The Best Longboarding Places in Europe for Downhill Longboarding

Downhill longboarding is an exhilarating and adrenaline-filled sport that is quickly gaining traction across the globe. In Europe, particularly, downhill racing is becoming a highly popular sport for both participants and spectators. If you are interested in getting involved, here are the top destinations in Europe for downhill longboarding:

Col de Turini, France

This winding stretch of downhill road was voted by the History Channel’s Top Gear as the most fun and beautiful road to drive on in the world.

Yet driving is not the only way to enjoy this exhilarating road.

With 10 km of smooth, crack-free pavement and plenty of hairpin turns, the Col de Turini has plenty to offer to a downhill longboard rider. Add to this the road’s steep yet manageable incline, and you’ve got a road where there is no real limit to the speeds you can reach if you’ve got the desire to go fast.

If you are an adrenaline junky that can also appreciate the pleasure of beautiful surroundings, the Col de Turini is a must-visit.

Titan’s Path, Norway

Be warned, this stretch of road is not for the faint of heart. With thirty hairpins in a row and 30% grade slope, Titan’s Path is a beast of a road to longboard down.

If you are up for the challenge, however, the road offers some of the best scenery and most adrenaline-packed rides you will find. Winding its way down a breathtaking mountain whose base is settled in crystal blue water, Titan’s Path is a uniquely enjoyable destination for downhill longboard riders.

As a bonus, the area also houses a well-managed camping destination, giving you several options as to how you will fill your time while there.

Stalheimskleiva, Norway

Titan’s Path is not the only steep hill in Norway. The Stalheimskleiva road is actually the steepest road in Northern Europe and offers courageous longboard riders all of the downhill speed that they can handle.

At the top of the road is Stalheim hotel, and after traveling 1.5 km to the bottom you will arrive at the beautiful Nærøy Valley. The trip may not be the longest, but it does offer some breathtaking scenery, including views of two different waterfalls.

Chances are good, however, that if you are brave enough to ride a longboard down the Stalheimskleiva the only scenery you’ll be seeing will be flying past in a blur.

The Grimsel Pass, Switzerland

Located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the Grimsel Pass is said to have the sharpest turns of any road in the world. As you wind your way down the mountain on this road, expect the views of the surrounding scenery to be breathtaking, though don’t get too distracted.

Turning the corners on the Grimsel Pass is easier said than done, and unless you are an experienced downhill rider you may want to save this one for a later time.

If you decide to take a trip down the Grimsel Pass on a longboard, you can count on it being the most exhilarating and picturesque ride you will have ever had the opportunity to experience.

Just make sure you have a longboard that can turn on a dime.

Harlech Road, United Kingdom

With a 40% grade, the Harlech Road in Wales is believed to be one of the steepest roads in all of Europe.

This fact alone makes it an attractive destination for longboard riders who are looking to conquer the meanest hill that the European continent has to offer. At the end of the road, you will find the Harlech castle, and quaint scenery dots the road along the entire stretch.

Thanks to its ridiculous steepness, though, you will want to make sure that you are able to properly control the speed of your board as well as make sure the board you are riding is stable enough to handle a trip down such steep slope.

If you’re confident about yourself, conquering the steepest road in all of Europe would be quite the bragging rights for any longboard rider.

The Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway

The Atlantic Ocean Road may not be the steepest road you will find in Europe, but it is certainly one of the most unique.

Voted as one of the most unusual roads on the planet, this 8.3 kilometer stretch of County Road 64 snakes its way across the Norwegian Sea with various tiny islands being the only land masses that it crosses. The road has a maximum gradient of 8%, but it still has some great hills to ride down, especially the beautifully unique Hulvågen Bridge which makes the road worth the trip just by itself and must be seen in person to be fully appreciated.

If you are looking for a unique and beautiful stretch of road that is a little more forgiving than some of the other entries on the list, the Atlantic Ocean Road is an excellent destination.

The Transfăgărășan, Romania

Climbing to an altitude of 2,034 meters, the Transfăgărășan is the second highest mountain pass in Romania and is dotted all along its 90 km stretch with numerous hairpin turns, winding S-curves, and adrenaline-pumping slopes.

Due to ice accumulation, the road is closed during the winter months, so you will have to catch it at the right time of year.

If you do manage the opportunity to ride a longboard down the Transfăgărășan, the options of which of its many hills you will conquer are almost limitless.

Thanks to the road’s length and near endless supply of exhilarating stretches, a longboard rider could spend a lifetime enjoying this beautiful stretch of road.