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Jon Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 1176
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Posted: Sep 25, 2003 7:24 am Post subject: Need general info |
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Hey guys. We are opening up a wakeboard/skate shop along with our new Moomba/Dealership. I have only wakeboarded and know just the very basics about skateboarding. We decided to add skateboards to our shop as an extra money maker because of the high interest in skateboarding around the area. We are going through South Shore Distributing company getting brands like Flip, Black Label, Element, Shortys, and a lot more. What I need to know is just some information about the equipment so I can explain it to customers. Here are some questions I'd like to get answered:
What are the advantages/disadvantages of bigger and smaller boards and wheels? What are bearings and bushings for?
Just general info like that. Like I said, i just know that basics. If anybody could explain all this stuff to me I would appreciate it. |
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noneya Addict
Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 796 City: Roxboro, NC
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Jester Wakeboarder.com Freak
Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 3297 City: Boston
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Posted: Sep 25, 2003 10:10 am Post subject: |
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Skateboard size is very subjective (I imagine wakeboarding probably is too). In general, bigger boards are either for people with big feet or people who ride vert ramps & transitions & bust pretty big airs. It's easier to land on a board when there's more to land on. The smaller boards are considered more street oriented since they flip easier due to their smaller size.
With regard to wheels I find that size isn't as critical as durometer (hardness of the wheel). Again, in VERY general terms, small wheels are considered street wheels since they keep the board low to the ground & make it easier to flip. Bigger wheels will roll longer and faster which is good for vert 'cuz you wanna keep your speed in order to make the next wall. Going back to durometer, harder wheels (high number durometer) make the board forgiving 'cuz they'll slide a little if you don't land a trick really clean, but softer wheels absorb impact better & won't stop as easily when you hit an acorn.
Bearings are what you put inside the wheel to get it to spin on the axle of the truck. The ABEC rating is a German system of rating the quietness & smoothness of the bearing. The higher the rating the quieter & smoother the bearing is. However, for most skaters it's pointless to go above ABEC 3 or 5 'cuz you'll be thrashing your bearings anyways so there's no need to spend extra money on such high performance. The only exception would be people who like to downhill skate & require smooth & ultra fast bearings.
Bushings are the soft bits of rubber that sit in the truck. When you lean to one side while riding a skateboard it will turn in that direction. This movement is entirely dictated by the bushing. The harder the bushing the more you'll hafta muscle the board into the turn. However, hard bushings make the board a bit more stable so that's good for things like long manual combos & such.
Sorry this was so long. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me. |
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Jon Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 1176
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Posted: Sep 25, 2003 10:10 am Post subject: |
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Thanks man. Exactly what I was looking for. |
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Fredrick Eisenhauer Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 1600 City: Australia, W.A
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Posted: Sep 26, 2003 12:12 am Post subject: |
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Also the more concave a deck had the easier it will be to flip, but the less concave you have will make it hardder 2 flip. But boards with a bit of concave stick to your feet better making them good for vert and one with lots of concave makes it more of a street/freestyle board. _________________
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Zara Criminal
Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 68
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Posted: Sep 26, 2003 5:55 am Post subject: |
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Its unfortunate but the only thing that carrying skateboards does for a shop is increase traffic. They are not very profitable, not nearly as profitable as softgoods. Most serious skateshops make more from selling clothing than selling boards. |
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criminally_minded Wakeboarder.com Freak
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2922 City: An ocean of vibrant sound
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Posted: Sep 26, 2003 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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And NO skateshop ever made money from selling Indy trucks and not Indy merch! _________________ Terminate high thinking |
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wakeboarder_dude22 Soul Rider
Joined: 28 Mar 2003 Posts: 409 City: Australia
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Posted: Sep 27, 2003 1:47 am Post subject: |
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Is concave the curve of the deck lenghtways or the amount of dip near the tail? |
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Fredrick Eisenhauer Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 1600 City: Australia, W.A
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Posted: Sep 27, 2003 3:27 am Post subject: |
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Concave is the dip that goes down in the board, it goes with the grain of the wood (so length ways). _________________
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criminally_minded Wakeboarder.com Freak
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2922 City: An ocean of vibrant sound
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Posted: Sep 27, 2003 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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The rails of the board (heelside and toeside edges) curve up slightly. This is concave. _________________ Terminate high thinking |
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wakeboarder_dude22 Soul Rider
Joined: 28 Mar 2003 Posts: 409 City: Australia
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Posted: Sep 28, 2003 2:19 am Post subject: |
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Ok, thanks. So what is the dip at the tail called and what is it there for? |
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Fredrick Eisenhauer Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 1600 City: Australia, W.A
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Posted: Sep 28, 2003 5:54 am Post subject: |
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You mean the kick? This is used to get more pop when ollying BEcause i dont know what dip your talking about. _________________
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wakeboarder_dude22 Soul Rider
Joined: 28 Mar 2003 Posts: 409 City: Australia
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Posted: Sep 30, 2003 1:34 am Post subject: |
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There is a little dip in the board just as the kick meets the rest of the board. |
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Fredrick Eisenhauer Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 1600 City: Australia, W.A
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Posted: Sep 30, 2003 5:09 am Post subject: |
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I think thats because the concave doesnt fold up to the kick so it just stops there. And concave going up the kick wouldnt be much help. Except maybe pressure flips. _________________
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Zara Criminal
Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 68
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Posted: Oct 02, 2003 11:38 am Post subject: |
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criminally_minded wrote: | And NO skateshop ever made money from selling Indy trucks and not Indy merch! |
Didn't you know? Wearing an Indy shirt makes you skate better. I wore one and busted out a BS 360 varial-heel-shuvit to fakie when I got mine! |
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