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Skateboarding => Shoes & Gear => Topic started by: 360 frip on March 25, 2015, 07:12:50 AM

Title: How long do you give it?
Post by: 360 frip on March 25, 2015, 07:12:50 AM
New board, normal width, length, concave. Same press that I like. Skated it 4 times but can't seem to get to grips with it at all.

It has a long flat section before the tail meets the truck, making the kick vey mellow. Polar board, which I have had 2/3 of and liked a lot.

How long do you guys give a board? I feel like I should battle on but...

Give it to a kid at the park. Focus in a rage or suck it up and ride it out?


Feels like the weight is wrong or that could just be me/mine!
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 144p on March 25, 2015, 07:40:46 AM
I am A baby when it comes to boards feeling off , awkward, too steep, too long a wheelbase, soggy etc.
I try to minimize these events now by sticking within certain dimensions and usually I have good luck but have taken a board apart after an hour if it just feels terrible.
Some kid at the park or a friend might need a board more than my spoiled ass.
I hate being that way but I've tried suffering with a board for 2 weeks and just never getting used to it.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: coneklr on March 25, 2015, 07:48:45 AM
For as long as I've been buying my own boards, I give them a session.  Most of the time they never really bother me, even if they are a little off, but there have been a few I couldn't stand and just took apart and gave away after an hour or two
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: N.L. on March 25, 2015, 08:07:29 AM
I punish myself by forcing myself to ride a dud deck. Try different tricks. Sometimes, a different feeling deck will bring out something new in your skateboarding. Try board-breaking tricks that you normally wouldn't want to risk on a new board. (Lipslides on ledges for me). Never focus a board. Same with all skateboard gear. Right now I have some wheels I really don't like. So I'm doing my best to wear the crap out of them asap, so I can get back on F4s.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Filip on March 25, 2015, 08:17:12 AM
I punish myself by forcing myself to ride a dud deck. Try different tricks. Sometimes, a different feeling deck will bring out something new in your skateboarding. Try board-breaking tricks that you normally wouldn't want to risk on a new board. (Lipslides on ledges for me). Never focus a board. Same with all skateboard gear. Right now I have some wheels I really don't like. So I'm doing my best to wear the crap out of them asap, so I can get back on F4s.

Same here. I pretty much only make sure that buy an 8.5 board, concave and length dont really matter to me. I dont really have a local shop anymore, so only option to get a deck is to buy online. Obviously, sometimes I get something I dont like that much, but after a while  , I get used to anything. I only retired one board because it was way too flat. It was a Foundation team deck, the flatest shit I have ever seen. After a while, I regripped it with a fresh sheet, and just skated it anyway and it ended up being probably the longest lasting board, except a P2, I have ever had.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 360 frip on March 25, 2015, 08:19:58 AM
This will sound wierd but it feels like it isn't weighted right. The pop is too fast and then it flips wierd. No idea if it will go premo or just fly away. I'm struggling to kickflip it...

May well just be me! Strangely I like the nose... May be it was at the bottom of a pile of pressed boards and ended up off.  Strange.

Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: ill_Murray on March 25, 2015, 08:52:00 AM
Ride that shit out, you'll get used to it.  

I've definitely had boards I wasn't super into but they still skated.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: BMCsteve on March 25, 2015, 09:04:32 AM
That flat section after the rear truck bolts and a mellow tail will cause your board to flip a lot faster.  Basically your tail is hitting the pavement quicker and your muscle memory flicks the board right after your tail hits.

It's not a big deal once you get used to it.  You might even end up preferring it.  Before you toss this board, try messing around with some manual tricks.  That bit of flat and a mellow tail will give you more control which is a nice benefit
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Baron Samedi on March 25, 2015, 09:21:30 AM
Back when I had legs that worked I'd just skate something big if I didn't like the board. Best case you land it and feel better about the board, worst case you destroy it skating a set and go get a new one you actually like.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 144p on March 25, 2015, 09:49:41 AM
Ride that shit out, you'll get used to it.  
While I wish it worked that way for me, sometimes my skate time is minimal and wasting A full day/week being miserable on A board that doesn't work for me anymore.
Sure when I was younger and had all the time in the world and no money I could make anything work.
At 41 when my body feels good and I have A sunny day, I don't want it to be ruined by my sub par choice.
Hence why I spend so much time picking the right board now.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: sweat stains on March 25, 2015, 10:16:30 AM
Decks are the only thing about my set up (including shoes) that I'm not super picky about. It might be because I ride shaped boards, so I'm used to switching it up every few weeks. I can go from an 8.25 to an 8.7 and get used to it in a session or two, I don't even bother checking the other dimensions.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Xen on March 25, 2015, 10:39:53 AM
I give it a session, if it doesn't work I take it apart and either sell it or give it away or keep it on hand just in case I get the urge to swap out gear.

Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Stanley Spadowski on March 25, 2015, 10:46:45 AM
I try to minimize these events by sticking within certain dimensions

Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Noble Experiment on March 25, 2015, 03:38:39 PM
Quote
It has a long flat section before the tail meets the truck, making the kick vey mellow. Polar board, which I have had 2/3 of and liked a lot.
I hate when I get a board like that. I can't stand when my tail hits the ground too fast. It just feels weird to me, almost like I'm skating a deck with an already cracked tail or something. The more flat area in between the the tail and the trucks, the faster the tail hits the ground on tricks. I always make sure the deck doesn't have too much flat area in between.
Usually I'll give a board two sessions, and if I don't dig it after two sessions, I have no problem switching it out. If it doesn't feel right, then I don't wanna waste my time trying to get used to it and deal with the frustrations that come with it when I could just get a shape that I actually like and that works for me.
Luckily, after all these years I've figured out the shapes that work for me, so I pick up less duds these days. Still though, sometimes I'm in a hurry and don't inspect thoroughly enough and accidentally pick up a board that doesn't work out, so it still happens.
My ideal board: 8.5, medium concave that's not too mellow or steep, a tail with a more delayed pop (as mentioned above), and a round nose and tail (can't stand squareish noses or tails).
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Paco Supreme on March 25, 2015, 04:39:01 PM
t might be because I ride shaped boards

I've found this to be pretty accurate, i've had a few different 8.25 shapes and going back and forth between them wasn't that big a deal
Having said that though, i went from ps stix to nhs wood once and within the hour i set up a new ps stix
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 360 frip on March 25, 2015, 06:16:55 PM
Ride that shit out, you'll get used to it.  

I've definitely had boards I wasn't super into but they still skated.

Yeah, I know. The voice in my head says this. I have skated it 3 times though and can barely do a flip on it...Stop being a pussy, I know...

Expand Quote
Ride that shit out, you'll get used to it.  
[close]
While I wish it worked that way for me, sometimes my skate time is minimal and wasting A full day/week being miserable on A board that doesn't work for me anymore.
Sure when I was younger and had all the time in the world and no money I could make anything work.
At 41 when my body feels good and I have A sunny day, I don't want it to be ruined by my sub par choice.
Hence why I spend so much time picking the right board now.


The other voice in my head says this. However, I just order a couple of boards at a time at the moment. I live too far away from a shop to justify spending half a day going to choose a deck...

That flat section after the rear truck bolts and a mellow tail will cause your board to flip a lot faster.  Basically your tail is hitting the pavement quicker and your muscle memory flicks the board right after your tail hits.

It's not a big deal once you get used to it.  You might even end up preferring it.  Before you toss this board, try messing around with some manual tricks.  That bit of flat and a mellow tail will give you more control which is a nice benefit

I know this is true too. But it isn't just the pop, it seems like it just floats away from my feet! Also, I ride mainly Krooked and a few Polar here and there. All 8.0 to 8.125 and 31.5 to 32. Mainly because they both seem to have a mellow press, In terms of steepness and concave and their shapes are pretty consistent.

I have a new deck waiting to set up (Its an 8.125 Polar). I'll give it this weekend and if I'm still not enjoying it, give it to a kid if they are skating a log at the park.

Hate the waste of it though. When I was younger, I couldn't afford to buy more than a board for a month or two. I feel like now I'm old, I've become more frivolous. Buying boards and shoes and then getting picky.

Murray is probably right. Suck it up!

Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: coneklr on March 25, 2015, 07:49:35 PM
If you have the money, get rid of it.  Seriously, there is no need to ride one you don't like if you don't have to.  I rarely get one that feels that off, but when I do you bet the kid at the park with the best attitude/shittiest board is going home with a new deck that day.  Then you get to feel good about hooking up a kid and being able to get a board you like.  Win win
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 360 frip on March 25, 2015, 08:13:50 PM
If you have the money, get rid of it.  Seriously, there is no need to ride one you don't like if you don't have to.  I rarely get one that feels that off, but when I do you bet the kid at the park with the best attitude/shittiest board is going home with a new deck that day.  Then you get to feel good about hooking up a kid and being able to get a board you like.  Win win

Yeah, I may well do that this weekend. Try and skate it Saturday. I don't overly hate the shape, just really struggling. Probably 99% in my stupid brain. This rarely happens to me though. Once every couple of years perhaps...Strange though. Kickflips just seem to float off.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: j....soy..... on March 26, 2015, 12:04:15 AM
Isn't that flat section the thing that Paul Schmitt was going on about making boards more responsive?
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: ogcoors on March 26, 2015, 06:18:17 AM
When i get a board that feels off, i focus on different tricks. When i have a board that doesn't kickflip good, it always does shove-it tricks good. I kind of look at with the PMA. Instead of focusing on what doesn't work, focus on what works. :)

I don't know if you a wheel changer type of person, but sometimes when a tail is off; try some different wheels it will change the height and thus change the bevel of the tail. i.e. more responsive or less responsive.

Or just focus it and quit skating altogether and develop a crack problem. A lot of pros do it, so at least try to find a dealer just in case.

Good luck with the upcoming life of despair duder and have a wonderful day!  :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 360 frip on March 26, 2015, 08:12:14 AM
When i get a board that feels off, i focus on different tricks. When i have a board that doesn't kickflip good, it always does shove-it tricks good. I kind of look at with the PMA. Instead of focusing on what doesn't work, focus on what works. :)

I don't know if you a wheel changer type of person, but sometimes when a tail is off; try some different wheels it will change the height and thus change the bevel of the tail. i.e. more responsive or less responsive.

Or just focus it and quit skating altogether and develop a crack problem. A lot of pros do it, so at least try to find a dealer just in case.

Good luck with the upcoming life of despair duder and have a wonderful day!  :) :) :) :) :)

Thanks changed the wheels already. Skip the crack. Not trying to be Pookie.

Is PMA a support group?
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: art hellman on March 26, 2015, 08:24:03 AM
im not one to force myself to skate decks that just aren't working for me.  so, I usually give it a session or two.

more often than not I run into this problem when I try something other than PS Stix (which I haven't skated since AWS went down) or Generator/Bareback (Magenta most often, Polar next, Real whenever there's a Busenitz in 8.25).  
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Xen on March 26, 2015, 10:21:18 AM
Isn't that flat section the thing that Paul Schmitt was going on about making boards more responsive?

yup.

Finesse vs power

Size and Graphics Aside, Popsicle Decks Are All the Same
The Professor’s Perspective: False

Just because all the boards on the skateshop wall look the same doesn’t mean they’ll ride the same. Popsicles, even those of identical size and materials, are not all created equal.

“Since the [Popsicle] shape became standard in the 90s, I’ve probably made 700 different Popsicles. They’ve all been a little different. The thing that makes the largest difference in how a board rides doesn’t have anything to do with the shape—it’s about the mold used and ultimately the leverage.”

There’s no simple measurement for leverage, and truck and wheel choice also play a role, but Schmitt has a simple method for judging the relative amount of leverage in the deck itself. He calls it the finger test.

“How many ‘fingers’ of flat are between the bolt holes and the place where the tail and nose kick up”—in other words, the number of fingers you can fit in those spaces—“will absolutely make the biggest difference in how your board feels,” he says.

THE FINGER TEST. PHOTO BY PAUL SCHMITT
That test so important because, all other factors being equal, it’s leverage that controls the balance between power and finesse in your setup. The more fingers of flat there are in a deck, the more control you’ll have. Fewer fingers, by contrast, means more power channeled into your pop, but less finesse. Because of this, identically shaped and sized boards can have radically different amounts of leverage depending on mold design, nose and tail lengths, and how they’re drilled.

“Muscles store energy, so the longer it takes your tail to hit the ground, the more energy is going to be released in your ollie and the more power you are going to have,” Schmitt says. “If you’re releasing all your energy in the ollie, you don’t have the energy to do the next part of the trick, whether it’s flipping your board or locking into a crooked grind.” 

Different skaters, of course, have different needs when it comes to leverage. “If you’re an established pro, you have the skill to get power when you need it, so your primary worry is about finesse. But if you are just starting out, you need power. Having the finesse to do a manual doesn’t do any good if you can’t ollie up on the manual pad to do one”.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: posguy on March 26, 2015, 11:51:00 AM
Till it becomes unbearable. If you're in a pinch then maybe a couple days to a week but I'll be hitting up my friends for a used deck.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Prince Nelson on March 26, 2015, 12:35:41 PM
If you're good enough at skateboarding, you can make whatever shape work for you.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: HyenaChaser on March 26, 2015, 02:56:10 PM
Having a similar issue right now too, just got a new deck, kinda wishing I had gotten something bigger. But Mark Gonzales said something like, you can skate with anything if you really want to.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Fukd on March 26, 2015, 03:55:36 PM
Currently have a new deck and new shoes - everything is off. I haven't skated a leather shoe in years, so that might be my main issue, but nothing seems to work. Pop seems to have entirely disappeared, in both ollies and flip tricks, and flip tricks send my board flying out of control.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 360 frip on March 26, 2015, 06:12:53 PM
Expand Quote
Isn't that flat section the thing that Paul Schmitt was going on about making boards more responsive?
[close]

yup.

Finesse vs power

Size and Graphics Aside, Popsicle Decks Are All the Same
The Professor�s Perspective: False

Just because all the boards on the skateshop wall look the same doesn�t mean they�ll ride the same. Popsicles, even those of identical size and materials, are not all created equal.

�Since the [Popsicle] shape became standard in the 90s, I�ve probably made 700 different Popsicles. They�ve all been a little different. The thing that makes the largest difference in how a board rides doesn�t have anything to do with the shape�it�s about the mold used and ultimately the leverage.�

There�s no simple measurement for leverage, and truck and wheel choice also play a role, but Schmitt has a simple method for judging the relative amount of leverage in the deck itself. He calls it the finger test.

�How many �fingers� of flat are between the bolt holes and the place where the tail and nose kick up��in other words, the number of fingers you can fit in those spaces��will absolutely make the biggest difference in how your board feels,� he says.

THE FINGER TEST. PHOTO BY PAUL SCHMITT
That test so important because, all other factors being equal, it�s leverage that controls the balance between power and finesse in your setup. The more fingers of flat there are in a deck, the more control you�ll have. Fewer fingers, by contrast, means more power channeled into your pop, but less finesse. Because of this, identically shaped and sized boards can have radically different amounts of leverage depending on mold design, nose and tail lengths, and how they�re drilled.

�Muscles store energy, so the longer it takes your tail to hit the ground, the more energy is going to be released in your ollie and the more power you are going to have,� Schmitt says. �If you�re releasing all your energy in the ollie, you don�t have the energy to do the next part of the trick, whether it�s flipping your board or locking into a crooked grind.� 

Different skaters, of course, have different needs when it comes to leverage. �If you�re an established pro, you have the skill to get power when you need it, so your primary worry is about finesse. But if you are just starting out, you need power. Having the finesse to do a manual doesn�t do any good if you can�t ollie up on the manual pad to do one�.


Thanks. This was all quite a lot to take in at 9 A.M... I'll re-read it after more coffee.

I think I may be able to fist my tail ???
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 360 frip on March 26, 2015, 06:16:42 PM
Having a similar issue right now too, just got a new deck, kinda wishing I had gotten something bigger. But Mark Gonzales said something like, you can skate with anything if you really want to.

Having a similar issue right now too, just got a new deck, kinda wishing I had gotten something bigger. But Mark Gonzales said something like, you can skate with anything if you really want to.


This is probably the correct answer. I suppose its want vs need, a little...
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: j....soy..... on March 26, 2015, 10:36:11 PM
Yeah but isn't Gonz that guy that never wants to skate his own board?
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: coneklr on March 26, 2015, 11:09:02 PM
Of course you can skate anything ... and you would if you had to.  But from what I gather you don't have to and if that is the case and this board is in your head, there is no need to force yourself to try and like it.  Sorry if I keep reiterating this ... I just want to see you happy ;)  haha
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 360 frip on March 27, 2015, 05:57:36 AM
Of course you can skate anything ... and you would if you had to.  But from what I gather you don't have to and if that is the case and this board is in your head, there is no need to force yourself to try and like it.  Sorry if I keep reiterating this ... I just want to see you happy ;)  haha

Thanks. I'll ride it tomorrow. It doesn't actually make me unhappy, more curious. These little details we get hooked up on and I think it is heavily just in the mental. I can see some positives in forcing yourself.

The responses in this thread have been interesting to me. I can relate to it all.

P.E.A.C.E.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XATxQ5UiB3o
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: heritage on March 27, 2015, 10:29:55 AM
Of course you can skate anything ... and you would if you had to.  But from what I gather you don't have to and if that is the case and this board is in your head, there is no need to force yourself to try and like it.  Sorry if I keep reiterating this ... I just want to see you happy ;)  haha

This. I can skate anything, but I don't have to. I give it about 10 minutes with a new board or wheels. Just like 144p said, if you know exactly how you like a board to skate you usually know right away. That said, I have gone back to things I didn't like previously, but there is usually a reason I shelved it or gave it away.

Shoes I am way more picky and I know in the first 90 seconds.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: m477 on March 27, 2015, 02:41:09 PM
I've only had a few boards that I just simply couldn't ride. One was in 95 or 96, I was riding 7.5 and 7.75 and tried out an 8.xx, it was just to big for me and my trucks. It felt like a couch on wheels. The other was about 5 years ago, I was at a park and met the owner of weirdo skateboards. Cool dude and I wanted to support/try out a new company so I bought a board from him. Shape was good but the concave, wheelbase and everything else were pretty terrible. Both of those decks were ridden for barely a day. Not bad for skating over 20 years.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: yourfuckingdad on March 27, 2015, 05:02:58 PM
Skate it until it feels comfortable, it will.. When you go back to a board that feels natural right out of the gate it'll be great and you'll really appreciate that you rode this one. This is part of why I replace my popsicle shaped boards with more oddly shaped boards.

Also, don't snap the deck because it didn't out for you. That's incredibly wasteful.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: tom on March 27, 2015, 07:49:48 PM
Yeah but isn't Gonz that guy that never wants to skate his own board?
He doesn't set up his own boards either. They come to him already set up. Little fun fact for everyone

I'm real picky when it comes to buying a board. I always size it up with the length and width first, then look at the nose and tail. I try to picture how it'll look and feel with grip on the board. I can spend a few minutes to an hour finding the "right one". Sometimes a dud slips through the cracks. Sometimes I'll try and put up with it, and other times I'll ditch it right away. If it's something that was free I feel an obligation to skate it a little at least, but if it's something I bought I'll swap it out instantly. Either trade it away or use it on a different setup. I never like my own boards. Everyone else's always feel better and skate better. Then I try and recreate that setup and hate it. I try and go for big tails/noses that are steep
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: dillanharp on March 27, 2015, 07:57:13 PM
Isn't Gonz on Indy? How does that work?
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: 360 frip on March 27, 2015, 08:14:39 PM
I was thinking about it and I think that extra long flat section fucks up the pocket a little.

Need to get out more...
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: tom on March 28, 2015, 06:21:32 AM
Isn't Gonz on Indy? How does that work?
They have Indys at deluxe...
He came to orchard a few months ago and was talking about how he doesn't set up his own boards and everything he gets comes already assembled
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: dillanharp on March 28, 2015, 12:22:14 PM
Expand Quote
Isn't Gonz on Indy? How does that work?
[close]
They have Indys at deluxe...
He came to orchard a few months ago and was talking about how he doesn't set up his own boards and everything he gets comes already assembled


The shop has Indys...

Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: j....soy..... on March 28, 2015, 11:22:29 PM
More work for Phelps....
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Xen on March 29, 2015, 06:56:06 PM
Gonz has been on indy since he left venture (I think). What's wrong with him riding them? Because Krooked is under DLX? DLX is just a distributor of goods (Venture and Thunder, both of which are made in the same factory as INDY).

Better yet, Tommy G. rides for indy, even had a pro truck:
(http://www.tommyguerrero.com/public/transmitter/upload/tg%20indy%202.jpg)
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: dillanharp on March 29, 2015, 09:03:56 PM
I just find it hard to believe the dudes in the dlx warehouse are sitting there once a month or whatever tracking down indys to set up boards for Gonz. And then what they bill NHS for the trucks from their shop inventory? It all just seems like a logistical nightmare to meet some kooky old man's demands.

If anything I would think he goes in to Supreme and they set up his shit there.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: Wizard Fight on March 30, 2015, 04:06:38 AM
Just fucking skate something.
Title: Re: How long do you give it?
Post by: tom on March 31, 2015, 11:07:16 AM
I just find it hard to believe the dudes in the dlx warehouse are sitting there once a month or whatever tracking down indys to set up boards for Gonz. And then what they bill NHS for the trucks from their shop inventory? It all just seems like a logistical nightmare to meet some kooky old man's demands.

If anything I would think he goes in to Supreme and they set up his shit there.

You can order indys from distributions that aren't nhs. You can order them through deluxe. It's also something like "set up a board for gonz" not multiple. Someone has to do it. They have a guy to setup the premise completes they sometimes sell