All board sports involve Carving, especially Longboarding. It’s probably the most used form of skating. Longboard Carving is easy to learn, great fun and very addictive.
Once the board’s moving, the Longboarder ‘carves’ executing ‘S’ style movements back and forth.
The ‘S’ trajectory keeps up momentum without having to push, which in turn keeps the Longboard moving while your feet remain firmly planted to the deck.
Those who carve flow carelessly lose themselves in the rhythm, moving their body weight from edge to edge to execute each turn.
One moment your weight goes over the toes. The next, it shifts to your heels, your shoulders start the movement, your torso and hips move accordingly, your knees bend in unison, and your arms help you balance.
Once the turns are completed, you shift the other way. Carves can be both long and short. It’s entirely up to you. Carving is excellent for keeping your speed in check, whether riding on a flat surface or downhill.
The ‘S’ movements keep the speed constant and in control.
While becoming an absolute master, Carver may take months or even years for some skaters. However, as a beginner, you can get very good very quickly. All you need to get started is a Carving Longboard.
Carving Longboard Characteristics
The ideal Carving Longboard decks are between 36 “-40 long to allow quicker, more responsive turning.
They include a camber (upward bend between trucks). In addition, the up and down motion returns energy which aids momentum. The decks are a soft to medium flex and usually include 1 or 2 plies of bamboo.
Decks are concave (a downward curvature between the deck’s width) and are sometimes ‘welled’ to prevent wheel bit on the inevitable sharp turns.
The Concave supports the heels and toes on each carve. 180mm 50 degree trucks are commonly used on Carving Longboards as they provide excellent turning.
The Trucks are top-mounted, so the deck sits high (as opposed to drop-through trucks, which sits the deck low). The top-mounted trucks allow more lean and more room, so wheel bite doesn’t occur.
Some Carvers prefer a lower deck for more stability and ease of pushing, and they don’t mind sacrificing some turning leverage for more responsiveness.
Drop through decks with cutouts fit the bill in this instance. Wide and soft wheels with sharp edges are the best option for Carving, providing stability and smoothness over humps and bumps.
Longboards For Carving
Here are ten Longboards suitable for Carving.
Magneto Downhill Cruiser
The Magneto Downhill Cruiser is a top-end Longboard that excels at Carving, especially at speed and riding hills.
The deck measures 38.5″ is cambered and concaved, composed of carbon fibre, bamboo and fibreglass, which is ultralight.
All these features combined returns the ideal flex for Carving.
The Magneto is a drop-through style board with cutouts and is fitted with 9-inch trucks and soft 70mm wheels.
Hammond Piper 40
The Hammond Piper 40 is a top-mounted twin tipped Longboard with a concave deck and slightly raised nose and tail.
The deck measures 40″ x 9″ with a slight concave for foot comfort when carving.
The deck is a medium flex constructed from 8-ply Canadian maple, fitted with Surf Highway Custom 70 mm wheels and ABEC5 bearings.
Yocaher Punked Kicktail
The Yocaher Punked Kicktail is a classic pintail Longboard with a medium camber and nice soft flex, an excellent deck for Carving and sharp turns.
The deck’s 40″ long and constructed from 7-ply maple has a 27″ wheelbase with 180mm heavy-duty trucks and Q-Ball 70x52mm 78A wheels.
Titus
The Titus Longboard is a twin tipped dart style longboard with flush-mounted trucks and deep cutouts for the sharpest carves.
The deck’s 38″ includes a mellow concave and is made from 7-ply maple with 1-ply of bamboo veneer for a moderate to stiff flex, suitable for carvers who like more responsiveness.
The Titus is fitted with 180mm trucks, 70 mm, 80A wheels and ABEC7 bearings.
Z-Flex Surf A Go Go Log Roll
This deck isn’t for all carvers, only those who want the tightest possible turns and carves.
The Log roll’s fitted with a Waterborne Surfskate adapter that provides 3x extra turning than standard trucks.
The decks are 37 inches long with a medium flex and are fitted with 63mm 83A Z-Smooth wheels and 14 MM Z-Flex Riser Blocks.
Landyachtz Ripper
The Landyachtz Ripper provides a smooth surfy feel while carving.
A good choice for carvers who want a stiffer responsive deck and the sharper turns that shorter trucks provide.
The deck measures 36.9″ x 6″ has a 24.9″ wheelbase with 155mm Trucks 90a Bushings 63mm EZ Hawgs Wheels.
Sector 9 Roundhouse
The Roundhouse by Sector 9 is a highly responsive carving tool ideal for intermediate to advanced riders.
The decks a drop-through, twin-tipped dart style, short at 34″ and constructed from 7-ply maple.
Sharp rails provide excellent grip. Fitted with Gullwing Sidewinder II Trucks 69mm 78a Nineball Wheels ABEC 5 Greaseball Bearings.
Arbor Zeppelin
The Arbor Zeppelin is a carving specific Longboard that would suit a rider who has mastered the technique and wants to achieve sharp, precise turns.
The deck is shorter than conventional longboards measuring 32″ x 8.75″ with a wheelbase of 23″.
The Arbor includes top-mounted Gullwing Sidewinder 9Trucks, 71MM wheels and ABEC 5 bearings.
Loaded Fat Tail
The Fat Tail Deck by loaded is a modern evolution of the classic pintail shape. The deck has a cambered deep concave deck constructed from fibreglass and bamboo.
The deck measures 38″ x 8.6″ and is highly responsive, available in 3 flexes so you can customise to your bodyweight or preferred flex.
The wheelbase is 26.5-27.4″. Trucks are top-mounted Paris 150mm, 50 degrees with 70mm, 80a Stimulus wheels.
Loaded Icarus
The Icarus Longboard is perfect for carvers who want a premium carving deck with drop through trucks for a lower centre of gravity.
The Icarus is 38″ long, and like the Fat Tail, is constructed from bamboo and fibreglass and includes a variable concave and camber profile that responds very well to carving techniques.
The deck is coated in grippy cork, which reduces vibration and is available in two different flex levels.
The Icarus includes 180 mm 50 degrees Paris trucks, Orangatang Kegal wheels & nipple bushings and Loaded Ball Bearings.