Skateboards have come a long way from the time these were introduced to the public. During the early days of skateboarding, those who play it used steel and clay wheels. Back then, only a few options were provided for those who aimed to play the sport by flying on concrete.

Things are different these days, though, as you can now find different types of skateboards with each one performing its intended individual purpose. If you are still a beginner in skateboarding, then rest assured that you can find the best skateboard that is suitable for you.

Take a look at the different types of skateboards mentioned in this article so you’ll get an idea which one fits you best.

#1. Freestyle Skateboard

If you are interested to try skateboarding, then one of the first skateboards you ought to try is the freestyle skateboard. Note that freestyle skateboarding refers to a skateboarding style, which requires you to incorporate tricks and footwork that you have to do on a flat ground.

It is even considered as the oldest style of skateboarding. It emphasizes doing technical flat ground skateboarding. In this case, you need more than just a smooth and flat surface, as well as a board. You will also require choreography and a good music to make a professional freestyle routine.

If you want to try this out, then you need to choose a skateboard with a deck that has a comfortable size. If you plan to focus more on flipping the board around, then choose a narrower and shorter board. However, if you wish to focus on footwork, then it would be best to go for a wide and longboard.

Also, take note that while small boards are easy to control, they also lack stability. Large boards, on the other hand, have stability but are quite difficult to control. Think about those things before choosing your board. As for the shape, it would be best to go for a regular street or freestyle deck.

#2. Slalom Skateboard

You can also try slalom skateboarding, which refers to a kind of downhill skateboard racing. It appeared during the 1960s and 1970s first but got back its popularity during the 2000s. As a slalom skateboard racer, you will need to skate down a course often marked with cones made of plastic.

You will need to finish the course at the fastest possible time while also knocking the least number of cones down. Each plastic cone actually comes with a penalty in the form of a specific amount of time added to your runtime.

Each time you hit a cone down, your time will increase based on the amount of time stated on the cone. It is ideal for you to look for the best slalom skateboards that can help you win this race. The good news is that most slalom skateboards are designed in a way that they increase your speed, traction, and turning.

They also come with wheels that are larger and softer than those found in typical skateboards. Such is beneficial in boosting the grip and speed of the wheels. The boards used here are also often longer than typical skateboards. They also have foam and carbon fiber cores as a means of making them stronger and more responsive.

#3. Downhill Skateboard

What you have to know about a downhill-oriented skateboard is that it promotes high speeds that you can get pretty quickly. With that, it is no longer surprising to see downhill skateboarding being referred to as a sport, which requires excellent skill and precision.

If you are planning to use the downhill skateboard, then take note that you will need to learn things, like sliding, drifting, air braking, and coming to a fast and full stop whenever it is needed. Also, take note that conditions may change really fast when you are riding downhill.

It is an advanced form of skateboarding, which is the main reason why you need to use a specialized equipment for it. Some of the best skateboards and longboards that you can use for downhill skateboarding are the drop-platform, top-mount, and the drop-through skateboards.

The decks used on the downhill skateboards are also usually stiff. In most cases, they come with a wheelbase, which is either small or medium in size ranging from 29 to 32 inches.

The board should also come with some form of concave to prevent your feet from slipping too far either backward or forward. The best downhill skateboard is also that with enough stability so you can move straight even if you are facing a terminal velocity.

#4. Vert Skateboard

Vert skateboarding is another fun and exciting version of the sport. It actually refers to the act of riding your skateboard on vertical walls. In most cases, you will have to ride your skateboard on skate ramps or another incline.

It often requires you, the skateboarder, to transition from horizontal to the vertical plane as a means of performing certain skateboarding tricks. It should be noted that while this form of skateboarding offers a lot of fun and excitement, you need to be totally familiar with it before you try it out.

The first thing that you have to do is to learn the basics of simply riding a skateboard. Master the basics, including pushing, cruising, and carving. Also, invest in the best skateboard that is perfect for the job.

Note that the perfect skateboard ideal for skateboarding is that with a board set up on wheels that are at least 55mm large. The board should also come with a wide deck. Both the large wheels and large decks are essential for vert skateboarding as they are guaranteed to provide more stability.

#5. Street Skateboard

Street skateboarding, on the other hand, focuses more on transitions and tricks often done in public places. If you wish to be a street skateboarder, then note that you will most likely be skating in plazas, industrial areas, and urban streets.

You will also need to use picnic tables, park benches, handrails, guardrails, stairs, bins, planter boxes, and retaining walls that are not actually built purposely for the sport. If you are planning to take on this sport, then you also have to set up your board with a narrower than usual deck.

Furthermore, your street skateboard should come with wheels around 48-55 mm. With such deck and wheels, it will be much easier for you to flip the board then spin it faster, allowing you to perform your tricks conveniently. Ensure that the wheels are constructed out of polyurethane material with extreme hardness.

The sizes of the wheels should also be small to ensure that the board is lighter to carry while also ensuring that the inertia overcomes quicker, allowing you to make your tricks even more manageable.

Street skateboards often come in the shape of the freestyle boards but with a relatively narrow width and symmetrical shape.

#6. Park Skateboard

There is also what we call as the park skateboarding. It actually covers various sub-styles that those who often ride skateboards adopted when doing their tricks in parks purposely built for skateboarding.

A lot of skate parks today come with half pipes and quarter pipes and combine them with other features often present in vert skateboarding. The parks also have street obstacles, like rails and stairs. Including such elements into the skate parks produces a more fun and enjoyable skating experience.

If you are looking for a park skateboard, then take note that the best for you if you are below five feet and four inches is a board, which is 29-inch and below in length. If you are taller than that, though, then you have to use a board, which is at least 32 inches.

A large board is also a good thing as it provides a long wheelbase designed to improve its stability. In addition, it provides more room so your feet can land more effectively. As for the wheels of your park skateboard, consider those that are around 51 to 55 mm. They also need to have a hard durometer.

Also, take note that if you choose one with a small wheel, then you can break out your tricks faster while also letting you have a quick roll speed when doing your tricks on cement. You can also go for fast rolling wheels as they allow you to obtain more air and speed that can help you perform your tricks more successfully.

#7. Pool Skateboard

Pool skateboarding is also another fun sport you ought to try. As the name suggests, it involves skateboarding on a pool. If you wish to try pool skateboarding, then take note that you need to look for a skateboard designed to ride pools, vertical ramps, and bowls.

The best skateboard for this is that, which is wide (around 8.5 inches in width). It is important to use a wide pool skateboard as it promotes more stability and control while also ensuring that your ride is smooth.

The additional width is also a good thing in increasing the lifespan of your board. Note that pool skateboarding requires you to deal with huge landings that might cause the board to take a beating so it needs to be wide enough to handle the pressure.

There should also be wheelbase around 15 to 18 inches. As for the shape, the ideal one for pool skateboarding is that, which is often designed for vert.

#8. Cruising Skateboard

Cruising, as far as skateboarding is concerned, also involves doing the sport on a skateboard which lets you travel as quickly as possible on skate parks, general-urban areas, and ramps without doing certain tricks or without touching surfaces or stopping.

It is a skateboarding style, which works perfectly for you, especially if you want to try something that is between skateboarding and longboarding. You need a skateboard, which is specifically designed for this purpose. In this case, it should be wider generally and should come with rubber wheels.

It is also important to pick a board, which is often used for general-purpose boarding, instead of pulling tricks.

#9. Off-road Skateboard

You can also try off-road skateboarding. It requires you to make use of a specially designed board that you can use almost everywhere, instead of just on a pavement. You can even use skateboards designed for off-road purposes to be perfect for use on gravel, hard-packed sand, and dirt.

What you have to do to is to get a regular skateboard then replace its wheels so it will be perfect for off-road skateboarding purposes. Replace its wheels with larger ones made of rubber to ensure that the skateboard will glide smoothly on various surfaces, such as dirt and grass.

You can also go for special off-road skateboards specifically designed for that purpose. It can handle more rugged terrains. The components of an off-road skateboard can also handle heavy-duty use particularly those on rough terrains.

One of the best features in this skateboard that you can’t find in typical ones is a brake, which is helpful in easily stopping when you are exposed to dangerous terrains. The presence of such feature makes the off-road skateboard ideal for use anywhere, such as when you roll over sticks, bumps, leaves, and other obstruction.