I didn’t step foot on a skateboard or longboard until the age of 43. When COVID shut my business down in March of 2020, I got into longboarding.

I started out on a 44″ pintail cruiser longboard. Over time, I bought many types and lengths of longboards and played with many different configurations.

If you watch my surfskating YouTube videos, you’ll see that my style of riding is basically glidey cruising. But I wanted more carving ability than I could get out of a longboard.

So when I discovered surfskating videos on YouTube, I knew I had to try it.

I researched for months before deciding to buy the Carver Tyler 777 36.5″ surfskate with CX trucks.

From the first time I stepped on a surfskate, I haven’t touched a longboard since.

If you come from a longboard cruising background like me, you may just want to switch from longboarding to surfskating.

To learn how to surfskate, get my video course, “Surfskating for Non-Surfers.”

Here are the three reasons why longboarding versus surfskating isn’t even a contest for me:

Reason #1 to Switch from Longboarding to Surfskating: The Feel and Flow

 
The first and foremost reason why I love surfskating versus longboarding is how surfskating feels and flows.

When you’re cruising on a longboard, you don’t use a lot of body movements. You basically just stand and roll.

Yes, there are many forms of longboarding, such as longboard dancing, that can use a lot of body movements. Even still, no longboard can duplicate the feel and motion of surfing on land.

Longboard cruising is very one-dimensional compared to surfskating. Longboarding basically involved everything below the knees, while surfskating involves the whole body.

The bottom line is, surfskating just feels more fun than longboard cruising!
 

Reason #2 to Switch from Longboarding to Surfskating: Control

 
On a longboard cruiser, declines can be difficult to navigate. If you don’t know how to slide, you have little control over your speed. You can only carve as tightly as your longboard will allow. If you get going too fast, you’ll have to bail.

On a surfskate, I have complete control. I can very slowly and safely carve out very steep hills. I can even pump uphill on a surfskate versus a longboard.

On a longboard, I can’t weave in and out of tight urban obstacles. On a surfskate, I can basically skate wherever I can walk (as long as it’s on concrete, of course). I can very easily weave in and out of tight spaces.
 

Reason #3 to Switch from Longboarding to Surfskating: It’s the Perpetual Ride that Never Ends!

 
On a longboard, I constantly have to push my foot on the ground to keep propelling myself forward.

On a surfskate versus a longboard, I can “pump” the board using the front surfskate trucks without touching my foot on the ground.

I can ride a surfskate for as long as I have energy–even uphill, including parking garages with ease.

Bottom line: Surfskating is riding a concete wave that never ends. Like surfing, surfskating is the feeling of pure freedom.

On a longboard versus a surfskate, you travel linearly. On a surfskate, you explore every inch of concrete. A whole new world of concrete opens up to you on a surfskate.

This video illustrates the differences of a longboard versus surfskate:

If you’re ready to try surfskating but don’t know which surfskate is right for you, get my free Surfskate Selector app now. In 8 quick questions, I’ll tell you the perfect surfskate for you.