Longboards are incredibly versatile as they come in a variety of styles. A pintail is one of them. Many people say that you should always start with this longboard type when you are a beginner.
The nose and tail of pintail longboards are pointed instead of round or flat. The tail is often longer and pointier than the nose.
A pintail longboard is an ideal choice for carving and cruising. That is because its unique features and classic design allows people to cruise smoothly with incredible balance.
It was designed that way so it could achieve better aerodynamics than other types of longboards. Riders can increase their speed but still experience the same smoothness. The big wheels also allow the rider to enhance speed.
Now that you know what a pintail longboard is, here is everything else you need to know about it.
Characteristics Of A Pintail Longboard
You may be wondering what makes the pintail different from other types of longboards.
You can recognize the shape of this longboard from a great distance. It has a pointy pintail and a wide nose.
The wheels of the pintail stick out from the sides of the deck. However, it is not as far from each other as other types of longboards.
Additionally, pintail longboards are top mount. Top Mount means that the trucks are screwed at the bottom of the deck with bolts on the mount holes. These two characteristics are what make the pintail longboard unique. They also affect the riding style of the longboard.
Because the pintail is a top mount, it will rise higher off the ground than other longboard types. You will experience less stability when it comes to a pintail because the ride height directly affects balance.
Besides that, the tip mount also means you will have greater truck leverage. That means you will be able to turn incredibly quickly.
Last but not least, pintails mostly have a flexible deck.
Wondering where to get a good pintail longboard? Read “Are Zumiez Skateboards Good?“
Pros And Cons Of A Pintail Longboard
There are many reasons why people opt for a pintail longboard. Here are the many pros that make it a popular choice among individuals:
Stability
The biggest advantage of having a pintail longboard is the amount of stability it provides to the rider. The wheelbase is wide and long, which means your ride will be smooth and stable. If you want to learn how to cruise or push, a pintail is where you should begin.
That is why many people opt for pintails in the beginning. It allows them to work on their balance and stance. After that, if you want to diversify, you can move to other types of longboards.
Aesthetic Appeal And Functionality
The pintail is a classic longboard. It has a timeless feel because it was created to look like a surfboard. Of course, with time, the design has been tweaked, and now they look more aesthetic.
Besides that, they provide optimal functionality to the rider. You will experience a comfortable and relaxed ride like no other. The pintail is best used for cruising and riding for leisure.
Learning The Basics
The pintail longboard is the best place to start for a beginner. You will easily be able to learn the basics without injuring yourself. That is because the pintail is a bit narrower than other longboards, and so it will help you work on your foot placement and balance.
Working on your turning will also allow you to find the perfect spots for leverage. Once you have learned these basics, you can move on to a different type of longboard to learn different riding styles.
Good Grip
If you want to learn to maintain your grip on a longboard, the pintail is the ideal choice for you. It has a top mount deck, which means you can have your body weight and feet directly over the trucks.
That allows you to have a firm grip on the board as it will give the wheels more traction. The wheels will also grip better to the ground, and you will easily go anywhere. That is why many people opt for the pintail longboard as their first board.
Cons Of A Pintail Longboard
We don’t live in a perfect world. Everything has its imperfections, and so does a pintail longboard, which includes:
Freestyle Tricks Are Challenging
Generally, longboards don’t allow you to do many tricks. However, with the pintail longboard, this becomes even more limited. You will not be able to do any freestyle tricks because of the design of this longboard.
Pintails don’t have functional kicks because they either have a pointy or short flat tail. That is why you will not be able to do any new tricks or freestyle moves with this longboard type.
If that is what you are looking for, then check out, “What Is A Kicktail Longboard?”
Not Ideal For Distance Skating
If you plan on distance skating on the pintail longboard, you will not be able to do a good job. That is because pintails are top mount, which means that pushing will require you to drop your foot far down to the ground for kicking.
Doing this frequently will put a severe strain on your lower back, hips, and knees. That is why they are not the ideal choice for going downhill, freeriding, or distance skating. If you plan on doing all of these things, you should consider a different longboard.
Materials Utilized For Pintail Longboards
Even the materials utilized for pintail longboards will affect your riding style and behavior. Some offer more stability and flex, while others don’t. That is why it is important to consider the materials before deciding to purchase your first pintail longboard.
Conventionally, longboards and skateboards have been made of wood. Of course, the wood they use also differs from longboard to longboard. But the material used can affect the performance of the longboard and your riding experience.
If you are looking for a sturdy and rigid pintail longboard that offers speed and momentum, you need to opt for a hardwood longboard. It is an incredibly sturdy material, so if you struggle with stability, it is an excellent place to start your longboarding journey.
However, if you want a bouncy board that will absorb the impact from the bumps on the road and has some flex, you should go for a bamboo pintail longboard. Many brands also have bamboo boards in combination with other materials such as fiberglass. Such a combination allows the longboard to be strong, lightweight, and maintain its flex.
Another thing to keep in mind is your height and weight. If your height is tall and you are muscular with a lot of weight, then a bamboo or composite longboard is not the ideal choice for you. That is because the more flex a board has, the more easily it can sag.
If you are tall and your weight is also high, then after a while, your longboard will start to sag. Once that happens, your board will touch the ground and start scraping it. That will result in an unresponsive board, and it will make your riding experience bumpier.
If your height and weight are above average, you should not go for a bamboo or composite board. Instead, we would recommend you to opt for a sturdier longboard built with hardwood.
Beginner Tricks For Pintail Longboarding
If you have decided to purchase a pintail longboard, your skateboarding experience has just begun. Despite its limitations, there are still many beginner tricks you can learn on the pintail longboard. Here are some that you can easily practice at home to enhance your skills:
Peter Pan
The beginning of this trick will start by you walking crisscross across your pintail longboard. After that, bring your front foot towards the backside of your toes edge. Once you have done that, you need to cross your front foot over towards your heel edge.
You can repeat these steps as many times as you want to before you return to your original stance. It might be hard to initially gain the crisscross momentum, but it will come with practice, so don’t give up.
Cross Step
If you want to take your carving to the next level, you should try the cross-step trick. You begin this trick by bringing your front foot to the back of the edge of your heels. After that, you need to cross your back foot over your front foot while stepping on the heel.
Not sure what carving is? Read “What Is Longboard Carving?“
You need to then bring your front foot to the top and the back foot to the back. Once you have achieved this, you can start to carve toeside. Remember to keep your head a little leaned forward during this trick not to fall back. Besides that, if you want to maintain your balance the entire time, you will need to shift your arms and hips in different directions. It will allow you to have more stability.
Ghostride
It sounds like a weird name for a longboarding trick, but it is a cool one. It involves the rider hopping off their board and then back. It may sound childish, but it is done stylishly on the longboard.
You will begin by placing your front foot in the middle, toes pointing forward. After that, bring your back foot over and across the front, so it lands on the ground. While you are shifting your front foot off the board, you need to bring it over and across the back foot.
That will allow you to hope back on to the board in your original stance. Repeat this as many times as possible to improve your trick performance.
Pirouette
The move is incredibly swift, and it will make you feel like a ballerina on the longboard. All you have to do is place your front foot in the middle with toes pointing forwards. After that, spin 360 degrees on the ball of your foot. You will land in your original stance, and you can then ride away gracefully.
Many people can’t achieve this trick because they use their heels. You have to remember to use your ball of the foot or end up doing it wrong.
Trying to decide if a longboard is even what you want? Read “Longboard Vs. Skateboard Vs. Penny Board.”
Conclusion
That was your introductory guide on a pintail longboard. It is one of the best longboards for a beginner because it will enhance your experience by making learning easy for you.
If you still can’t decide, then you can weigh the pros and cons and make an informed decision about whether it is suitable for you. However, we guarantee that once you get this board, you will love it.
If this article was helpful, sign up for our Newsletter for more great content.