Longboarding itself originated in Hawaii in the 1950s, when surfers sought to bring surfing to land. They created a new kind of skateboard made of thick plywood shaped into a smaller version of a surfboard, with trucks and wheels screwed to the decks, and used their surfing moves on small hills. Longboarding became popular in the 1970s and has since evolved into a variety of disciplines, including downhill racing, freeriding, freestyle, long-distance pushing see 3 and hockey. Longboard hockey and regular hockey are different in several ways:
- Equipment: Longboard hockey is played on skateboards, while regular hockey is played on ice skates. Longboard hockey players use sticks and a ball or a beer can, while regular hockey players use sticks and a puck.
- Number of players: Longboard hockey is typically played with fewer players than regular hockey. Longboard hockey games usually have 3-5 players on each team, while regular hockey games have 6 players on each team.
- Sticks: Longboard hockey players use sticks to hit the ball or puck. The sticks are similar to hockey sticks but are shorter and have a different blade shape.
Overall, longboard hockey is a variation of hockey that is played on skateboards instead of ice skates. It is typically played with fewer players and has its own set of rules.
- Rules: in longboard hockey, players are not allowed to lift the ball off the ground, while in regular hockey, players are allowed to lift the puck off the ice.
Longboard hockey was invented in Vancouver, Canada where it is a popular activity. The exact date of the invention of longboard hockey is unclear, but it is believed to have been created in the early 2000s see 1 see 2.
In longboard hockey, players use longboards instead of ice skates to play hockey. The game is typically played on any flat surface, such as a parking lot or basketball court. Longboard hockey players use sticks and a ball or puck, and wear protective gear such as helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads see 1.
Longboards and street boards (shown next photo below) are different in several ways:
- Size: Longboards are longer and wider than street boards, which makes them more stable and easier to ride over longer distances. Street boards are smaller and more maneuverable, which makes them better for performing tricks in skateparks.
- Shape: Longboards have a more curved shape, which allows for more fluid turns and carving. Street boards have a flatter shape, which makes them better for performing tricks.
- Wheels: Longboards have larger and softer wheels, which provide a smoother ride and better grip on the road. Street boards have smaller and harder wheels, which are better for performing tricks on smooth surfaces.
- Trucks: Longboards have wider trucks, which provide more stability and control at high speeds. Street boards have narrower trucks, which make them more maneuverable for performing tricks.
Longboards are better than street boards for hockey because of carving abilities. This riding style involves making quick successive turns back and forth in an S-like shape trajectory. Carving can be done on any shape of longboard, but some longboards are better suited for carving than others. Here are some characteristics of longboards that are best for carving:
- Flexibility: Longboards that are more flexible are better for carving because they allow for more fluid turns and movements.
- Shape: Longboards that have a more curved shape are better for carving because they allow for more fluid turns and movements.
- Size: Longboards that are longer and wider are better for carving because they provide more stability and control at high speeds.
To carve on a longboard, riders need to shift their weight from side to side while making quick successive turns back and forth in an S-like shape trajectory. The key to carving is sliding the wheels slightly in each turn, which slows down the rider a little and keeps things under control. With practice, riders can become more skilled at carving and can use it as a way to build and maintain speed while riding 1 see 2 see 3.
Overall, longboards are designed for cruising and transportation, while street boards are designed for performing tricks in skateparks.
There is a world championship for longboard skating. The International Downhill Federation (IDF) hosts the World Cup Series, which is a series of races held around the world. The IDF also hosts the World Championships, which is the most prestigious event in the sport. The current woman’s world champion is Emily Pross from the United States see 2.
Skateboarding made its debut on the Olympic stage at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics and appeared at the Tokyo 2020 Games as a new sport. It is also one of the four new sports proposed by Paris 2024. Longboard skating, on the other hand, is a sport that involves riding a longboard skateboard downhill at high speeds. Longboard skating is not an Olympic event.
Longboard skating is a type of skateboarding that uses a longer and wider board than a traditional skateboard. Longboards are designed for cruising, carving (like carving a wave) and downhill racing. They are typically used for transportation and recreational purposes, rather than for performing tricks in skateparks1.
There are many companies that market longboards, including:
- Arbor: Arbor is a well-known longboard brand that offers high-quality, sustainable, and stylish longboards. They offer a wide range of longboards for different riding styles, including cruising, carving, and downhill racing.
- DB Longboards: DB Longboards is a company based in the Pacific Northwest that specializes in downhill and freeride longboards. They offer high-quality longboards while creating zero waste.
- Globe: Globe is a popular longboard brand that offers a wide range of longboards for different riding styles. They are known for their high-quality components and stylish designs.
- Landyachtz: Landyachtz is a leading innovator in the longboard industry. They offer a wide range of longboards for different riding styles, including downhill racing, freeriding, and cruising. They are known for their high-quality components and innovative designs.
- Madrid: Madrid is a leading innovator in the skateboard and longboard industry. They offer a wide range of longboards for different riding styles, including downhill racing, freeriding, and cruising. They are known for their high-quality components and innovative designs.
- Prism: Prism is a newer longboard brand that offers high-quality, sustainable, and stylish longboards. They offer a wide range of longboards for different riding styles, including cruising, carving, and downhill racing.
- Sector 9: Sector 9 is a well-known longboard brand that offers a wide range of longboards for different riding styles, including cruising, carving, and downhill racing. They are known for their high-quality components and innovative designs.
Overall, there are many great longboard brands to choose from, each with their own unique features and benefits. Equipment companies sponsor teams and competitions.
A Beer Can Hockey Puck is a type of puck used in skateboard hockey. Here are some differences between a Beer Can Hockey Puck vs a ball when used.
- Competitors often play bodychecking, and wear no protective equipment.
- Blood and injuries are common from the bodychecking and by being hit with the Beer Can Hockey Puck. The Puck is agreed to before play and often isn’t crushed to look like an ice hockey puck.
- Helmets are mandatory during tournaments as the can puck is allowed to be hit above the court surface like an ice hockey puck.
- newer style aluminum beer cans are not commonly used. Tall old school pop top cans are and the cans themselves develop followings with fans calling for their use.
Overall, a Beer Can Hockey Puck is a type of puck used in skateboard hockey instead of a ball. It is likely to be a modified older style beer can used over multiple years again and again to satisfy fans and players who remember the can from previous competitions.
Beer cans can be divided into three basic categories: flat tops, cone tops, and pull tabs. Flat tops were used from the 1930s to the early 1960s. Cone tops were used from the 1930s to the mid-1960s. Pull tabs were introduced in the early 1960s and were used until the mid-1970s when they were replaced by the stay-tab. The stay-tab is still used today. While beer cans are not designed to be used as hockey pucks see 1 see 2 3 see 4 see 5 see 6. the flat tops or even pull tabs may be modified into them for Longboard hockey. Today, they are not flattened into a puck shape because that projectile is dangerous but they are still called a puck.
