i have been skating since about November, starting out with a kryptonics board i found in a park, and me unknowing it was a bad idea, i got a penny board and a longboard, after i watched some videos about skating, i bought a Popsicle board.
1. what shoes would you reccomend? i have high top vans but i can't really hit an olly, t hey feel heavy especially since i am a size 11,
2. what would you change about my board?
(specs at bottom)
would you change the bearings?
3. does weight matter about how fast you go?
4. my red bearings as i said b4 arent pleasing me, they dont seem to last long, i bought two sets. havent let me go very fast or very far which is quite discouriging, should i get the bone lube or whatever it's called?
these are my deck specs
Trucks: Thunder Team 151 Polished Skateboard Trucks
bearings: bone reds
(not sure if they need to be lubricated again but so far im not happy with them)
wheels: 55 mm bones 100 purple 4pk
deck: 8' deck
I think you have a little bit of G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome.) I see this a lot in Photography/Videography. The best board you have is the one currently under your feet. You can obsess all day about what board/trucks/bearings and wheels you have. Trust me we have all been known to do it.
1. I also have big feet. Not so much long, but wide (girthy) so an 11.5 is too small for me but a 12 is perfect. Big feet and heavy shoes do make it hard to get that pop and flick. With time this gets easier, as your muscles form memory to that motion. Push around as much as you can also to build muscle in your legs. For shoes I like sole-tech brands, Etinies, Emericas, éS. Not a fan of the larger sports companies in skating, Nike and 'das. I also like Cupsoles better than Vulcanized. I use my skate shoes for work/daily shoes as well and can't stand on super flat Vulcs. Cups can be heavier than Vulcs sometimes so take that in to consideration.
2. You have a pretty decent setup as far as that goes. But you have to ask yourself what do you skate daily? And what do you want to skate? Do you skate crunchy/crusty streets? Smooth street park concrete? Park bowls? For every type of skating you can get different gear for. You have a pretty All Terrain Vehicle in the board you have now, even if it may feel a little heavier. This is why some have a "Quiver" (collection) of boards. One for cruising/shooting vid, one for skateparks...etc. Gotta pay to play the quiver game tho!
3. Weight does matter a little bit. Its obviously going to be harder for Me and my beer-gut to push down the street than someone like Kader who weighs maybe 110lbs. On the other hand I will go faster through transitions and downhill because of that weight. (I also slam harder.) Or were you talking about weight of deck? haha!
4. I have skated bones reds since about 2000? Hard to remember. I really don't like spending money on bearings unless I know its going to be a park deck only (who has money for that?) I live in CO and we have crazy weather and street skating here is always so dusty, skatepark, street spots, all dust. The humidity never gets above 50% unless its raining here so dust is a way of life. I recommend getting the Bones Speed Cream (Bone Lube) and reading their website tutorial on cleaning bearings (its a great walkthrough and is pretty simple process once you got it down.) You have to clean your bearings for them to work properly, then you lube them. Putting lube in dirty bearings will only slow you down more. Keeping good maintenance and cleaning your bearings regularly can make bearings last years. I think the reason you are craving speed is, like you said you have been riding a longboard. Longboards are usually faster, and can roll longer because of A. Larger wheels & B. Usually comes with "race" or upgraded bearings. If you really want to go faster and think its your bearings toss those reds to a homie and go for some SuperSwiss, or Ceramics if you got the money.
Sorry for the long wind. But really, I wouldn't stress too much about your kit/setup, just go skate and you'll start to feel your own instincts and comfortable with whatever you ride. We are all searching for that perfect setup whether some like to admit it or not. It's rare to have the "perfect" setup that will make all your dreams come true. Like I said, the best board you have is the one currently under your feet.