Complete Surfskates

Surf Skateboards Transform Pavement Into Waves

Explore our vast selection of surfskates crafted to emulate the sensation of surfing. Delve into what sets surf skateboards apart and find the ideal board to match your style and skill level.

What Exactly is a Surf Skateboard?

A surf skateboard (alternatively known as a surfskate) is a specialised skateboard featuring an advanced front truck system, which allows for smooth carving and pumping, thereby creating speed.

How Surf Skateboards Differ from Regular Skateboards

The primary difference between surfskates and standard skateboards is found in the trucks. Turning and gaining momentum on surfskates is markedly different compared to other skateboard varieties.

Truck Configuration

• Typical skateboards use standard trucks that rotate around a single axis.
• Surfskates have a dual-axis front truck that imitates surfboard dynamics, enabling deep, fluid turns and speed creation through body motion (pumping).

Generating Speed

• Speed on a skateboard is achieved by pushing (or kicking) backwards with one foot against the ground.
• A surfskate generates velocity through pumping, by transferring your weight from heel to toe and executing a fluid motion with your body.

Have a look at our guide: Surfskating for beginners.

Height and Nimbleness

• Surfskates often stand taller than typical skateboards. This added height stops the deck from contacting the wheels during sharp turns, thereby reducing the risk of wheel bite (when wheels meet the deck, which can cause falls).
• Normal skateboards are less nimble and usually positioned lower than surfskates, as they do not need to manage as steep deck angles.

Are Surf Skates Suitable for Beginners?

Those who are new to skateboarding or longboarding may question whether a surfskate is a good entry-level skateboard. The answer depends on your intentions for taking it up. Below, we’ve highlighted some points to reflect on.

Beginners Interested in Skateboarding:

• Surfskates are less stable (read: highly dynamic) and, consequently, balancing on them is more of a challenge.
• For confined areas such as driveways, small gardens, or compact parking spaces, a surfskate can offer immense enjoyment for novices, allowing for sharp turns in limited areas.
• Those intending to travel, commute long distances, or go downhill will likely find a longboard or a standard cruiserboard a more appealing and stable choice than a surfskate.
• If your goal is to master tricks like ollies or kickflips, the recommendation is “get a skateboard”.

Surfers Looking to Take Up Skateboarding:

• The turning mechanism closely replicates the sensation of carving on a wave, enabling you to practise pumping, balance, and flow off the water.
• Surfskates are a beneficial tool for honing your surfing skills on days when the ocean is flat or when you can’t reach the water.

Beginners Captivated by Surfskating:

• Cruiserboards, longboards, and skateboards do not deliver the wave-like experience that a surfskate offers.
• You know what you desire: Get a surfskate!

Can Regular Skateboards Be Used for Surfskating?

Standard skateboards lack the agile, pivoting front truck crucial for surf-style manoeuvres. To modify one into a surfskate, you can fit surfskate trucks onto your existing deck. However, a conventional popsicle deck will create a shorter wheelbase than a purpose-built surfskate deck.

If your skateboard currently has small, hard wheels, replacing them with proper cruiser wheels will provide a smoother, more fluid experience. Adding risers is also necessary to ensure extra clearance, thus preventing wheel bite during sharp turns.

What Distinguishes a Surfskate from a Cruiser Skateboard?

As the names suggest, cruiserboards are suitable for cruising, while surfskates are designed to replicate surf dynamics.

• A cruiserboard guarantees comfortable transportation on roads, with soft wheels and a short, broad deck.
• A surfskate prioritises dynamic carving and pumping, offering a wave-like experience.

The side-to-side movements required on a surfskate make it less ideal for cruising, as it uses more space on footpaths and streets.

Are Ollies Possible on a Surf Skate?

Ollies are achievable on a surfskate, with some skaters effectively incorporating skateboard tricks into surfskating.

Still, most surfskates have a steep pop angle, making it challenging to execute a proper ollie. Landing can also be demanding, as maintaining stability without excessive wobbling often requires additional effort.

Let’s be frank:

• If you primarily want to perform ollies, kickflips, or shuvits, a surfskate isn’t the best option. You would do better with a traditional skateboard engineered for tricks.
• If you are merely curious about adding some skateboard tricks to your surfskating, then yes, feel free to mix the two.