

The co-branded product featured a wood laminate deck and oak deck, steel wheels, and a triangular label.Īlter would start the Hobie Super Surfer skateboard team featuring Danny Schaefer, Danny Bearer, George Trafton, and Dave and Steve Hilton. Hobart "Hobie" Alter was one of the first to get into the longboard business.Īround 1964, the legendary water sports entrepreneur designed a new board called "The Hobie Super Surfer Skateboard by Vita-Pakt." "Going fast, carving lines and pretty much like I'm pretending that I'm surfing on the pavement," added Ed Economy. Later, Brad Stradlund would add the influence of Jay Adams and Tom Inouye into his longboarding riding style. These innovators drew lines with their boards inspired by surfers like Gerry Lopez, Montgomery "Buttons" Kaluhiokalani, and Larry Bertlemann. Sims competed in and won contests and began producing commercial longboards in five different lengths up to 48 inches (121 centimeters). Other longboard pioneers of the 1970s were Ed Economy and Brad Stradlund."

"He originally started with water skis and experimented with a variety of wood and wood laminates. "Tom was known for his extremely fluid style with a longboard," notes Michael Brooke, author of "The Concrete Wave."

The skate-and-snow pioneer and founder of Sims Skateboards started building large boards using water skis in the 1970s. Los Angeles multi-sports athlete Tom Sim - born Thomas Paul Simeon - is often regarded as the "father of the longboard." The practice, which involved custom-built planks of wood with metal wheels, gave birth to the expression "sidewalk surfing."Īctually, the first longboard skateboard models were inspired by 1950s and 1960s long wooden surfboards - they had a similar shape and, in a way, behaved identically. The goal was to keep surfers entertained and fit while waiting for ideal ocean swells. Preston Nichols was one of the first to build a longboard in the late 1940s, and early 1950s. Nearly all traditional, regular-sized skateboard manufacturers and brands feature longboard models in their portfolios. Longboard wheels are also larger (60-80 mm) and softer (durometer hardness at around 78-82), ensuring a smooth ride and less hangup on sidewalk cracks. The name has its origins in longboard surfboards, which are much larger than traditional shortboards. Technically speaking, a longboard is a large skateboard that ranges from 38 inches to 60 inches (96-152 centimeters). Riders use longboard skateboards for several purposes and in several contexts and skateboarding disciplines, including downhill, freestyle, slalom, street luge, cruising, carving, and dancing. Here's everything you need to know about the classic sidewalk surfing board. The longboard is one of the most popular types of skateboards.
