Mini Longboard

A mini longboard is basically a longboard at heart. But it is generally a little shorter than a true longboard, a longboard is generally 37 inches or bigger, and anything below that is a mini longboard. Mini long boarding and long boarding is sport that started in California in the late 1950s.

The mini longboard was created by skate boarders who wanted to go faster but at the same time did not want to compromise on the maneuverability of regular size skate boards. The way that it is done is by joining a board that is usually between 30 and 37 inches to a “truck” which is a type of axle with small plastic wheels attached to them. In a way it could be said that long boards and mini long boards are the ancestor of the modern day skate board. The mini longboard is propelled the same was as any other form of skate board but at the end of the day it used more for downhill riding or slalom more that “straight and level” style of riding.

The deck of these skate boards are usually made out of plywood, Canadian hard rock maple or Hawaiian rose wood.  Most mini longboards are designed to go faster than skateboards by attaching a faster truck that has harder wheels. The wheels on a mini longboard are harder because harder wheels can roll faster than softer ones, but softer wheels are good for maneuvering. A lot of times what skaters do is attach harder wheels in the front and softer wheels in the back so that you get a decent combination of both speed and maneuverability.

The mini longboard comes in a variety of different colors and styles. There are the classic “surfboard shaped ones to more space age designs. Then there are the ones that have more complicated and rugged truck designs built into them, such as independent wheels. Those high end designs are usually more expensive and can be a hassle finding spare parts. Most minis long boards are made from Canadian maple wood which is abundant in supply there fore it helps to keep the cost down and is a more environmentally sensitive alternative. On top of the board nowadays recycled crushed glass is used for better grip, compared to the silica alternatives of yesterday. Many skate board manufacturers use recycled products to make their boards, which helps them wean away a dependency from plastic based products.