"North American Maple" usually means shit from the great lakes region.
My enthusiasm comes from a company that really cares for their product.
Their wood is better than anything I've ridden from Deluxe, Creature, Hopps, Stereo, or whatever other boards I've ridden recently (Can't really comment on them old planks as memory is hazy)
I don't know of any other company that will make custom sizes and shapes for you by request, and makes every board per order by hand.
I just get pissed off by being ripped off by companies' marketing bullshit. A good deck is simple to make, it just takes time and care.
I understand and respect deluxe as a brand, but they just don't make good skateboards.
I brought up fickle here because I went from a riding a 9x33 Creature to the same size Fickle and the difference was night and day. Creatures snap, Fickles don't
I don't mean to sound like a condescending broken record, but I've saved a ton of money with these guys, and have had a much better time skating on their wood.