landyachtz vs carver

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Arbor Longboards , Carver Trucks , Landyachtz , Longboard Reviews , Surfskate - February 17, 2023

Surfskate Truck Review: Carver C7 vs Carver CX vs Landyachtz

To be brutally honest...

I wasn't feeling that inspired by the growing surfskate trend in the UK and Europe. My longboard goes great, I can smang my cruiser around town, what more could I need? Well, we've had a few demo surfskates in the shop for a while now. Being as I had only a theoretical understanding of which was which, we decided to get involved... It's a hard job we have, but we do it for you.

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Carver C7 vs Carver CX vs Landyachtz Surfskate Trucks

Three different truck designs - one aim. Surfing on asphalt.

So whats the best surfskate truck?

Of course, its never that easy. It depends on what you envision yourself doing with the thing. With these three options, every base is covered.

Chatting with various people involved with designing and riding these trucks, it seems that there's a spectrum of expectations when it comes to a surfskate.

Where do you fall on the scale?

On the far side, cruising in this case means skating through town from A to B - dealing with real life obstacles, varying asphalt and hills. Pumptracks, too.

At the near end, tight-turning is for those who really want to use their surfskate to get some practise for being on the water - moving your shoulders and hips through the turns to draw speed out of every section of a wave.

In the middle comes a mixture of the two - perhaps you want to get those moves working on banks or at the skatepark. You need the tight turns combined with a little more stability at speed and a solid product that won't mind being hit against the lip.

And don't worry - they all pump great !

There is a real difference in how tight you can turn on each truck, that to me highlights the differences pretty well. Check it out here:

The answers are pretty clear.

The extra pivot arm on the C7 means that it will simply lean further and harder than anything else.

If you're restricted in space, keen on skating between closely packed obstacles and happy to stay on the flat, the C7 offers a carving experience like nothing else.

But which one would we skate to the post office?

It's the Landyachtz . It's lower to the ground and more stable when the speed starts to pick up above a gentle jog. Super versatile and so super fun as a cruiser, great to pump along and feel agile in the streets - but not the tightest-turning, cutback-ripping that most people picture of a surfskate.

If you want the best of both worlds, the Carver CX is a worthy candidate. It's higher than the LY and a whole lot more tippy turny. Less suitable for your commute, perhaps, but all the more whippy for it. You can pick up speed from just one pump from standing, carve circles in any given carpark - and if you want to get slashin' in the skatepark these are the ones for you.

As you can see, there isn't a winner as such. Just pick where you want to be on the scale of tight turns vs functional cruising out in the streets and you'll find the board that suits you.

Once you have it, there is always a further degree of fine tuning possible by changing bushings.

Regular readers will know that I'm a firm believer that to improve your surfing, you're much better off:

• Going surfing more
• Getting fitter
• Watching The Occumentary on repeat

Than buying a surfskate.

However, the fun you can have on a surfskate is a whole experience in itself - I'm converted. Formation flying with your friends has never felt better at walking pace. We love it.

Check out the full collection here .

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The Best Surfskates for Surfers: Reviewed

When the waves are flat, grab a surfskate. Photo: Cristian Cabral

Surfskates have been taking the surf world by storm. Marketed as a way to get your flow on during the flat days, improve your surfing with similar-movement repetition and training, or just have fun cruising around the neighborhood, I’ve been riding surfskates for the past few years for all of the above reasons, and would strongly recommend them to any surfer. I would also (more gently) recommend them to any non-surfer for how much sheer fun they can be. I always have a surfskate in my car for when I find myself with a few minutes and an open parking lot, or (as is often the case in San Francisco) when I’m forced to park far away and walk to my destination. My favorite use for them is in downhill runs. Instead of a bombing straightline, a surfskate lets you take a much more controlled descent full of deep, powerful carves and tail slides.

As for the boards in this review, I’m happy to say that I’ve had the chance to get my hands on each and every one, and put in some time getting to know the different truck technologies. While I did receive some test units from various manufacturers, this is in no way a paid review. My purpose will be to describe the differences I’ve experienced while riding these boards, to help you choose the best surfskate for you depending on your desired riding style, environment, and experience. Here we go.

What are the Best Surfskates?

Best All-Around Surfskate: Waterborne Surfskate Truck and Rail Adapter Best “Longboard” Surfskate: Hamboards HST Carving Trucks Best for Bowls: Carver CX Best All-Around Runner-Up: Carver C7 Most Eco-Friendly: Shred Skateboards/Alpine Trucks System Best for Tricks: YOW Meraki System “Loosest” Surfskate: SwellTech Surfskate

Best All-Around Surfskate Waterborne Surfskate Truck and Rail Adapter

Range of Motion: 4.5 Stability/Resistence 4 Best Use: Cruising, Bowl, Downhill

I really love my Waterborne adapter set. Performance-wise I’d consider it to be one of the most versatile surfskate designs out there. It’s able to tackle bowls, and steeps due to a high spring-back resistance, and it pumps really well, even capable of going uphill. The high resistance also means it is quite stable when pushing, but due to the dual-axis design that stability doesn’t come at the cost of mobility.

Best of all, it’s damn cheap. If you already have an old skateboard lying around, it’s $79 for the full set of truck and rear adapter, $59 for the front truck by itself. I installed my Waterborne adapter on a 36-inch deck and loved the midlength-style riding the board provided. Able to sneak my feet up to get some nose time, as well as easily pump and tailslide. The extra board length also provided some added stability when taking on downhills, but felt long in the narrow confines of a bowl or skatepark.

Do you need the rear truck Rail Adapter? I’d say it adds to the surfskate experience, but certainly isn’t necessary. The real gamechanger is the front truck adapter (which, when bought by itself comes with a riser to even out your back truck). As far as cons go, the main one is the installation can be a pain, and the truck itself is pretty heavy, which doesn’t affect performance, but if you only get the front truck it can make carrying the board awkward with so much weight on one side – adding the rail adapter actually makes it easier to carry with a more even weight distribution.

Best “Longboard” Style Hamboards HST Carving Trucks

Range of Motion: 4 Stability/Resistence 4.5 Best Use: Cruising, Downhill

Hamboards have a very different truck design than most other boards in this review: more lean-based than pivot-based, but that doesn’t make them any less of a surfskate. The truck technology holds stable when cruising, but when you shift your weight to initiate the so called “deep lean” (like turning a longboard surfboard), it allows you to initiate radical turns, pump, and generally rip around. Due to the symmetrical design, this is one of the few surfskates that is truly bidirectional. I got to try out the Huntington Hop 45′, a mid-range length for the brand’s selection, and was truly amazed. For a 45-inch surfskate, the turning radius is insane – of course not as tight of a turn as the shorter boards I tried, but way more than you would expect. It noserides as a matter of course, and on a downhill test run I was surprised by how easy it is to slide out the back wheels and how much control I had during the slide. An absolute delight, Hamboards’ slogan of “guaranteed to put a smile on your face” held very true. I would recommend a Hamboard to anyone, but especially to those who are more interested in a longboard style of surfskating over a shortboard style.

Best for Bowls Carver CX

Range of Motion: 3 Stability/Resistence 5 Best Use: Bowl, Downhill

Carvers were the first true surfskate board to come out in the 1990s and they’ve stayed relatively the same since, and with good reason. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There are two main truck styles from Carver, the CX, here, and the C7, below. The CX is a much more stable truck than the C7, providing an experience more similar to a regular skateboard than most other surfskates. But don’t let it fool you, the CX is still fully capable of pumping for speed and flowing, surfy turns. However, where the CX excels is in the steeps. Downhill runs, bowls, something that lets you really lean into the more resistant/stable truck is where the CX has an edge over other surfskates. They’re also apparently great in a skatepark for more traditional skate tricks as they ride fakie (backwards) better than other surfskates due to the stability and truck design, but will still be nowhere near as stable as regular skate trucks.

Due to pandemic supply issues, as well as an increased public interest in surfing and quarantine-friendly activities like getting your flow on around the neighborhood, Carvers have been in and out of stock almost everywhere. Recently, Carver released the Triton by Carver label to provide their CX boards at a better price point. The technology is the same, the only difference (as far as I can tell) is the brand name, and both are linked to below.

Best All-Around Runner-Up Carver C7

Range of Motion: 4 Stability/Resistence 3 Best Use: Cruising, Downhill

The C7 truck allows more of a surfy feel as compared to the CX, above, at the cost of some stability. Where the CX excels in steeps, the C7 does better pumping and cruising on flat ground. The front truck can also be tightened quite a lot, allowing for a very stable ride that can surpass the CX in similarity to a traditional longboard truck. The way that Carver explains the difference is that the CX feels more like the snappier pumping and turns of a thruster, while the C7 provides a flowier pump and turn experience similar to a single fin. Expect deeper carves with less resistance on the C7, more adjustability, and total flow. C7’s are probably the lightest of the dual-axis style of surfskates, which doesn’t mean much for performance but will make for a more pleasant carrying experience than other dual-axis boards.

Most Eco-Friendly Shred Skateboards/Alpine Trucks System

Range of Motion: 3.5 Stability/Resistence 5 Best Use: Cruising, Downhill

Shred Skateboards are a rad new company that make skateboards from shredded surfboard waste. Their surfskate shapes make use of the Brazilian-made Alpine Trucks System, a lightweight pivot design with interchangeable bushings to customize your level of resistance. As far as I know, Shred is the only board manufacturer that uses this surfskate truck in the U.S.. The truck feels like the perfect combination of a Carver CX and a C7, with a greater range of motion than the CX, but more stability on downhill runs than the C7. Paired with Shred’s 30′ Electrical Ninja deck, this is a super fun, super durable, and quite portable design that I’m stoked on, and their sustainability factor is bar none.

Best for Tricks YOW Meraki System

Range of Motion: 5 Stability/Resistence 2.5 Best Use: Bowl, Surf Training

The YOW (Your Own Wave) Meraki is the latest and most-improved design from the Your Own Wave designers in the Basque Country of Spain. A very loose and pivot-y front truck provides a ton of maneuverability and makes it very easy to do tail slides and 180s (always a crowd-pleaser), even at low speeds. This board is great for surf training, as well as doing progressive surfskate maneuvers . Very similar to the SwellTech, both systems provide a very surf-similar experience. Both have very loose trucks, but the YOW has a block to stop you from over-rotating. That makes the YOW easier to get a hang of, and a little more capable of cruising and maybe even taking to a bowl. The lack of block on the SwellTech is more true to a shortboard experience, but also harder to grasp.

“Loosest” Surfskate SwellTech Surfskate

Range of Motion: 5 Stability/Resistence 2 Best Use: Surf Training

At first I had a lot of difficulty on this board, but once I realized that this was because of how true the board stays to surfing I had a click moment and realized how I needed to be using the board. Because the truck is able to rotate a full 360 degrees, when executing a sharp turn you need to hold your weight similar to executing a turn on a surfboard so you don’t overbalance. Quite different from the other trucks in this review which all have a sort of limit or block to keep you from rotating too far. As a fun toy to goof around on that may be a downside, but as a surf trainer staying true to the surf experience it is definitely an upside.

Foot placement matters a lot, similar to a surfboard if your front foot is too far forward, you’ll “bog” the nose and fall off when trying to execute a sharp turn. I’d recommend starting out with the truck as tight as possible, and slowly loosening it over the course of a couple sessions as you get comfortable with the insanely free and loose motion. For those who really want to dial in their surfing on land, or make progress on more radical surfskate maneuvers, a SwellTech is the way to go. (Check out their great how-to videos here. )

YOW surfskates allow for radical carving and progressive tricks. Photo: YOW

What is a Surfskate?

A surfskate is a skateboard that makes use of a specialized truck to mimic the motions of a surfboard. For surfers, especially those working on progressing their surfing, a surfskate simply translates to more wave time. Surfing is all about muscle memory, but the time up and riding during any given surf session is often 5-10 minutes as a generous estimate. Find a nice smooth driveway with a slight angle, and suddenly you can get that 5-10 minutes of wave time in 5-10 minutes instead of 90, something that can be helpful for any level of surfer looking to progress. Different styles of surfskate trucks and boards cater to different riding environments and styles. Some boards are best for cruising, taking long flowing turns around town; some work best in the steeps of a skatepark bowl or while bombing a downhill, and some boards are best for focused surf training, providing the closest experience to surfing you can get on asphalt.

What Matters in Choosing a Surfskate?

My criteria in rating/describing each surfskate system was Range of Motion, Stability/Resistence, and Best Use, which is more of a description than a rating. Range of motion rates how much the system can pivot to mimic the motion of a surfboard on a wave. The other measure, Stability/Resistance, will speak to a systems stability when pushing, cruising, or taking on a downhill, as well as how much the truck springs back to position against your body weight, which helps a board pump, as well as contributes to the stability. Best Use I split into the categories of Cruising, Bowl, Downhill, and Surf Training.

What Length Surfskate Should I Get?

Tough question. Depends on the type of ride you want and the maneuvers you want to be doing. If you are hoping for a shortboard experience, I’d recommend going for something around 29-36 inches long (a rough estimate as what actually matters is the wheelbase length, or the distance in between the trucks). The Hamboards Biscuit at only 24 inches is another good option but I haven’t had the chance to ride one yet. More than 36 inches and you’re starting to get into what I’d say is midlength territory, with more drawn out turns and some cheeky Cheater 5s, and a true longboard surfboard experience goes from 45 inches and up.

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Landyachtz Surf Skate Review: The Surf Cruiser (2020 Edition)

Yup. You’ve got a good point. It’s just that Landyachtz’ surf skates feel more like cruisers that were coaxed into surfing than surf skates that are shaped like cruisers. The difference could make them popular with beginners to skating in general, those looking to use their setup to commute or travel, and those who want something capable of a few simple tricks. However, anyone looking for a serious surf trainer or a setup capable of dramatic cut backs and high speed pumping may want to look elsewhere.

This is the cruiser that learned to surf, but it’s got a few tricks up its sleeves to make that an enjoyable experience, even if you already have a more dedicated surf skate setup, as I do .

Table of Contents

Truck Setup

The Landyachtz Surf Skates have two different trucks. Up front is their “Banger” reverse kingpin truck. In the back, a traditional kingpin Polar Bear truck, in 155mm. The combination of these two trucks and how they work together is where the Landyachtz surf skate gets its surfy feel. It makes pumping easier than standard RKP or TKP trucks alone.

To add to the already high baseplate angle, Landyachtz adds 5º wedges. This means that Banger truck up front has an effective angle of 70º. That’s a lot of movement. The lean to turn ratio of these trucks highly favors turn. 45º is equal turn to lean, with most freeriding and cruising RKP trucks coming in at 50º. The negative rake of that hanger means it’s not ridiculously unstable though, giving it a large and surprisingly comfortable center.

You can only get these through a complete Landyachtz setup, for now. Perhaps once (if!) supply can catch up to demand, Landyachtz will offer them as an individual setup or with a matching rear truck.

Rear Truck: Polar Bear 155mm

In the back, Landyachtz added their traditional kingpin Polar Bear truck in one of their larger sizes, 155mm. This is the same truck you’d typically get on a Tugboat. Here, however, Landyachtz added a massive wedged riser that levels out the rear truck, countering the deck’s rocker and dewewdging that rear truck slightly. Surf trucks often have more lean than standard trucks to allow them to turn more. This is why Waterborne offers their surf adapter with the surf rail. The rail allows the rear truck to lean more, turning less for the amount of lean you put in. You’ll also see this in long distance pumping setups. The rear truck may be a custom truck that leans, but doesn’t turn at all, like Don’t Trip’s Delirium trucks. There are two reasons for this. First, by not turning, you have a platform to sort of push off on. When the rear truck turns, it has to turn back when you pump, which takes away some of the energy you generate through pumping. Secondly, they need to be able to lean more than they turn as you can otherwise lift a rear wheel. When one of the rear wheels comes up, you lose traction, and can’t reliably push off the back with your pumping motion.

Surf skate setups often dewedge the rear truck. On the Landyachtz Butter Lines setup, that rear truck dewedging mostly just compensates for the rocker. If you decide to wedge the front truck more, you may decide to dewedge the rear truck by the same amount. This is something I intend to try as I attempt to improve the “pumpability” of this setup, which I’ll go into more later.

Deck Characteristics

There are four different deck options, and, interestingly, two different grip options. The Pocket Knife FG Watercolor and Butter White Oak Lines feature spray-on grip, while the Butter Walnut Lines and Pocket Knife Black have a more barefoot-friendly high grit padded foam grip tape. That padded foam also helps lock your feet in, to really dig as much energy out of pumping that you can.

All of the decks have minimal concave, keeping with traditional surf skate roots. There is, however, a slightly upturned kicktail, and, on the Butter shape, a bit of rocker.

This doesn’t sound like a controversial shape, however, I do recommend ditching the smaller wheelbases, at least on the Butter (I can’t say for sure about the Pocket Knife, but it likely holds true). While shorter wheelbases can be fun for a dramatic turning angle, it shortens your effective standing area, and it can be hard to feel that if you’re used to a larger standing platform. Nothing like having your foot up towards the front when you go to push or foot brake to realize your foot is well past the front trucks. On more than one occasion, I came to a stop while doing a nose manual because I didn’t realize my foot was too far past that front truck. The padded grip tape does not help here, you can’t feel your bolts. For stability, and a bit more power out of larger pumps, you’ll likely want to keep it on that longer wheelbase. That means going for the Pocket Knife if you’d prefer that middle wheelbase size around 15 inches.

Pumping Feel

For my “other” surf skate setup, I have a Waterborne adapter . This has allowed me to make a surf skate out of quite a few of my decks. The most similar to this was my Landyachtz Dugout, which is about the same length, though more narrow. I found this setup agile and fun, but a little too difficult to get big, powerful pumping motions to carry me along with the speed I wanted (always faster).

This doesn’t move like the Waterborne. If the Waterborne adapter is a surf simulator, this is a surf simulator simulator. Or perhaps it’s just a highly wedged RKP truck. Yes, that front truck does move around a lot more than a standard truck for the same amount of lean. The back provides you a platform you can pump off of. You can pump just about any skateboard with the right motion. Landyachtz’ surf skates sit firmly in the “surf” side, which are easier than a standard or even wedged truck to pump, but not by very much.

I find myself pushing maybe 50% less frequently with the Landyachtz surfskate setup than a similar cruiser. I can get started and moving with pumping, but prefer to get the ball rolling with a push or two. Once moving, I can generate enough power to make it up slight inclines, but it’s not easy. Pumping this feels like work in all but the best conditions. The winter got me out of shape and hopping on this thing in spring this year was an extreme workout. I was not prepared.

With the Bangers trucks and these wheelbases, Landyachtz set out to make pumpable cruisers. These are sort of comparable to Carver’s C5 trucks. Yes, you can pump them. Yes, it’s a surfier feel than you get with even the surfiest of Paris street trucks or Bennett Vector trucks. But this is definitely a cruiser, and a very tall one that’ll be hard to push at that. If I were to rate this on a scale from cruiser being 1 and a surf skate setup that’s good for nothing but pumping (like a caster wheel setup) at a 10, I’d put this at a 2 or maybe a 3. For reference, I’d put the Waterborne at an 8 or 9. This is definitely more cruiser than surf skate, and you’ll feel that as you try pumping along.

Wheel Slippage

The wheels that come with these setups are Landyachtz’ popular 63mm Fatty Hawgs. However, unlike the normal versions, these are smooth, for a bit of extra grip. A very little bit, unfortunately. After a few slides, possibly accidental, these will be as stoneground as any other Hawgs cruiser wheel. Furthermore, they have an offset core, which means the outer lip of the wheel is a bit more malleable. Your weight is further from the edge, and that allows it to slide. I did my best to keep from sliding on them, to preserve what little grip they have, but a little slippage was inevitable.

In a surf skate, you want to be able to generate your power from the back. That’s what you push off of. For that, you need grip. These wheels are just not right for a surf skate setup. They’re great on cruisers. I love the stoneground version of these for the Dinghy. But for a surf skate? I would have preferred something that was more centerset, and with a square lip, at least in the back. (Once more, see update below.)

These do have more grip than standard Fatty Hawgs, at least while new. Still, I found myself pumping harder to go faster on more than one occasion, and kicking out the back instead of generating more speed.

Landyachtz set out to make a beginner-friendly surf skate. They often make some fantastic beginner-friendly setups. This isn’t a setup that is exclusively for those looking for a steep learning curve, those looking to surf when they can’t get out to the ocean, or experienced surf skate enthusiasts. It’s for people who are either learning or who want a small, nimble, comfortable surf cruiser. I actually took this down a few slight hills without feeling like I was fighting to maintain stability. And, as I mentioned, it’s not as hard as I wish it was to kick those wheels out a bit, so you will be able to do speed checks and slides, if you need to slow down. Though with the minimal concave and high grit soft grip tape, you may want to leave anything faster than a gentle cruise to your other setups.

Pushing this isn’t easy, because you’re far from the ground, but it’s not hard because it feels like you’re balancing on a fragile platform. Which means this setup will give you quite a workout. Pumping isn’t easy on it because so much of your energy is wasted just fighting the truck geometry and loss of grip in the rear wheels. Pushing is hard because it’s such a tall setup. Surf skates are supposed to make cruising at a steady pace a relaxing thing, but this feels like a workout.

As a Cruiser?

There is enough tail here for an ollie. Maybe not a lot of pop, as it is pretty heavy, but you can get it off the ground. You can ride this off a curb without too much difficulty. Slash up and down sidewalks, carve over the road, and, well, skate it like you would any other cruiser. It basically is a cruiser. It’s just tall, nimble, and significantly heavier. Carrying this around in a shop as you run errands will be a pain. One of my other cruisers like my Dugout , Dinghy , or Bonzai will be my setup of choice for grabbing groceries.

You can still pump the Landyachtz surf skate to pick up speed or maintain it, so it is nice over flat distances. It functions well enough as a cruiser, at least under your feet. Is it as lightweight and capable as a street deck with cruiser wheels or a mini cruiser? No. But it’s still a fun cruiser that isn’t much larger than a standard popsicle deck and can manage city streets. I could see taking this to slash around in some bowls or just up and down sidewalks.

This is a setup that doesn’t quite know what it wants to be, and it’s not great at either. It’s not quite a surf skate and it’s not quite a compact cruiser. It’s both. It’s a surf cruiser. You won’t be able to pump up to ludicrous speeds, but you can get around town… if your town is mostly flat. It’ll fit under a desk or bar table, so you can take it places like a cruiser. Got a hill that’s too big to pump up? You can push without too much difficulty (at least not from balancing). And if you find yourself going down a hill, as the skate gods intended, you won’t feel like it’s trying to wobble your foot off at the ankle.

It’s not going to be enough surf skate for someone looking for a real surf-like feel. But for someone looking to bring an incredibly delicate taste of the waves to a smaller cruiser board, it might be just right. For me, it’s not quite surfy enough. I have cruisers with wedged front trucks that give me a surfy feel. While this does offer more than that, it’s not as much as I was hoping for. I think it could have been a bit more nimble up front, and grippier in the back, to help generate more power while pumping. I found a setup that I just don’t like. I rarely reach for my Bustin Bonsai because it’s a bit redundant with all the other, mostly better, cruisers in my collection. The Landyachtz Butter Walnut Lines? I won’t reach for it because it makes most of what I want to do on a surf skate a chore.

I haven’t given up on this setup though. I may be able to customize this setup further, with better, grippier wheels in the back, more wedging up front, and dewedging in the back. I may also try narrower trucks in the back, for a little extra grip. Since I do like the deck, I could try it with trucks from other companies, like Carver’s C5 trucks, which have a similar setup. The deck might work well with the Waterborne adapter too. As a complete, I’m a little disappointed. The deck shows potential, and the general setup isn’t a bad idea, but it needs tweaking before it can really serve as a quality surf skate, or even a “surf cruiser.” ( Note: See update below.)

These little surfers sold out fast online, but you may be able to find them in your local shop for $199.99 USD. Though you may want to go with a more mature surf skate cruiser setup, something more tried-and-true, like Carver’s CX setups for that in-between cruiser and surf skate feel.

2021 Update:

I started this review some time ago, back in late fall of 2020. Yes, this was a “COVID purchase,” as I tried to fix the mediocrity of COVID quarantine with something new. I decided to wait until the spring to publish it though, because I wanted to re-ride it to be sure I still stand by everything I wrote. I always do this before my final proof-read of an article, give it another ride session so it’s fresh in my mind. However, in that time, Landyachtz released new surf skates, with a new shape and a new version of their Bangers truck. These actually address a few concerns I had about the originals, so Landyachtz knows what was wrong with the first version. The 2021 Bangers are narrower and push the truck’s pivot point lower, giving you more leverage. They should be a bit easier to pump. This review covers the 2020 Bangers. I can’t say how the 2021 Bangers are, and Landyachtz only sells them as part of a complete, and my apartment just can’t handle more skateboards right now. Post-COVID, I’ll definitely set up shop to sell my less heavily ridden setups so I can make room for new setups to test.

You can see in the gif above, Landyachtz pulled the trucks in, which will make them more nimble. It’ll also provide more grip in the rear. Furthermore, you can see the wheels changed slightly too. Landyachtz fixed those too, adding square-lipped, 65mm wheels. This fixes what I don’t like about Landyachtz’ 2020 surf skates.

With the 2021 model out, I can definitively say: do not buy the 2020 models, if you can even find them. The trucks and wheels are, without exception, worse for what you’ll want to do here. I’ve been on the fence with the 2020 model when Landyachtz had nothing else to offer, only willing to recommend it for the select few who want a less surfy surf cruiser. Now that this is on the table? Don’t even think about Landyachtz surf skates from 2020. If you’re dead set on the Landyachtz model, and want to see if the improvements to the trucks and wheels were enough over the 2020, I think you can give them a try. In theory, these newer setups should be a lot more fun to ride than the 2020 models. They did directly address the issues I had. I wish I could just buy the trucks off of Landyachtz to give them a try, but they still don’t sell them separately. You can get them as a complete though .

About the author

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Carver Surfskate Review (Tested & Compared)

Carver Skateboards offers three surfskate trucks – C7, CX & C5.

Their trucks are functional for…

• Casual Cruising
• Surfskating
• Deep Carving

How to choose?

Get the Carver C7 if you want the closest feeling to surfing. Get the Carver CX if you want to do deep carving, yet want some stability/ability to ride fakie. Get the Carver C5 if you want the most stable surfskate experience – often used for parks/street.

If you have a local shop that stocks Carver, buy from them.

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Carver surfskate trucks

A brief summary of Carver surfskate trucks based on my riding experience.

The C7 is a spring-based pivoting arm adapter . It can be pumped like a surfboard. The C7 offers a loose, flowy ride. The C7 is paired with a C2 back truck.

The CX truck is a bushing-based reverse kingpin (RKP) . It’s a little more stable / easier to ride fakie. Although riding fakie is still kinda sketch. It works great with short and long wheelbase setups. The CX is paired with a C2 back truck.

Most similar to the CX, the C5 truck is a bushing-based RKP. It is the lowest to the ground of Carver’s truck lineup. Most commonly used for skateparks. The C5 is paired with a C4 back truck.

Comparisons

How does Carver surfskate trucks compare to the other popular brands?

Carver vs YOW

Carver C7 is the most comparable to the YOW Meraki surfskate truck, but the riding feel is different. The C7 pivots like the Meraki but doesn’t dive as much. Therefore, YOW is easier to pump from a standstill. Both are great surfskate systems, it just comes down to your riding style preference.

Carver vs Hamboards

The most comparable are Carver’s C7 and Hamboard’s HSTs because they both use springs. However, C7 setups have one spring and the HSTs have two – both front/back. HSTs dive rail-to-rail much more than Carver. As a result, HSTs are trickier to pump from a standstill.

Carver vs SwellTech

Carver is much more mellow compared to SwellTech. SwellTech rotates 360 degrees and is fairly easy to jackknife. It has a much steeper learning curve compared to Carver.

Carver vs Waterborne

C7 is comparable to the Waterborne surf adapter. Carver doesn’t dive as deep as Waterborne. Waterborne is easier to pump from a standstill than Carver.

Carver vs Smoothstar

Carver doesn’t pivot as much as Smoothstar, making it more functional for longer cruises. Smoothstar requires less effort to pump from a standstill.

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Landyachtz Surfskate Review (Butter Lines 31″ Surfskate)

by Steve Palmer | Dec 13, 2021 | Reviews

Bottom Line Up Front

I’m not a fan of Landyachtz surfskates at all. They call their “Bear Banger” truck a surfskate truck. While it does pump and carve, compared to my list of the top 10 surfskate trucks, it doesn’t function well at all.

The Landyachtz surfskate truck feels sluggish and has a relatively limited range of motion. It’s hard to get started and it doesn’t carve very tightly.

Landyachtz surfskate decks are very flat and their wheels are relatively small and hard, which limits their use.

I don’t recommend Landyachtz surfskates at all and I highly recommend that you get a surfskate from the top 10 instead.

Landyachtz makes two versions of what they call “surfskates”: the 31” Butter Lines and the 29” Pocket Knife . I got the Butter Lines Landyachtz surfskate because the Pocket Knife is too short for me.

I’m not a fan of the Landyachtz surfskate. Let me tell you why.

For help choosing the best surfskate for you, get my free Surfskate Selector app now . In just eight questions I’ll reveal the perfect surfskate for you and your riding style.

Landyachtz “Bear Banger” Surfskate Truck

The truck that Landyachtz uses on their surfskates is called the Bear Banger truck. Similar to the Carver CX, it’s essentially a reverse kingpin with extra tall bushings.

It does pump and it does carve, but not very well. In fact, I have a hard time even calling it a surfskate truck. What they call “carvey” is really not carvey at all in the surfskate world. All you can really do on it is gliding curves.

It’s hard to pump and it’s particularly hard to start pumping on it. So you have to push off first get some momentum before you can really even pump it well. Whereas on other surfskates, I can just jump on and immediately start pumping.

Compared to other legitimate surfskate trucks, the Landyachtz surfskate truck really just isn’t even in the same league. It’s not nimble at all so I can’t really use it in tight urban environments and go around obstacles like I can a typical surfskate.

The only thing the Landyachtz surfskate is good for is just basic cruising, almost like a longboard. So it’s kind of like a carvey longboard that’s not even longboard because it’s too short to be a longboard, it doesn’t ride like a longboard, and it doesn’t like ride like a surfskate.

Landyachtz Surfskate Deck

The deck on the Landyachtz Butter Lines surfskate is 31.2” long and 9” wide. It has extra holes on front for an adjustable wheelbase of between 15 and 17.1”.

The deck itself is very flat and really has no concave at all. It also doesn’t have much of a kicktail.

This means that it doesn’t lock your feet in well at all, so it’s not good for aggressive surfskate maneuvers. As I said, all you can really do on it is basic glidey cruising.

Landyachtz Surfskate Wheels

The wheels on the Landyachtz surfskate are 63mm 78a Fatty Hawgs. Typical surfskate wheels are 68-70mm in diameter.

What this means is that the Landyachtz surfskate does not work well for riding over rough surfaces or pebbles. It’s best for smooth surfaces.

Why I Don’t Like the Landyachtz Surfskate

The bottom line is that, compared to other legitimate surfskates, the Landyachtz surfskate just really isn’t fun to ride at all.

To me, it’s like Landyachtz saw the surfskate world exploding and they were like, “Hey, let’s get in on the surfskate trend.” Then they went and designed something that isn’t even a surfskate.

And in my opinion, it really isn’t even useful for a lot of things. I don’t even know what category to fit this board into. It’s not a skateboard, it’s not a longboard, and it most certainly is not a surfskate at all. I don’t even know what to call it. At best I would call it a carvey street cruiser.

At $199, I also think the Landyachtz surfskate is overpriced. The quality just isn’t there. I’ve hardly ridden it at all and I already have grip tape coming up on it.

If you want a real surfskate, my recommendation is to get a Carver with CX trucks over the Landyachtz surfskate.

For help choosing the best surfskate for you, get Surfskate Selector app now . In just 8 questions I’ll reveal the perfect surfskate for you and your riding style.

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Landyachtz Surfskate Review (Bought & Tested)

By: Author Ruben Vee

Posted on Published: November 2, 2021  - Last updated: December 7, 2023

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I never tried a surfskate before but since they are becoming more popular it was time to learn what all the fuss was about. I decided to buy and review the Landyachtz Surfskate and share my experience riding this board.

The Landyachtz Surfskate is a high-quality cruiser suitable for both carving and cruising. While Landyachtz named it a surfskate, it is actually more of a cruiser-surf hybrid board. It’s fast, forgiving, and beginner-friendly. Surfskates are not designed for tricks but for those who love cruising and carving.

Let’s have a close look at this board and see why it is or isn’t for you. This review is mainly about the Landyachtz Butter but I’ll also cover some of the aspects of the Pocket Knife and make a comparison. Let’s go!

This review contains affiliate links that could earn me a commission at no additional cost to you.

Technical Specifications

• Trucks (Bear Banger & Standard)

Spaceball Bearings

Fatty hawg wheels, landyachtz surfskate butter, landyachtz surfskate pocket knife, when to buy, when not to buy, landyachtz surfskate first impressions.

The first thing I noticed it’s rather heavy but not too heavy, so it’s still easy to carry around. It’s a gorgeous board, I really love the glossy finish and the minimalistic graphic that is both used on the bottom of the deck and on top of the grip tape.

On the subject of grip tape, it’s quite thick and consists of a layer of foam with grip on top. Should feel very comfy on your feet and maybe it helps you to lock your feet a bit more when carving, just a guess.

The front features a high angle RKP truck with tall bushings that should help you turn better. The rear truck is a standard kingpin Polar Bear truck size 155 mm attached to a super high riser. Very interesting design and you will immediately notice the height of the trucks.

Glossy wheels grippy soft wheels comparable to the Landyachtz Dinghy and the deck has a low kicktail with a slight camber which is almost not visible.

• Length: 31.2″
• Width: 9″
• Wheelbase: 15″ or 17.1″
• Wheels: Soft Glossy Fatty Hawgs at 63 mm and 78A durometer (hardness)
• 7-ply maple deck with a slight camber and kicktail, hardly any concave
• Trucks: Bear Banger SurfSkate Truck and Standard Bear trucks at 155 mm
• Bearings: Spaceball bearings with integrated spacers

The Pocket Knife specs are almost the same except for the wheelbase (13″ to 15″), width (9.1″), and length (29.6″).

I am not a surf skater so this video is not great at showing what it can do, I saved that for another video.

Overall this board feels like a cruiser with extra carvyness and it takes some time to get used to the jittery movement. I really like how it turns compared to my other cruisers and I definitely like riding this board but it took me some time to get used to it.

The foam grip tape is a strange sensation when you’re used to riding regular boards, I like it though but I’m not sure how durable this stuff is.

It can deal with rough surfaces easily as long as you take a more aggressive stance (lean backward!) and has no issues with gravel, rocks, cracks, or pesky twigs.

Hopping curbs is certainly possible but the kicktail takes some time to get used to, it’s just quite flat compared to my other cruisers. I wouldn’t try any tricks on this board.

It was designed for cruising and carving, not for kickflips, ollies, and shuvits. In my opinion, it’s just a waste of this board and I certainly don’t want to damage it on day one.

Get a regular skateboard with soft wheels instead if you want to get gnarly but still cruise around, this board is just too heavy for that kind of stuff.

I tried a few mellow slopes and did actually experience speed wobbles when you’re going fast, this is clearly visible in the video. It works when you ride in a straigt line, but minor corrections cause the rear truck to wobble. 

This is not a downhill board after all, and I suspect his board will get even more twitchy once you push the speed to its limits. The trucks feel very loose depending on your weight so a heavier person might want to swap out the bushings.

Pumping is possible but it’s really hard to maintain speed, I don’t feel like this board was designed for that. Adjusting the wheelbase makes it a bit easier but even then it won’t pump like a long-distance board.

I managed to pull off a few slides but the area was a bit wet which makes it easier, nevertheless sliding is possible! I haven’t experienced wheelbite yet but I’ll try harder next time. Update: still no wheelbite!

Breaking Down The Parts

Let’s take a look at all the components, most of the parts consist of standard Landyachtz stuff so you can get an up-close view of what this board is made off. Not many surprises but the trucks are certainly the most interesting part of this setup.

Trucks ( Bear Banger & Standard)

Let’s start with the part that is supposed to make this board a surfskate, the RKP Bear Banger truck. One of the first things I noticed is the reverse kingpin on the front truck which allows for more aggressive turning. is.

The front truck angles at a total of 70 degrees (65° truck + 5° wedges riser pad), and comes with large cone-shaped bushings. When looking at similar setups you often see one inverted kingpin truck at the front and a standard at the rear.

Other surfskates often have springs or adapters for extra carvyness that might not last very long depending on the brand. The lack of spring or other adapters is compensated by this new design but who knows how they will hold up in the future, it’s too early to tell.

I’d say this is more of a cruiser/surfskate hybrid (a cruirfer?) but that doesn’t mean it won’t give you that surfy feeling. It does actually, but probably less so than the more expensive surfskates. I personally don’t mind at all.

The rear truck is less interesting, just a standard Bear truck at 155mm. The huge riser is something you’ll notice immediately and provides a more aggressive angle.

As I noted in my first impression, the top consists of a layer of soft foam with grip tape on top. Maybe it’s for riders who like to cruise barefooted (on grip tape?) or maybe it provides extra stability when carving. I’m still not sure but it’s rather unique and an interesting design choice.

After riding it I must admit that I’m not a fan. Unless you’re able to replace the foam griptape you should avoid riding after a rainy day. I had a hard time cleaning the grip tape and don’t think it’s very durable.

It feels a bit heavier compared to my other boards but it’s also bigger and wider so that would explain the extra weight. The glossy finish and graphic is beautiful and immediately gets you excited to ride the board. Note that there are a couple of versions available, and I picked the Butter Walnut version which is a bit longer.

The nose is pointy but flat and it has a kicktail which is slightly elevated but way less compared to other cruisers. Still enough to take a more aggressive stance when you encounter pebbles or cracks.

The board consists of 7-ply maple and it hardly has any concave, just a slight camber which makes it also a great surfskate for beginners. It’s a nonflexible board so people that are really into deep carving probably will enjoy this board less.

It’s wide enough for riders with larger feet and really feels stable when cruising around. After all, this what meant to be a stable cruiser and Landyachtz pulled it off.

The front comes with six mount holes so if you aren’t happy about the standard 15″ wheelbase you can move it and try the 17.1″ which will make pumping less difficult and increases stability.

Note that the wheelbase depends on the version you pick, more about that later.

This is the first board that doesn’t have flat screws, this might have something to do with the foamy grip tape. Flat screws probably start tearing, but it’s just a guess. Other than that there’s nothing remarkable to note.  Obviously the screws on the back truck are taller because of the bigger riser pad.

I still am not convinced by the Spaceball bearings. I usually replace these immediately after I tested the board. Right now I have a couple of people riding Spaceballs on regular skateboards to see how they hold up. In my opinion, Bronson Raws or Bones Swiss 6 bearings perform better but to be fair, they are way more expensive.

Overall the bearings are fine but if you want to get more out of your board upgrading the bearings is recommended. Don’t be fooled by the ABEC rating though, it really doesn’t make a difference.

Like all Spaceball bearings they come with built-in spacers, that’s a pretty neat feature and it keeps them in place. If you ever decide to replace the bearings, make sure to get some spacers.

Fatty Hawgs are great wheels and I know what they’re capable of because I like to ride the Dinghy and Tugboat occasionally. There are better wheels out there but if you want the absolute best, you better pick your own parts and assemble it yourself.

The difference here is that the wheels are glossy and more grippy, unlike the stoneground Fatty Hawgs. I still need some time to see if there’s any improvement here.

Anyway, on topic. The Landyachtz Surfskate comes with 78A 63mm radial Fatty Hawgs wheels with a contact patch of 43mm (riding surface). You’ll be able to do (power) slides to some extent but this will take some practice.

What’s important here is that they are grippy and small objects won’t block the wheels. Fatties have no issues riding over smaller rocks, surfaces like gravel, or rough roads. They don’t make a lot of noise and you can even plow through a patch of grass if you happen to run into one, just make sure you lean back.

The standard Fatties perform less in wet conditions. When the street are still a bit wet from rain they tend to have less grip compared to other cruiser wheels. No biggie, you shouldn’t ride in these conditions anyway unless you really want to.

Your bearings typically don’t last very long when they get wet often. Again, I still need to test more to see if the glossy fatties perform better.

The wheels stick out a bit, especially at the back truck because of the wide trucks. Regular skateboarders like me aren’t used to wheels sticking out and sometimes I hit the wheels with my push foot. Nowadays less often, but it’s something to keep in mind when you aren’t used to this type of setup.

Landyachts Surfskate Butter VS Pocket Knife

I bet some of you are in doubt between choosing the Butter or the Pocket Knife so I thought I might do a short comparison. The main difference between the Landyachts Butter and Pocket knife are the dimensions, wheelbase, and snappyness.

Currently, Landyachts offers just these two variations but announced to introduce more surfskates in the near future. Depending on your preferences you can go for the Butter or the Pocket Knife.

The Landyachtz Butter is the one featured here. Ik picked this board mainly because of its design and its size, and the fact that it’s probably a bit easier to ride than the smaller version. It isn’t that much bigger though so once I get the Pocket Knife I’ll be able to explain the real difference, for now, I’m just guessing.

I’d say the Butter is better at plowing through cracks and rough surfaces but less snappy than the Pocket.  The Butter is a bit longer (31.2″ vs 29.6″) and offers more real estate at the front which makes it more stable and forgiving when you find yourself slightly off-balance.

This makes the Butter a better choice for beginners that want to carve and cruise, or taller riders and heavier riders that need some extra room and support. The Landyachtz Butter weighs slightly more compared to the Pocket Knife, exactly 3218 grams in science points, and 7.09 LBS in freedom units. 

If you’re in doubt and new to riding boards, this is the one to pick.

The Pocket Knife is the shortest of the two and comes in two different designs. It has a shorter deck and wheelbase compared to the Butter. This makes it more nimble and snappy but less stable compared to the Butter.

It has a pointier nose though I think this has more to do with aesthetics than improving its performance. The total length of the Pocket Knife is 29.6″ and 9.1″ wide and has a standard wheelbase of 13″ but you can adjust this up to 15″ by moving the front truck .

Since the Pocket Knife is smaller, you’d expect it to weigh less and it does. At 6.5 LBS (about 2950 grams) it’s lighter than the Butter but the difference isn’t huge.

If you’re in doubt and have experience riding boards, this is the one to pick.

If you’re into cruising (or new) and want to get a cruiser that offers more aggressive carving compared to standard board the Landyachtz Surfskate is a great choice.

It feels surprisingly stable for a surfskate and the size of the board is beginner-friendly, you will have some trouble balancing at first because of the front RKP truck.

It will take some time to get used to and you need to break-in the bushings before you feel comfortable. Good thing is that there’s lots of room to place your feet and move around, even if they are a bit bigger than average. 

If you’re not into technical trucks or transition skateboarding and just want a fun ride, this is board is a good choice. It’s not too big nor too small and easy to carry around when you have to take the bus or a short walk.

The Pocket Knife is available at Amazon, the bigger Butter version is also available on Amazon (affiliate link).

Since this is the first surfskate I tested I had to do some research to find out what others say about this board. Overall people are really content with its performance but if you are looking for a dedicated surfskate there are better boards available.

The negative comments come from people that are used to long-distance boards with a lot of flex. They have a hard time pumping this board and adjusting to its smaller size. Also, if you are looking to ride longer distances without too much effort perhaps this is not your board.

The Landyachtz Surfskate is a cruiser/surfskate hybrid if you want the ultimate surfing experience on land you better look at other brands like Hamboards or Waterborne (there are many more brands, just do your research).

The Landyachtz Surfskate is neither a cruiser nor a surfer but more of a hybrid that works really well out of the box.

It’s aesthetically pleasing and really gets you pumped to ride by just holding it, it’s a fun ride but I really had to get used to the jittery movements and carvyness at first.

The Butter surfskate is more beginner-friendly because of the extra deck real estate and the Pocket Knife is a bit shorter and snappier.

Want to cruise at speed while still able to make sharp deep carves? This board delivers. I do have a problem with the price tag, it’s almost 200 bucks and I think it’s hard to justify. There are better boards out there for just a bit more. 

Keep in mind that I will do more testing and my initial conclusions might change a bit over time. After all, it takes time to really get to know a cruiser or surfskate so I will update this post. I’ll also lend it to a few people I know to further test its capabilities and share their findings.

After that, it’s time to replace some of the standard parts and see how to get the most out of this board. Make sure to read about all the other boards I tested, check out my list of best cruiser skateboards .

I’m an aged skateboarder and still shred responsibly. Started skateboarding 25 years ago, peaked in the 2000’s, and still ride to this day. I am a total geek when it comes to skateboard gear, love test to stuff and share my findings.

Our editorial process is dedicated to providing high-quality, fact-checked content, ensuring the best experience. If you spot any inaccuracies, please let us know ([email protected]), and we will take immediate action.

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What CARVER Trucks are right for me? C7 VS CX

SURF LIKE YOU SKATE SKATE LIKE YOU SURF!

The C7 is Carver’s signature surfskate front truck, and it features an incredible amount of pump and turning radius.

It has a spring loaded swing arm that allows the nose of the board to sway slightly from side to side,  essentially allowing you to snap your turns from the tail and pump effortlessly for speed.

The CX is Carver’s reverse-kingpin surfskate front truck, and it also has more pump and tighter turning than any other reverse kingpin truck on the market, but without any other parts.

It has a similar feel to that of the C7 but is less extreme, so if you want a more familiar feel to your board but want to pump and surf, then the CX is the truck you want.

I was wondering what kind of truck system comes with your long boards – I have the monsta carver, love it and am looking to get a long board as well is the truck system the same or similar?

We make the Monsta, so you can get the same trucks depending on which one you have and if you want to try another system we make.

We have 2 truck systems that surf; the C7 (with the swivel arm) and the CX (reverse kingpin style). Both pump and carver like a surfboard.

I would like to know if the difference between the carver 30? Eggbeater Complete CX and the C7 is the truck. Or what are the differences between them?

The CX is a bit snappier, lighter but pumps very well. The C7 is a bit flowier, heavier but more adjustable and also pumps very well.

So the performance difference is really about a snappy pump (CX) like a shortboard quad surfboard or a flowy pump (C7) like a short retro single fin.

I have a deck that is 29? long and drilled for 17? wheelbase, will the CX truck set effectively shorten my wheelbase?

What is the typical size wheel you guys use on a complete board like the 30? eggbeater? 65mm 70mm?

The CX does not shorten or lengthen the wheelbase. All trucks have their own slight variation on wheelbase. Generally it’s measured from the center of the mounting holes to the center of the axle.

The new CX.4 is so much snappier and fast pumping than our previous CX.3 that the old reviews don’t do it justice.

Here are the wheelbase specs for each of our trucks for future reference. As a comparison I’ve also included Indy and Randal:

• WHEELBASE SPECS
• CX – Dead Center
• C7 – 3/8? Longer
• C2 – 3/4? Longer
• CV – 1/4? Shorter
• Indy – 7/16? Shorter
• Randal – Dead Center

As a surfer I’m most interested in the pump too, and I’ve been riding my CXs way more than my C7s.

I think you’ll be very happy with the new CX, rest assured. Let me know once you get it what you think.

I’ve got the C7 tucks mounted on my Taylor Knox deck.I love this trucks, actually I am using them for pool and half-pipe too, but I don’t like its heavy weight and the fact that you can’t ride them fakie. That’s why I’d like to know if I can generate the same speed if I change them for your new CX trucks, and the difference between the CX3 and the CX4.

Thanks for your stoke!

Yes, you can generate speed in the same way with the new CX.4 truck. It’s almost unbelievable how snappy they are!

And they are indeed lighter and easier to ride fakie, although because of the geometry that allows for all that pump they are still a bit squirrelly going fakie.

Its not like a regular truck riding fakie, more like halfway between a C7 and a Randal. You can also use a tighter bushing set in the CX.4 for pools which makes it even easier while still keeping some of the surf feel.

What is the differences between the CX3 and the CX4?

The 4 is taller, more pumpy and has a precision machined pin, the 3 is our older version, a bit stiffer and lower with less pump. We made the new version so it had the most surf like feeling ever in a regular bushing truck.

I’m trying to decide on whether to get this board with C7 or CX trucks. I am a surfer and have been using a skateboard for cross training and fun on flatter surfaces and would like to cruise along the seawall at Narragansett, RI.

I like the groove that August was in during your video, but am enticed by the drive of the newer trucks as I would like to be able to go up mild inclines without kicking. I would like to explore bowls and ramps, but am not likely to be doing areals as a middle aged man.

The C7 is a bit more flowy and a bit more adjustable, but it’s also a bit heavier and does not go reverse as easily. The CX is a bit more snappy but not as adjustable but it’s lighter and goes reverse a bit easier.

For bowls and ramps I’d suggest getting a double kick deck like our Fraktal, similar wheelbase as the Swallow but with a nose kick for better park foot positioning. I’m 51 and have only been riding the new CX since it came out, it’s just a great truck.

I’m from Brazil and I’m looking for a good carver! I’d like the best one for speed. Can u help me?

Are you a surfer or downhill longboard racer?

Surfer! A friend of mine told me about the carvers, so I never had any experience. From what I saw, C7 is better than CX, right?

Cool. When you said speed not many surfers ask about that, they ask about cutbacks, pumping and surf stuff like that. How fast do you want to go? Generally longer boards handle speed better, so faster = longer. But as a surfer you’ll want a board that pumps and snaps too.

If you’re riding hills you can use the 36 Pintail C7 for medium speed hills and flowing pumping, or the 38? Facetime or 42? Hotdogger for fast runs. You won’t want to go as fast as cutaway downhill skaters, you’d need stiffer trucks.

The C7 is better for faster runs, as it is more stable at speeds and more easily tightened as well. The CX is like a snappy shortboard, great for pumping a driveway or skatepark.

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Ultra Carve

If you want to be able to turn circles around your friends, have the freedom to take any line you want and change your trajectory at the drop of a hat, while still having all the benefits and stability of a reverse kingpin truck, the Ultra Carve Category is for you! An Ultra Carve is a short wheelbase deck, hand-picked by our research & development team, that usually come with traditional kingpin or Bear Banger Surfskate trucks, but to add that extra turning response you’re looking for, we install our 6th generation reverse kingpin cast trucks . This makes for an extremely unique feel that sets itself apart from everything else on the market, and will outperform any other carving setup straight out of the box.

Tugboat – Meowjiuana Ultra Carve

Tugboat – UV Bengal Ultra-Carve

Pocket Knife Black Ultra Carve

Tugboat – Midnight Snek Ultra Carve

Butter Black Lines Ultra Carve

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Surf Life – Flippy Ultra Carve

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Flex Ratings

We’ve categorized the stiffness of our boards into 3 main groups, listed below.  The general rule is the faster you’re skating, the stiffer the deck, but this is not universal.

Flexy – Soft and supple flex profile best suited for carving and cruising on longer boards. The bouncy nature of these decks lets you turn deeper and surf your surrounds.

Medium – The do it all of our boards, a perfect balance of stability and carve. 

Stiff – From cruisers to downhill boards a stiff flex profile excels in stability and responsiveness.  Whether you’re dipping into driveways or bombing a mountain pass you’ll be down with the stiffness.

Which Carver Skateboard Should I Choose?

Posted on Last updated: March 31, 2021

Categories Surfskate

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Whenever someone looks into getting a surfskate, Carver is generally the first thing that comes to mind. Carver skateboards have been around for so long, their board quality is undeniable, and the boards are widely suited for many types of riders and riding types.

In separate posts, we’ve discussed Carver surfskates at length, including an in-depth Carver comparison guide that analyzed and compared a large number of boards in the Carver lineup.

Still, I get a many queries from riders all ages and backgrounds asking for help choosing the right Carver surfskate for them. So in this post, I decided to provide helpful info to help answer these questions.

Which Carver to choose? A quick survey

These are the most relevant responses from a small survey of 30 Carver riders. The riding styles column uses the following abbreviations:

• RC: “Relaxed Cruising” (aka relaxed surf carving)
• ST: “Surf training” (aka radical surf slashing)
• DP: “Distance Pumping”
• BP: “Bowl & Park”.

From the survey results, we can see the Resin is chosen by riders 5’7 to 5’9 tall with average riding skills for relaxed carving, bowl & park (heavier rider), or distance pumping (lightweight rider).

The 34″ Greenroom, on the other hand, is the choice of taller riders 5’11 to 6’2 who use it primarily for mellow surf carving, surf training, and distance pumping (lightweight rider).

The 30.5″ Lost Maysym is preferred by 5’5 – 5’6 riders weighing 120 – 130 lb for regular surf carving, intense surf training, and park & bowl.

See the Google Sheet with the complete responses, including the alternative surfskate setups the respondents ride.

Factors that influence which Carver is best for you

Your choice of Carver board depends on a bunch of factors. This table summarizes which rider characteristics impact which aspect of your ideal Carver surfskate:

Your height and stance

The taller you are and the wider your riding stance, the longer your deck should generally be so you don’t find yourself riding with your feet too close to each other – which also affects your balance and riding comfort.

Longer deck generally (though not always) goes with longer wheelbase. As a taller rider, you need extra stability, so more wheelbase is better.

The Carver deck shape can also have its importance, e.g. a board with a wider nose (such as the Carver Proteus) or tail (e.g. the Super Snapper) will give you more foot space allowing for a wider stance compared to a narrow nose.

Your weight

Heavier riders generally should go for a wider Carver deck (e.g. the Super Snapper) and/or longer wheelbase for added stability. If you need a highly responsive board for super rad turns, then a shorter wheelbase can also work provided deck width is sufficient.

A heavy rider may want to go for slightly harder wheels (e.g. 80-82 duro) and harder bushings.

Your shoe size

A rider with a bigger shoe size will obviously feel more comfortable on a wider Carver deck – again, like the Super Snapper.

Deck shape and tail are also important as some shapes, e.g. the Super Slab, have constant width across the deck while others like the Channel Island Black Beauty have a tapered nose and/or tail which make it harder to ride with a larger shoe size.

Your riding skills

Wheelbase is an important factor to consider for your Carver based on your riding level. While a beginner will feel more confident with a longer WB, a more advanced rider looking to practice extreme surf turns will opt for a shorter WB.

As discussed, the ideal WB for you is also dependent on your height and weight, so this is all relative – which is why deciding which Carver to choose can be so challenging. When trying to decide between 2 given Carver boards, however, WB should be a factor.

The Carver shape also needs to be examined. Fuller outlines like the Yago Skinny Goat are less challenging to learn to surfskate on than a fish tail like the Emeral Peak or a sleek shape like the Black Beauty.

Your riding level can also guide your Carver setup. If you’re new to surfing and surfskate, the CX is generally a more stable setup to start with. The Carver C7 truck is more “surfy” and well-suited for practicing more advanced fluid surf turns due to the spring system.

Your riding style

Finally, the type of riding you plan to do also should influence your choice of a Carver surfskate. The main aspects impacted are deck size, wheelbase, shape, and setup.

If your goal is mostly “surf cruising” and mellow surf carving, you might choose a mid-length deck with an average wheelbase (e.g. a 31 – 33″ Carver deck for an average sized rider), with a full outline for cruising comfort. E.g. the 32″ Super Surfer with a CX.

If, on the other hand, you plan to do serious surf training and extreme turns on your Carver, a tighter wheelbase and the C7 can give you snappier response. You want a decent kick for slashing and a tight shortboard outline for rad turns. E.g. the Channel Islands Fishbeard.

For more of a commuting and distance pumping riding style, a longer Carver deck and wheelbase with extra foot room may be a good choice. Something like the Carver Tyler 777 or the Proteus with a CX truck setup.

If your style is more drawing curves and longboard-style carving, a Carver Hobo, Knox Quill, or Blue Haze paired with a C7 setup may give you the wide turns and surfiness you crave.

If bowl riding is your main thing, you might choose a stubby deck like the Swallow or the Yago Skinny Goat. Alternatively, you can opt for the roomy Super Slab or a street style Carver like the Bel Air or the Impala (C5 street surfskate truck).

*** Photo credits: Featured: Super Air Nautique G23 Paragon – Courtesy of Nautique

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