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Beggining to longboard

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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
im just starting to longboard and i really dont know much about it. so if anyone could help it would be much appreciated.

im looking for a decent board thats cheap and easy to learn on. 
trucks and wheels? any help?
sizes?

thanks
Apr 26 2008 7:15PM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
you lookin to do downhill,carving,dancing or just rollin around?
Apr 26 2008 7:17PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
just cruising around with friends and having fun
Apr 26 2008 7:18PM
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THATS_STREET
Posts: 2250 - Karma: 33
if you got 200 bucks to spend a landyatchz dropdeck is a real easy way to learn and once you learn you can put bigger wheels and faster bearings and haul fucking ass but if you not looking to spend that much just get a sector nine complete i personally dont like sector 9 but their cheap and reliable
Apr 26 2008 7:22PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
bump
Apr 26 2008 7:42PM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
problllly dont want a dropdeck for just cruisin around...

depending on how much you want to spend doeffinatly look at loaded longboards. they have some really nice decks with nice flex that are super fun just for cruisin around.
sector 9's are good for that type of riding too and same with arbor.

for trucks randalls are always a good choice and bear trucks are good too.

wheels check out some abec 11 gumballz or bigzigs.
Apr 26 2008 7:58PM
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dman1260
Posts: 899 - Karma: 13
check out milehighskates.com and silverfishlongboarding.com  Mile High is owned by a guy who basically builds boards that he thinks will work really well.  They generally have better set-ups than your stock set-up and have some pretty good prices for what you get.  Also, check out silverfish, its a longboarding forum and there are a lot of threads about what is good and for what. 

If you are looking to just cruise around most boards will work, but a drop deck could be nice cause its easier on your legs since its lower to the ground.  Also, wheels on the soft and bigger size (around 70mm+ and 80 duro) are good because they not only roll over most everything, but they are stickier and therefore turn better.  And a deck around 38-42 in will be really versatile and allow you to cruise, carve, and bomb hills.  Also, i like decks with a little flex and some slight concave to lock your feet in.  And Randalls are a pretty good set of trucks that will work for most things. 

The best thing though would be to ride some of your buddy's boards and see what you think makes the best board. 
Apr 26 2008 8:00PM
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THATS_STREET
Posts: 2250 - Karma: 33
drop decks are great to learn on though because of stability

yeah definetly get randall trucks and abec 11 wheels
Apr 26 2008 8:02PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,069
Go to a skate shop and just buy a complete, best way to start out by far. Just get a sector or a arbor board.
Apr 26 2008 8:04PM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
yeahhh they are but alot of them arent super versatile if your lookin to cruise around a city if thats your thing
Apr 26 2008 8:04PM
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THATS_STREET
Posts: 2250 - Karma: 33
i disagree, im not even a huge fan of dropdecks but they are the best for just cruising around because if you in flats you can push way more effortlessly than a standard longboard, put some big wheels and good bearings in and you can go as fast as cars on a 25 mph street. yeah you cant manny off a curb but thats about it.

i own a dropdeck but am llooking to get a skate style longboard because they are more versital. but thats just my $.02
Apr 26 2008 8:09PM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019
You are gonna have such a good time. What's really fun is going to parking structures at 1am and just bombing from top to bottom, taking the elevator back up, and once you are up, send it back down to the bottom floor. It's honestly like a chairlift skiing, and the parking structure is your mountain. Plus the surfaces are soooooooooo smooth in parking structures.
Apr 26 2008 8:21PM
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FapMasterFLEX
Posts: 608 - Karma: 333
yeaa same dood. ive used em before and i reaally wanna get one for college. any tips on what to buy???
Apr 26 2008 8:22PM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
yeah i got a drop deck too but i dunno, i like how you can push easier so you dont get as tired but i prefer a deck thats a little higher for cruisin around town cause if i go over rubs or anythin on my drop, ill just scrape the bottom and i dont really want that. and if you can get to 25mph by pushing on a flat street then thats just impressive...
Apr 26 2008 8:23PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Yeah they are both great places to read up on shit of you don't know anything. I started out on silverfish last year before i started riding to find out everything i needed to know. Lots of great tutorials on there and they even have a noob question forum where you can ask the noob questions and not get ragged on :P
Apr 26 2008 8:34PM
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DudeAbides
Posts: 333 - Karma: 10
stay away from sector 9. my experience has only been bad with their boards, they are too stiff and kinda feel like their production is super rushed, making a board that feels less "hand built."

deff look at Loaded Boards, they have some super sick styles and their flex carve system is really tight.


Also, there are these carbon fiber boards that are starting to gain popularity out here in Utah. They are called Three Ring Longboards and some of the sickest boards ive ever seen. They cost about $300, but the newest model weighs something like 1.1 pounds and is virtually indestructible. plus they have a lifetime guarantee.
Apr 26 2008 8:46PM
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THATS_STREET
Posts: 2250 - Karma: 33
hell yeah i wish i had the cash flow to drop on a 3 ring
Apr 26 2008 8:47PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Check out Kracked Skulls boards too. IMO, best bang for your buck in terms of price and quality. They are a dropthrough deck too which i love; loosen up the trucks and it rides like a snowboard....its so dope for carving.
Apr 26 2008 9:22PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
thanks ryno, i think im going to buy a kracked skull board

hows this setup sound?

m1 kracked skull deck
randal r11 180 trucks
70mm flashback wheels

for $112

sound like a good deal?
Apr 26 2008 9:54PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
See thats why i like em, super cheap yet the parts are quality. Its a great beginner  board i think for that reason. 

I got that exact setup last spring and I am still riding it 100%. Clean out the bearings once in a while and add some speed lube and they last a long time.

snwbrdmilf just bought one of these a couple weeks ago and she loves it too.

Longboarding is blowing up!
Apr 26 2008 10:03PM
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THATS_STREET
Posts: 2250 - Karma: 33
yeah if your talking about abec 11 70s flashbacks with randall 180s id say that setup is ballin
Apr 26 2008 10:05PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Yeah they are flashbacks and 180's
Apr 26 2008 10:20PM
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
do u want a tail or not?

obviously most boards are no tail
but condsider the main type of riding u do, or if you have a skate backgr

i prefer boards w/ a tail on them like a skateboard b/c i do a lot of riding around the city and pedestrians, where the tail helps me maneuver around better.

but if you do a lot more high speed or cruising then id go straight tail.

whatever you decide you'll be stoked, most long boards will do just fine for a beginner.
Apr 26 2008 10:26PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Yeah thats a huge question actually. The m1 has no tail which makes manuals and shit insanely hard :P
Apr 27 2008 12:03AM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
i skate a little but not much really. from what i have ridden i can ride a no tail fine
Apr 27 2008 12:08AM
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BigJew
Posts: 6974 - Karma: 79
The M1 doesn't have much of a tail, but it does look like manuals are very possible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9HIcMufxdQ

(I won't even try an embed)

Apr 27 2008 12:13AM
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IcePointa
Posts: 1879 - Karma: 19
I have for cruising...

loaded fish board, tracker RTS/RTX 139 combo trucks, abec 11 retro zigzags 70mm wheels

for bombing/speed carving...

comet voodoo board, crail DH trucks, 76mm sector 9 goddess of speed wheels for extreme traction/ pink powerballs if i want drifting

both sick setups depending on what you wanna do

I started with the voodoo then decided i wanted a small/ quick/ flexible board to fuck around with so I got the fish.
Apr 27 2008 6:34AM
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IcePointa
Posts: 1879 - Karma: 19
I use the fish more often now.

I can pretty much ride the same shit I could with the voodoo, I just have to carve like hell to keep my speed under 30 mph. With the voodoo I've bombed hills at nearly 50mph but its not as fun as the fish.

Oh yea, I hit a piece of gravel at 35+ mph and superman dove to the pavement on the voodoo without any pads or helmet. No serious injuries, just took a few months for my fingernail to grow back. Scout your line before you drop, even if you rode the same line yesterday cause someone will drag a waterhose across the road or something and make a perfect deathtrap for ya.
Apr 27 2008 6:40AM
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hippie_cat
Posts: 1569 - Karma: 13
i do that all the time, just during the day on sundays. theres a 9 storey parking structure in the city thats deserted every sunday, its so sweet.

as for the board, i went and got a generic cheapie for $130AU (sector 9s are $350 over here), 41 inch pintail. its been just fine for me except the wheels that were really shitty and blew apart on me. im now saving up for a set of abec 11 70s flashbacks.
Apr 27 2008 7:08AM
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SK1ERDUDE
Posts: 1365 - Karma: 51
i have a sector 9 board and i ride it all the time super flexy and a lot of fun for a cheap price
Apr 27 2008 8:40AM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
i got a dogtown board that i begane with. it was good for learning but i found it too bulky/heavy. i defenetly liked the tail.
i just got a fibreflex board that seems pretty nice for cruising so far, but i gotta do some switching around wtih the trucks and wheels.
Apr 27 2008 12:22PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
I never said it was impossible...I said it was very difficult. There is next to no nose/tail to step on.

That guy is pretty decent but he rides for Kracked Skulls :P

sweet vid though....i hadn't seen it
Apr 27 2008 1:45PM
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MADmidwest
Posts: 1278 - Karma: 15

ASk these guys about it. It's like an NS but for longboarding. Everyone there knows what they are talking about. http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/

Apr 27 2008 2:07PM
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VT_FLO
Posts: 3806 - Karma: 147
if u want to drop money on a new board get a 46" carving board. those are the best for cruising around and can generally handle any hill pretty well. I would suggest a pintail like a sector 9 goddess or something. make sure its not a very stiff board or it will destroy your knees.

get XXmm wheels(the higher the faster) and if you want to carve get them with a rating of under 80A

bearings you could stick with the abec 5's or go for abec 7s or 9s, depending on how fast you want to go and how much your willing to spend.

trucks get either 180mm or 10".
Apr 27 2008 3:53PM
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timmmy
Posts: 654 - Karma: 25
iThreads
Apr 27 2008 6:26PM
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peyton
Posts: 1475 - Karma: 1,062

most beginners go with a sector 9... im not a fan but whatev.. i rip a 30" FiberFlex its more expensive and has a real nice flex to pop you out of tight turns and hard carves.. i surf a lot so my stlye of riding is similiar to that of surfing so you can get an idea

Apr 27 2008 6:36PM
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InitialG
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 14
Agreed, thats how I started out, just bought a $150 sector 9 and started skating. Sucked at first but you get good pretty quickly.
Apr 27 2008 6:54PM
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Tortao
Posts: 1292 - Karma: 10
i got a sector 9 bamboo board, it is pretty siiiiiiccccckkkkkkk
Apr 27 2008 6:56PM
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steezinseagal
Posts: 70 - Karma: 10
depends on what u want, my sector 9 is great and I have ridden many many different boards.  mine is really stiff but believe me when u are going fast it will flex like mad, and I got it to bomb hills.  stiff is better for bombing anyways, if u want the ferrarri of longboards get a rayne with the fattest stickiest wheels you can, my friend's rayne 35 inch board is unreal, unlike any other board I've ridden
Apr 27 2008 7:04PM
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
y does everyone rip on sector 9, sure if you've been riding a board for years you may want something nicer, but for a beginner come on. i've been riding a shorter super flexy 9 w/ a tail for 3 years now and it still is fine. I ride it everyday to and from class as well as pretty much everynight in the summer. original bearings, wheels, and all, sure the bearings are getting a little slow, but they are 3 years old. The tail is starting to come apart a little, but thats from repeated manuals at 25 mph and f-in up.
And if you want to make it a little better, then buy aftermarket bearings/wheels.

Just don't spend a ton of money on your first board, b/c youll probably find something you like better after this summer, and find what kind of stuff you like/dislike. And then youll have a board u can beat up and let your friends borrow when u go shredding.


Apr 27 2008 7:17PM
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2814
Posts: 292 - Karma: 10
Last season I picked up an Arbor bamboo carving board for like $270. It's pretty fuckin sick. It's got crazy amounts of flex, though I reckon those carbon fibre boards could give it a run for its money.


I think I'm going to replace the trucks now that I've got a handle on this longboarding thing, and maybe take the Bearings up from ABEC 7's to 11's. Question though: Will I kill myself with 11's? I've got Black Panther 7's in it right now, and they seem pretty slick to me.


Apr 27 2008 7:18PM
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
o yeah and everyone will tell you that the local dudes that started their own company from 'x' town are the best. they are usually good boards but see what u like, try different styles, flexes, and sizes.
Apr 27 2008 7:20PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Unless your trying to break the 90mph mark you really dont need more then abec 7's. I dont even think they make bearing that are rated at 11 (although there is a company called Abec11)
Apr 27 2008 8:53PM
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DaLiNeRiDEr21
Posts: 3687 - Karma: 39
this thread helped i am starting to longboarding out
Apr 27 2008 9:00PM
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THATS_STREET
Posts: 2250 - Karma: 33
go with any swiss above 40 bucks i ride a longboard or regular skate every day and i got the 45 buck swiss bones and they are fucking fast and if you take care of them they last forever if not just go with china bone reds.
Apr 27 2008 9:00PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Yeah the key for bearings i found is regular cleaning. It can be a bit of a bitch to pop off the covers and clean them but they last a long time if you do.
Apr 27 2008 9:14PM
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meggles
Posts: 3156 - Karma: 54
What's the difference between the Kracked Skulls Scimitar and M1? I got an M1 for my boyfriend for his birthday and he looves it, I'm jealous and I want one haha
May 18 2008 11:23AM
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Craigskis
Posts: 6650 - Karma: 1,645
I think the majority of sector 9 boards are a waste of time.

I'm looking to pick up a loaded either a vanguard or a dervish board to work on freestyle tricks,

When your starting out just crank down your trucks and it will give you a lot more stability and confidence, learn how to foot break and run off the board before trying anything too big
May 18 2008 12:07PM
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b-kul
Posts: 4350 - Karma: 1,111
i think tensor makes an abec 11 bearing but it is only available to their pro team.
May 18 2008 12:22PM
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MESKI
Posts: 942 - Karma: 220
if you think your going to be longaboarding for a longtime dont bother with buying a cheapie to start. spend the extra few bucks and get a dervish. its by load boards. probably the best board ive ever ridden. all around perfect. its drop thru so u can be a little more stable at speed, carves like a dream, pumps really well, great for just cruising, and u can do dancing stuff on it too. i got mine for 277. if you are really unsure about if u will ride a lot or not, just look into getting a complete at your local skate shop or check out daddiesboardshop.com or milehighskate.com great prices. but definately look at getting a dervish
May 18 2008 12:31PM
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