Shawna Newman

TSA regulations permit skateboards in both carry-on bags and checked luggage, which is good news if skating is your passion. However, though skateboards are TSA approved, don’t expect to be able to keep your board in the cabin with you. Skateboards are too big for most airlines’ baggage policies. Some airlines will allow you to […]

Razor tail is a condition that affects the kicktails of a skateboard. It is most commonly caused by dragging a skateboard’s tails against the ground. When your skate deck develops razor tail, it affects your board’s pop and can lead to more serious issues, like the plies of the deck splitting, over time. While razor

Skateboards might look like there’s not a lot to them – they are basically pieces of wood balanced between two metal supports – but these diminutive set-ups can actually withstand an incredible amount of force. A 150-pound person performing tricks and landing from height can put hundreds of pounds of pressure on a board each

Carbon fiber is an insanely strong material that weighs less than traditional materials of the same strength. Skate decks that incorporate carbon fiber are stronger than traditional wooden decks, both in their abilities to support weight and their abilities to withstand bending without breaking. Makers of carbon fiber composite skate decks sometimes bill their decks

As a new kayaker, I think there is one fear that most beginners have in common – ending up in the water instead of in your kayak and having to get back in the vessel. While this is something that is much more likely to happen in fast moving water, such as when white water

Longboards are similar to skateboards in the way they respond to movement and the actions skaters use to make them go, turn, and stop. Like skateboards, longboards require some coordination and a fair amount of balance to ride. However, the larger a skateboard is (the bigger its base), the easier it is to balance on.

If you’re new to kayaking, then you may not know the proper way to hold the paddle when you’re in the water. The reason that this is important knowledge for a beginner is because it affects your time out in the kayak. When you hold a kayak paddle the wrong way, you can tire too

Longboarding is a Zen form of skateboarding that is less about performing tricks and more about cruising and transportation. If you’re just getting into longboarding, or simply harbor some curiosity about the sport, you probably have some questions. Here, we try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about longboarding to help you

When you’re searching for a longboard, a lot of things matter over price. A sturdy 8- or 9-ply deck will last longer than a cheaply-made, low-ply deck. The quality of your trucks will determine how well, and how smoothly, your longboard steers. Soft, quality wheels and good bearings will keep you rolling safely and comfortably.

Longboarding can seem a bit intimidating. You’re controlling a large board with only the movements of your body, while also trying to maintain your balance. I’m not going to lie to you, balance on a longboard is a learned thing. You will have to put in a little effort to be comfortable when you first

When you first start to longboard, you have several essential techniques you have to learn. The first of these techniques – balance, pushing, stopping, and turning – are the same techniques used to ride a skateboard or a cruiser. The design of longboards, however, makes them good for another basic skating technique – carving. What