Prototyping: The concept of these shapes was initially formulated in 2002, and the original prototyping tooling was created in 2005. Throughout 2006 we refined the urethane and hit a few dead ends. In 2007 we created second round prototype tooling, further refining the shape and swing weight characteristics. We finally achieved urethane that we were happy with and continued to refine the lip shapes and offset placement. In 2008 we took what we learned from the 4 Pres and In Heats and had a round table with our riders in August which helped propel the designs. We developed a serious understanding of offset placement, appropriate widths (by height), inner and outer lip flex characteristics and the relationship between the two. We also continued to further refine the inner and outer lip round over radii and the face shapes to dial in the flex and increase speed (by removing excess swing weight). Subtle changes have a pronounced effect, and the drawing revisions could fill a large book. As always, we continue to experiment and are always testing new urethane compositions, core shapes/materials and rethinking the shapes from the ground up.

Testing: After each batch of prototypes were poured, rigorous testing followed on a variety of world class terrain by the Orangatang riders. With each tested batch, valuable information was gained as to how the wheels felt, wore and performed on different surfaces and at different speeds. We broke down each batch till they were un-ridable nubs and determine favorable wheel characteristic and how the shape, urethane, and core performed. Through our testing we also found that the stone grind finish promotes a butter slide right out of the box and a more consistent wear pattern. We literally thrashed multiple wheels/compounds in dozens of prototype phases per shape and now feel that the wheels have all the qualities that we were looking for.

The Final Product: These wheels are designed to grip as well as to slide. They therefore have relatively wide contact patches to provide grip (especially without sharp lips to dig in with). But they are still intended to slide, so they are noticeably narrower than a slalom/race wheel (ie. the 4 Presidents and In Heats) and have different angles on the inner and outer faces so as to make them firmer. They have rounded lips (inner and outer) so as not to get caught up while sliding, and firm and balanced lip flex characteristics so as to reduce chatter in slides. We’ve stone ground a thin layer of the contact patch and lip radii in order to break the surface structure. This makes the wheels pre-broken in (smooth slides out of the box) and makes further wheel break-in more consistent and predictable. Overall, we believe we’ve created some really unique and kick-ass wheels with these freerides that will greatly expand what can be done on a skateboard.

Average user rating from: 11 user(s)

Overall rating		4.6
Durability		4.9
Construction		4.8
Ride		4.6
Appearance		4.6
Agility		4.0
Slide		4.5
Longevity		4.4
Compliant		4.8

 

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

very good all around, Wednesday, 04 November 2009

Written by gthayerdc   -  View all my reviews

Overall rating		4.6
Durability		5.0
Construction		5.0
Ride		4.0
Appearance		5.0
Agility		4.0
Slide		4.0
Longevity		5.0
Compliant		5.0

they are great. do alot of things really well. make sliding more fun while still holding corners.

Equipment Reviews

How long have you ridden them?: 4 weeks
What Setup are you running them on?: dancer, paris coltons,
dervish flex 1 randals
fwmini randals
Typical Discepline?: dancing, freeriding, skating for fun
How much did you pay for them?: 50
Where did you buy them?: daddies
What are their weaknesses?: not as cushy as some
What are their strengths?: slide well, hold speed well, far more comfy than slide specific wheels
What similar equipment have you ridden?: boca's, big zigs, zig zags and slide-a's
Would you recommend them?: Yes

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

freeride 83a fun wheel, Saturday, 24 October 2009

Written by eis   -  View all my reviews  - Top 50 Reviewer

Overall rating		4.6
Durability		5.0
Construction		5.0
Ride		4.0
Appearance		5.0
Agility		4.0
Slide		4.0
Longevity		5.0
Compliant		5.0

for me the perfect wheel in 70mm , i just love them. Alot of fun , slide really nice when broken in , and hav a lot of grip when you need it . HAV FUN .

Equipment Reviews

How long have you ridden them?: 1 month
What Setup are you running them on?: dervish flex 2, randel 180 , abec7
dancer flex 2 , paris 180, abec 7
Typical Discepline?: dancing , carving , sliding, crusing
How much did you pay for them?: 54,95 eur
Where did you buy them?: longboardshop.de
What are their weaknesses?: a little hard
What are their strengths?: girp when you wan´t ,slide when you wan´t
What similar equipment have you ridden?: abec 11 retro 80a freeride WORST WHEEL EVER
Would you recommend them?: Yes

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0 of 5 people found the following review helpful

lovely, Friday, 14 August 2009

Written by Samafoof   -  View all my reviews  - Top 500 Reviewer

Overall rating		4.5
Durability		5.0
Construction		4.0
Ride		5.0
Appearance		5.0
Agility		4.0
Slide		4.0
Longevity		4.0
Compliant		5.0

they are great

Equipment Reviews

How long have you ridden them?: month
What Setup are you running them on?: dervish, black panthers, randel II
Typical Discepline?: dance, slide, DH, cruise, screwing around after school and going around the city
How much did you pay for them?: 33... i think
Where did you buy them?: Daddies
What are their weaknesses?: hard to break in
What are their strengths?: its smooth and you ride on a cloud basically
What similar equipment have you ridden?: nothing
Would you recommend them?: Yes

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

They can slide but they make the ugliest sound whe, Wednesday, 12 August 2009

Written by KCcarvin   -  View all my reviews  - Top 50 Reviewer

Overall rating		4.3
Durability		5.0
Construction		4.0
Ride		4.0
Appearance		5.0
Agility		4.0
Slide		3.0
Longevity		4.0
Compliant		5.0

god they make the ugliest sound i've ever heard out of any wheel intended for sliding and/or free-riding EVER

Equipment Reviews

How long have you ridden them?: a few weeks
What Setup are you running them on?: dervish(flex2) w/ randal-IIs and some black panther bearings
Typical Discepline?: cruising, downhill carving, sliding
How much did you pay for them?: they aren't mine
Where did you buy them?: daddies (he bought them)
What are their weaknesses?: the make a really really ugly sound and you NEED some speed if you plan on actually slidding to something other than a complete stop, at least for the first week
What are their strengths?: when you get em going, they get going for you, nuff said
What similar equipment have you ridden?: gumballs
Would you recommend them?: Yes

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

its like the asphalt is toast and the wheels slide, Saturday, 25 July 2009

Written by slalomslide   -  View all my reviews  - Top 1000 Reviewer

Overall rating		4.6
Durability		5.0
Construction		5.0
Ride		5.0
Appearance		4.0
Agility		4.0
Slide		5.0
Longevity		4.0
Compliant		5.0

sweet to the 4555555556667 power dude i cant belive that such a slidey wheel could still stay stable with the harder carves i would totally bang them if they were a woman....a good looking woman

Equipment Reviews

How long have you ridden them?: a month now
What Setup are you running them on?: loaded ceviche paris 150's venom bushings and powell bones reds
Typical Discepline?: slide carve a wee bit of the slalom ye
How much did you pay for them?: like $54
Where did you buy them?: daddies board shop
What are their weaknesses?: i really havent found any yet but then again a month aint a long time so longeivity is in question along with durability
What are their strengths?: slides are awsome still provides some nice grip ultra responsive on thos hard carves
What similar equipment have you ridden?: None this surpasses all they are the god of the wheel world
Would you recommend them?: Yes

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