Longboard Riding Styles Guide

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Longboard Riding Styles Guide - Activities with your longboard

There are several ways to go longboarding. Before buying a new board, you need to ask yourself: What do you want to do with a longboard? Do you want to do tricks, go off a mountain, just cruise in the streets, or do some challenging riding? Therefore, you need to ask yourself: What is my riding style? There are at least 7 types of riding styles. Below are the most common. Which one is yours?

Riding Styles Cruising | Carving Freeride Freestyle Dancing Surfskating Downhill | Speed Skate Paddle | Land Paddling

Cruising | Carving

Cruising is the most common form of longboarding. The word says it already. You cruise around. Anybody can do it. Beginners start with cruising. Also, experts cruise. It brings you from point A to point B. It is a form of transportation, and it is gentle and relaxed. There will be no hills or mountains involved.Most cruising longboards you will see on the streets are between 32" and 42" long. These are the perfect choice for moving. The wheels are soft, so you won't feel every bump, and the board has a flex, which can help you on long rides and also absorbs some of the rough terrain you may encounter. Some people love flexy boards since they are springy and they rebound; others prefer the increased sense of stability for higher speeds that comes with a stiffer deck. This choice will ultimately be up to your personal preference.There are also cruisers out there. These are the small boards. Think about the plastic penny boards. They also come in wood. Sizes are about 23"-30". These are different than the cruising longboards. Yes, you can still cruise with it, but the boards are very small and not flexy, and the wheels are harder. You can take them easily in your backpack to ride on campus or just in the street.

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Freeride

Freeride is a form of downhill longboarding in style, but is more trick oriented and more technical and the rider carves and slides to control speed when going down.Sliding is the most common technique. This allows you to slow down or stop yourself. When you want to freeride, this is a very important skill to learn as it prevents injuries to yourself and others.Carving is controlled turns on the road by leaning forward onto his toes, called toe side turns or backward onto his heels, called heel side turns. When these turns are strung together, the result is an S-shaped line that will slow down the rider and provide a good opportunity do some tricks.A Freeride longboard is medium to stiff with a good concave so you can lock your feet really well while sliding. it has some stability and is most stable at moderate speed. Longboards to consider for freerides are symmetrical ones, such as the drop throughs and drop down longboards. Make sure you get a little flex as it is not good to have flex when freeriding.

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Freestyle

Freestyle is the art of doing tricks on a longboard. Freestyle is often confused with freeride. Freestyle has a lot of standing up, jumping, flipping, spinning, and board dancing. Freestyle longboarders are becoming more one with their board. The roots are coming from skateboarding.Freestyle longboarding includes plenty of technical tricks, but what makes it special is that anyone can enjoy it, no matter their skill level. It is the most creative side of longboarding, where style, flow, and self-expression matter just as much as difficulty. You can freestyle in the street, on a smooth parking lot, or in the skatepark.

Most freestyle riders gravitate toward either a drop-down or drop-through deck. Both are preferable in a symmetrical shape, which makes spins, flips, and switch riding feel natural without constantly turning the board around. The extra width gives you confidence and space to move your feet while dancing, shuffling, or cross-stepping. From experience, a solid freestyle setup always includes at least one kicktail, a slightly shorter deck for responsiveness, and harder wheels that release easily without sticking.

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Longboard Dancing

Longboard dancing is a riding style that focuses on smooth movement, creative footwork, and expressive flow rather than speed or downhill riding. It is performed on a dancing longboard, a longer and wider type of longboard that gives riders enough space to step, turn, and move freely across the deck while staying balanced. This added room allows for signature movements such as cross-steps, spins, shuvits, pivots, and seamless transitions that feel rhythmic and intentional.

Instead of staying in one stance, riders travel up and down the board, shifting their weight and positioning their feet in time with the board’s motion. The experience often feels like choreography on wheels, blending elements of dance and freestyle skateboarding. The deck typically has a responsive flex that absorbs motion and adds a lively feel, while still remaining stable enough for precise foot placement and technical tricks.

At its core, longboard dancing is about personal expression. It combines balance, coordination, creativity, and style, making it welcoming for beginners while offering endless possibilities for more experienced riders. Whether done casually or as a practiced routine, longboard dancing transforms riding into a visual and expressive art form.

What truly sets a dancing longboard apart is how it encourages rhythm and style rather than speed or downhill performance. Riders move up and down the board, stepping, turning, and rotating their bodies in sync with the board’s motion, almost like choreography on wheels. The deck is usually flexible enough to absorb movement and provide a lively feel, while still being stable enough to support tricks and quick foot placement changes.

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Surf Skating

Surfskating is a form of skateboarding that mimics the movements and the feel of surfing on the water, but on a hard surface. It allows riders to recreate the flowing turns, pumping motion, and carving lines of surfing without needing waves. Instead of pushing frequently with one foot, surfskaters generate speed by shifting their weight and using their body to drive smooth, powerful turns, much like a surfer would on a wave.

What makes surfskating unique is the specialized front truck system, which offers a much wider range of motion than traditional skateboard or longboard trucks. This extra freedom allows the board to lean deeply into turns and snap back quickly, creating a responsive, surf-like sensation. Riders can perform tight carves, cutbacks, snaps, and even simulate bottom turns, making each ride feel dynamic and fluid.

Surfskating is popular among surfers who use it as a training tool to improve balance, stance, and technique when they are out of the water. At the same time, it has become its own discipline within skateboarding, enjoyed by riders who love carving, cruising, and playful movement. Surfskate boards are typically shorter than longboards, making them agile and easy to maneuver, while still stable enough for smooth rides.

Beyond technique, surfskating is about flow and freedom. It encourages creativity, body awareness, and connection between rider and board. Whether used for surf training, carving through streets, or simply enjoying a relaxed cruise, surfskating brings the essence of surfing to pavement.

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Downhill

Downhill longboarding is for the experts and adrenaline junkies. It is all about speed, sliding hands down, carving, and drifting. A lot of downhill longboarders participate in races, and it is all about huge hills and going down as fast as possible. The riders get into a tucked position and put all their weight on their front foot to get maximum speed. Before doing this, you need to know how to slide and stop yourself, and it goes mostly straight down the hill to get maximum speed. The longboard is stiff for maximum control and stability. The wheels are soft for maximum grip. You need the right gear for safety: full-faced helmets, full pads, and a suit for protection. It can be dangerous. Downhill bombing is only for those who are really good at longboarding and know every trick and skill.

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Skate paddling | Pumping | Land Paddling

Skate paddling, also known as land paddling or skateboard poling, is all about covering serious distance with smooth, efficient motion. Instead of pushing every few seconds, you generate speed and momentum using a paddle or by flowing through long, powerful pumps. It’s fast, rhythmic, and incredibly satisfying.

This style of riding is perfect for long bike paths, coastal roads, and open pavement where endurance and control matter more than tricks. Riders love it for fitness, commuting, and pure cruising, since it engages your whole body and keeps you moving without constantly stepping off the board.

Skate paddling and long-distance pushing emphasize efficiency, posture, and consistency. Subtle weight shifts, controlled pumping, and steady cadence allow riders to maintain speed over many miles while reducing fatigue. When using a paddle, it also adds upper-body engagement, turning each ride into a full-body workout that builds strength, balance, and coordination.

In this collection, you’ll find gear designed specifically for long-distance pushing and paddling. Think stable decks, efficient setups, and components that stay comfortable mile after mile. Whether you’re training, exploring new routes, commuting daily, or enjoying the meditative flow of distance skating, this riding style blends performance, endurance, and freedom into one smooth, continuous experience.

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FAQ riding styles

Which longboard style is best for beginners?

Cruising and carving are usually best for beginners. They are slower, more forgiving, and help you learn balance, turning, and foot placement without the risks that come with high speed riding.

What is the difference between cruising and carving?

These terms are often used interchangeably. If you want to make a difference, then Cruising is about getting from point A to point B comfortably, often on flatter ground. Carving involves deeper, more rhythmic turns and often uses hills to generate speed through pumping rather than pushing.

What is the best longboard riding style?

There is no single “best” riding style. The best style is the one that fits how and where you like to ride. Some people enjoy relaxed cruising around town, others love deep carving turns, and some prefer speed, tricks, or dancing on the board. Your terrain, comfort level, and goals all play a role, so feel free to explore different styles and stick with what feels the most fun and natural to you.

Can one longboard be used for multiple styles?

Yes, many longboards are versatile enough for multiple styles, especially cruising, carving, and light freestyle. That said, specialized setups perform better for specific styles like downhill or dancing due to differences in deck shape, trucks, and wheels.

Is downhill longboarding dangerous?

Downhill riding can be risky if you are not properly prepared. It involves high speeds, advanced braking techniques like sliding, and protective gear such as helmets and gloves. It is not recommended until you have solid board control and experience.