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Long Island Genesis Lean Surfskates Review
The Long Island Genesis Lean surfskate truck is one of the newest to enter the market. It looks and feels similar to the YOW Meraki, but it uses bushings instead of a spring.
In fact, Long Island and YOW are owned by the same parent company, HLC. As Long Island explains in comment on a Reddit post:
“We’re sibling brands, as we are part of the same group (HLC). This means that our boards are manufactured at the same factory. However, we’re brands directed by different people: our marketing and design teams are different. In fact, Long Island is a brand that was created years before YOW was born, and we originally come from longboarding.”
Read this review to see if a Long Island Genesis Lean surfskate is for you.
If you’re trying to find the best surfskate for you, then check out my free Surfskate Selector app. It includes all models from the best surfskates. Just answer 8 quick questions and it reveals the best models for you.
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Watch My Long Island Genesis Lean Review Video on YouTube
Review Quick Links
Bottom Line Up Front
The Long Island Genesis Lean surfskate truck looks and feels very similar to the YOW Meraki. The key difference is that it uses bushings instead of a spring. This means it has less rebound back to center than the YOW Meraki.
The exterior housing is smaller than the YOW Meraki. It also has a 2.75” wheelbase offset compared to the YOW Meraki at 1.75”.
All of these differences make the Long Island Genesis Lean feel slightly less stable than the YOW Meraki. But it has the same deep lean, wide range of motion, and very smooth turns.
I categorize the Genesis Lean as a pure surf trainer on my scale of the best surfskates. It is very loose and smooth, but it doesn’t generate a lot of forward momentum. I think it’s best used for short-distance surf training.
Long Island has said they will sell the truck separately, as well as bushings replacements. But so far, they haven’t offered either. So it worries me that you can’t replace the specialized bushings if they break.
The Genesis Lean feels fantastic and it’s a great addition to the market. However, I find it to be so similar to the YOW Meraki that I’m not sure how they can differentiate themselves. If there were a significant difference in price, I might want to choose a Long Island surfskate over a YOW. But if the prices are similar, personally, I would choose a YOW.
The Long Island Genesis Lean surfskate truck looks somewhat similar to the YOW Meraki.
But instead of using a spring inside, it uses half-moon-shaped bushings to power the side-to-side motion.
This video shows you how to take the Genesis Lean truck apart:
Long Island has said that they will offer replacement bushings, as well as bushings in different durometers to customize. But this hasn’t happened so far.
It concerns me that the bushings are a custom size and that you can’t get replacements. You can’t upgrade them with aftermarket bushings. And if they break, there’s nothing you can do about it.
The Genesis Lean truck feels very similar to the YOW Meraki. It has the same deep lean, range of motion, and smooth, fluid feeling.
But compared to the Meraki, it has less rebound and feels slightly less stable. I feel the slightest jittery feeling from the bushings as I ride, and particularly at higher speeds. It also generates less forward momentum than the Meraki.
I include the Long Island Genesis lean surfskate truck on my list of the best surfskates:
I categorize it as a “pure surf trainer.” This is because it feels extremely loose, fluid, and smooth, and it doesn’t generate much forward momentum.
In contrast, I categorize the YOW Meraki as a “hybrid.” This is because it feels both loose, fluid, and smooth and tight and snappy. Plus, it generates more forward momentum.
When testing surfskate trucks, I measure them on 15 variables. Here’s how the Genesis Lean surfskate truck compares on these variables:
Variable #1: Truck Feel
The first variable is what I call truck feel. By that I mean, is it more on the loose, fluid, and flowy side, or does it feel more tight, sharp, and snappy.
The Genesis Lean is on the far end of the scale of loose, fluid, and flowy.
Variable #2: Flexibility/Range of Motion
The Genesis Lean is among the most flexible and has one of widest ranges of motion of all surfskate trucks.
Variable #3: Rail-To-Rail Lean
The rail-to-rail lean on the Genesis Lean is deeper than most, if not all surfskate trucks. It compares with the YOW Meraki and Waterborne surf adapter on that front.
Variable #4: Stability
I find the Genesis Lean to be slightly less stable than a YOW Meraki.
Variable #5: Suitable Skill Leve
I believe the Genesis Lean is suitable for all skill levels. However, I think intermediate to advanced surfers will appreciate it the most.
Variable #6: Forward Momentum
The Genesis Lean truck does not generate a lot of forward momentum with pumping.
Variable #7: Best Use
I categorize the Long Island Genesis Lean surfskate truck as a pure surf trainer on my list of the best surfskates.
Variable #8: Suitable Riding Distance
Because the Genesis Lean doesn’t generate a lot of forward momentum, I would personally only ride it for short distances.
Variable #9: Suitable Riding Surfaces
Pretty much any surface is fine for the Genesis Lean truck. However, you’ll feel jittery movement on rough surfaces. And I personally would not use it for bowl and transition riding because of its slight instability comparatively.
Variable #10: Versatility
I personally don’t find the Genesis Lean truck to be very versatile, at least not compared to other options. But you certainly could do anything you wanted on it.
Variable #11: Wheelbase Offset
On surfskate trucks, the front axle typically hangs back behind the pivot point. The Carver C7 axle does not hang back, so I use it as a baseline. The Genesis Lean has a 2.75” wheelbase offset relative to the Carver C7.
This is compared to 1.75” on the YOW Meraki. Only the SwellTech and Abian Pro have a longer wheelbase offset than the Genesis Lean.
This means that you want a wider wheelbase on your deck for the Genesis Lean to accommodate your stance width.
Variable #12: Weight
The Genesis Lean surfskate truck weighs 1 pound 5 ounces.
In comparison, the YOW Meraki weighs 1 pound 15 ounces. On the lighter side, the Carver CX weighs 15 ounces.
Variable #13: Quality
The Genesis Lean surfskate truck is well-built. In terms of quality, a complete system compares with a YOW. You’ll get a great truck and deck, but the pivot cups, bushings, and wheels aren’t great.
Variable #14: Maintenance
I haven’t had my Genesis Lean for a long time. So I can’t speak to whether or not you’ll have any breakage or maintenance issues over time.
It concerns me that there are currently no replacement bushings available for the Genesis Lean. They have said that they will sell the truck separately and provide bushings replacements. But so far, they haven’t done either.
So as it stands, if you break the bushings in your Genesis Lean truck, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Variable #15: Cost
At the time of writing this, a complete Long Island Genesis Lean surfskate costs $220 US. They currently don’t offer the truck separately.
Long Island Genesis Lean surfskates are available for purchase in the U.S. at Status Skate Shop.
Long Island currently offers 12 complete Genesis Lean surfskate models. They range from 30” to 35” in length, and 17” to 21” in wheelbase.
I think they’re decks are great. They compare in size, shape, and quality to YOW surfskate decks. They are nice and wide and have great concave.
They use Cinetic wheels, which I really like. And I much prefer them over YOW’s URA wheels.
Long Island surfskates come with standard bearings, as opposed to built-in bearings that eliminate spacers and speed rings. (Carver and SpiceSkate surfskates come with built-in bearings.)
The bushings and pivot cups on Long Island surfskates aren’t great. I would personally replace them.
The Long Island Genesis Lean surfskate truck is a solid addition to the surfskate market. It offers a smooth, deep lean and wide range of motion, making it an excellent choice for surf training.
However, its similarities to the YOW Meraki, combined with the lack of replacement bushings, may limit its appeal.
If Long Island can differentiate itself either through pricing or by addressing the bushing issue, the Genesis Lean could become a more compelling option. If price isn’t a factor, for me the YOW Meraki still edges it out in terms of overall performance.
For more help with choosing the best surfskate for you, check out my free Surfskate Selector app.
