A longboard is a type of skateboard that's longer than a regular skateboard, usually between three and five feet long. While regular skateboards are built for tricks and jumps at skateparks, longboards are designed for cruising: rolling smoothly down streets, carving turns on hills, or simply getting from one place to another.

The extra length makes longboards more stable and easier to balance on, which is why many people learn to skateboard on a longboard first. The longer deck gives you more room to position your feet comfortably, and the larger wheels roll more smoothly over cracks and bumps in the pavement. Some riders use longboards for downhill racing, crouching low and reaching speeds that would be dangerous on a shorter board. Others use them simply as transportation, longboarding to school or around their neighborhood.

The term can also refer to a type of surfboard. In surfing, a longboard is a longer, wider surfboard (usually over nine feet) that's easier to paddle and more stable than shorter surfboards, but less maneuverable. Just like skateboard longboards, surfboard longboards offer stability in exchange for the ability to make quick, sharp turns.