Should taller people skate longer wheelbases?

[Suangi]

Obviously it comes down to preference but is the general idea that the taller you are the longer wheelbase you should get?

Sadly I don't have infinite money and time to buy and try all the boards I would like so just trying to narrow down what would be good for me.

[Roisto]

Yes. More specifically people with longer legs I’d say.

[PisstickleTypeExperience]

Obviously it comes down to preference but is the general idea that the taller you are the longer wheelbase you should get?

Sadly I don't have infinite money and time to buy and try all the boards I would like so just trying to narrow down what would be good for me.

I'm 6'2" and a long board with a long wheelbase definitely feels ideal for me. I like 32.5-33" length and somewhere around 14.75" wb (with Royals)

[FrankRizzo]

5'8, 160lb, 30" inseam.

Park, hill bombs, manuals, slides, grinds.
Very little popping, no flip tricks.

I skate mellow 9" decks w/15.25 wheelbase, loose AF1 trucks, .25 risers, 60mm wheels.

I take a wide stance and have a surfer like style.  A longer wheelbase makes for wider turns (less twitchy, more smooth) which offers a stable ride at higher speeds.

[Frank and Fred]

Maybe, but not necessarily.  All depends on your preference, how you like to skate, what you are trying, terrain etc.

Different trucks, truck tightness, bushings, wheel size, risers or not, deck width also factor into over stability and agility of a set up.

[ChuckRamone]

There are super tall dudes like Ron Whaley who skated in the era of really small decks (and wheelbases) and wheels and managed to rip. A lot of it has to do with what you're used to.

[gringo_viejo]

A longer wheelbase is definitely easier on the knees if you're tall. Think wide stance vs narrow stance squats. (But my knees never hurt until I was past 40 so YMMV.)

[tzhangdox]

6ft5 34 inseam. 14.25-14.5. Mostly flat, curbs, rails n ledges though

[munchbox]

6’6” and like small wheelbases
less effort to pop
but landings have to be thought of in advance
anything over 14.25 feels sluggish to me

[LebowskisRug]

Most tall pros seem to skate 14.38-14.5 with a few exceptions, such as Reynolds.

I am 6 foot 3 and 14.38 is about the smallest I find stable and comfortable. I manual/nose manual better on 14.5. It really depends what you wanna optimize. I skated a 14.25 DLX 8.5 not long ago and really liked it for a lot of tech stuff that I would do slower, but over speed it's just too short and I am always in the pocket.

[Scottboarding]

Normally they probably should but I think it still comes down to preference. I’m 6ft, 32in inseam and find 14” or 14.125” wheelbases to be the most comfortable for my skating. I skate all low impact stuff; flat, ledges, manual pads, small quarter pipes, etc. and I like the short wheelbase. If I was hucking maybe a longer wheelbase would feel better. 

[Sketch Hitchcock]

Yes, have found it much more natural to do so.

Join the club if you like!

https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=123062.0

[FatGuy92]

+1 it's all preference. Jose Rojo is big as fuck and prefers a 14" WB

[Bror]

For sure, in my case at 6'5 I've never skated better than when I switched to the antihero orange eagle shape. 9x33 15wb

Only 2 years back in to skating and the local is a transition orientated park so it made a huge difference for me.

[Xen]

5'10" / 32" inseam / 190lbs / US10

I'll usually run 14.3x WB/ under 32", though very few like that come in 8.25 ([email protected]" /DLX@32"/[email protected])...with indys or ACE; and more likely than not, if a 14.3x WB is on an 8.3x that 8.3x is usually over 32" long.

I offset with a 14.25" WB on a 32" with Royals (or thunders).

For sure I skate better on 14.25 and up and feel most comfortable on 14.35/indy type...big transition 14.3-14.5wb for sure.

After months of sub 14.25" WB I've learned my lesson...except on 8.25"/31.9" Primitives with a 14" WB....it's an anomaly (probably due to the longer tail), but I can skate them like they were a regular 8.25/14.25" wb (great shapes too).

[j....soy.....]

Definitely….especially if you have a long knee to ankle measurement…..that’s why you never saw anyone over 5’9 doing anything of consequence while boards had 14” wheelbases ie. 2000-2010…..

Wait….this is totally wrong….

[Mean salto]

Pretty unpopular opinion but it doesn't really matter as long as you like it.
A 1/4 or 1/8 inch change in wheelbase is supposed to make some huge difference for me when I'm 6'6 vs someone who's 5'7?
Maybe tall people should be riding like 17 or 18 inch wb but that would be so different to what we're used to, probably hate the look and it would be so heavy so once again back to its just about riding what you like.

[Prostate Exam]

I am 6.6-6.7 and I always look for "shorter" wheelbases.
Since I am riding big shaped boards (10' / 31.5-32) They usually come with a 14.75 or 15' wheelbase and I always go for the shortest wheelbase possible.

Long wheelbases make the board feel hard to get of the ground. Eventhough I mostly skate transition I still prefer the shorter wheelbases (14.5).

But now I have to setup a vert board and everybody keeps telling me that a long wheelbase makes a lot of sense on vert. I might try a longer WB on my new vert setup

[FrankRizzo]

Maybe, but not necessarily.  All depends on your preference, how you like to skate, what you are trying, terrain etc.

Different trucks, truck tightness, bushings, wheel size, risers or not, deck width also factor into over stability and agility of a set up.

Standard trucks tend to turn progressively as in the hanger arcs faster the more you lean.
The turning radius and hanger arc progression on standard trucks, as well as dead zone before turning initiates are all larger/longer/wider/slower on a longer wheelbase.
For me I feel I can go a bit faster before getting speed wobbles and aggressively pump transition with a high degree of control using a wide, tall, long, loose setup. I also like the balance point for manuals.

[IpathCats]

im 6' 4" and the standard 14.25 wb feels cramped for me. I dont like anything under 14.4, and im moving towards not skating anything under 14.5. I skate mostly low impact street and transition under 7ft.

[LebowskisRug]

5'10" / 32" inseam / 190lbs / US10

I'll usually run 14.3x WB/ under 32", though very few like that come in 8.25 ([email protected]" /DLX@32"/[email protected])...with indys or ACE; and more likely than not, if a 14.3x WB is on an 8.3x that 8.3x is usually over 32" long.

I offset with a 14.25" WB on a 32" with Royals (or thunders).

For sure I skate better on 14.25 and up and feel most comfortable on 14.35/indy type...big transition 14.3-14.5wb for sure.

After months of sub 14.25" WB I've learned my lesson...except on 8.25"/31.9" Primitives with a 14" WB....it's an anomaly (probably due to the longer tail), but I can skate them like they were a regular 8.25/14.25" wb (great shapes too).

I had a similar experience on the Crail G052. It wasn't as stable in every way but the large amount of space between the bolts and kicks made it feel a lot longer that I'd expect. Definitely less cramped than that 8.28 DLX