful tips on how to learn skateboarding for beginners.