i grew up more on stage 9's than any other indys, i had stage 8s way back when i started but that was ultra-tight trucks flip trick only times, so i didn't get much feel for them. with ace i think they are attracting the dudes who rode stage 8s and prior trucks, who weren't happy when indy changed the geometry in stage 9s. 9/10s of guys i see riding aces are guys who didn't want to make the switch from stage 8s to 9's but had no choice. granted, i have to give them a try that way if they suck i can honestly say indys are better than any truck out there.