Is it a surf? Is it a skate? It's a surfskate!
Long touted as the must-have for dry land surf training and marketed hard in that direction, and they do help. But if you surf anything like me, then much more time is spent paddling, duckdiving and starfishing on the reef than actually up and pumping down the line...
What we have realised, however, is that despite the fact I'm still terrified to paddle out as soon as it gets hollow and overhead, surfskates are a whole ton of fun in their own right!
We've played hard with these and we know what makes them go! Whether it be for deep-winter sessions in the shop carving super tight figure-8s or a summers cruise with wide carves down the bike path, these things will do it.
The following is a list of favourites from both us at Vandem and from our customers over the past year.
- Arbor Tyler Warren Carver C7 Surfskate
- Loaded Bolsa Carver CX Surfskate
- Carver 37" Bing Continental C7 Surfskate
- Carver Mini Series
- Lush Nomad Gazer CX Surfskate
- YOW x Pukas 33" Flame Surfskate
And for good measure, some of our frequently asked questions here in the shop:
How do we review these surfskates?
We've been doing this for a while.
If we're lucky, we get shipped a blemished board by a supplier and can take it out of stock without taking a financial hit.
Otherwise if new stuff comes out... well, we've got to know what we're talking about, so we take the hit and we take it for a ride!
Those boards tend to end up as demo boards in our shop which you're welcome to come and try for yourself.
As for reviewing surfskates, we're taking into consideration several factors such as turning circle, stability, use cases, dimensions, speed at which we can get to the post office and back, and most importantly how much it makes us grin 🙂
Depending on what you want to do, the boards may be more or less suited to your plans... but remember: they're all super fun. There is no wrong answer!
What's the best surfskate for me?
There is no short answer - everyone has their own riding style, skate spots, comfort at speed, stance width, weight and so on.
We have a page and video on surfskate sizing here that takes a deeper dive into that side of things.
Otherwise you'll also have to choose which trucks you want under there, as they all behave a little differently to each other.
But rest assured, whether you want to wiggle round cones in the carpark, slash the top of the tallest transition, or simply enjoy the local cycle path on a sunny day - you'll find something within these pages that will suit you just right.
Which Surfskates do the Vandem team ride?
Have a read below for Rich, Matt and Danielle's trusted steeds...
Rich: ARBOR TYLER WARREN CARVER C7
Rich says: ”The C7 truck means I can carve super tight lines in the shop in the depths of winter”
Matt: CARVER BLACK TIP CX
Matt says: “It fits great under my size 11s and when I pick up some speed it reminds me just how bad at surfing I really am”.
Danielle: LOADED BOLSA CARVER C7
Danielle says: “If you’re smaller than the average bear then a wide deck is not great for tiny feet - you want to be able to feel the rails with toes and heels so this board is great!”
Arbor Tyler Warren Carver C7 Surfskate
The Arbor Tyler Warren is a real favourite here at Vandem, with a compact shape and equipped with the epicly deep turning Carver C7 trucks, it makes a huge amount of fun out of small spaces. Driveways, carparks, and that little bank you spotted in the park are all fair game!
The downside is that its a bit of a handful out in the big wide world, so if you want a board you can use to easily get from A to B, we'd advise looking at the more stable Carver CX or Landyachtz surfskates
The deck
The Tyler Warren is super compact at 29" long, but makes great use of its size with a fat squared off nose that lets you really get your weight over the front, and a healthy 9.8" width means this board feels great even under larger feet.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
Carver pretty much invented the surfskate category, and thier C7 truck is the ultimate choice for a snappy slashy board that lets you take crazy lines and carve super deep.
Arbors 65mm 78a Easy Rider wheels give grip in abundance, and the stock bearings roll fast and use double rubber seals, so should last well.
How does it ride?
Increidibly deep carving and ready to slash up even the smallest of spaces, the Arbor Tyler Warren is sure to put a smile on your face
| The Arbor Tyler Warren Carver C7 Surfskate is good because... | A Arbor Tyler Warren Carver C7 Surfskate might not be right for you because... |
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Loaded Bolsa Carver CX Surfskate
Designed in a collaboration between Loaded and Carver, The Bolsa combines Loaded construction and concave technology with Carver trucks to bring good feelings to the next level.
The deck
Mellow concave and rocker provide a comfy platform, while the kicktail and wheel-arches give you that bit of extra tactile feedback to lock you in and know exactly where your feet are at all times. You can really throw this one around!
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
The Bolsa comes set up ready to rip with super grippy and fast rolling 77a 4president wheels from Orangatang, and has the standard Carver bushings replaced with high rebound Orangatang Nipples for ultimate fast pumping fun times.
How does it ride?
The Bolsa gives a really premium surfskate experience, with top quality components normally reserved for aftermarket upgrades, you wont be left searching for any more performance!
| The Loaded Bolsa Carver CX Surfskate is good because... | A Loaded Bolsa Carver CX Surfskate might not be right for you because... |
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Carver 37" Bing Continental C7 Surfskate
If you've ever surfed a Bing longboard, you'll know the feeling of a combination of classic smooth trimming with responsive carving. We'd say that the surfskate version does very much the same.
The deck
The Carver 37" Bing Continental C7 is one of the longest surfskates in our range. At 10" wide it's one of the widest too, great for a taller skater or somebody with a wider stance... or simply anyone looking for the surfskate feeling without the aggressive bitiness of a smaller board. We love it.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
Carver C7 trucks, 70mm 78 wheels, and sealed Abec 7 bearings will keep you rolling fast and smooth. The C7 trucks on this board work well with the longer wheelbase to allow a wider stance than on many surfskates, which anyone coming from a surfboard or snowboard will feel right at home with.
How does it ride?
The long length of this deck means you can really enjoy big laid out carves, and put power down to build up speed and really feel the momentum of the board under your feet. The length will even let you get your cross-steps going on this board. Go easy, mind, it's still got Carver C7s on it! But hey, if you can cross-step this board then your actual longboard will feel totally planted under your feet in the water.
| The Carver 37" Bing Continental C7 Surfskate is good because... | A Carver 37" Bing Continental C7 Surfskate might not be right for you because... |
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Carver Mini Series
For the young guns there's no need to look any further than the Carver Mini Series. Coming in at 26", 27" and 28" they're super short, light and agile, perfectly suited to kids looking to get their eye in to deep carves and pumping down the line.
The deck
Alongside the small size, the smaller boards in this range are also pressed with only 6 plies of maple - one less than the standard 7 ply skateboard construction.
That means they're lighter still and even for the little ones, will have a really comfy bit of flex to them.
Wide shapes and epic graphics finish them off - whichever rack these are on in the shop tends to get the most attention.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
It's impossible to write about the components of these boards without mentioning the best, most awesome attention to detail: They've put soft bushings in them!
This makes all the difference when it comes to lighter riders being able to have fun - or even turn at all.
This really sets Carver apart from anything else on offer.
With Carver C5 trucks (also shorter than the CX to make it easier for smaller legs) and Carvers own Roundhouse wheels, you can't really go wrong.
Hold one in your hands at your peril - you'll probably leave with it under your feet!
How does it ride?
Gentle flex, low to the ground, super light and turny... it's a perfect surfskate wrapped up in a small package.
The lower trucks also make it more than possible to take these into the skatepark and learn to ollie and trick them.
About as versatile as it gets for a surfskate!
| The Carver Mini Series is good because... | A Carver Mini Series might not be right for you because... |
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Lush Nomad Gazer CX Surfskate
It's the known and loved Lush Nomad Gazer... with Carver CX trucks on. A super comfy platform, plush soft wheels and my [Matt] personal favourite Carver trucks. What's not to like?
The deck
Bamboo and composite construction for a long life and snappy pop, adorned with one of the sickest graphics out there - dark woodstain and foil stars.
30" makes it relatively snappy for a surfskate - just long enough to pick up a good bit of speed, just short enough to really whip it round. Works for indoor surfskating in our shop.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
Carver CX trucks need no more introducing - amazing to carve and pump up to speed. Choose from Lush Smoothies and Cult Invaders for the wheels - plush and soft, or super fast and grippy. I know which I'd go for...
How does it ride?
Super fun! It goes inside the shop (with some tweaking), but its big enough to handle the mean streets of Bristol with ease. At 30" its also one you can take into the skatepark if you feel so inclined.
| The Lush Nomad Gazer CX Surfskate is good because... | A Lush Nomad Gazer CX Surfskate might not be right for you because... |
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YOW x Pukas 33" Flame Surfskate
YOW are right in there supporting true surfers and shapers and the Pukas collab is no different - based in the Basque country, they're even a little closer to home than most of the other US based collabs!
The deck
Would it be a true surf shape without some wingers in the tail? Perhaps, perhaps not, but they've gone for it - not dissimilar to the Lush Nomad Surf, but with a few extra inches in length thanks to the proper nose kick that will definitely feel useful if you're going to the skatepark.
Wheels, Trucks, & Bearings
The YOW Meraki truck system offers real mean lean! More similar to the Carver C7 than the CX in that its a double-axis truck. It'll lean hard and you can draw speed out of the tightest of turns. YOWs own bearings and Ura wheels ensure you've got the speed and grip to keep up with the trucks.
How does it ride?
Super loose, and yet with a dose of comfort and stability with the nice amount of foot platform to rely on as you wiggle and cruise.
| The YOW x Pukas 33" Flame Surfskate is good because... | A YOW x Pukas 33" Flame Surfskate might not be right for you because... |
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