The Critical Difference Between Longboard vs Shortboard

Longboard vs Shortboard: Surfing is a great activity to spend your spare time on because it makes the rider fully involved in it. You need a surfboard to perform surfing, but a thing of concern is the huge variety of surfboards. On the basis of size, we can categorize them into longboards and skateboards.

Most of the newbies have a similar question wavering in mind: what is the difference between longboard and scoreboard? Besides that, how can I figure out which one will suit my needs? In this article, you will get the answer to these questions as we will draw a Longboard vs Shortboard comparison.

What is a skateboard?

A Skateboard is a piece of equipment you need to start skating. It comprises a dreary deck with four wheels attached to it. Various types of skateboards are available in the market based on size, style, and material. Moreover, the average skateboard length is 28 to 32 inches, whereas the average width is 7.5 to 8.75 inches.

Longboard vs Shortboard: A detailed analysis

The Ultimate Guide To Longboard vs Shortboard are given below:

1-Longboard

Longboards are those skateboards that have at least 9 feet in height. Moreover, skateboards with less than 9 feet in height can not be termed long skateboards. Many boards are nearly 8 feet in size, but we call them mid-length or fun skateboards.

Interestingly, the front of longboards has a round nose, whereas the scoreboards have pointed snouts, making them perfect for riding down the hill. Typically, one to three stringers are found in the skateboard that goes through the whole deck. So, you can use it in water as well, thanks to its surfboard-like design.

Some longboards come in the market with a stringer-less design. Although they are challenging to craft still most of them are prone to break. Other than that, either longboard comes in a 2+1 setup or a single fin step up, showing its versatility.

Pros

• Easier to learn
• Offers more stability
• More ride time
• You can ride it on short waves as well
• Excellent for nose rides and cross-steps
• Affordable price

Cons

• Not too fast
• Bulky and heavier
• Longboards are complex for duck diving
• Prone to breaking and cracking

2-Shortboard

Any skateboard with 7 feet or less deck length is called a shortboard. The sunny side of its shortboard is excellent for high-level wave riding because of its harsh nature. Moreover, the short size also lets the user perform duck dive precisely because its configuration allows it.

These skateboards are created from fiberglass and other durable substances along with a 3 fin thruster design, making them able to withstand challenging situations. Besides that, a shortboard might have stringers or not. Many shortboards are bolstered with rails of carbon fiber to improve their potency.

The weight of shortboards is significantly lighter than longboards making it easy for the surfers to maneuver. Commonly a shortboard comes with a pointed nose, but some have a round or fuller nose. Round nose shortboards are intended for newbies because they are not suitable for fast riding over waves.

The best part is these boards are versatile in fin setup because you can choose from you can set up the single fin, quad, fins, five fins, 2+1 fins, and even thrusters depending on the needs. In addition, the variation in the tail also lets you choose from swallowtail, bat tail, round tail, squash tail, and classical fishtail.

Pros

• For pro players
• Incredibly fast speed
• Easy to maneuver
• They are versatile in fin setups
• Best for riding in hollow waves
• Suitable for duck diving

Cons

• High price
• Not ideal for surfing on short waves
• It is not meant for beginners
• Hard to balance

Who should pick up a longboard?

Longboards are a professional and simple option to surf and ride over the large waves correctly. As a newbie, you should go for the longest longboard because it will be easy for you to maneuver or control it. On the other hand, it is tough to handle it on large waves because of its considerable size and hefty weight.

If you want to surf on big and sharp waves swiftly, then you should be better off with a shortboard. Again, I suggest you learn the basics and practice surfing on a longboard, then move on to the shortboard for performing tricks. Moreover, some longboard stunts require years of practice to accomplish them perfectly.

How much does a longboard cost?

A quality longboard can cost you anything between 150 to 450 dollars. The reason behind their high price is they are engineered from durable and premium materials. If you do not want to spend that much as a beginner, then you can buy standard quality longboards, and their price will be around 60 to 150 dollars.

Can you ollie on a longboard?

One of the basic and primary longboard tricks is ollie. You need to learn it first if you have made up your mind to learn some advanced longboard tricks. Proper foot positioning and balance are the keys to performing a perfect ollie.

Who should pick up a shortboard?

Shortboards are relatively new as compared to longboards. Anyone looking to progress must get a shortboard because, for learning purposes, it is not good because of its fast speed. Not only the maneuvering of turn but also cutbacks on waves are effortless with a shortboard.

If you are looking to perform stunts with fascinating speed, then you have to go with a shortboard. As a newbie, it can be troublesome to balance on the scoreboard, but if you have learned the basics of surfing over the longboard, you will not find it too hard. With the ability to maintain the center of gravity, you can experience the fastest surfing of your life.

How much does a shortboard cost?

A shortboard will cost you between 500 to 800 dollars on average. If you want a professional board, then the price can be higher than that. The price is commonly not affordable for many who want to learn about surfing. Similarly, if your budget is low, you can get a longboard in your price range.

FAQs

What is the fastest longboard speed?

You can surf with a longboard at speeds of 12 to 15 miles per hour usually. Moreover, the fastest speed that can be attained while surfing with these boards is 25 miles per hour. But it mainly depends upon the weight of the surfer and the quality of the longboard.

Is it easier to catch waves on a longboard?

Longboards offer more time in the water, which directly increases the wave count. Surfing with a longboard gives longer rides because its large size and width allow it to grab more waves as compared to the shortboards. Simply put, the length of the ride on a longboard while surfing is better than a shortboard.

Can you built your own longboard?

If you are short of money and want to get the incredible surfing experience as a beginner, then you can make your own longboard at home. Not only is it cost-effective to craft a DIY longboard, but it is also fun as well. Aside from this, it does not require a top-level of knowledge to accomplish that task, making it an ideal opportunity to enjoy while saving money.

Is there any surfboard that gives the best of both longboard and shortboard?

Yes, if you want to enjoy the best of the major categories of a surfboard, then you can use a mid-size surfboard with 6.5 to 8.5 inches of length. With these boards, you will be able to surf fast with better control and more ride timing. Moreover, if you want to transition from shorter surfboards to large ones, then these are excellent.

Can you sit on a shortboard?

Sitting on the shortboard is one of the initial things you need to grasp when learning how to surf. Perfect balance and practice are necessary to do it properly. You need to sit on the board until it catches a wave. After that, you will get the ultimate surfing experience.

Final Words

When it comes to Longboard vs Shortboard, no one is better for all the stuff. It’s your requirements and intentions which make any one of them suitable for you. Longboards are ideal for tackling monstrous waves, but they are less maneuverable than shortboards. If you need a compact and fast surfboard, then pick a shortboard.