Which surfskate for sliding ?

Sliding on a surfskate is a technique that reproduces the radical maneuvers of surfing by sliding on asphalt. To master this technique, it is essential to choose a high-performance surfskate suited to the practice. Here are the essential criteria for choosing a surfskate designed for sliding.

1 - CHOOSING YOUR DECK FOR SLIDING: STABILITY AND MANEUVERABILITY

➜ THE LENGTH OF THE SURFSKATE DECK

The size of the board directly influences your ability to perform controlled slides. Different board lengths and shapes offer distinct advantages for sliding.

• Medium to long boards (32 to 34 inches): Boards in this length range offer a good balance between stability and maneuverability, ideal for riders looking for smooth and controlled slides. They provide good control, particularly during transitions between carves and slides.

• Shorter boards (29 to 32 inches): Shorter boards are more responsive and snappy, making short and technical slides easier. Their compact size allows you to initiate a slide quickly and maintain it in tight spaces. This makes them ideal for riders looking for aggressive and fast maneuvers while retaining maximum maneuverability.

➜  THE WIDTH OF THE SURFSKATE DECK

The width of the deck directly influences stability and control during slides.

• Wide decks (10 to 10.5 inches): They offer greater stability and a better platform for foot placement, which is particularly useful during committed slides.

• Narrower decks (9 to 10 inches): More responsive, they make quick weight shifts and technical maneuvers easier.

For sliding, a width of around 10 to 10.5 inches generally offers a good balance between stability and maneuverability. If you are looking for a really snappy board for sliding, a 9.5" board will be more suitable.

➜ THE SHAPE OF THE SURFSKATE DECK

Choosing the shape is particularly important for sliding. It determines the space available for your feet, as well as the deck’s ability to provide sufficient support and grip during tight turns, which are essential for initiating and controlling a slide. Three main categories can be distinguished:

• Performance shapes: These are aimed at riders looking for a very aggressive and responsive board, or for smaller riders. For a taller rider, this type of shape can become difficult to control if their technical level is not sufficient.

• Hybrid shapes: Wider than a performance shape, but more compact than a classic deck, they allow you to tighten your turns while maintaining a good level of stability. They therefore offer an interesting compromise between maneuverability and control.

• Comfort shapes: These are the most common on the market. Their length and width provide good stability, particularly for larger riders. To be truly suited to sliding, however, they should ideally feature a medium concave, a characteristic that is still relatively uncommon on this type of surfskate.

  
  

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  Performance shape

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  Hybrid shape

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  Comfort shape

➜ CONCAVE AND WHEELBASE OF THE SURFSKATE DECK

Concave and wheelbase play an essential role in the control and responsiveness of a surfskate during slides.

• Pronounced concave (medium concave / high concave): It helps keep your feet securely in place and maintain better control during the slide.

• Short wheelbase (14 to 16 inches): It makes the board more responsive and facilitates quick changes of direction and fast slides.

• Medium wheelbase (16 to 18 inches): It offers a good balance between responsiveness, stability and control.

For a slide-oriented setup, a medium concave combined with a short or medium wheelbase is generally a well-suited configuration. Most surfskates on the market are not specifically designed for sliding and therefore often feature a low concave. For this type of practice, a medium concave is generally sufficient: there is no need to choose a high concave, which is more commonly intended for highly technical street skating.

Some artisan shapers also offer surfskates pressed in molds traditionally used for skateboards, providing a setup particularly well suited to the demands of sliding. This also allows you to benefit from a smaller nose for other technical tricks.

Classic surfskate - low concave, long wheelbase, flat nose

Slide surfskate - medium concave, short wheelbase, double kicktail

2 - TRUCKS: RESPONSIVENESS AND STABILITY FOR SLIDING

Choosing the right trucks is crucial for achieving a responsive surfskate, capable of initiating slides while maintaining good control. An unsuitable truck can make sliding difficult by limiting either responsiveness or stability.

• Rigid trucks for optimal control: For sliding, it is recommended to choose rigid trucks, which provide better stability during slides and make it easier to initiate them.

• Responsiveness: A truck that quickly generates speed through pumping and allows tight, smooth turns is essential for mastering slides. A truck that is too loose could make slides difficult to control or initiate.

Here are two truck options particularly suited to sliding on a surfskate:

1. Carver CX: Unlike the C7 model, the Carver CX is more rigid and provides fast, precise responsiveness, which is essential for sliding. This truck makes transitions between carving and sliding easier, while providing the stability needed to maintain a controlled slide.

2. YOW Meraki (S5): Softer and more radical, it offers a wide range of movement and allows very tight turns. It can be particularly interesting for riders looking for dynamic and committed slides, but requires more skill to maintain stability during the slide.

Carver CX Trucks​

Trucks Yow Meraki S5

These two trucks are good options for surfskate sliding, offering an interesting balance between responsiveness, maneuverability and stability.

3 - WHEELS: SIZE AND DUROMETER FOR SLIDING

Wheels play a fundamental role in successful sliding, as they influence grip and the smoothness of the slide. Here are the key characteristics to look for:

• Wheel size: 58 to 65 mm: Smaller wheels, around 58 mm, are more responsive and make it easier to initiate slides. Larger wheels, up to 65 mm, provide greater stability and better absorption of surface irregularities, making them ideal for long and smooth slides.

• Wheel durometer: 84A and above: To facilitate sliding, wheels with a durometer of 84A or above are recommended. Harder wheels (up to 90A) reduce grip on the ground, making slides easier and improving slide control.

• Rounded lips: Wheels with rounded lips make it easier to initiate slides and improve the smoothness of the slide. Unlike square lips, which grip the road more, rounded lips allow for easier sliding.

Blood Orange Morgan Pro 65mm 84A Wheels

It is important to understand that a wheel that is too soft will tend to grip the ground more, making it harder to initiate a slide. Conversely, a wheel that is too hard will break traction more easily, but may make the slide more difficult to control. Despite its relatively high price, the BLOOD ORANGE Morgan Pro Series 65 mm 84A therefore offers an excellent compromise for surfskate sliding, providing enough slip while maintaining good control.

4 - WHERE TO FIND YOUR SURFSKATE DECK FOR SLIDING?

Finding a deck that is genuinely suited to sliding can be more difficult than it may seem. Most surfskates available on the market are primarily designed for carving, pumping and surf training, with shapes and concaves rarely specifically designed for sliding.

For a slide-oriented setup, several options are available:

• Specialized surfskate brands: Some offer decks that are wide and responsive enough for sliding, but you should pay attention to the shape, concave and wheelbase rather than the model name alone.

• Skateboard decks adapted to surfskating: Some skateboard decks, particularly those with a medium concave and suitable width, can be fitted with surfskate trucks to create a setup that is particularly effective for sliding.

• Artisan shapers: To obtain a board truly adapted to your body type and riding style, custom-made boards allow you to choose the length, width, shape, concave and wheelbase precisely.

CONCLUSION

To excel at surfskate sliding, it is essential to choose an optimized setup. Rigid trucks offering good responsiveness and stability, combined with 58 to 65 mm wheels with a durometer of at least 84A, are key elements for better control during slides. By choosing an artisan-made board, you will also have the opportunity to get a custom-made surfskate perfectly adapted to your specific needs, which will improve your performance and make your sliding sessions smoother and more enjoyable.