Notifications
Clear all
Carving Technique
3 Posts
2 Users
1 Likes
64 Views
Topic starter 18/08/2024 10:41 am
I haven’t skated in years (decades?), but this summer I got my old 90’s deck out with my son… Then proceeded to take it to a skate park, as well as my first pump track. It felt nothing like a snowboard, but I could still see my toeside (backside) issue of getting my weight too far to the inside of the turn on the banks.
The 17” wheelbase felt a bit sketchy and it put my stance considerably smaller than it is on the snow... so I bought a couple of new boards. Man, I use to think longboards were so lame. 😂
I haven’t had the longer double kick out to a pump track yet, but that’s what I got it for. The stock TKP trucks really didn’t want to turn, so I’ve got 44 deg Caliber III’s on it now. The city is building a new pump track in my neighbourhood, so this should be a fun workout in the off-season.
The Ehler Quantum is basically a Loaded Vanguard knockoff. It’s made more like a snowboard with bamboo, fibreglass, camber and flex. It’s long enough for my actual stance as well. It feels REALLY good carving modest hills, but I still feel a bit sketchy at any appreciable speed. I’m working on it, but it’s more of a carving setup than downhill.
If you’ve never been on a flexible longboard, I’d certainly recommend it. Just be aware that asphalt is indeed harder than snow.
Big White, BC, Canada
19/08/2024 10:41 pm
They've just built a pump track near my house (like ~100m away) and I did just like you and got out my '00s skateboard... I'm still waiting for my wrist to recover from my first attempt a few weeks ago, but by the end of the session I was starting to get the hang of it. I think I'd like to get a better board for this that feels a bit more like a snowboard; thanks for the recommendation.
"Shut up Tyler"
Board Doctor reacted
Topic starter 19/08/2024 11:24 pm
I wanted a longer deck for my stance, but also a longer wheelbase for stability. The Traditional Kingpin Trucks did not want to turn... I abruptly stopped with wheel-bite. Those trucks didn't align with the board cutouts either, I don't know why it was setup that way. I don't think I broke anything, but skinned my knee, elbow and hand, while both ends of my forearm were bruised and sore.
I wanted a wide, double-kick board to work on some switch as well, but realistically a directional would've been fine.
Note that wheelbase isn't always advertised the same. The standard is the distance between the inner truck bolts, but some measure the actual distance between axles (which changes with different trucks). That Ehler Skull Island was supposedly 22-23", but it was only 22" with TKP in the outer holes, and now 19" with the RKP trucks.
There's a really nice article and calculator on wheelbase and turning radius here:
I've got 180mm Paris V3 50 deg on the carving board (34.5" actual wheelbase), and it is very carvy. I think this is the flex of the board along with the design of the trucks.
For the pump track I wanted a bit more stability and was looking at plugged bushings. I went with the 158mm Raked Caliber III 44's (lower angle on the shorter wheelbase). I considered the 155mm Bear Gen 6 40's, but found a deal on the calibers.
I also considered a Landyachtz Freedive to cover the pump track as well as the hills, but really wanted to try carving a flexible board (and wasn't sure about clearance over the rollers).
https://landyachtz.com/shop/all/skate/boards/freedive-reef/
I think you really want RKP trucks if you want to turn. It's just a different feeling. They give you a lot more turn as you lean, so it's a bit more like increasing edge angle on a snowboard. If you go over a 19" wheelbase (actual) it's more of a necessity.
Both of my new boards accommodate my 53cm/21" stance.
This post was modified 3 months ago 4 times by Board Doctor
Big White, BC, Canada
