The Waiting is the Hardest Part

The search for my perfect deck has come to an end with the decision to have Lew at Fickle Skateboards craft me a custom shape to pair with my Indy 169s. In the meantime, I am waiting patiently on this investment in stoke. I chose a classic shape to start with and will post pics once I receive correspondence from the master craftsman. Photo courtesy of Fickle Skateboards.

Free Fall

Clocking in just under the vert. Fayetteville Skatepark, photo Em.

Finding the Right Deck

Finding a deck suited to you and your riding style can sometimes seem to be a never ending search. Size, shape, and application are important factors, along with functionality and practicality.

Size matters. There has been a lot written about the importance of choosing the right sized deck. I personally buy into the whole philosophy of buying a deck according to your stature. I say this because I stand at just over 6 feet tall and of all of the different boards I own, I am typically most comfortable on a 9.5" x 36" board with an 18" wheelbase. The shortest wheel base on any board I own is 14.5". I feel that a 15" to 16" wheelbase is ideal for me, but keep in mind this is subjective data that will vary from skater to skater. Recently I set up and rode a 10" x 30.5" fish deck and found it be too short in length and an awkward ride. 31.5" to 33" is an ideal length for me these days.

The shape of things. Finding a deck with shape today is no problem. There a punk points, blunt noses, shovels, pops, early '90s style tapered football and cigar shapes, fish tails, hammerheads, stingers, money bumps, and pigs. Finding the shape suited to your liking and your riding style is crucial but don't be afraid to try different things. If you have always ridden a pop for example, then try a square tail board. Remember that Jason Lee was doing 360 kickflips on a fish shaped square tail board long ago and that Mark Gonzales can be found riding an assortment of boards of different shapes and sizes (12" wide BDS for example) even to this very day. Challenge yourself and have fun.

Application is a somewhat important factor. How will I ride this board? Park set up, street, cruiser, pool? How and where the board will be used is always something to consider. Or you may do what I have done in the past and have one board with two or three different sets of wheels in varying durometers for various terrain.

The last two factors, functionality and practicality overlap to a degree, but are equally important in the overall equation of what skateboard deck you want under your feet. Most all boards on the market are functional for the most part, even the ones shaped like pizza slices, cartoon characters, and malt liquor bottles, but they may not seem practical. If you are looking for a solid every day rider, then you may want to steer clear of the gimmicky side of shop. Find what works for you and go from there. Regardless of what you do, it's skateboarding. And it should be fun and not frustrating, which is where I am today, frustrated as the search for a good deck to pair with my set of 169mm trucks continues. In the meantime, I'm lucky to have a few other solid set ups that I can ride, which is why we do this thing to begin with, right?

Rebound

SuperCush Bushings. Back in the day they had the best half-page ads in Thrasher. Today they are back on the scene with an offering of their bushings in five different durometers ranging from 88a, 90a, 94a, 97a, and up to 99a. I have opted to order the green 94a in hopes they will provide me with stability and control.

Rites of Spring

The six month long Appalachian winter is finally drawing to a close and that can only mean one thing. Curb skating. Jeff locked and loaded on a Saturday afternoon. C.Risk photo.

World Freestyle Round-Up

This year's World Freestyle Round-Up Skateboard Championships will be held May 15-18 2015 in Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada.

8 Ply Unfinished Blank

My latest eBay acquisition is this 8 ply unfinished blank deck from C.R. Boardworks out of Michigan. This unfinished piece will need some sanding a clear coat before being gripped and ready to rip. The deck is 9.25" x 32" with a 15" wheelbase. I'm real excited to get this one set up along with the Russ Howell freestyle deck my son and I will be putting together. Spring 2015 is going to be a lot of FUN! Photo credit.