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Getting into longboarding... questions

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ryano
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 1,535
so i know the companies like sector 9 and arbor and thats about it.. but other than that, i dont really know what are some other legit companies..

i'm looking at buying a used board to get me started and move up from there.

but what are some things i should know?
or recommend me a board.. from the riding i've done, i like a fair amount of flex, and medium to long length. if i had to guess, like 3-ish feet?..its been a while..

is there a rating system for flex?
how do they measure they're boards? inches?
whats considered long or medium?

and lastly, what are good trucks/wheels?

thanks +k for help

if you're selling one, hit me up
Feb 10 2012 11:07AM
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MountainManDan
Posts: 305 - Karma: 297
Touche.
Feb 10 2012 11:05PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
I'm a rep for Bustin, if you have questions let me know
Feb 10 2012 11:30PM
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ryano
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 1,535
thanks for all the awesome info and answers!! been super helpful
Feb 11 2012 1:26AM
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nevetsw18
Posts: 268 - Karma: 26
Thanks for the info, appreciate the help!
Feb 11 2012 2:35AM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
Stay away from major companies like sector nine, original, and loaded. I hate how it is these companies that represent the longboard industry when they do such a poor job of it. ( for eg. Original riders not wearing helmets when riding) As mentioned before, legit companies like Landyachtz, Rayne, Sayshun, Jim ZEtc. I don't know anything about kracked skulls but I'm going to assume its a cheap insanely flextime board that is pretty much useless for anything other than cruising (which is great if that's what you want).
Feb 11 2012 2:53AM
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Travapple.
Posts: 6787 - Karma: 88
kracked skulls, best 150 ive ever spent. such a fun playful board
Feb 11 2012 3:07AM
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PlaygroundRapist
Posts: 1307 - Karma: 26
I hate longboarders, they always touch your car with their gritty gloves.
Feb 11 2012 5:29AM
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Travapple.
Posts: 6787 - Karma: 88
My KS Scimitar kills it everywhere. I love sliding on it.
Feb 11 2012 10:56AM
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Swaggermager
Posts: 2576 - Karma: 950
Same! Its the funnest board I have ridden yet and its great for sliding (in my experience)
Feb 11 2012 2:59PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Put your pants back on and stop pulling things out of your ass.
Feb 11 2012 3:08PM
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GORILLA.
Posts: 1112 - Karma: 70
theres are INSANELY cheap. and very quality.

i like mine more than my friends, i payed 175$ shipped to canada, he payed $450 at a local shop.
Feb 11 2012 4:11PM
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p-nutt
Posts: 274 - Karma: 16
no! overrated..
Feb 11 2012 9:07PM
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GORILLA.
Posts: 1112 - Karma: 70
these
Feb 11 2012 10:19PM
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Drew_ski.
Posts: 1310 - Karma: 1,858
i really like my dervish. its a 41in board witch is great for pretty much all riding. they also come in two different flexes. i have a flex 2 and i weigh about 175 it pretty flexy i could easily use a flex 1 but oh well. it is an expensive board but i think its worth it. as far as trucks i use paris 180's but make sure you switch out the stoke bushings for some better ones. the venom bushing work great they come in alot of different deros so you can find the perfect setup for you. here is a little bushing finder thing that i found helpful when i bought mine.

Feb 11 2012 11:42PM
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ski-swagga
Posts: 5276 - Karma: 219
bump. im looking into getting a longboard and i just want some more opinions! thanks!
Mar 28 2012 1:56AM
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NPCPLUS
Posts: 162 - Karma: -155
Comet for boards like a few have said before me. For trucks I highly suggest caliber, a cool company from the bay area. Don't spend all your money on a loaded board or something too expensive if you're just getting started. I went from a
Mar 28 2012 2:01AM
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NPCPLUS
Posts: 162 - Karma: -155
Landyachts to a comet and couldn't be happier. Cheap and solid. Get some softer wheels when first starting. Or if you want to slide get a wheel with some harder thane. Wear a helmet and get slide gloves. These ate nice to have even if you don't slide, help for protection.
Mar 28 2012 2:03AM
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Casey
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 24,309

wear a helmet and cover up your skin. I got this little number getting towed back up a hill by a truck. Oh yea watch out for turtles also. It got really infected and I got extemely sick. Stupid fuck I am...

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Mar 28 2012 2:13AM
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skipaparazzi
Posts: 102 - Karma: 27
Comet, Nelson are good. Original is good too. So many different boards. Test ride some for sure. The kids who ride the hill next to my house buy all of their stuff online
Mar 28 2012 1:06PM
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EC-Skier
Posts: 3899 - Karma: 668
also if you get into death wobbles DO NOT lock up your ankles to try to stop the board from shaking. Relax your ankles as much as possible that way your feet will start to flow with the board, while turning gently like this guy said.
Mar 28 2012 1:17PM
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ORDEAL
Posts: 6386 - Karma: 75
does anyone know any places that would have tips about sliding?
Mar 28 2012 1:31PM
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ski-swagga
Posts: 5276 - Karma: 219
bump
Mar 28 2012 3:53PM
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NPCPLUS
Posts: 162 - Karma: -155
silverfishlongboarding.com is a forum and will have plenty of info. Also check out skatehousemedia.com
Mar 28 2012 4:05PM
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ski4fun420
Posts: 902 - Karma: 842
danktown media on facebook. Also rybioka. Local kids who rip for sure. Check them out. Michael Virgin Jr. rides in my neighborhood. He rides for Original junior team. Great group of kids sliding the hills of Columbus Ohio??? WT?http://youtu.be/5UfGMkPNLIQ
Mar 28 2012 4:06PM
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ski4fun420
Posts: 902 - Karma: 842
http://youtu.be/GMeGFgHUuG8
He is 14.
Mar 28 2012 4:09PM
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shocker611
Posts: 2599 - Karma: 423
yeah definitely learn how to footbreak. My first 3 months of riding i could slide but couldnt footbreak, which worked when speed was in control but lead to some GNARLY wrecks
Mar 28 2012 4:17PM
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YooperSteeze
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 45
Putting all your weight on your front trucks helps a lot with speed wobbles too.
Mar 28 2012 6:32PM
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TNORTS
Posts: 2077 - Karma: 2,754
Straight up, unless you spend on replacing the board in a few months, dont get anytihng with flex. Flex is awful for about anything except old school kickflips and carving. get a stiff topmount. It will be very fun to carve when your learning, slide controllably when you get better, and be good for speed when you get better. I never thought i would learn to slide when i got my first longboard but then I learned how easy it was.

Good Options:
Jet Machine
Jet Doppler
Jet Raptor
Life-Long Seeker
Nelson Tempest
Nelson Top-Spin
LBL double kick pengiun
Comet Grease Shark
Comet Grease Hammer
Comet D2
Bomb Squad Agent Orange
Landyachtz Wolf Shark
Full Bag Elise

Trucks:
Caliber 50
Randall 180
Parises bend, bears are peices of shit.

Wheels:
Abec 11 freerides, 78a or 81a
Abec 11 flashbacks, 78a or 81a
Pink Powerballs
Orangotang Baluts, orange or purple
Orangotang yellow fat frees
Orangotang purple fat frees
Venom Tweakers
Volantes

and for gods sake GET BEARING SPACERS!!! If you dont have bearing spacers you cant tighten your wheels down and your wheels WILL chatter and chop a shit ton.

I've been longboarding for 2 years and have placed in a few slide james, if you have any other questions you can message me.

Mar 28 2012 6:56PM
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ski-swagga
Posts: 5276 - Karma: 219
damn dude thank you very much! +k
Mar 28 2012 11:01PM
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S.A.M.
Posts: 148 - Karma: 50
L
Mar 29 2012 12:05AM
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S.A.M.
Posts: 148 - Karma: 50
Fuck mobile. im looking at bc longboards, for just cruising round the city and bombing a few hills would i be better to get a 41" board or 38"?
Mar 29 2012 12:07AM
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shocker611
Posts: 2599 - Karma: 423
im sorry, but the no flex option is just an opinion, I know a TON of really good longboarders that love to have a little bit of flex. I love boards with some flex, and if you do them right, they can bomb with the best of the stiff boards
Mar 29 2012 2:06PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
I enjoy flex on a board with loose trucks, it's super fun.

Just built myself a new dh/slide board. 4 layers baltic birch with top and bottom layers of formica. Stiff, 30" wheelbase 36" length 9.75" width. Wheel wells front and back. This was my first time doing formica, it's quite heavy but probably not too different from your classic 9 ply maple board. About the same thickness.

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Trucks are not crooked, the board is actually very straight in real life. It's probably the straightest, most symmetric concave I've ever gotten actually.

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.5" tub concave with lots of flat space. I kept riding my friend's jati jiro and liked that type of concave.

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Probably the nicest board I've built so far. Gonna get it gripped and test ride it sunday. Also planning on getting some nersh smoothies.
Mar 29 2012 2:18PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
Haha I though this was the thread called Longboarding! or whatever it's called. Whatever I'm stoked.
Mar 29 2012 2:20PM
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pissbutt
Posts: 127 - Karma: 11
Any discount codes known?
Mar 29 2012 3:16PM
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TNORTS
Posts: 2077 - Karma: 2,754
a tiny bit of flex is one thing, but if your trying to do no comply checks at 25+ with a dervish have fun getting bounced off of your board like a trampoline. Flex can make some slides nearly impossible.

Also to add onto what I said before, Alot of people are going to say get a drop through or drop deck.

My gripe about dropthroughs: no durability. Drop throughs are so week at the nose and tail, they just arnt going to last nearly as long as a drop dec or top mount.

My gripe about drop decks: can have limited response. The landyachtz switch has a 1.75 inch drop, and is a perfect example of a hammock. It straight up doesnt feel good under your feet. I had one and liked it for a couple months, but then got very tired of the gnar drop feeling. However when drop is done right, its good. Micro drops like the earthwing supermodel micro drop or the nelson topspin are sex. Also Flushmounts like the lifelong seeker are awesome too.

Sparknotes: microdrop or a Flushmount > drop through or a drop deck with more then an inch of drop.
Mar 29 2012 5:52PM
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