Surfskate Guide
No waves? No worries. Just because it’s flat doesn’t mean you can’t experience the feeling of surfing.
Shop Surfskates
Surfskating is the perfect way to keep practicing your surf skills, or just enjoy the ride – on the street, at the pumptrack, or in the skate bowl.
What is surfskating?
Surfskating is exactly what the name says: surfing on a skateboard. Thanks to a specially designed front truck, a surfskate simulates the movement, flow, and turns of real surfing. You can practice surf moves like cutbacks, snaps, and laybacks, or just carve smoothly over the asphalt.
The roots of surfskating go back to the 1940s, when surfers were already looking for ways to keep the surf vibe alive on land. Since the 1990s, surfskating has grown into its own sport within the skate world – and today’s boards are more advanced than ever.
What makes a surfskate different from a skateboard?
Surfskates may look like cruisers or longboards at first glance, but looks can be deceiving. The trucks underneath make all the difference.
- The unique surfskate truck
The magic is in the front truck. Unlike a regular skateboard truck, a surfskate truck can rotate much further. Often, there’s a spring inside, so you can gain speed without pushing. The rear truck provides stability.
- Soft, large wheels: Surfskates have larger and softer wheels than regular skateboards. They roll more smoothly over bumps and provide grip and comfort, even on rough tiles or bricks.
- Higher deck for deep turns: Because of the greater rotation of the truck, a surfskate sits a bit higher. This prevents wheelbite (when your wheel hits the deck on a sharp turn) and lets you make tight turns with ease.
Shop Surfskates
Which surfskate suits you?
Ready to keep training your surf skills on dry land? Check out these tips for choosing your ideal board.
Surfskate Brands
We only stock the best surfskate brands in our shop:
- Smoothstar is widely recognized as the most ‘surfy’ option, with the sharpest steering, ideal for shortboard training.
- YOW is more versatile, with an adjustable spring and different models for both beginners and advanced riders.
- Slide Surfskates is often recommended as an affordable entry-level board, with more stable trucks and less extreme rotation, giving beginners confidence.
- Carver combines speed and control with a smooth pumping mechanism, making it ideal for surfers who want to refine their flow and turns on asphalt.
Choosing the right surfskate length
A surfskate should fit your height and weight, so your stance feels natural – just like on your surfboard.
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Surfskate length (inch)
|
|
< 155cm
|
25 - 55 KG
|
< 30"
|
|
150-170 cm
|
40-75 KG
|
27-31"
|
|
160-181 cm
|
50-85 KG
|
30-32"
|
|
165-187 cm
|
60-90 KG
|
31-33"
|
|
175-193 cm
|
70-100 KG
|
32-35"
|
|
182-203 cm
|
85-120 KG
|
34-39"
|
We have a wide variety of lengths and deck shapes at the Hart Beach Surf Shop in the Scheveningen harbor. Try them out in-store or shop
surfskates 24/7 online in our webshop!
Getting started with surfskating
Just bought a surfskate but not sure what to do with it? Or never stood on a skateboard before? No worries.
Here are three original exercises to get started right away – simple, effective, and fun.
- The Wiggle Start
Place both feet on the board and try to move forward slowly without pushing, just by moving your hips. Think of it as a dance: twist your hips left and right and feel the board start to roll. This is the core of surfskating – pumping without pushing.
- Surf Stance Switch
Ride slowly and switch stance: from your regular stance to goofy (or vice versa). Keep it smooth. This improves your balance and helps you learn cutbacks.
- Driveway Snap
Find a small slope or driveway. Ride up, turn at the top, and "snap" back down with a sharp turn. Perfect for practicing your top turns without water (or wipeouts).
👉 Ready to really make progress? Check out our
surfskates in the shop or
book a lesson at the Hart Beach Surfschool – we’ll have you riding like you’re on a wave in no time.
Ready to ride?
Not quite sure yet? Drop by our shop to test boards or ask our team for advice. Prefer some guidance? Sign up for a
surfskate lesson at our surfschool – perfect if you want to start or improve your technique.
📞 +31 (0) 70 350 25 91
Call the Hart Beach surfshop for personal advice
🛒 Or shop your new surfskate right away!
Shop Surfskates
