How does carving on a skateboard work, why is it easier to carve on a longboard as opposed to a shortboard? I feel like I'm more prone to hurt myself trying to carve or throw my weight out on a shortboard, why is this? Is it just because you have more control over your weight distribution on a longboard? Can anyone give me an indepth analysis of this?
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3$\begingroup$ Can you give a technical description of what carving is $\endgroup$– John RennieCommented May 8, 2014 at 9:58
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$\begingroup$ What people do to slow down, kind of throwing out their back foot to slide and slow down. $\endgroup$– user24082Commented May 24, 2014 at 0:05
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Can anyone give me an indepth analysis of this?
I might be able to. It would have been easier if you had told people what carving means, fortunately, as a skater (and skier), I know what you mean, so for the benefit of the non-skaters reading, carving is used in skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding and probably some other sports. It is a technique used to maintain a controllable speed when faced with a gradient that would otherwise provide too much of an acceleration.
This is done by moving in S paths down a slope. This video will give you an idea about what I mean. It's not a perfect technique (correct carving shouldn't skid) and it is of skiing, but the same thing applies for skateboarding too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhZmnHtgwec
How does carving on a skateboard work
The same way that carving in general works, it slows you down (or reduces your overall acceleration down a hill) by making you travel partly across the slope. This picture demonstrates what I mean:
It shows two paths down a slope. The areas in red are where the skater will accelerate due to being headed directly down the slope, and the areas in blue mark where the skater will be decelerating due to moving across the slope and the friction slowing him/her down. Obviously the path on the left will cause the skater to travel faster and the path on the right is longer, slower and more controllable.
why is it easier to carve on a longboard as opposed to a shortboard?
Longboards turn better, it's part of their design. Better trucks for turning, better wheels for grip, you can lean into the turn further to ballance the centripetal force. Longboards were designed for carving and smooth turning because they were trying to mimic surfing on land.
I feel like I'm more prone to hurt myself trying to carve or throw my weight out on a shortboard, why is this? Is it just because you have more control over your weight distribution on a longboard?
Yes, the same point as above, longboards are built for carving, skateboards are not.
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$\begingroup$ Well I guess that makes sense, I suppose things I was more confused abou were how sliding during carving works, and again why shortboards are worse, particularly when people slide while carving. Sorry I wasn't terribly clear, I was hoping someone would know what I mean, as I can't give a very good description myself. $\endgroup$– user24082Commented May 24, 2014 at 20:01
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$\begingroup$ Also I can't imagine right now why a longboard lets you lean more. $\endgroup$– user24082Commented May 24, 2014 at 20:06
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$\begingroup$ Oh better grip. $\endgroup$– user24082Commented May 24, 2014 at 20:12
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$\begingroup$ I'd like to point out that no where in your question did you mention "sliding during carving" but like I said, a good carve shouldn't slide (or skid), the speed should be reduced gradually. The physics of skidding is interesting and could be addressed in a separate question if you want to find out more about that. $\endgroup$ Commented May 25, 2014 at 15:47
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$\begingroup$ I'll repost, I'm really sorry the question was phrased so poorly. $\endgroup$– user24082Commented May 25, 2014 at 17:03