Slide Longboards
The term "sliding" is often associated with the riding styles downhill and freeride, but can be understood as an independent discipline. This involves the wheels of your board losing grip with the ground and you "slide" across the direction of travel. In this way, your board brakes in a controlled manner. Here you can find our selection of slide longboards. ###
Sliding: gliding down the slopes smoothly
In order to slide, a certain riding speed is necessary. For this reason, sliders feel most comfortable on sloping asphalt tracks. However, the corresponding longboards must also have a few special characteristics to enable the perfect slides.
Sliding requirement #1: You definitely need some longboard experience first.
The combination of speed and riding technique requires a lot of skill and also a bit of courage. Only those who have their board completely under control will be able to slide. But once you've got it down, you can look forward to maximum riding fun.
Sliding basically means gliding down the slopes smoothly and looking damn cool while doing it. By riding cross-country, you can control your speed. Downhill riders, for example, slide in turns to slow down a bit without coming to an immediate stop.
There are different ways to slide:
- Heelside > Your face is facing the direction of travel
- Toeside > your face looks backwards.
- 180° Colemanslide > the beginner's method, which you will probably learn first.
The perfect slide longboard
It goes without saying that to become a really good slider, you also need a really good longboard. It should have several features to help you in your endeavor. The following things are important:
- The wheels are of crucial importance when sliding. In order for you to lose grip as quickly as possible, your wheels should be very hard. In addition, rounded edges are a must, because that's the only way you can really "slide away" in the turns.
- A concave deck bend ensures that you can exert better pressure on the axles. The board can be steered and controlled better this way.
- When it comes to length, opinions differ. Short longboards are of course more agile and can also be used for sliding. The advantage of long decks is that they allow more controlled slides. This can be especially advantageous if you are just learning to slide.
- As far as the center distance is concerned, every slider has different preferences. In general, boards with a wide center distance are more difficult to slide. But the slides are more controlled and safer. So in the end it depends on your personal preferences and experience.
The features of a slide longboard at a glance
- Hard wheels (min. 84 a) with rounded edges
- Concave
- Recesses on the wheels
- Variable axle distance (depending on your needs and preferences)
Because you can't avoid leaning low when sliding, gloves and helmet are very important in addition to the longboard itself. Falls are not uncommon, so you need to take your protection very seriously.
Sliding is the perfect technique to take the speed out of your board on a downhill. Plus, it looks impressive and just plain cool when you manage a smooth slide. However, to make it happen, you need a good slide board and a few practice sessions.
