Silverfish Longboarding readers are certainly familiar with Chris Chaput's "Reflex Formula" wheels.  Do you remember the “Chaput’s New Wheels in 5 Colors!” 40-page thread mania?  In January, '05, Zig Zags were released to the world here on Silverfish in 66 and 70mm.  They were in skaters' hands at a Silverfish clinic within days and on the podium at Pump Station a week later, ending speculation and lea.  When Chaput decided to pour Reflex into the Gumball molds so that IGSA speedboard racers could get their mitts on copies of the proto wheels used to test the new ‘thane, he named them "Big Zigs" and produced them in very limited numbers available only from the factory (unless you scored the Pink "RaceWheel", also in the Gumball shape).  Skaters being what we are, the wheels found themselves onto Giant Slalom courses and the time came to make the Big Zig really be a big Zig Zag.  So, wave goodbye to the Gumball-shaped Reflex wheels and say hello to the official Big Zig, available through dealers and shops later this month...

Retro Big Zigs

Generation 2

On Tuesday May 29th, Chris Chaput's Sk8Trip Distribution will begin shipping his Retro brand's all new 75mm "BigZigs". The BigZigs are exactly what you'd expect them to be - really big ZigZags. At 58mm in width, they’re the widest production wheel that Chaput makes. Like the 66mm and 70mm ZigZags, the BigZigs have an offset hub orientation with flexible inner and outer lips. Compared to the 70mm ZigZags, both the BigZig's inner lip and outer lip extend out further. Check out this graphic:

The extension of the lips as the ZigZag shape “grows” provides a 6mm wider contact patch for more traction and control at the higher speeds attained in Giant Slalom.  The Mad Scientist told us over the phone, “(u)nlike Hybrid Slalom where you pump your board to gain speed when the slope isn't as steep, Giant Slalom is more about holding longer, smoother lines through the high speed courses where gravity reins supreme. Traction and roll speed is the name of the game in GS, and the BigZigs are designed for both.”

We haven’t had a chance to ride these yet.  As you can see, they’re fresh out of the molds and waiting for the branding.  Chaput took a set, shown below mounted on a set of his Fyre Truck protos, out for a skate across Huntington Beach this afternoon.   We caught him just as he came in the door and, knowing that he designed this wheel to match his style of hard pumping and extreme angles, we asked how the wheels performed out on the streets. 

Typically, a question like that might result in a 20 minute lecture before Chaput even pauses for a breath!  This time, he just said, “ $#@!%! suction cups, baby!" and laughed.   Flashback to January ’05:  that’s exactly what he said after his first skate on the 70mm ZigZag.  To get yours, contact the wheel vendors that support the ‘Fish.  Chaput says the wheels will be in their hands by the early part of next week.  Stay tuned to the forums for speculation, feedback and…well, you know the drill.