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Skateboarding => Skate Questions => Topic started by: Bigxbird on March 29, 2022, 04:07:22 PM
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So I’ve never done slappies and as I get older the less I want to try high impact stuff. I’m looking to get into slappies but I’m seeing contradicting stuff online. Would love some clarity and opinions by other people doing it. I know this is all preference though.
Wheels big or small? Some people say small wheels are better but I have no idea why. Board slides would make sense since you’re lower to the ground less likely for your wheels to drag but big wheels seem like they would roll up onto the curb easier and lock in better. Seems like small wheels would cause you to slip out.
Tall or low trucks kinda go hand in hand with small or big wheels. With low trucks you can only go so big with your wheels or else you’ll get tons of wheel bite. But with low trucks you’ll feel more stable being closer to the curb. Tall trucks seems like they would allow you to carve into the curb better though since you would have more turn.
Short or long wheelbase? Short wheel base seems like it would be easier to carve into the curb being more turny but a long wheel base seems like it would be more stable to stand on and hold your grinds longer.
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So I’ve never done slappies and as I get older the less I want to try high impact stuff. I’m looking to get into slappies but I’m seeing contradicting stuff online. Would love some clarity and opinions by other people doing it. I know this is all preference though.
Wheels big or small? Some people say small wheels are better but I have no idea why. Board slides would make sense since you’re lower to the ground less likely for your wheels to drag but big wheels seem like they would roll up onto the curb easier and lock in better. Seems like small wheels would cause you to slip out.
Tall or low trucks kinda go hand in hand with small or big wheels. With low trucks you can only go so big with your wheels or else you’ll get tons of wheel bite. But with low trucks you’ll feel more stable being closer to the curb. Tall trucks seems like they would allow you to carve into the curb better though since you would have more turn.
Short or long wheelbase? Short wheel base seems like it would be easier to carve into the curb being more turny but a long wheel base seems like it would be more stable to stand on and hold your grinds longer.
There's a ton of good info in the curb thread: https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=116360.0 (https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=116360.0)
But it can be a bit overwhelming. I'm sure some other people will be able to better answer some of your questions, for me personally though your gear doesn't really matter. I have three set ups currently and I can pretty much skate curbs on any of them. I've got big wheels and small wheels, Classic shape and conical shape wheels, big board/small board, rails/no rails etc etc.
The fun part is finding out what works for you!
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Here's my cheat setup. Wide board like an 8.75+ big wheels 54+ but small trucks like 129s. It's not a great board for much else than slappies and flatground but it makes it so much easier to get onto the curb if that's where you're having trouble.
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There are hundreds of posts on this. The only thing you need to know is just ram into the curb and don't lift your front truck.
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I run small wheels with a narrow patch (Bones 100s down at 48mm) on high trucks (Lurpiv 149) and can‘t complain. Haven‘t tried other set ups tho so can‘t say if they would be better or worse. From what I gather from the slappy thread trucks and wheels are not the most important factor. When it comes to bloard size I imagine you‘d want something a bit larger to have more heft when crashing into the curb. I ride 8.5 which is fine. The most important factor without a doubt is the curb. I can only slap them if they are low and ever so slightly inclined, and waxed. But then I am in Europe and our curbs are not lacquered. I found some lacquered parking blocks they are dope. Good luck, slappies are fun!
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it's all personal taste i guess. maybe even slightly difrent techniques makes certain gear work better for some while not for others. cause preferences for slappys are all over the place.
for me i like:
wide deck
trucks that are smaller than the deck
risers
short wheelbase
small/medium wheels. (i run 55mm cause our streets are crusty, but when i skated 52mms they were great.)
but i can do them on a skinny board or long wheelbase or 60mm wheels or whatever aswell. but thats just not optimal for me.
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I would first learn how to do slappies then figure out what I needed to do them better
You can do slappies on any setup
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Current setup
Bacon skateboard 8.5 14.5 wheelbase
Thunder 151’s
Spitfire conical fulls 53mm 99a
Bones big balls
Enjoy deck rails
Independent hardware
Mob grip tape
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yeah like others have said there are lots of different options, just start with a board that you would normally skate and then adjust to suit your taste and the specific curbs and surfaces where you skate
like for me if im at a place with smooth surfaces ill go with smaller wheels, because i can smoosh them around more freely when im trying to get in or out of some combos or variations that are still challenging for me. if i'm skating over shitty ground, on the other hand, i might as well use bigger wheels just so i dont tucker myself out pushing like a madman. i do generally find the smaller wheels pop up a little easier, but only up to a certain point. if the curb is too tall compared to your setup youll find it a lot harder to get up because it will require a much deeper carve to get your deck out of the way and prevent just slamming to a stop. this is where slighlty larger wheels, or even risers, could be helpful. but again its all; pretty variable depending on your taste.
i think the only consistent thing youll find is that nobody says they like to do their slappies with ultra tight trucks. if the trucks cant wiggle a little they won't move to fit up the curb as easily. so try to go with your trucks medium or looser.
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The best slappy skater I know rides an 8.25” Polar deck with normal Spitfire Classic F4 wheels and Independent 144s, no rails. Run what ‘ya brung.
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I would first learn how to do slappies then figure out what I needed to do them better
You can do slappies on any setup
This.
Oh, slappies are high impact btw. You’ll find this out once you slam on a few.
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To echo what other people have said - I feel like the technique/muscle memory matters much more than the setup. I happened to learn how to frontside slappy legit size curbs during a brief phase when I was skating venture lows and 52mm wheels which makes no sense.
That being said I think a wider deck with your trucks a little more narrow than the deck width is ideal (like an 8.75” deck with 8.5” trucks for example). Also, shorter decks from my experience arnt as good for slappies if they’re placing your feet closer together. Feels like you have less power with your back leg than on a longer deck with a little wider stance (for example I think slappies are much easier on the Krooked sweatpants shape or a 32” popsicle than on a shape like a Dane 1).
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That's the beauty of slappies, you can do them on any set up and you don't have to overthink things.
and also why curbs are a good place to mess around with some experimental set ups.
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I set up a board for my favourite curb spot, I’ve skated it there once.
My enjoi 8.5 does literally the same thing and I can fuck around with some flat ground too.
Take your board to a well grinding curb and learn to bash
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I would first learn how to do slappies then figure out what I needed to do them better
You can do slappies on any setup
Oh, slappies are high impact btw. You’ll find this out once you slam on a few.
Damn, i feel this
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I have gotten tossed a few times especially when my guard is down and I try to do one going much faster than normal. Luckily, they've only been hilarious instead of painful.
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You seem to be starting in the right place despite the fact it won’t do anything for you….once you hit about 35.. definitely 40…..step one: gear
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I would first learn how to do slappies then figure out what I needed to do them better
You can do slappies on any setup
Oh, slappies are high impact btw. You’ll find this out once you slam on a few.
I'm 27, been skating for about 13 years, started doing slappies recently and got absolutely smoked. Probably my worst slams of the year so far, and I usually skate bigger stuff.
The worst thing is I don't even know what or why it happened. Just riding into the curb like always and for some reason everything goes wrong and you're flying. Do not underestimate it
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You seem to be starting in the right place despite the fact it won’t do anything for you….once you hit about 35.. definitely 40…..step one: gear
After following all 782 curb skating-themed accounts on Instagram, the immediate equipment requirements:
1) Boutique brand "curb" deck, preferably egg shaped
2) Independent 215 or Ace 77s
3) 34mm wheels
4) Rails sculpted in some novel shape, oddly mounted towards the center part of the deck
5) Sticker which reads "CURBS"
6) "NO PARKING" red pillow for time spent relaxing after 42 minute session of backside slappys where your rear truck never gets on top of the curb
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You seem to be starting in the right place despite the fact it won’t do anything for you….once you hit about 35.. definitely 40…..step one: gear
After following all 782 curb skating-themed accounts on Instagram, the immediate equipment requirements:
1) Boutique brand "curb" deck, preferably egg shaped
2) Independent 215 or Ace 77s
3) 34mm wheels
4) Rails sculpted in some novel shape, oddly mounted towards the center part of the deck
5) Sticker which reads "CURBS"
6) "NO PARKING" red pillow for time spent relaxing after 42 minute session of backside slappys where your rear truck never gets on top of the curb
! Would gnar if i could.
@OP: Don't overthink it too much. it's mostly technique – havent't noticed much difference, when i changed gear
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(https://www.thrashermagazine.com/images/image/Features/2009/1985/8507/800t/8507p52-p53.jpg)
Step one…..tighten trucks……
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Epic. What issue was that from?
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Copers withstanding, Steadham has a way better explanation of a slappy than 90% of the instructional videos and explanations on SLAP.
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(https://www.thrashermagazine.com/images/image/Features/2009/1985/8507/800t/8507p52-p53.jpg)
Step one…..tighten trucks……
this is like a new paradigm in slappies to me. the "two wheel" carving technique they describe is really some totally other shit. tighten my trucks, roll up on two wheels? thats kinda like lifting your front truck up of you think about it. cheating, in a sense. slappies for children who dont know how to turn? intriguing.
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Copers withstanding, Steadham has a way better explanation of a slappy than 90% of the instructional videos and explanations on SLAP.
Except he's wrong. You don't tip your tight trucks into them. You smash your loose trucks into them.
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Copers withstanding, Steadham has a way better explanation of a slappy than 90% of the instructional videos and explanations on SLAP.
Except he's wrong. You don't tip your tight trucks into them. You smash your loose trucks into them.
But the idea of tipping your board as if you had tight trucks is a great explanation of the movement
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I'm a 'slappy guy'. No one around here slappies and I feel like I spend most of my time at the skate park explaining to people how to slappy cause they always ask me how I do it so easy/effortlessly. I think fs slappies are the easiest of all of them but apparently I'm alone on that, anytime I bring that up people look at me like i'm a fucking psycho. The whole 'slappy setup' thing feels like a gimmick to me or maybe I just think that cause I've never tried it. I just use my standard setup (8.5 deck, Ace 44, Spit 52 Tablets) and everything works perfectly fine.
People cant get over the fact you DONT LIFT UP YOUR FRONT TRUCK. Anytime I teach someone how to do it they always lift up and end up getting smoked
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I'm a 'slappy guy'. No one around here slappies and I feel like I spend most of my time at the skate park explaining to people how to slappy cause they always ask me how I do it so easy/effortlessly. I think fs slappies are the easiest of all of them but apparently I'm alone on that, anytime I bring that up people look at me like i'm a fucking psycho. The whole 'slappy setup' thing feels like a gimmick to me or maybe I just think that cause I've never tried it. I just use my standard setup (8.5 deck, Ace 44, Spit 52 Tablets) and everything works perfectly fine.
People cant get over the fact you DONT LIFT UP YOUR FRONT TRUCK. Anytime I teach someone how to do it they always lift up and end up getting smoked
FS 50/50 work easiest for me too, BS 50/50 are significantly harder for me.
Interestingly tho I learned BS crooks lately (thanks to Slap Pals trick tips!), first to fakie but start getting them to regular. I also showed my buddy how to do them, he was super stoked.
I haven‘t even considered trying them FS but will give them a go next time I am at the slappy curb.
Happy for other easy slappy suggestions!
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some curbs are way harder to do it on than others. i just made a new one and its so free because there is a slight slant to it.
sometimes its slanted out, those ones are hard to do it on. but its possible on anything - look at that walls that spanky rides up.
try to find stuff that is super low to start on that you can get the feel for it you can bash your trucks into and sort of understand that feeling of using your momentum to get up there (doesnt even need to be waxed). its something you have to just get the feel for trying it a little bit more each day (like anything in skating)
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I'm a 'slappy guy'. No one around here slappies and I feel like I spend most of my time at the skate park explaining to people how to slappy cause they always ask me how I do it so easy/effortlessly. I think fs slappies are the easiest of all of them but apparently I'm alone on that, anytime I bring that up people look at me like i'm a fucking psycho. The whole 'slappy setup' thing feels like a gimmick to me or maybe I just think that cause I've never tried it. I just use my standard setup (8.5 deck, Ace 44, Spit 52 Tablets) and everything works perfectly fine.
People cant get over the fact you DONT LIFT UP YOUR FRONT TRUCK. Anytime I teach someone how to do it they always lift up and end up getting smoked
frontside is definitly the easiest. i just think a lot of people think its scarier/harder (it's safer tho) to do them frontside cause theyre comparing it to transition skating where BS 50 the easy option.
anytime i try to teach someone they keep going for the BS slappy and keep lifting their front truck yeah.. lifting the front truck makes it so dangerous. especially on a parking block/double sided. last weekend someone finally listened to me and actually stopped lifting the front truck. usually they think theyre not lifting it but keep doing it subconsiously. like they have to unlearn something theyve been conditioned to do.
he got close but no makes yet.
also curbs can be too low i feel. some people try to learn them on tiny baby curbs that are like wheel hight. but i feel like you easily overshoot those. or even comepletely miss your slap.
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From one of the many other slappy threads
Reposting this here for reference
CUCKTARD’S ALL-INCLUSIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FRONTSIDE AND BACKSIDE SLAPPIES
Take photos now, or copy-paste somewhere on your phone for reference when your at your preferred slutty and slick curb.
1- HANG YOUR FEET OFF.
You are going to turn hard and help those wheels up onto the curb, so if you are going backside, hang your toes off more than usual. If your going frontside, hang your heels off.
Also, for beginners, have your front foot over the front bolts, right up against the curve of the nose.
The back foot is on wherever, but maybe not on the end of the tail. You’re not going to lift the nose.
2- GO STRAIGHT AT THE CURB (or almost straight)
This is just for the beginners. After you get the hang of it and your confidence increases, you can go at a lower angle. But going head-on into the curb will help you get onto it, so have your bodily mass heading into it.
3- CARVE
About a meter/yard before you hit, carve hard into the direction you wanna get on. Your board should be between 70-45 degrees to the curb at time of impact. Your body weight should be well inside the turn, and you should be cranking down hard on those toes or heels.
3- DON’T SLAM THE BOARD
This is the most important point. And one that people make the most mistakes with. Slappies are actually kinda delicate, and a pretty smooth feeling trick once you understand this point.
As your front wheels hit the curb, you have to lighten your front foot, like when you nollie bump a crack in the pavement. You let the board bump up onto the curb, and then do the same with your back foot, as you push it into place. It’s a very quick and subtle unweighting of front foot-back foot.
You never straight-leg slam the board into the curb.
****if you don’t twist enough into the turn, your back wheels won’t bump up. You have to twist your body so that your shoulders and hips are in line with the curb. This is usually easier frontside (probably because fs grinds on as a mini are like this, but with bs you can stay open to the coping). On a slappy, you gotta fully turn your whole body so that the back wheel gets on****
4- GET IN THE BACKSEAT
With your front foot so far forward, you may find yourself weighting the front truck so much that it catches on the grind.
As you get that back truck on, scoot the whole board forward underneath you, get your weight back of center, and grind
5-ENJOY THE RIDE, DISMOUNT IN YOUR PREFERRED STYLE, AND UTTER “PRAISE BE TO LUCERO”
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Anyone have any specific pointers for slappy feebles on parking blocks (backside)? I can do other slappies and these look so simple and effortless compared to even slappy 5050s but I can’t wrap my head around where to begin with them. Obviously the front truck is being placed over the block as you get to it but are you putting pressure on your front foot at that point to assist the back truck in popping up to lock into the feeble? It also seems like you need to be moving at a decent speed to make these work.
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Anyone have any specific pointers for slappy feebles on parking blocks (backside)? I can do other slappies and these look so simple and effortless compared to even slappy 5050s but I can’t wrap my head around where to begin with them. Obviously the front truck is being placed over the block as you get to it but are you putting pressure on your front foot at that point to assist the back truck in popping up to lock into the feeble? It also seems like you need to be moving at a decent speed to make these work.
You definitely need some speed but don't need to be flying. Biggest two points: lean on your back foot, and center your weight and balance on that back foot because it's doing all thee work. The front foot's job is just to stop the board from rotating further frontside.
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Anyone have any specific pointers for slappy feebles on parking blocks (backside)? I can do other slappies and these look so simple and effortless compared to even slappy 5050s but I can’t wrap my head around where to begin with them. Obviously the front truck is being placed over the block as you get to it but are you putting pressure on your front foot at that point to assist the back truck in popping up to lock into the feeble? It also seems like you need to be moving at a decent speed to make these work.
You definitely need some speed but don't need to be flying. Biggest two points: lean on your back foot, and center your weight and balance on that back foot because it's doing all thee work. The front foot's job is just to stop the board from rotating further frontside.
Word thanks. Too many hunks out there doing slappy feebles Dr.
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Anyone have any specific pointers for slappy feebles on parking blocks (backside)? I can do other slappies and these look so simple and effortless compared to even slappy 5050s but I can’t wrap my head around where to begin with them. Obviously the front truck is being placed over the block as you get to it but are you putting pressure on your front foot at that point to assist the back truck in popping up to lock into the feeble? It also seems like you need to be moving at a decent speed to make these work.
You definitely need some speed but don't need to be flying. Biggest two points: lean on your back foot, and center your weight and balance on that back foot because it's doing all thee work. The front foot's job is just to stop the board from rotating further frontside.
Word thanks. Too many hunks out there doing slappy feebles Dr.
to add to this. what helped me was (cringe alert) watching Dan Corigan do them. dude has them on lock and mimicking his body position helped me get it down really fast. after it clicked for me i couldnt believe it took me so long cause it really is the easiest slappy.
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I would first learn how to do slappies then figure out what I needed to do them better
You can do slappies on any setup
Oh, slappies are high impact btw. You’ll find this out once you slam on a few.
AMEN. You will get pitched when things don’t go right.
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I would first learn how to do slappies then figure out what I needed to do them better
You can do slappies on any setup
Oh, slappies are high impact btw. You’ll find this out once you slam on a few.
This. I took one of my worst slams the other day doing a slappy noseslide on a curb.
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Are slappies on really tall, completely vertical curbs the same as any other slappy? Or is there some slight lifting of the front truck involved? I don't get how you can straight smash into those and get up on the curb.
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All I can speak for are the ones I’ve skated(6”-8”) that are either vert or over vert, but nope. No lift. They’re the same as any other.
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Are slappies on really tall, completely vertical curbs the same as any other slappy? Or is there some slight lifting of the front truck involved? I don't get how you can straight smash into those and get up on the curb.
It’s basically a wall ride, or a carve on a super steep bank at that point. Feet in the pockets, lean back, unweight and smash baby.