The Evolution Of Pintail Longboards: From Vintage To Modern

Published by Tami Thompson on

The Evolution Of Pintail Longboards From Vintage To Modern

Pintail longboards have quite a rich history. It has come a long way going through various modifications in different eras. While choosing your best pintail longboard, learn about The Evolution Of Pintail Longboards: From Vintage To Modern.

The Evolution Of Pintail Longboards: From Vintage To Modern

The history of longboards dates back to the 1940s and 1950s. Preston Nichols was the first person to design them as an alternative to surfing. He had observed that sea surfing was not always possible because, during certain times of the year, the waves were too low for that. So, he had come up with the idea of making surfing possible on land as well. Nichols improvised on the skates boards and created a different version from them called the longboards which were much longer in length than the skateboards. Longboards were first made available for commercial use in 1959. The distribution was taken up by Jack, Makaha, and Hobie. 

But the longboards were still much rough and had metal wheels. Later it got changed to clay wheels for safety reasons. But it was not until the late 1950s and beginning of 1960s that longboarding gained popularity.

The Fall Of Longboarding And The Comeback

In 1965, suddenly the popularity of longboarding began to decline. During this time skateboarding gained immense popularity surpassing the craze for longboarding. Skateboarding had shorter decks that gave people the thrill of applying different tricks which were not possible by longboarding.

But in 1972, the Cadillac Wheel Company along with Frank Nasworthy brought in urethane longboard wheels. These wheels helped the skaters to achieve greater speed downhill which was not previously possible. Reverse kingpins were also introduced which gave stability to the riders. It also gave suppleness while riding downhill and this once again brought back popularity to the longboards. It soon became a sporting activity under the governing body of IGSA.

The Modernization And Evolution Of Pintail Longboards

During the 1990s the longboards underwent a dramatic change as cutout decks were introduced. Around the wheels, the sections had been cut out so that the wheels would not touch the board while making hard turns. The technology evolved from there very rapidly and included many styles of longboarding from skating. The deck of the modern longboard is made from different materials such as carbon fiber, fiberglass composites, and aluminum which makes them smooth and gives a greater grip while making a flip.

Yet there remained a challenge. The users of the longboard began to complain about the wheels getting in contact with the deck while making turns. To resolve this issue in order to hold the market, pintail longboards got introduced. These longboards have a pointed tail and nose which gave the riders greater flexibility during carving and cruising.

Presently in modern times, pintail longboards are the most popularly used type. These longboards give greater flexibility and stability during high speed and are ideal for riding downhill too. These are easy to maneuver while performing tricks too. The smoother trucks’ big wheels make them perfect for carving even while you are flipping against gravity.

The versatility of pintail longboards makes them the most popular choice amongst the experienced and the beginners too. The shape is more attractive as it has got a sleek body and a variety of prints on them making them even more appealing to the users. Amongst the other longboards, pintails are the lightest and easier to carry. Here is all about The Evolution Of Pintail Longboards: From Vintage To Modern.

Categories: Blog

Tami Thompson

I'm Tami Thompson, the founder of HIR Adventure, my team and I are passionate about outdoor adventure sports. We're committed to offering you the finest skateboards, longboards, and snowboards.