In this series of longboard brand overviews (see the previous ones, Arbor Overview, Yocaher Overview), Riviera longboards is next on the list.
Riviera Longboards is a lesser known longboard brand that isn’t typically thought of nowadays when you think of the top longboard brands but it definitely still belongs in the spotlight. See below for my favorite longboards from this brand.
| Product | Best For | Reason it’s a Favorite |
|---|---|---|
| Riviera Drop-Thru Sea Snake Complete | Carving Freeride Light Downhill | This board feels like a Loaded Tan Tien. Check Price Now! |
| Riviera Skateboards Kung Fu Kitty Complete | Carving Cruising | Who wouldn’t want a longboard named the Kung Fu Kitty?! Check Price Now! |
| Riviera Beta Fish Complete Drop Thru | Cruiser | Responsive to slight changes in weight and has a short turning radius Check Price Now! |
Origin of Riviera Longboards
Riviera Longboards was born in California and attempts to stay true to its surfing and skateboarding roots. One theme that holds strong throughout all of their boards is their unofficial motto, “It’s all JUST SKATEBOARDING”.
Riviera believes that no matter what shape a deck is or what specific components you have, as long as there’s a deck, 2 trucks, and 4 wheels, it’s a skateboard. The company prides themselves on providing high-quality complete skateboards and longboards at an affordable price for the masses.
Riviera longboards are aimed mainly at downhill and freeride riders with only a slight focus on cruising boards. The majority of their boards feature a medium size deck with wheel cutouts to avoid wheel bite.
One factor that sets Riviera longboards apart from the competition is the addition of Paris Trucks on all of their completes. At similar prices, other longboard brands simply use generic aluminum trucks.
Top Riviera Longboards
While Riviera only has a limited selection of longboards, some of them still stand above the rest. Below are my favorite Riviera longboards based on personal experience and rider reviews. Let’s start with my personal longboard from Riviera, the Sea Snake.
Riviera Sea Snake
Click here for reviews and pricing info!
More of a classic drop through, from Riviera longboards comes the Riviera Sea Snake. This board stretches out the necks of the board to a full 41.5” from end to end placing the trucks further away from the center.
The deck is made out of bamboo but it has less flex than the Cherry Blossom Mini. In the words of one of our riders, “the Riviera Sea Snake flexes so that it feels lively underneath but not so much that it feels like a trampoline.”
With a symmetrical shape of the board combined with high-quality Paris Trucks and Divine Street Slayer Wheels Riviera Sea Snake has also been said to be “one of the top 5 longboards of all time”.
Riviera Cherry Blossom Mini
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The main difference between the Riviera Beta Fish and the Riviera Street Slayer is the length but it changes the board drastically.
With a shorter length of 38″ inches from end to end, the Riviera Beta Fish amazed me with it’s smooth and elegant carves. Due to its length, it excels as a cruiser or excellent free ride board for riders.
In terms of construction, the board is again made out of a mix of bamboo and fiberglass making it highly flexible underneath your feet. In terms of components, it comes with Paris Trucks, Divine Street Slayer Wheels, and ABEC 5 bearings.
If you are looking for a quick upgrade to your board for cheap, consider upgrading the bearings on Riviera longboards. ABEC 5’s are distinctly average or even below average – you can upgrade to Bones Bearing here.
Riviera Kung Fu Kitty
Click here for reviews and pricing info!
Possibly my favorite longboard name of them all, the Kung Fu Kitty stands out from the rest of Riviera longboards with its legendary name and set-up.
The Kitty is another bamboo drop through from Riviera measuring 41.5 inches long. This deck shape reduces the wheel cutouts a little from the previously discussed boards but it doesn’t affect the carving at all.
In the words of Riviera, “The Kung Fu Kitty kicks @$$ on the streets!” This is because the flex is so well tuned on this longboard. It perfectly bounces you out of hard carves so you can instantly slide the board next.
The Kung Fu Kitty definitely takes its place among all of Riviera longboards as a high-quality street cruiser, free ride, and downhill board. It comes complete with Paris Trucks, divine street slayers for wheels, and clear grip tape.
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