Do you like the feeling of riding on a board with your feet not contacting the ground? Then, longboarding and snowboarding must be to your taste.
But, what should you choose between them? How do they differ from each other? Before heading to the sports store, let’s check our guide first.
You can find the differences between longboarding vs. snowboarding right here!
What Is Longboarding?
We know that longboarding is the act of riding the longboard.
Many people mistake longboarding for skateboarding, but the longboards are longer, wider, and have bigger wheels.
They often measure 35 to 60 inches in length and 9 to 10 inches in width. You can learn about the differences between longboarding vs. skateboarding here:
Longboarding comes in a variety of styles and board forms. Since riders can choose their riding styles, they also feel free to pick the board shape.
Longboarding is excellent for both cruising and traveling. The flexible wheels allow riders to move at a reasonably high speed while maintaining a smooth motion even on bumpy ground.
What Is Snowboarding?
Snowboarding is yet another popular extreme activity that brings riders a lot of fun and excitement.
This sport is about standing on a snowboard connected to one’s feet and riding on a snow-covered surface. So, snow is the most crucial element in this sport.
The most popular snowboarding styles are freestyle, free carve, and freeride. Each necessitates particular techniques and equipment.
A standard snowboard is about 60 inches long and 10 inches wide. The shape and size, however, vary depending on the intended application.
Differences Between Longboarding Vs. Snowboarding
These types of sports are popular because of the thrill they give riders. However, each comes with a different experience. Let’s read on to find out the details!
Bindings
Bindings play a more critical role in snowboarding than in longboarding.
The bindings are in charge of securing your feet. Hence, you will feel more stable and apply more power to the board to move easily.
In longboards, you rely more on your feet to move forward. You use these boards for commuting and entertainment.
Meanwhile, the snowboards work on momentum. They assist you in moving downhill with the boards.
Width
The snowboard is wider than the longboard. Hence, you will find it harder to maintain equilibrium. It’s necessary to focus on the core strength a lot to keep yourself balanced on the board as well.
The longboard is narrower. Moreover, its four-wheel design gives riders more fulcrum on their core strength. This feature is absent in snowboarding.
Feel
Skateboarding gives a more natural feel to it than other activities. Riders really enjoy sliding on a snow-covered path.
On the other hand, longboarding lacks authenticity because you can only ride it on sidewalks or pavements.
Moreover, you can move faster with the snowboard because of its structure, which aims to reduce resistance while passing slopes.
Balance
Skateboards have four wheels that contact the ground; nevertheless, snowboards move on their edge rather than the flat.
The primary difference between the two kinds of sport is the usage of edge sliding. It affects your natural balance significantly.
Both boards require using the upper part of your body to execute the spin. You have to direct your body weight to the edge on snowboarding or the wheel on longboarding.
However, you can use your feet to brake or bail to stop riding on the longboard because you have to stick your feet to the board.
Meanwhile, you can perform this task on a snowboard. Try transferring your weight off your snowboard and push it to stop.
Stance
While you can ride on a longboard without a strap, the snowboarder needs one. As a result, your stance on a longboard differs from that of a snowboarder.
Snowboard bindings, for example, stay fixed to the board, but you still find your feet at a slight angle.
On the contrary, the stand on a longboard depends on your natural position in terms of angle and width.
For example, when riding on a longboard, your feet parallel the board. You can change your stance to perform different longboarding styles.
Yet, your stance remains unchanged during a snowboarding ride due to the bindings.
Sliding
You stay balanced on the boards thanks to their wheels or edge, as discussed earlier. Hence, you will slide on them too.
There are four wheels on a longboard. When you step on the board, the wheels contact the surface and roll simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the snowboard slides on its edge. It stays flat on the snowy surface and can move because you start at the top of the hill.
Tricks
The popular tricks for longboarding are ollies, dancing, kickflips, and manuals.
If you like snowboarding, you must be familiar with jumps, presses, big air, 180s/360s, and switch riding.
Downhill riding
Downhill riding is quite similar in both sports. The difference is that you have to strap your feet in snowboarding.
On the contrary, downhill decks in longboarding often have foot pockets that help you feel more confident when riding at higher speeds.
However, downhill riding can minimize the pain you suffer from the fall. Losing your pace and crashing is a terrible experience for longboarders.
Safety
Pavement is far less forgiving than a snow-covered surface. Longboarders would suffer many injuries on concrete as frequently.
Snowboarding, on the other hand, has its own set of dangers. If you haven’t trained your skills enough, the hill can be dangerous.
You could get stuck in an avalanche, fall into a chasm, or get hurt while skiing off-piste.
Because snowboarders get strapped, they can’t readily jump out like they can on the longboard, leading to lower-body severe injuries if they collapse.
Longboarders, especially freeride and freestyle riders, often wear safety equipment before their rides.
However, you can slow down or even stop easier when you’re on a snowboard.
Learning curve
Most relatively fit individuals can start to snowboard in a few days with the correct training. Some people can learn how to play this sport by themselves.
Riding on a longboard isn’t complicated either. On level and smooth ground, you can get riding on a longboard after a few hours.
Although these types of sports are easy to get familiar with, they require a lot of time and effort to master. You may even face more dangers when moving to more challenging levels.
The difficulty level of the sports is reasonably equivalent. However, beginners often choose longboarding because the longboards are easier, and they can practice everywhere.
Comparison table
| Criteria | Longboarding | Snowboarding |
| Bindings | Less important | More important |
| Width | Narrower | Wider |
| Feel | Lack of organic feel | More organic feel |
| Balance | Stay balanced based on the wheels | Stay balanced based on the edge |
| Stance | Free to change your stance | Fixed stance due to the bindings |
| Sliding | On the wheels | On the edge |
| Tricks | Ollies, dancing, kickflips, and manuals | Jumps, presses, big air, 180s/360s, and switch riding |
| Downhill riding | More freedom | Less freedom because of the strap |
| Safety | Quite dangerous | Quite dangerous |
| Learning curve | Easy to start but much harder to improve | Easy to start but much harder to improve |
What Should You Choose?
The answer depends mostly on your preference since each sport offers a certain level of safety, thrill, difficulty, and riding style.
When to choose longboarding? This sport may be what you are looking for if:
- You want to move your feet while riding on the board freely.
- You can’t invest in a snowboard, which costs much more than a longboard.
- You want to practice everywhere, from the sidewalks to the parks.
- You like to move around on your longboard.
- You can’t access the snowy areas.
- You want to play the sport all around the year.
When to choose snowboarding? Snowboarding is the better option if:
- You like winter sports.
- You prefer the feeling of landing on the soft snow layer.
- You are looking for an organic feel.
- You want to start riding as soon as you get to know the sport, as the learning curve is easy.
Sports serve different purposes and bring specific experiences. Why don’t you choose both?
Longboarding will keep your summer on fire if you save snowboarding for summer. Then, you can enjoy a whole year.
Conclusion
Longboarding and snowboarding have numerous differences in stance, safety, tricks, feel, etc. The biggest thing they share is the excitement for riders.
You may like the two sports if you love speed. Choosing both is a great idea to help you ride on your board anywhere and anytime.
Hopefully, you will find this post helpful. For any further information, please feel free to ask. Thank you for reading!
