Longboard

Dimensions

Most longboards measure 84 to 150 centimetres (33 to 59 in) long while the width varies from 22.8 to 25.4 centimetres (9.0 to 10.0 in). There are several shapes of longboards, such as bumtails, flat-nose riders, drop through decks, drop decks and boards with the same shape of a standard skateboard. Pintails permit looser trucks and larger wheels which are better suited for carvingor a "surfing" feel, whereas drop decks and drop throughs allow the rider to be closer to the ground, hence a lower center of gravity which increases stability and allows these boards to support more high speed downhill riding disciplines. Mid-length boards, 94 to 127 centimetres (37 to 50 in) are the most versatile. Their greater weight and bulk makes them less suitable for many skateboardingtricks, but contributes to a fluid motion by providing more momentum. The longboard's design allows for big turns or quick short carves similar to the motions of surfers or snowboarders. Longboards have 3 axis. The tail axis (running from tail to tail), the central axis (running straight down through the center of the board), and the short axis (running from the width of the board, perpendicular tothe tail axis).
The previous record for the longest distance traveled on a longboard was set by David Cornthwaite in 2006 when he skated 3,638 miles (5,855 km) from Perth to Brisbane across Australia.[1] This record has since been broken by Rob Thomas of New Zealand, who skated 7,555 miles (12,159 km).[2]
[edit]Equipment & protection

Longboard equipment is similar to standard skateboardequipment, with the exception of slide gloves. Most longboarders wear slide gloves and helmets, as these are considered the bare minimum for protection. Additional protection includes; leathers, wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads and sometimes spine protectors and padded shorts. Many professional longboarding teams and riders are required to wear and advocate all aspects of protection. In the slidingand downhill disciplines, riders wear "slide gloves" which are specialized gloves made out of a strong materials such as leather and synthetic fabrics, and have large discs called "pucks" attached to the palms. These are attached to protect the hands as the rider uses them to pivot during slides along the ground. The pucks are usually made of synthetic polymers: delrin, UHMW, or corian

DecksLongboard decks are typically made from plywood anywhere from two to eleven layers of usually 2 millimetres (0.079 in) in thickness, composed of birch, bamboo, or maple. Longboards are commercially available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Each variety has certain advantages and disadvantages, which come into play depending on the technique or personal preferences of the rider.
Decks intended forriding downhill are typically stiff and have a wheelbase of around 30"-28" . Designers and manufacturers aim to make these boards as stiff and light as possible. The primary three designs of downhill boards are "drop decks", "top mounts" and "drop throughs". Each design has its own advantages. The drop deck has a lowered foot platform that sits below the height of the trucks, as a result, thereis a lower center of gravity which adds to stability but gives you less traction and maneuverability. Wooden drop decks with concave have foot pockets by the drops. However, some carbon boards are able feature concave by the drops instead of foot pockets giving you more leverage in your turn. The drop through design has cutouts that allow the baseplate of the truck to protrude through the board,thus lowering the deck and providing more stability. In addition to this, drop through decks decrease grip, as the deck is closer to the axle and Moment arm of the wheel. There is also less leverage on the truck, which makes turning negligibly more difficult. Top mount boards are the simplest design of the three. There are no dramatic bends aside from the foot concave. The board sits on top of the...