Breaking in a Longboard

A longboard is a type of skateboard with a longer length than a standard skateboard. Lengthen the quality and life of your longboard by breaking it in properly. The longboard's deck has a wider and longer base compared to other skateboards, making it a more-stable, comfortable board for riding.

  1. Longboard

    • Different types of longboards are available for various styles and purposes including transportation, slalom, downhill, cruisers and hybrid. Choosing a style that fits your specific needs lessens the break-in period. Transportation boards, the most common types of longboards, are used mainly for commuting. They are usually 39 inches to 50 inches long. Flexible and comfortable, they are designed to provide easy riding and require little to no break-in period. Slalom longboards are faster and are typically about 25 inches to 35 inches in length. They are mostly used for competitive skateboarding and have narrow ends for tighter turns. The slalom wheels have a larger contact patch and may need a gradual break-in period for traction and performing narrow turns.

    Sliding

    • Sliding, also called slide braking, is a downhill skateboarding skill. To perform sliding, the skater quickly turns the board sideways into a controlled slide to break or stop. This technique can be performed backside or frontside. Wheels that are not specifically designed for sliding require a break in period. To do so, ride the wheels for five to 10 miles of just carving and pumping without sliding. Just ride fast and comfortably to wear off the shiny, oily top layer of the wheel. Sliding the wheels too much, too soon may cause excess wear and tear. Once the wheels' shiny top layer is gone and the surfaces have texture, begin doing hard carves and slight speed stops. Expect the wheels to be choppy at first, but they will slide smoother as the outside edges of the wheels gradually get rounded off. Perform more and more technical slides as the wheels get more rounded.

    Wheels

    • Longboard wheels are constructed with polyurethane and come in many colors and styles. The wheels provide sufficient grip and bounciness for performing tricks. The shape and size of a wheel affects the way it rides. Factors, such as diameter, edges and contact patch, should be considered when choosing longboard wheels, especially when you want to lessen or eliminate the amount of break-in period. Choosing wheels that best serve your skateboarding purposes also enhances your riding experience. The larger the wheel diameter, the more speed and acceleration it delivers. If you prefer to roll faster over rough surfaces, choose larger wheels. Start rolling over smoother surfaces and gradually work your way toward rough roads when breaking in the wheels to lessen wear and tear damage.

    Time Frame

    • The time frame varies depending on the longboard and your riding style. Typically, breaking in longboard wheels for sliding can take as much as two weeks. For rounding off the edges, it can take as much as skating a steep hill about 10 times while performing about eight slides each time. Downhill speed rides and tricks should progress from mild to advance to slowly break in the wheels.