A Carver surfskate is a skateboard with a special front truck that lets you pump for speed and carve like you would on a wave. It's the best-known surfskate for training on flat days. Here's what makes it different, how to choose a setup, and how it helps your surfing.
Our Pick
- Carver 32" Glass Off Surfskate: A mid-length complete board (ready to ride). It suits most riders and feels close to a shortboard. Check price
How a Surfskate Differs From a Skateboard
The difference is the front truck (the metal part that holds the wheels). A regular truck turns when you lean. A surfskate truck has a much wider range of motion, so you can build speed by pumping, the same way you pump down the line on a wave. You don't need to push off the ground.
Carver was founded in Venice, California, in 1995 by surfers Greg Falk and Neil Carver. Their goal was to recreate the feeling of surfing on land, and their truck designs did a lot to make surfskates popular.
Carver Truck Types: C7 and CX
- C7: Carver's original truck. It has a swivel arm on top of a standard base, which makes it very loose and easy to pump. It feels like a single fin or a twin fin: smooth and flowing. You can adjust its tension.
- CX: A more stable truck that still pumps and turns sharply. It feels more like a thruster: quick and snappy. Many riders find it easier to control at first, especially at speed.
Choose the C7 for the loosest, most surf-like feel. Choose the CX for more stability and a snappier ride.
Deck Size
- Shorter, wider decks feel like a fish or a shortboard. They're quick to turn and good for tight carves in small spaces.
- Longer decks feel more like a longer shortboard or a funboard. They're more stable at speed and good for long, flowing lines.
If you're tall, try a longer deck. Match the deck to the board you surf most.
How to Ride a Surfskate
- Take your surf stance. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart.
- Learn to pump. Shift your weight from your front foot to your back foot in a steady rhythm, bending and straightening your legs. The board will speed up without you pushing.
- Turn with your upper body. Look where you want to go and turn your shoulders and hips. Your legs and the board will follow.
- Practice carving. Lean into smooth turns from rail to rail. Then try tighter turns and cutbacks.
- Find smooth pavement. Start in empty parking lots, bike paths or quiet streets. Pump tracks are ideal if you have one nearby.
- Wear protection. Always wear a helmet. Wrist guards and knee and elbow pads are a good idea while you learn.
Keep your bearings clean, and check the truck hardware and bushings now and then.
How a Surfskate Improves Your Surfing
- Muscle memory: Pumping and carving on land trains the same movements you use on a wave.
- Balance: Riding a moving platform improves your balance and board control.
- Speed: You learn the body movements that create speed on a wave without relying on steep sections.
- Turns: You practice starting a turn, holding the rail and finishing it.
- Stance: Using your upper body to lead turns becomes natural.
Many pro surfers use surfskates to train, and Carver makes signature models with some of them.
The Bottom Line
If you want to train for surfing on land, a Carver surfskate is the place to start. Pick the C7 truck for a loose, flowing feel or the CX for stability, and practice pumping on smooth pavement.