Are you looking to dive into the thrilling world of downhill longboarding and need help setting up your board? This comprehensive guide will provide you with the essential knowledge to choose the right equipment. We’ll explore what works best for downhill skating, helping you make informed decisions.
Assembling Your Downhill Longboard: A Step-by-Step Guide
Selecting the Ideal Deck for Downhill
For downhill skating, a stiff deck is paramount. This rigidity is crucial for maintaining stability at high speeds and ensuring effective feedback from your trucks. A flexible deck can lead to inaccurate steering and wobbles, especially when pushing your limits. It can also compromise your grip through corners. While this might not be a major concern for beginners, understanding the importance of a stiff deck is essential for a safe and controlled ride. The image below shows a rider using a topmount longboard.
Longboard rider in a tuck position demonstrating topmount deck
Longboard decks come in various shapes, but they can be generally categorized into:
- Topmounts: The trucks are mounted directly beneath the board, providing a responsive feel.
- Dropmounts: Similar to topmounts, but the standing platform is lower, enhancing stability.
- Drop-through: The trucks are mounted through the board, with the standing platform sitting between them.
Dropmount decks are often recommended for beginners due to their enhanced stability and ease of learning. To delve deeper into selecting the right deck, you can find more information in our article on best downhill longboard decks. For a visual example of a dropmount board, refer to the Instagram clip below:
Choosing the Right Trucks for Downhill
Reverse kingpin (RKP) trucks are the preferred choice for downhill longboarding. A 40-45 degree angle provides an optimal balance of stability and responsiveness. These trucks also offer sufficient lean for performing slides. For a more detailed guide on selecting the right trucks, check out our dedicated article on choosing your first longboard trucks.
Close up of reverse kingpin longboard trucks
The Importance of Bushings
Bushings, the small rubber components within your trucks, significantly impact your turning and lean. Harder, thicker bushings reduce turning, while softer bushings allow for more maneuverability but might compromise stability at speed. Optimizing your bushings is vital for achieving the desired stability.
For downhill, double barrel bushings are typically recommended because they offer an ideal balance of lean and turn. They provide a smooth turn and a stable center point. You can learn more about truck setup in our article on downhill longboard truck setup for beginners.
Selecting the Right Wheels for Downhill
Wheels for Learning to Slide
When learning to slide, opt for wheels with a diameter between 65mm and 70mm. Radiused lips or a beveled edge will make breaking traction easier. A narrow contact patch is also beneficial for initiating slides. You can explore our article on the best wheels for learning to slide for more detailed guidance.
Downhill longboarder performing a toeside slide
Wheels for Open Road Skating
For open road skating, wheels that are 70mm+ in size with sharp lips are ideal. These wheels provide the necessary traction for gripping corners and maintaining control at speed.
Tip: Before skating on open roads, ensure you’re confident in your sliding abilities. Learn more about safe downhill longboarding techniques.
Downhill longboard wheels with sharp lips
Choosing the Right Griptape
There are two main types of griptape: fine and coarse. For downhill skateboarding, coarse griptape is the better choice. It offers superior grip, preventing slippage, especially during high-speed slides and when using grippy wheels. Coarse griptape is much rougher than standard skateboard griptape and will greatly enhance your grip.
Close up of coarse griptape on a longboard
We recommend Mob Coarse griptape. You can find the Mob Super coarse grip on Amazon.com.
Understanding the Role of Bearings
While bearings are essential for wheel rotation, they are not as crucial for speed as other factors like wheel height and urethane density. Experience and statistics demonstrate that these factors have a greater impact on overall speed. To understand more about the nuances of bearings, check out our guide on skateboard and longboard bearings.
Built-in bearings, like Zealous steel bearings, offer excellent durability, lasting over a year without maintenance. You can purchase Zealous bearings on Amazon.com.
Fireball Dragon bearings for longboards
If built-in bearings aren’t your preference, Fireball Dragon bearings are a great alternative. Pairing these bearings with speed rings and bearing spacers will ensure a smooth and tight fit. You can find Fireball Dragon bearings on Amazon.com.
Essential Safety Gear for Downhill Skating
Safety gear is a must for downhill skating. It protects you from injuries, allowing you to skate with confidence and learn new skills more quickly. We strongly recommend a minimum of:
- A Helmet
- Slide Gloves
- Knee Pads
Close up of downhill slide gloves for longboarding
If your budget allows, consider adding these to your safety kit:
- Hip Pads – a highly underrated safety item
- Spine Protector
Close up of hip pads and spine protector for downhill longboarding
To learn more about safety gear, refer to our article on essential downhill longboard protective gear.
Connecting With the Longboarding Community
If you need additional help or guidance, there are many online communities where you can ask questions and share your experiences.
- Longboard family
- r/longboarding
- #WhatgearshouldIbuy
- Downhill254 archives
- Skateboard racing
- Downhill254
If you’re still stuck, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on social media.
Ready to Hit the Hills?
Downhill skating is an incredibly rewarding sport, with a welcoming and supportive community. Selecting the right longboard for your needs takes time and effort, but the journey is worthwhile. Start exploring, stay safe, and have fun!
