How is a skate different from a cruiser?

Skateboarding is done by young guys and girls who love extreme sports. Novice athletes are interested in what to choose - a skateboard or a cruiser. Let's consider further how they differ, what these devices are and much more.

The cruiser is a symbiosis of skateboards and longboards. The skateboard is a standard board made of wood and supplemented with wheels, and the longboard is an advanced ride., which is characterized by an improved set of speed and good running characteristics.

The cruiser is similar in appearance to both a longboard and a skateboard. It is designed for quiet city riding, more suitable for riding children due to its high stability. It has soft and wide wheels with medium hardness.

The deck (platform for the feet) of the cruiser is made of maple of Canadian or Chinese origin. Some of them are made of plastic. Wooden boards are more colorful, and plastic ones are usually monochromatic, but they can withstand a greater weight of an athlete.

Cruisers are distinguished by excellent maneuverability, stability and ease of handling. The design was created according to Russian realities: it takes into account possible road irregularities and gives the effect of soft riding, which became possible due to the increased wheelbase and the deck's maneuverability. In addition to the usual ride, everyone can perform various tricks and jumps on it.

It should be noted that the skate cruiser comes in smaller sizes. The mini board has a shorter deck that you can attach to your backpack or use a standard carrying case.This is the same cruiser, but in a smaller version. He wins in agility, but loses in stability and stability. This is the difference between the mini board and the standard version. The smaller model is more suitable for experienced riders.

The skateboard is suitable for performing various tricks in parks due to the shape and rigidity of the wheelbase. It has special bearings and a narrow rigid suspension that allows you to make jumps and turns.

The main differences between a skateboard and a cruiser are as follows.

• It can only be made of wood. In terms of dimensions, the board cannot be more than 80 cm in length and 20 cm in width.
• Has a bend on both sides and a special emery coating for better grip... The cruiser, on the other hand, has an embossed surface, which makes it possible to stand on it with bare feet.
• It has a lot of weight and small wheels. A cruiser has much larger wheels.

The cruiser has increased cross-country ability and stability, and develops a rapid speed. The curved back of the deck allows you to perform ollie-type tricks with turns, jumps and accelerations. Due to their design features, the wheels do not come into contact with the board during a sharp turn. Robust hubs with durable suspension and polyurethane propellers provide excellent acceleration and high speed with a smooth ride.

A cruiser differs from a longboard in a shorter deck length. The longboard is similar in design to a surfboard. The deck has an elongated surface up to 1 meter. It is made of wood or vinyl material. Differs in softness and pliability... The special bends of the deck contribute to a quick set of speed and cope well with various obstacles on the way. The longboard has a wider and softer suspension, the wheelbase is more maneuverable.

The choice of a good cruiser can be done by a professional rider or experienced manager based on the buyer's skateboarding experience, foot size and age. For example, the length of the board is matched to the size of the foot and height.

The deck can be any width. When choosing wheels, you should be guided by the rule: the larger they are, the slower the board will accelerate, but will reach a higher speed. As for the deck, the shorter it is, the smaller the turning radius will be. The coating should be of high quality, without irregularities and peeling. Otherwise, a marriage is possible.

When choosing a cruiser, you need to look at the design, the presence of a protective coating on the back, the reliability of the manufacturer and the price. And you should also inquire about the demand for a certain device model and the reviews that experienced riders leave on pages in social networks or target sites. It should be noted that a good alternative to a cruiser would be surf skate. It has standard rear suspension, but swivel front suspension, making the board very maneuverable. When riding on asphalt, you can feel like on the waves. Interestingly, such devices can be deployed 360 degrees.

Before going to the store, you need to decide what the board will be purchased for. If the child's goal is to master various tricks in the form of flips and sharp turns, then you should buy a regular skateboard. For walks and simple skiing, you can take a long board or a miniature cruiser. For driving around the city, a cruiser is best suited for a child, since a 4-year-old child can already master it. The main thing is to learn to confidently keep on the deck and drive in a straight line.

Stunt boards last much less.Harsh braking, falls, impacts and other nuances of aggressive driving contribute to the rapid destruction of the body, abrasion of the wheels. So, a medium-quality wooden deck will have to be replaced every 1-2 weeks with regular use, or even more often. The wood simply does not stand up and breaks.

It should be noted that skateboarding is a speed sport. When a fall on the asphalt occurs, the child slows down with his whole body. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to protection. Be sure to purchase a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads, and special gloves will protect your palms. Protective equipment will protect a child from serious injury, although it is unlikely to protect against minor abrasions and bruises. Ankle sprains and sprains are the most common injuries.

In this regard, a cruiser is safer for riding, since it has increased stability compared to a conventional longboard and skateboard. It is important to understand that in any case, a large amount of training will be required. That being said, the cruiser is not recommended for children under the age of 5, as they do not yet have sufficient coordination to control the board confidently. In any case, the presence of an adult at all training sessions is mandatory.

In general, a cruiser is similar to a skateboard and a longboard at the same time. But it has a powerful wheelbase and increased stability. It is divided into two varieties (depending on the length). Suitable for children from 5 years old, subject to all necessary safety recommendations, for example, riding with a helmet and other protective equipment.

For how a skate differs from a cruiser, see the next video.