1992-93 setups, vintage or modern to skate.

[swongolianbbq]

The key is the oblong shape with a shift towards the nose. It was a complete reverse from the meaty tail era that ended in late 91’. 92’ was all about curb combos and pressure flips. Slicks were fun, but they broke so easily once the surface was rubbed down. It was like having a 6 ply.

Thanks for finding the Gershon deck.

Thanks for the info! That board is dope too

I think I like the '92 shapes better, I don't imagine 7.4" boards when I picture the big-pants-small-wheels era... that was like the cutting edge in California though and it all seemed to change super quick in that time period. This shit is fun. The 1992 Ron Knigge "deep sea vandals" board is my favorite available so far. 8.6 x 14" wb. I love the graphic on the real kelly bird tho. Might just have to hook it up with the ventures

The more I research the equipment, the more stuff I thought was firmly 94 started in 93... Obviously they weren't like, waiting to the new year to change shit, it just happens with no regard to the calendar haha

I'm gonna try and grip some '93 and '94 CCS catalogs for a better grasp of what was generally available

I've seen the ones from 88, 90, 91, 92, 95, 96

[Mbrimson88]

Expand Quote

The key is the oblong shape with a shift towards the nose. It was a complete reverse from the meaty tail era that ended in late 91’. 92’ was all about curb combos and pressure flips. Slicks were fun, but they broke so easily once the surface was rubbed down. It was like having a 6 ply.

Thanks for finding the Gershon deck.

[close]

Thanks for the info! That board is dope too

I think I like the '92 shapes better, I don't imagine 7.4" boards when I picture the big-pants-small-wheels era... that was like the cutting edge in California though and it all seemed to change super quick in that time period. This shit is fun. The 1992 Ron Knigge "deep sea vandals" board is my favorite available so far. 8.6 x 14" wb. I love the graphic on the real kelly bird tho. Might just have to hook it up with the ventures

The more I research the equipment, the more stuff I thought was firmly 94 started in 93... Obviously they weren't like, waiting to the new year to change shit, it just happens with no regard to the calendar haha

I'm gonna try and grip some '93 and '94 CCS catalogs for a better grasp of what was generally available

I've seen the ones from 88, 90, 91, 92, 95, 96

Search CCS 199(x) year and a lot of good info turns up, but it is also interesting to see some commentary on things too, such as this one, which I have come across before, but worth posting again:


https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1990.html

https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1991.html

https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1992.html

https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1993.html

https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1994.html


Might take a bit to go through them all, depending on how much you get into looking at every board but I think it is worth it.

So many interesting things around, I could spend way too much time on some of them.


Also depending on the size and shape of what you want to set up, if you didn't have old worn down wheels to try on some 90s setups, the most recent Lil Beatdowns series from last year or so were the 43 mm Spitfire Classic shape wheel that a lot of people bought to put on period correct setups for that instant look and feel of small wheels.

Not sure if there are many or any still around, but after seeing them, I thought I had plenty of small wheels I could round down, but I did see a few on people's boards I know too.

[swongolianbbq]

 There's still some sets of lil beat downs floating around

I better get on that now hahah

Also if the 42mm keychain wheel is potato color it's f4, though I suppose there's no guarantee what duro. Especially when there's a sale you can get 4 of em for under 40 bucks if you're dead set on spitfires when the beatdowns are out

Wish the lil beatdowns were 101a tho

I've spent a lot of time on that blog, it rules. It's a bummer the 93 and 94 ones don't show any wheels

Gonna keep digging!

Edit - found a shot of some wheels from a '93 CCS

For reference, the blank CCS wheels were ONLY offered in 39, 41, and 43mm

Wild

Edit again

Found some '94 spitfires



I can't find any pics of the 37mm spitfires I'm pretty sure existed in 93

Were they called cherries or something? I can't find anything. I must've seen them on Instagram quite some time ago

[GardenSkater77]

Wheel size was 38-45 mm
Durometer 97-101

42mm was the most popular size and we rode them until the bearing began to show.

I was looking on Orchard and I found these beauties:

https://orchardshop.com/collections/wheels/products/sml-wheels-grocery-bag-v-cut-45mm-99a

[Mbrimson88]

Wheel size was 38-45 mm
Durometer 97-101

42mm was the most popular size and we rode them until the bearing began to show.

I was looking on Orchard and I found these beauties:

https://orchardshop.com/collections/wheels/products/sml-wheels-grocery-bag-v-cut-45mm-99a

When I had a look at them, these others were in the "suggested" list, which look pretty cool too. 

Six packs in an egg carton, with two in stock, which I had bought others in the past when there were six packs of wheels, just so I could get three even sets.


https://orchardshop.com/products/slime-balls-wheels-og-eggs-haf-dozen-mini-chubbies-45mm-99a?variant=45953085407397


I feel like there are quite a few more sets of smaller wheels out now too, maybe more interest in getting period correct setups, or just a resurgence in small wheel setups?

[Hqjdncm]

I was thinking of a hookups/jk industries setup
Either the 9.5 or 9.75 shape. Both are 31.75 long and 14.25 wb. Venture 6.1s and probably the smallest sml wheels I can find. Maybe those slimeballs. I was not born until after that era so I’m sure it won’t be too historically accurate but I skated a jk dream girl when I was 16 with spitfire sfw’s and i loved that thing so I kinda wanna try and recreate it

Edit: the 9.75 shape is actually 14.5 wb. I can’t remember which dream girl I had now!

[Sedition]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

The key is the oblong shape with a shift towards the nose. It was a complete reverse from the meaty tail era that ended in late 91’. 92’ was all about curb combos and pressure flips. Slicks were fun, but they broke so easily once the surface was rubbed down. It was like having a 6 ply.

Thanks for finding the Gershon deck.

[close]

Thanks for the info! That board is dope too

I think I like the '92 shapes better, I don't imagine 7.4" boards when I picture the big-pants-small-wheels era... that was like the cutting edge in California though and it all seemed to change super quick in that time period. This shit is fun. The 1992 Ron Knigge "deep sea vandals" board is my favorite available so far. 8.6 x 14" wb. I love the graphic on the real kelly bird tho. Might just have to hook it up with the ventures

The more I research the equipment, the more stuff I thought was firmly 94 started in 93... Obviously they weren't like, waiting to the new year to change shit, it just happens with no regard to the calendar haha

I'm gonna try and grip some '93 and '94 CCS catalogs for a better grasp of what was generally available

I've seen the ones from 88, 90, 91, 92, 95, 96

[close]

Search CCS 199(x) year and a lot of good info turns up, but it is also interesting to see some commentary on things too, such as this one, which I have come across before, but worth posting again:


https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1990.html

https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1991.html

https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1992.html

https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1993.html

https://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/09/california-cheap-skates-1994.html


Might take a bit to go through them all, depending on how much you get into looking at every board but I think it is worth it.

So many interesting things around, I could spend way too much time on some of them.


Also depending on the size and shape of what you want to set up, if you didn't have old worn down wheels to try on some 90s setups, the most recent Lil Beatdowns series from last year or so were the 43 mm Spitfire Classic shape wheel that a lot of people bought to put on period correct setups for that instant look and feel of small wheels.

Not sure if there are many or any still around, but after seeing them, I thought I had plenty of small wheels I could round down, but I did see a few on people's boards I know too.

Wow. Looking at some of those old catalogs is really bringing me back, in both good and bad ways. One thing I also remember from the 7.75 days…tails got really short. The average was 6”, and some where even a hair under. In retrospect, this was probably to help with pop / counter-act boards being so low to the ground, but man, did it ever fuck with my blunt slides and tail slides for a while.

I also think looking back, the 1991 D.Way VW deck was one of the first real precursors to the popsicle (that board I first did a nollie kickflip on). I remember people being pretty shocked by that thing when they saw it in person.

[GardenSkater77]

This is a perfect modern interpretation of a Fall 1992 deck.

8.875" Width x 31.50" Length
Wheelbase: 14.00"
Tail Length: 6.75"
Nose Length: 7.00"
Front Axle Width: 8.75"
Back Axle Width: 8.50"

https://orchardshop.com/products/wknd-shortcut-karsten-kleppan-deck-8-875-sd?currency=USD&variant=46018629959845&stkn=e2f76659ba94&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20083117097&gbraid=0AAAAABRw1ZBBpzdNOlqr-cY-KSMxKlpXH

[Mbrimson88]

.

^^^  That is such a good shape, looking at the top view of it.



This is another one I noticed, but I don't think I ever got down that small in size - the Real 7.43 93 Kelly Bird reissue I just happened to see while looking for something else for another thread.  Things sure did get pretty crazy at one point.


https://www.skatedeluxe.com/en/p/real-kelly-bird-93-7-43-skateboard-deck-red_p168053

[swongolianbbq]

The kelly bird one is so sick. I might just get one for a wall hanger.

This is a perfect modern interpretation of a Fall 1992 deck.

8.875" Width x 31.50" Length
Wheelbase: 14.00"
Tail Length: 6.75"
Nose Length: 7.00"
Front Axle Width: 8.75"
Back Axle Width: 8.50"

https://orchardshop.com/products/wknd-shortcut-karsten-kleppan-deck-8-875-sd?currency=USD&variant=46018629959845&stkn=e2f76659ba94&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20083117097&gbraid=0AAAAABRw1ZBBpzdNOlqr-cY-KSMxKlpXH

Yo, that one is sick!
14" wb!!

[MOE SYZLAK]

Don’t know if this qualifies but
Polar 1991 shape
With 45mm Oj black holes
Ace 55s

[hiljentaa]

This is a perfect modern interpretation of a Fall 1992 deck.

8.875" Width x 31.50" Length
Wheelbase: 14.00"
Tail Length: 6.75"
Nose Length: 7.00"
Front Axle Width: 8.75"
Back Axle Width: 8.50"

https://orchardshop.com/products/wknd-shortcut-karsten-kleppan-deck-8-875-sd?currency=USD&variant=46018629959845&stkn=e2f76659ba94&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20083117097&gbraid=0AAAAABRw1ZBBpzdNOlqr-cY-KSMxKlpXH

I skated that shape and it was probably my favorite/most memorable board. I want to get another one but they are a bit hard to find.

[Mbrimson88]

Don’t know if this qualifies but
Polar 1991 shape
With 45mm Oj black holes
Ace 55s

For sure!

I recall seeing some people riding those squared off tails still on old trucks and very small wheels well into the 90s, so as it was such a weird time and a changing landscape, there were a lot of options around and some skate shops still carried a ton of old stock, so mix and match of whatever product people were riding was not at all uncommon.

The Polar 1990, 1991 and 1992 shapes are pretty fun too.

I even recall people trying to "round off" tails of squared off decks too - we used to hold the complete by the trucks and run them across rough concrete to get rid of sharp corners and still do on some boards that are a bit worn down, to keep them going and prevent razor tail.

[GardenSkater77]

Here is the shape Jeremy Wray probably uses in the Color Video. Imagine ollieing like 15 ft with this board and 45mm wheels…

https://941skateshop.com/products/blockhead-jeremy-wray-rain-girl-reissue-original-1993-shape-numbered-acid-rain-assorted-print-colors-only-20-made-18?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=f26dffd92&pr_rec_pid=8632553373834&pr_ref_pid=8632429445258&pr_seq=uniform

Wray’s Part
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xowjat

Look at the wheels…

[dunc]

Here is the shape Jeremy Wray probably uses in the Color Video. Imagine ollieing like 15 ft with this board and 45mm wheels…

https://941skateshop.com/products/blockhead-jeremy-wray-rain-girl-reissue-original-1993-shape-numbered-acid-rain-assorted-print-colors-only-20-made-18?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=f26dffd92&pr_rec_pid=8632553373834&pr_ref_pid=8632429445258&pr_seq=uniform

Wray’s Part
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xowjat

How good is Jeremy Wray!! Loved his speed and pop during the era of dribble. He is responsible for style being an important factor in modern street skateboarding.  Doesn't get enough credit.

[GardenSkater77]

https://thedarkslide.com/collections/the-new-deal/products/new-deal-knigge-skypod-neon-black-8-38-skateboard-deck



Excellent representation of the first half of 93’.

[swongolianbbq]

Love those new deal reissues

I really want to build up some retro boards. I will eventually if I have the time, space, money

Can't decide if it would be better to do like a ~9" football with 149s or an ~8.5" football with 139s. 42/43mm wheels for sure

Or a 7.3 pinner with venture low 5.0s and low 40s wheels

The era in between those wheels and like, 60mm wheels with 3/8" bed pans  is very interesting to me too. Like when Real's "small wheels" came out(52mm iirc), like '91/video days era when Jason Lee was riding 57mm freestyle wheels flipped in

It's cool that spitfire makes some old shapes like Tablets and "OG Classics" which I think used to be called "Hot" but not 100% sure

Would be cool to have a full-nose, shaped board, like 1991 style, ~9.75", with anodized Indy 159s, 1/4" bed pans, and 56mm OG classics

Or even like a 9.5" shaped board, 52mm spitfire tablets, 149s and 1/8" risers

Every time I'm looking for reissue boards, New Deal frequently is what I narrow it down to. But blind and world come up. I gotta have that short wheelbase though.

[GardenSkater77]

You could buy a deck that could go either way. This workshop deck came out in 91 I believe (note the two hole pattern in the front) but was available in 92. You could run wheels from 40mm to 57mm and it’ll work. You could go with like a 159 hollow or forged hollow.



https://invisibleboardshop.com/products/alien-workshop-skateboard-deck-morgan-flag-9-25?variant=43805397418202&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOopD6ACC4FALItJIWFvMszd5zorC2EqUgoO-0n8XotkrKlVXGecEI38

Or the mantis which is a little more pinny.


https://sbskateboardshop.com/products/alien-workshop-dyrdek-mantis-9-0-slick-reissue-skateboard-deck

[swongolianbbq]

You could buy a deck that could go either way. This workshop deck came out in 91 I believe (note the two hole pattern in the front) but was available in 92. You could run wheels from 40mm to 57mm and it’ll work. You could go with like a 159 hollow or forged hollow.



https://invisibleboardshop.com/products/alien-workshop-skateboard-deck-morgan-flag-9-25?variant=43805397418202&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOopD6ACC4FALItJIWFvMszd5zorC2EqUgoO-0n8XotkrKlVXGecEI38

Or the mantis which is a little more pinny.


https://sbskateboardshop.com/products/alien-workshop-dyrdek-mantis-9-0-slick-reissue-skateboard-deck

Those are dope. I knew I could get the maple leaf one but not the mantis! Dope it's a slick too.

No hollows or anything like that, grind em down or use smaller wheels if you want lighter weight (joking)

I don't want to run low 40s wheels on anything bigger than 149s

Shooting for 149s, 139s, or venture low 5.0 or 5.2 for '92-'93 style boards

People been skating 149s since '86 but I think for the '91 board, 159s would be better with the 1/4" risers. I can't bring myself to put 149s on 1/4" risers though I'm sure many 80s pros have done it. Seems tippy. That's part of the allure of the look of building like, a Rubbish Heap board. 3/8 risers and 60mm wheels. Overkill clearance

But yeah I'd prolly do all-black 159s, 1/4" lil jawns bed pan copies, and 56mm OG classics for my Jason Lee style board

And like 139s, 42 or 43 ish wheels and 8.5 ish football...

Just to keep it far enough away from my normal setup

Preferably ~14" wheelbase

If it ends up just being ~54mm classics/tablets/OGs on 149s and a 9 to 9.5 shaped board.. it's just too close to my normal setup to justify

Were the spitfire "classic" shape originally called Compact Discs? I figure they probably weren't called "classics" the day the came out. The early 90s ones I can think of are Hot, Tablets, Compact Discs, and Lil Smokies

It would be nice to have a board I could just swap wheels on.

Those ones you shared, I could just have some 159 hangers with 56mm OG classics, and some 149 hangers with little tiny wheels, and swap the hangers with wheels already attached by only turning two nuts. That's not a bad compromise, thanks for the inspiration. That era fascinates me because things changed so fast. If you lived in like Nebraska you were still in the 80s

[Sk8 Prick]

Found some '94 spitfires



I can't find any pics of the 37mm spitfires I'm pretty sure existed in 93

Were they called cherries or something? I can't find anything. I must've seen them on Instagram quite some time ago

Went through my early 90s CCS catalogs and found these spitfires in the back to school '93 issue. The 'fireballs' are offered in 37mm

[swongolianbbq]

Expand Quote

Found some '94 spitfires



I can't find any pics of the 37mm spitfires I'm pretty sure existed in 93

Were they called cherries or something? I can't find anything. I must've seen them on Instagram quite some time ago

[close]

Went through my early 90s CCS catalogs and found these spitfires in the back to school '93 issue. The 'fireballs' are offered in 37mm

Awesome, Thanks! Super cool to see

Also lately I kinda realized this

I think the whole deal with reynolds magic carpeting 139s on a pointy, mellow 8.5 with like 50s or 51mm wheels most of his career, it's basically like an early '93 setup. 8" indys came out in February, there were ~8.5 footballs that lined up over the trucks on those, and I've seen catalog scans from like Christmas '92 with a decent selection of ~50mm wheels

It's like some folks when the rails straightened out went to the deck size, and some went to the truck size. Why there's like 8" board 8" trucks, or 8.5" board on 8" trucks or 8.38-8.5" trucks for a lot of those pros that grew up in the 90s and were famous in the early 2000s

This doesn't speak to the venture low dudes riding 7.38 popsicles and shit, but it seemed like for a lot of the late 90s/early 2000s all the kids had 7.5 - 7.8 boards but a lot of pros were actually skating 8 - 8.5 like arto, bastien, rowley, reynolds, Ellington, etc, tho folks like tom penny and rodrigo TX were straight up ripping on 7.5s and shit, muska on 139s, etc

And a lot of them were riding 136s instead of 146s even on 8.5s. except rowley, he was using at least 146s and then 149s and I've seen some photos that look like 159s, and I remember an interview where he didn't really know his truck size and just said "the wide ones". They were probably just 146s and 149s but the looked huge with smaller wheels. I know later on he would scavenge stage 7 and 8s to skate instead of the 9s/10s

Were there really no 126s until stage 8? I feel like Indy would've released a 7.6 truck to compete with the other ones but I don't think I've ever seen a pair of stage 7 126s and all the info I have says they didn't come out till like '98

I feel like ~91 to ~05 was some kind of like golden street epoch. All my favorite videos pretty much. I was a little too young to enjoy most of it but I caught the tail end and shit like photosynthesis, baker 3, bag of suck, sorry, and yeah right are burned into my brain forever

Ramble ramble. Anyways, i think if you don't want to source and skate possibly expensive but accurate reissue shapes, you could just get a baker OG shape and put it on some venture lows or indy 139s, with the smallest wheels you can find, and have something close. Still too much concave though hahah

[Mbrimson88]

Were there really no 126s until stage 8? I feel like Indy would've released a 7.6 truck to compete with the other ones but I don't think I've ever seen a pair of stage 7 126s and all the info I have says they didn't come out till like '98

Re Indy sizes, this is the info I had - so there were more narrow T 101 trucks they had on those small boards, but no they didn't have the 126 / 129 sizes until the late 90s for all the super small popsicle boards, but I seem to recall some people shaving down their 136 trucks to fit smaller boards too, in the same way that some people had been shaving down the 215 trucks to get a smaller version of that Stage 4 reissue shape that they brought out now.



Stage V (anodized) - original release date 10/86
149 (new size)
159 fw
169 mfw
stage I 101's and stage IV 215's still available

stage VI - original release date 11/91
149
159
169
stage I 101's and stage IV 215's still available

Stage VII - original release date 2/93
136 (new size)
146
156
166
stage I 101's and stage IV 215's still available

Stage VIII - original release date 9/98
126 (new size)
136
146
156
166
stage I 101's and stage IV 215's still available

Stage IX - original release date 2/03
129
139
149
159
169
stage I 109's and stage IV 215's still available

[swongolianbbq]

Just got the 43mm spitfire "lil beatdowns"

They're so great. Can't wait to put together this '93 style setup

Prolly gonna use this board






Looks decently flat and pointy

8" x 31.6" x 14.13" wb

[spanyard]

^I've got the exact same setup with 33 lows. Thinking about switching to 5.2 lows to make it a little less squirrely.

Edit: not only the squirreliness, but these 33 lows have almost way too much axle space - I'm using 5 washers to go along with the lil beatdowns so that I have flush axle nuts. It's as if there's not enough hanger meat on the truck or something...

[swongolianbbq]

^I've got the exact same setup with 33 lows. Thinking about switching to 5.2 lows to make it a little less squirrely.

Edit: not only the squirreliness, but these 33 lows have almost way too much axle space - I'm using 5 washers to go along with the lil beatdowns so that I have flush axle nuts. It's as if there's not enough hanger meat on the truck or something...

Wow, that's a lot of axle

I did notice on my AF1 55s that I had to use more washers than on indys but certainly not that much

5.2 venture lows would be killer on this though

I'm thinking of putting stage 7 Indy 136s on it. I won't be jumping down too much stuff, just flat and ledges, but I've cracked a hanger on brand new stage 7s 20 something years ago

[gringo_viejo]

Dang yall 37mm wheels? We really doing this? I give mine away when they get below 50mm because it gets too annoying to push and roll over cracks.

[Mbrimson88]

.

Here is a funny mix and match, with my old deck from 1992, with period appropriate parts put on it, which is up on the wall, along with the latest addition, a Huffer, with changed out wheels to match that era of the Cardiel 1992 special as per the other pic below.

I machined some old wheels down to 38 mm specials a while back and they skate fine, but they are so small.

Oh hello,

[sadnocomply]

Had this on the wall for a while but scratched it up while moving. Kinda stoked to skate this. Just need some murdered out spits!