1992-93 setups, vintage or modern to skate.

[abgrooms]

I have a series of questions related to the 8.5" - 9.2" Football / egg shape era right before they became a true popsicle and dropped in width below 8.0". How are skaters experiencing that setup today? To a level more detailed than just... "get small wheels and an oval board".

I've always found those specific years interesting for a number of reasons. The shape, wheels, graphics, the type of skating. I want to get a close to possible to something authentic, short of sourcing vintage parts from eBay and hope it doesn't turn to dust.


What are skaters doing to recreate a set up from that era without having to utilize new old stock or vintage parts?

Decks:
Reissue decks seem to be easy to come by... but, are people actually skating the reissue decks? Or are they just wall art?

Trucks:
Truck geometry must have come a long way since then and no company is offering reissue trucks of past generations. I've tried to find some '92 Venture 6 bolt Feather lights. That seems to be a shot in the dark, especially if your looking for a specific size. How much different is the geometry (feel) of a modern set of trucks vs. 1992?

Wheels:
There is a good bit of modern options in 44, 42, 40, 38mm, but the stock comes and goes, and the shapes appear to be very limited when compared to the massive options they had back in the 90's. I've found a few collectors that hoard these wheels like gold, only for display.


1st setup: *update*
Primitive Franky Villani (football) 9.125", with some thunder 161's (9.1" axle) and 52mm Spitfire classics.
This as been an experimental setup. I've tried a few sets of wheels from 48, 50, 52. I even through on some rails and its now living life as my slappy board. I'll post pictures if anyone requests.

2nd setup: POST #23 (new). Post #25 (first sessions) & #47 *update* (new wheels)
Heroin Soft Boiled Egg 8.7" after reading about it in some other threads, and its relative shape to the Villani, but smaller.
Paired it with some Venture Titanium 5.8 (8.5" axle) and 42mm Boardy Cakes wheels. (Now on 40mm SML. "Really Small wheels"

3rd setup: POST #48 (Getting somewhere now)
Real, 1992 James Kelch "Flyer" Slick, 2018 reissue. Venture V-Lights 5.8 (8.5 axle). SML. 40mm "Really Small Wheels"
Diamond Phillip, Bones Swiss, Mob.

I've picked up a few other reissue decks, some to skate, and some for the wall. I'll post updates on those when they end up in the rotation.
Also, I'm constantly on a small wheel lookout. NOS, or new. 38mm - 48mm always searching for a set I haven't tried. Send me links.


I'm interested to read what others have to say. Hopefully get some advice and insight into what it is I'm trying to do.

Any 1991-1993 relevant gear, articles, stories, pictures, videos, ect... are welcome and appreciated.

[Ok]

I’ll be watching this thread.
I skated before this era, quit, and then started again in ‘94, so missed I missed this. The boards looks too sick tho.

[stets]

So I set up a Kelch flyer reissue, on some 149 stage 7 Indy's that I got off ebay for a good price. I set it up with 44mm Boardycakes reissue wheels. It's not my daily rider, but it's fun for flatground and curbs near me.

The stage 7's (which came out in 1993 and are basically the same as the stage 6's from 1991, but with 6 hole baseplate) skate a little different than the Stage 11's that I have on another setup, they seem similar enough. The response is a little better on the 11's, maybe that's better modern bushings, but they have a similar feel overall. The look is different because of the hanger design. Theeve trucks are based off the early-mid 90's Indy geometry, and have a similar hanger design lines, so that might be an option for your "close to 1992 with modern parts" build? Can't comment on any Venture comparisons though.

Wheels-wise, I'd suggest checking out Boardycakes. They are a recent niche brand that makes a 38mm, 42mm, 44mm, 48.5mm, and 49mm wheel. I have their 44mm wheel and it's great. I like that they are wide compared to the 42mm or 40mm wheels made by other brands as novelties.

[Dinglenuts]

I was very much part of this era and your second setup is pretty close. For me it was a critical time for progression of my fliptricks. I actually set up something similar a few months ago thinking I would love it, but I did not.

[abgrooms]

So I set up a Kelch flyer reissue, on some 149 stage 7 Indy's that I got off ebay for a good price.

Is it common to skate the reissues? I might sound naive, but are the industries intentions to get people to appreciate the art and time? or are these being produced to skate?

There is a James Kelch - Twister deck available... It would feel crazy setting that up, that graphic is iconic.

I wish someone would issue blanks in heritage shapes.

The stage 7's (which came out in 1993 and are basically the same as the stage 6's from 1991, but with 6 hole baseplate)

I will have to look into this. Thank you!

Wheels-wise, I'd suggest checking out Boardycakes.

Last week, I was about to place an order for the 44mm and 42mm, but the 44's were sold out, so I'm putting that on hold.

I reached out to Sml. Wheels to see when they would re stock their 40mm wheels, they said January.

There is a German company called Penus skateboards that makes a 44mm and a 39mm, but that might take a while to get here with the pandemic and how its effected international shipping.

If OJ wheels could just do another run of the 42mm Toasted Tiny wheel.. I really missed the boat when all these wheels were available.

I find it hard to believe that if Spitfire made a 48mm classic in formula 4, that they would have a hard time selling.

[kimura]

IMO the reissues are meant to be skated. Of course you can always save one if it has a special meaning to you or you want some wall art but other than that buy it and rip it. Hoard a few if you are afraid they wont ever make it again.

[Mbrimson88]

I was very much part of this era and your second setup is pretty close. For me it was a critical time for progression of my fliptricks. I actually set up something similar a few months ago thinking I would love it, but I did not.

Totally and yes, recreating the same boards from NOS or even trying to skate existing complete boards from that era now feel so weird and strange to me, whereas new / current setups of modern parts set up to resemble those that we skated back then are much more comfortable.

Not sure if we just skated rubbish back then, but most likely the evolution of concave in particular and geometry of trucks are the two main factors in modern boards feeling so much better now, even in the egg or football shapes, which are definitely fun to ride.

[Mbrimson88]

IMO the reissues are meant to be skated. Of course you can always save one if it has a special meaning to you or you want some wall art but other than that buy it and rip it. Hoard a few if you are afraid they wont ever make it again.

A fair percentage of these boards would be going straight into collections never to be set up, but they are the regular boards at regular prices, so a lot of people do skate them, many buy two straight away, one to skate and one to keep.

Everything is limited really, but the companies that put out the "limited edition, specially numbered to X total quantity" are often the more sought after ones for collecting, and prices reflect that in normal shops too.

There is definitely more of a market for shaped boards, especially the football and egg, so I don't see these being stopped any time soon, more likely becoming more available in more sizes too if the trend is really pushing forward as much as it appears to be.

[abgrooms]

Expand Quote

I was very much part of this era and your second setup is pretty close. For me it was a critical time for progression of my fliptricks. I actually set up something similar a few months ago thinking I would love it, but I did not.

[close]

Totally and yes, recreating the same boards from NOS or even trying to skate existing complete boards from that era now feel so weird and strange to me, whereas new / current setups of modern parts set up to resemble those that we skated back then are much more comfortable.

This is the kind information I'm looking for. It makes sense that a retro setup with today innovations could make a setup more functional and enjoyable.

Graphics aside... How true to shape are the reissue decks?

The 101 Koston I held did not seem flat, if anything the concave seemed modern, much like the Villani and Heroin egg. I could be mistaken.

Perhaps not all reissues are true to the original concave?
As for graphics, I do know that there are heat transfer and screen printed alternatives. I would imagine the screen printed boards must be true to shape. Maybe not?

Has the bearing or hardware technology changed at all?Ceramics balls, and allen heads aside.

What about grip tape?

*rabbithole.jpg*

[Easy Slider]

What about grip tape?

Flypaper was the sh*t. Googled it, turns out it still exists 

https://flypapergrip.com/pages/history-of-the-fly

[Mbrimson88]

Graphics aside... How true to shape are the reissue decks?

The 101 Koston I held did not seem flat, if anything the concave seemed modern, much like the Villani and Heroin egg. I could be mistaken.

Perhaps not all reissues are true to the original concave?
As for graphics, I do know that there are heat transfer and screen printed alternatives. I would imagine the screen printed boards must be true to shape. Maybe not?

Has the bearing or hardware technology changed at all?Ceramics balls, and allen heads aside.

What about grip tape?

I do recall some saying the boards are pressed on the same mold as the originals, one maybe even by the same guy that pressed them back in the day, but more often than not, they are modern concave pressed on the modern molds in the same way that all the current decks are, vs completely flat as they were back then.

I have had a few come through my hands, some were interesting, others were terrible, it would seem to me, for how they felt and skated, but again it is personal preference.  How much do you recall from that time and what have you been skating since?

[Mbrimson88]

This might be a bit much, so sorry for posting a heap, but these might be of interest:

[Dinglenuts]

Expand Quote

I was very much part of this era and your second setup is pretty close. For me it was a critical time for progression of my fliptricks. I actually set up something similar a few months ago thinking I would love it, but I did not.

[close]

Totally and yes, recreating the same boards from NOS or even trying to skate existing complete boards from that era now feel so weird and strange to me, whereas new / current setups of modern parts set up to resemble those that we skated back then are much more comfortable.

Not sure if we just skated rubbish back then, but most likely the evolution of concave in particular and geometry of trucks are the two main factors in modern boards feeling so much better now, even in the egg or football shapes, which are definitely fun to ride.

Oh we definitely skated rubbish back then man, world indusrtries..blind..girl.. had to have them but they were complete crap. I had been on Ventures since that era until recently, and there is no doubt that even though they still don't turn they are a better feeling truck nowadays.

[theloniousmonk]

The two eggs that I have had both had modern concave.
(Villani and girl g048)
I started in 94, so after the eggs, but decks were so mellow. I just got a mini logo that has a mellow mid 90s concave, and I am going to grab the next south central e concave that I see.
Also, when I started, everyone had the venture lows with the green bushings, have you considered low trucks to go with your egg?

[abgrooms]

How much do you recall from that time and what have you been skating since?

Well thats just it. I was born in '88, didn't pick up skating until 1999 at 11 years old. Had great shop nearby with locals full of knowledge. First board was a World Industries Battle 2000.

Fast forward all the younger years... I never really paid attention to sizes, shapes, brands. Went to college, got an engineering degree, work in an office, but I still skate every day. I remember in school reflecting on skateboard technology and trying to understand why we skate - what we skate - I've had the setup madness ever since.

Today I bounce between a 8.25 and 8.125 deck on 8.25" trucks, wheels never larger than 52mm.

I've boxed myself into this setup space where I never branch out and experience anything new. This got me thinking... How I even got to this setup in the first place, personal preference aside.

I want to go back, learn a bit about the history that lead me to my first setup in 1999. I believe that trend started in the early 90's, the explosion of street skating and the shape change that defined the type of skating that carried over into the early 2000's. I figure no better way to learn then to build one and rip it, a proper one.

[ok boomer]

Expand Quote

What about grip tape?

[close]

Flypaper was the sh*t. Googled it, turns out it still exists 

https://flypapergrip.com/pages/history-of-the-fly

Fly paper was my go to back in the day

[Mbrimson88]

Expand Quote

How much do you recall from that time and what have you been skating since?

[close]

Well thats just it. I was born in '88, didn't pick up skating until 1999 at 11 years old. Had great shop nearby with locals full of knowledge. First board was a World Industries Battle 2000.

Fast forward all the younger years... I never really paid attention to sizes, shapes, brands. Went to college, got an engineering degree, work in an office, but I still skate every day. I remember in school reflecting on skateboard technology and trying to understand why we skate - what we skate - I've had the setup madness ever since.

Today I bounce between a 8.25 and 8.125 deck on 8.25" trucks, wheels never larger than 52mm.

I've boxed myself into this setup space where I never branch out and experience anything new. This got me thinking... How I even got to this setup in the first place, personal preference aside.

I want to go back, learn a bit about the history that lead me to my first setup in 1999. I believe that trend started in the early 90's, the explosion of street skating and the shape change that defined the type of skating that carried over into the early 2000's. I figure no better way to learn then to build one and rip it, a proper one.

Sweet!

I have made a number of weird setups over the years with old product mainly just because I could, but I guess too it depends on how much you want to spend and how much time you have to look for things you want.

At least now that things are spreading out a bit more, to allow mainstream markets to get shaped boards, some brands are doing much smaller wheels, etc, it is really helping things along.

Bones swiss bearings have been around for a long time, but it has only been as an adult I bought some for myself.

Deck bolts have remained much the same, Shortys and others being one of the most visible companies well past that era, but that is what I use now, phillips only as allen heads changed and if you didn't have the right exact size allen key you were stuck.

Old worn down wheels make for really good go to for the small wheels era boards too.

There are so many things you can do to mix things up or make setups that still work for how you are used to skating too, eg same truck bushings as your other rides.

[funeral_tuxedo]

Ben DeGros talks a bit about that stuff in these two videos

[Easy Slider]

Deck bolts have remained much the same,

Forgot about Bridgebolts, bro? 

[Mbrimson88]

Expand Quote

Deck bolts have remained much the same,

[close]

Forgot about Bridgebolts, bro? 

I think by 1993 we were done with all those, but I actually have a set hanging up beside my old Firm deck, along with one old Indy hanger and a few other bits and pieces.

There is a pic of an older board they were on, maybe a Powell deck I had in 1990 or 1991, but when going to a board I was doing nose slides on, I think we were using much smaller deck bolts, cutting down a lot of the bigger heavier things, or maybe I just couldn't afford them, as there are no imprints from them on any of the other boards after that time.

They were an interesting addition, but one that got in the way more than anything.

[Mbrimson88]

I went looking for bridgebolt history but found this article instead.

http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2013/10/03/signs-you-were-an-early-90s-skater/

Worth a read, even just for a laugh.

This too:

http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2014/01/02/signs-you-were-a-late-90s-skater/

[kimura]

I went looking for bridgebolt history but found this article instead.

http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2013/10/03/signs-you-were-an-early-90s-skater/

Worth a read, even just for a laugh.

This too:

http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2014/01/02/signs-you-were-a-late-90s-skater/

Got a good laugh from those. I forgot about those bridge bolts. There was a brief period in the late 80's early 90's when it was cool to put your 2 front bolts upside down so the nuts were on top. It was thought your shoe would catch on the nuts and help boost ollies.

[Mbrimson88]

Expand Quote

I went looking for bridgebolt history but found this article instead.

http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2013/10/03/signs-you-were-an-early-90s-skater/

Worth a read, even just for a laugh.

This too:

http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2014/01/02/signs-you-were-a-late-90s-skater/

[close]

Got a good laugh from those. I forgot about those bridge bolts. There was a brief period in the late 80's early 90's when it was cool to put your 2 front bolts upside down so the nuts were on top. It was thought your shoe would catch on the nuts and help boost ollies.

Yep, the coolest guy we skated with did that and could ollie tennis court nets, so we all thought that was how it was done.  Reason prevailed though and most of us never actually did it or left them like that for long though.  On a two to three inch nose, it wasn't that weird looking, the way it would be on a longer nose board.

[abgrooms]

8.75" Soft Boiled Egg, Heroin Skateboards (Razor top)
5.8 Venture Titanium Trucks (8.5" axle)
42mm Boardy Cakes OG Wheels (101a)

[FatGuy92]

I’ve tried this before, but didn’t stick with it due to how rough the ground in my local spots are

Quasi 9.0 football
Venture titanium 5.8
Sml 40mm 99a

Definitely fun here and there, but it’s hard to find football shapes and small wheels consistently which also makes me not want to get too used to the setup

(Also sorry not sure how to post pics)

[abgrooms]

First two days on the egg is everything I could have wanted.

Honestly a real treat. Light and easily manageable. Learned some new things and didn't get stuck on any pebbles. Really don't notice the wheel size much, other then its a kind of a slow roller and round bars are sketchy, I stuck to the curbs.

The Boardy Cakes wheels wear down quick, I mean very quick. Already down a couple mm, and flat spots are easy to come by. They are at least priced, accordingly.

[Mbrimson88]

Looking good!

I wonder how it would ride with some of your other bigger wheels, compared to those now 40s, eg your 50mm Spitfire classics.

[Gray Imp Sausage Metal]

Check out all those dimensions; not a wheelbase over 14.25!!!

[Mbrimson88]

Check out all those dimensions; not a wheelbase over 14.25!!!

Ha yes, I saw that too and thought that would be a good post for all the people who like wide boards with short wheelbases.

I never had any of those growing up and the one I stood on a few years ago just felt so weird to my modern concave tastes - completely flat almost.

The T Tommy G board was reissued a while back too but because of the shorter wheelbase, I didn't get it and got the flaming logo one instead (almost the Dane1 shape) but it had 14.38 wb or something.  I still haven't set it up though.

[ok boomer]

I'm probably in the minority on this but I love 14" wb