Transition skateboarding, carving through bowls, quarter pipes, and ramps, demands a specific setup to maximize flow and performance. This guide will break down the essential components for building the best transition longboard, tailored to your style and preferences.
Understanding Transition Skateboarding
Transition skateboarding is all about navigating the curves and contours of skatepark obstacles. Unlike street skating, which focuses on flat ground tricks, transition riding emphasizes flow, speed, and smooth lines across ramps and bowls. It requires a different approach to your setup, ensuring you have the balance and control needed to excel.
What Makes a Good Transition Longboard?
Transition skateboarding in a parkTransition skateboarding involves a blend of flat ground, ramp, and bowl riding, requiring speed, balance, and grip. It’s crucial to have the right setup to achieve the flow and performance needed. Here’s a general guideline for a solid transition setup:
- Deck: Aim for a deck width between 8.0″ and 8.5″, with 8.25″ often considered the sweet spot for versatility.
- Trucks: Higher trucks provide better turning and accommodate larger wheels, essential for transition riding.
- Wheels: Opt for wheels between 54mm and 58mm, with a durometer between 99A and 84B.
- Bearings: Good quality bearings, like Bones Reds or Bronson G2’s, are crucial for speed and durability.
There are generally three categories of transition riders, each with slightly different setup preferences:
- Technical Skaters: These riders perform tricks on rails and ledges, while also enjoying ramps and bowls. They typically prefer a more agile setup, including a deck between 8.0″ and 8.25″, wheels around 54mm, and medium-high trucks.
- Flow Riders: These riders focus on riding parks, mini ramps, and pools, incorporating occasional ollies and transfers. They prefer a wider board around 8.25″ to 8.5″, wheels between 56mm and 58mm, and higher trucks.
- Vert Skaters: Vert skating requires maximum stability. A wide board of 8.5″ or even 9.0″ and above is recommended, paired with 58mm wheels and high trucks.
Deck Choice for Transition
For transition skateboarding, any deck from a reputable brand will work. If you have a preferred size, start with that. However, the general consensus is that decks between 8.0″ and 8.5″ are best for most transition skaters. If you focus on ramps, bowls, and pools, opt for a wider deck for increased stability.
Transition Truck Selection
Truck choice is a matter of personal preference. However, higher trucks are generally recommended for ramps, bowls, and vert riding. A medium-high profile truck is a good starting point for most transition riders. While tight trucks are great for street skating, looser trucks are better for transition to enable pumping and carving. If you are comfortable with your current trucks, there’s no need to change them.
Wheels for Transition Skateboarding
Collection of skateboard wheelsWheels between 54mm and 58mm are recommended for transition skateboarding. Riders who focus on bowls, pools, vert, and mini ramps prefer 56mm to 58mm wheels, while those incorporating technical tricks in parks should opt for 54mm to 56mm wheels. For wheel hardness, 99A and 84B is ideal, ensuring a balance between grip and speed. Soft wheels (under 95A) should be avoided as they stick to surfaces and require more effort to maintain speed. Slightly softer wheels can be beneficial when riding on dusty or slippery indoor surfaces.
Bearings for Optimal Performance
Quality bearings are essential for smooth and fast rides. Standard Bones Reds or Bronson G2’s are recommended for their durability and performance. Avoid cheaper alternatives as they will not last long. Make sure to maintain your bearings properly to maximize speed and longevity. If you can afford it, consider investing in more expensive options like Bones Super Reds, which can last longer.
What to Avoid in a Transition Setup
Avoid these common setup mistakes:
- Small Wheels: Wheels smaller than 53mm require more effort to maintain speed, making it difficult to ride transition effectively.
- Soft Wheels: Soft wheels lack the speed and responsiveness necessary for transition skateboarding. They stick to surfaces, making it harder to pump and maintain momentum.
- Narrow Decks: Decks below 8.0″ are too narrow for most transition riders, making it hard to place your feet comfortably and maintain balance.
- Low and Stiff Trucks: Low trucks do not allow enough turning ability, which is essential for pumping and carving. Stiff trucks do not respond well to the movement necessary for transition skateboarding.
Tips for Transition Skating
Transition skateboarding takes time to learn. Here are a few tips:
- Get Comfortable Riding: Before tackling more advanced tricks, practice riding around on your board, going up banks and quarter pipes, and getting comfortable with kickturns.
- Practice Tail Taps: Start with tail taps on mini ramps to get a feel for riding up and down transitions.
- Learn to Pump: Pumping is a crucial skill for maintaining speed on transition. It requires timing and practice, but it will eventually feel natural.
- Master Kickturns: Practice kickturns both frontside and backside, gradually increasing the height of your turns. Start with backside turns as they are usually easier to learn.
skateboarder about to drop in a quarter pipe
Conclusion
Finding the perfect transition setup is subjective, but there are general guidelines to start with. A wider board, larger wheels, hard wheels, and high, loose trucks are a good starting point. If you’re primarily a street skater, you may not need to change your setup drastically, but experimenting with different components will help you dial in your perfect ride. If possible, try out a friend’s setup to see what works best for you. Transition skateboarding is about personal preference and finding what makes you ride your best.
