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Skateboarding noob here, help me out

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Bepo
Posts: 8195 - Karma: 17
So winter is winding down and I want to pick up skateboarding this summer and need to buy a skateboard. I'm 6'4", 250 lbs and my shoes are a 13 just to give you ideas for size. Experience wise I'm pretty much a noob, I can only do ollies and shuvs and basic stuff. I setup a custom complete on active ride shop and wanted to get some input on if I got the right stuff before I order it. Is 8.5 the right size board for me? Are the trucks the right size for the board I want? What size wheels are good for all around stuff on a board this big? And then anything else you guys can come up with

Deck: Active Lock Up White Deck 8.5 White

Trucks: Independent Stage 9 Trucks 169

Wheels: Spitfire Multiball Wheels 55.0mm

Bearings: Active Legacy Bearings

Hardware: Element Thriftwood Hardware BLK

Griptape: Jessup Griptape

Risers: Mystery Heart Riser Pads Black

Total: $105.98
Mar 30 2009 12:36AM
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hoodhugo
Posts: 988 - Karma: 33
risers are pointless. you only need them if you have big wheels which you dont really.
Mar 30 2009 12:40AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
yeah, ditch the risers.

Larger wheels will be smoother for cruising and whatnot. So if your driveway is really bumpy, you might not want small wheels. But 55 is a pretty versatile size, so you should be good.
Mar 30 2009 1:15AM
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YT.SKEEZE
Posts: 609 - Karma: 17
Doesn't really matter what type/brand of griptape, hardware, risers and really wheels are.

Wheel size:personal preference but generally smaller if you plan on skating street eventually. Also if you wanna get technical get a hardness around 100.
Trucks: Come in 3 sizes- Mids, Highs, and Lows. It really depends on board/personal preference but I would generally recommend mids. Also based on personal experience avoid independents because their axles break quite easily.
Boards: I ride a 7.75 and have 10 1/2 shoes....seems a little wide but that will probably be easier for learning anyways. Also for length you definately want over 32" for your height.
Bearings: I would definitely recommend Bones Bearings and if not get some with abec 5. (The higher the number the less durable but better performance.)

Mar 30 2009 2:29AM
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YT.SKEEZE
Posts: 609 - Karma: 17
And i forgot for trucks mids, lows and highs are for height. If your gonna stick with the wide board go with a 5.25 truck for any board over about 8 1/4.
Mar 30 2009 2:37AM
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Bepo
Posts: 8195 - Karma: 17
So should I go with an 8.25 or 8.5 inch deck? Whats easier to learn on and more manageable?
Mar 30 2009 10:26AM
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Mrvic.
Posts: 1033 - Karma: 154
get size 53mm wheels, and get krux trucks or thunder, not independent
Mar 30 2009 10:34AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
8.5 will be more stable but harder to flip. also, get some better bearings and ditch the risers
Mar 30 2009 11:01AM
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killa_cam
Posts: 13143 - Karma: 15
i recommend getting an 8. for trucks get 129s or 139s. 55 is a fairly big wheel i usually pick 52 but whatever. you don't need risers unless you're going like 57+. get bones reds bearings because they are cheap and it doesn't really matter what bearings you get.

although if you pick up that first setup you picked you can rip like this guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGuDwglnmcs
Mar 30 2009 11:12AM
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S3B
Posts: 251 - Karma: 24
narrow: easier to flip
wide: easier to land
i'm 6'1" and 185lb, 11.5 shoe and skate an 8", 7.75 seems to be the standard though but you're much bigger.
you should also consider the concave of the deck, usually mellow for a starter, and more aggressive as you get more technical,
peace
Mar 30 2009 11:17AM
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Bepo
Posts: 8195 - Karma: 17
Active ride shop didn't have the much for trucks and wheels so I checked out ccs and they have a way better selection. Heres a new setup based on what you guys said

CCS Standard Issue Deck - 8.25
Krux III Trucks - 8.00
CCS Blank Wheels - 54
Bones Bearings Reds Bearings
Jessup Grip Tape
CCS Hardware
Mystery Risers (free so why not)

total is like $70. I'm cool with a spending a bit more so if I was to upgrade something what should it be?
Mar 30 2009 11:40AM
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GratefulDead
Posts: 3554 - Karma: 84
I think even an 8 is way to big for a board unless you just want to cruse around. 7.75 is a good size for you. And unless you ride really loose trucks you dont need risers. Bearings are bearings, you dont need to spend more than 30 but i would still recommend bones reds.
Mar 30 2009 11:47AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Risers take pop out of the deck


And I really like Independants. They turn the best out of any other truck I've used.
Mar 30 2009 3:11PM
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Bill.
Posts: 254 - Karma: 36
What are you using it for mainly?
If there is a bowl around i would go for the 8.5 inch deck minimum.
If not, 8.25 should be good.

I'm 6foot 200lbs (size 10.5 feet) and skate an 8" deck for street and a 9inch for my pool board.
Mar 30 2009 3:52PM
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Bepo
Posts: 8195 - Karma: 17
I'm just gonna be using it for street. What would be better for me, an 8 inch or 8.25 inch deck?
Mar 30 2009 4:14PM
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Kitzrow
Posts: 574 - Karma: 94
are you a clown ahah? Personally, I think even an 8 is like a fucking surfboard, but I'm kinda little. I'd just go with the 8 cause I'd rather have a board that's too narrow that I can man handle than a door on wheels
Mar 30 2009 4:28PM
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KellyK
Posts: 1782 - Karma: 715
you have to realize that anything over an 8 inch deck is really on the large end.  but apparently you are too.... i would have to say 8.25 sounds like a good size for you though.  you might find 8 to be too small, but i really don't think you'll notice a difference. 

don't go any bigger than an 8.25
Mar 30 2009 4:39PM
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linesteeze
Posts: 1229 - Karma: 125
I' am about 5'8" shoe size 9.5 and i ride an 8 sometimes bigger. A bigger board is so much easier to catch your tricks and they look so much smoother.
Mar 30 2009 4:51PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
i love silver a-class trucks, turn really well and the king pin is low so you dont have to file it down
Mar 30 2009 4:52PM
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eastside
Posts: 1744 - Karma: 167
finally some people on ns have some sense. glad to hear about skating instead of lollerskating. but i have a friend who is 6' 250 and he rides a 7.75. if you are trying to learn flip tricks, it will be a lot easier with a skinnier and more concaved board.
Mar 30 2009 4:52PM
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KellyK
Posts: 1782 - Karma: 715
i personally disagree.  smaller board = easy to get techy.
i'm 5'9" and 140 lbs.  i ride a 7.75 to 7.8

big board = heavy board = hard to do anything
Mar 30 2009 4:57PM
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Bob_Gnarley
Posts: 1583 - Karma: 0
i longboard, but I just made a SICK Skate 2 Hyphdog SKILLIONARE EdIt:

(yes I suck at Skate 2)


SKATE 2 HYPHDOG SKILLIONARE EDIT from Conner T on Vimeo.
Mar 30 2009 4:58PM
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SpaceTiger
Posts: 377 - Karma: 62
No don't ditch the indy for krux and also I'd stay with the 8.5, because of your shoe size. I'm a 9.5 and ride anything between 8 and 8.25. Also to the dude who was saying the narrower=smoother, not at all. Any flip trick is so much more popped and satisfying on a wide board.
Mar 30 2009 6:03PM
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Meh42
Posts: 2431 - Karma: 14
#1 noob skateboarder mistake is to discuss your setup to distraction.  in reality barely none of it matters.  go out, pick up a blank deck, some blank wheels and a set of low trucks, set it up and go skate.  everyone has different preferences, go see for yourself what sizes you like.

the only thing worth spending big money on is your bearings.  i'd recommend bones swiss, i've had my current set for about 5 years now.
Mar 30 2009 6:24PM
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Snowgoner
Posts: 5047 - Karma: 964
go with 8" better for a beginner learning flip tricks
trust
Mar 30 2009 6:26PM
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