Longboards

Longboard skateboards are the equivalent of a longboard surfboard, they are designed for cruising or speed, their additional length makes them poor for performing tricks but greatly aids their stability thus the rider can tolerate higher speeds. As a sport long boarding is growing, it has roots in the early days of skateboarding and is being re-discovered. Boards are designed with low decks and trucks to make the centre of gravity as low as possible the aim is to increase performance at speed and to create a smooth ride. The Curve, designed by Gary Chang is a conceptual vision of what the highest performance longboards might look like. It has a very low centre of gravity which is achieved by redesigning the steering system; trucks are replaced with a segmented mono wheel at the front and rear. This has minimal ground contact and gives the board the ability to lean into corners. Due to the minimal ground clearance of this system and the design not allowing the rider to put their weight behind or in front of the wheels it would not be suitable for anything but racing in a controlled environment. I like the curved deck sides and wheel arches used, they look practical as they should increase the grip/ stability of the riders feet as well as allowing a greater lean to be achived without scraping. I also find them aesthetically pleasing.

General information from http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/ and http://www.yankodesign.com/2007/07/19/skateboard-on-a-curve/