Nord Boards
Posts Tagged ‘Longboards’
Birthday Gifts for the Sports Enthusiast
For all those parents out there who have a kid coming home with scrapes on his knees, or a teen whose jeans last no more than a month, here are a few gift ideas that are sure to please a sports fanatic.
~Ski Pass; for teens who love to take their Lamar snowboards up to the mountains with their friends or older siblings.
~Rollerblades; great for taking a trip on a trail, being pulled by a dog, or light travel.
~Downhill longboards; these unique skateboards allow for unbelievable control and handling, a welcome gift for any board enthusiast.
~Protective Gear; if you buy them the stuff the pros use they’ll use it too! Helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, goggles, and gloves all make great gifts.
Ala Moana Bamboo Longboard
Sector 9 longboards have an impeccable reputation. The Ala Moana bamboo longboard is a particularly popular model – and for good reason. The longboard has gullwing sidewinder trucks that handle sharp turns incredibly well.
Other standout features its unique design for hard carving slalom style riding. A short wheelbase makes these Sector 9 longboards maneuverable. Add Sector 9 69mm or 72mm wheels for optimal performance.
Mama said: Safety First!
Today is a beautiful new day. The skies are clear blue and we have a predicted high of 67° but… I can’t skate. That’s right, I can’t skate. Thursday during one of those “all -day” park sessions I hurt myself. I can’t remember whether it was in the bowl on the Tien, trying that ridiculous shove-it on the skateboard, or kicking myself for not being able to pull off something… but I managed to bang up my knee. It’s not the worst possible injury, but it will keep me off the board for a few days.
Safety is important. I know it, you know it, and our mom’s especially know it. Remember those geeky water wings as a kid? Anyway it is a great idea to protect yourself. If I had been wearing pads on Thursday maybe I would be skating today. But who knows right? I have found that alot of little injuries can bring you down as quickly as one big injury and a good set of pads plus a helmet can go a long way towards prolonging your sessions. So check our Protective Gear in the shop and skate longer. Have fun and be safe!
Skate to live, Live to skate!
Thanks for reading,
Clayton C.
Skate Weather
Encouraging an Active Lifestyle
It practically goes without saying that advanced technology has made our lives better in an infinite number of ways. The Internet allows us to look up just about any piece of relevant information in a matter of seconds, and cable channels are specialized to our exact tastes and preferences. But sometimes an overabundance of convenience can translate to other problems.
Many of today’s children are overweight or even obese, and lack of physical activity is the primary cause. With that in mind, any means to facilitate some exercise would be a significant help. Your child may want to ride their downhill longboard to look cool and hangout with their friends, but these boards also serve a truly altruistic purpose: saving our children from the burden of serious health problems in the future.
Summertime Longboard Rides
During the summertime I take every opportunity I can to soak up the sunshine. Opportunities to enjoy the warm weather are scarce in the Pacific Northwest, so it’s imperative to make the most of everyday. From June to August, my main conveyance is my longboard skateboard.
Not only does it give me a chance to enjoy the amazing Seattle summer, I also save money on gas, which is particularly nice during the summer, when gas prices tend to be there highest. The great thing about a longboard, as opposed to a bike or scooter, is that it’s also compact and convenient to carry. This allows me to easily take it into stores or restaurants or throw it in a cab if I don’t feel like skating back across town at the end of the day.
layback happy hour 38.5″ longboard
The Layback happy hour longboards are perfect for cruising and carving and even some mild downhill due to it’s large wheelbase. The Layback as said earlier has a longer wheelbase then most short boards which makes for long, smooth, creamy turns. The happy hour is also perfect for ditches and rougher places if you equip it with larger wheels (for people like me who actually still do ditches and wanna ride the rough stuff). I recommend the happy to hour to any beginner due to it being so versatile.
The happy hour comes with san clemente trucks and wheels but I highly recommend buying some quality trucks and wheels. for trucks I recommend getting some independents or chargers. But For wheels I recommend sector 9′s, abec 11′s or orangutangs or any wheel in a 60mm or higher for that matter. The happy hour also comes with abec 5 bearings but I highly recommend getting some reds, they’re only 10$ more and they’re the best you can get for the price unless of course you really want to rip through the streets then i suggest getting some ceramics of any kind.
Layback rising sun 36″ longboard review
The layback rising sun longboards is perfect for cruising the streets, tearing up the back, slashing ditches, and even downhill and slalom if you feel you can do it with one of these little guys (although i don’t recommend the downhill or slalom). The rising sun is also has a small wheelbase which makes it really nice for riding through the streets and weaving through traffic. The rising sun is also great simply because of it’s size it can easily be stored anywhere and doesn’t carry much weight which makes it perfect for students or people that wanna walk around town with a board as well without having too much strain on the arms.
The rising sun comes with san clemente trucks and wheels but I highly recommend buying some of our premium trucks and wheels. for trucks I recommend getting some independents or chargers, or . For wheels I recommend sector 9′s, abec 11′s or orangutangs or any wheel in a 60mm or higher for that matter. The rising sun also comes with abec 5 bearings but I highly recommend getting some reds, they’re only 10$ more and they’re the best you can get for the price unless of course you really want to rip through the streets then i suggest getting some ceramics of any kind.
Purchasing Your First Longboard
When I first started longboarding nine years ago, I couldn’t even tell the nose from the tail. All I knew was that longboarding looked like fun and the people who went around town on their boards definitely looked cool. I can still remember walking into the shop down the street and being overwhelmed by all of the specs I had to choose for my board: trucks; deck; wheels; bearings, etc.
Now that I’ve been boarding for a while, I recognize the importance of all of these components and do my due diligence before making a purchase. However, when I got that first board, the only thing that mattered to me was getting on the road. For those just starting out, it probably isn’t worth it to custom pick all of your parts; I suggest going with premade complete longboards—they typically come with quality components and are ready to ride.
The Basic of Longboard Trucks
The basic components of the skateboard and longboard are the same, although the configuration and design on these various mechanisms differ greatly. One of the main structures that affect the smoothness of your ride and your turning radius is the longboard trucks. To accommodate for the increased deck size, longboard trucks are sturdier and wider than their skateboard counterparts are.
It is important to know what you are looking for before you make your purchase. Some trucks are built for stability while others are designed for speed and hairpin turns. No matter what trucks you opt for, there are adjustments that you can make to customize the part to cater to your style.
Honing Your Skills
Longboarding is fun for kids. Through video games and increased media exposure, more people are participating in the sport than ever before. As with any endeavor, practice is one of the keys to success in longboarding. For those who want to make it in skateboarding as a sport, here are some tips:
~Get a head start. Learn the basics while you are still young. There are many longboard skateboards for kids and adolescents that are available in sports shops and online.
~Get the gear. When choosing your board, don’t forget to buy the corresponding safety gear, such as a helmet and knee pads.
~Find the right place. Although it is very tempting to practice your moves in the street, it is way safer to go to a skate park with regulation and safety inspected ramps.