Longboard shops in Halifax/Dartmouth area?

[MechanicalAnimal]

Hey looking for any suggestions on any good skateboard shops in the halifax/dartmouth area. Gone to west 49 in Mic Mac and am very disappointed with the staff knowledge and hardware stock.
Any help on this situation would greatly help our longboard advancement.

[rosewood thief]

YouTube - All About Halifax

this video will tell you aaaallllll you need to know

[MechanicalAnimal]

thanks for the video. Made me laugh but didn't answer the question. lol. Interesting video as well concidering that there is a picture of a guy i graduated with. Brian MacQ. (dude in green shirt with the WTF look on his face).
But thanks for the comic relief.

[tart_monkey]

Hey Mech... wow.. that video was special.. anyways. To say Halifax is rather lacking in the longboarding department is an understatement. The best we have is Pro Shop on Quinpool, they at least carry a few companies of boards. IE Ladysachtz, santa cruz(i'd argue that is more old school but still close) They primarily carry everything Ladysachtz which isn't necessarily bad, would be nice to see some of the other quality boards in the shops though.

What hardware are you after, because honestly you might as well order online 95% of the time because you aren't going to find what you want here. You're not going to get decent info about the hardware or stock here (though pro shop quinpool might be okay for info but stock is sparse imo). For example there is nowhere to buy Retro zigzags or abec freerides in town (that i have found). Arguably 2 of the most used lines of wheels. Also will not find striker, Otangs etc etc.

If you are after flywheels Pro downtown stocks a couple pair (but absolutely nothing else for longboards)

Depending on what you are after for hardware there is currently no option other than to order it.

pipelinesurf.ca is a canadian site (obviously) based out of Edmonton and offers free shipping on everything <---- awesome

That is the best i've saw yet. There is also a really good online store based in Vancouver but you pay shipping until the point you have spent 300 bucks. switchbacklongboards.com

I wish i could support the local stores more, but they fail to stock anything close to what I ever seem to want or need.

It is even tough to find protective gear hear!

Hopefully that helps, though I know this isn't what you want to hear.

Start a longboard store you'll have my support in no time

[MechanicalAnimal]

Hey thanks for the info tart. It's a little disappointing that the skate shops around here don't support all forms of skateboarding.
I am concidering the online ways of getting good hardware. This stock stuff on my board is working for now to help in my learning process but i'm getting better very quickly, and i know i will need to upgrade within the month. Thanks for the URLS though. I will use them more so now.
On the opening of a skateboard shop in my name. It's a concideration. I think it would get more people into it if they knew there was a shop in town that they can easily get hardware from and a little advice and also some local news on meetings, events and such.
This wrench turning gig i'm into is just so blah, since i started long boarding everything else just seems boring. So it could happen.

[tart_monkey]

There is real potential in Halifax. Surfing is taking off here, that is where I come from. I started surfing and was getting bummed when i couldn't get out (lack of car) or when the surf sucked. Longboarding is a great alternative.

The best way to bring the potential out and get more people longboarding in hfx is to get some groups together and start some nice friendly rides.Good people shuttling around town could really leave an impact. Show people that we aren't here to cause trouble, that it is a viable sport and show everyone respect. If anyone wants to hop on my board they always are invited to, pedestrians and vehicles get my respect as long as I get theirs. I really want to get slide gear and a slide crew together.

I skate alot in the south side and I get so much interest from young people it is always a good laugh the inquiries you get from the 3-10 yr olds. I rarely get called names for being a "gay" longboarder, and only once was asked to do a kick flip.

In hfx i get mixed reviews. I always wear a helmet, and many people smile and stop to watch me skate some hills. Other people glare and think i"m there to start stuff. Response is better when I'm skating with a female (the only 2 people i skate with currently are female).

It is well worth checking out pro on quinpool as they do have some stuff, but you might be in the end rather disappointed. like i said Ladyachtz makes some really good boards. What hardware are you after?

I think I'm ordering some pairs of slide gloves (mudgloves) from the guy online. I could make a ghetto pair, but i don't have the tools to shape pucks decently so it isn't worth it to me. It looks like i'll be ordering elbow & kneepads shortly so i can start busting out slides.

[MechanicalAnimal]

Well I started out just 6 weeks ago (or less i can't remember) Rahb was a co-worker of mine and last year he whipped out of the shop on a longboard and i was like WTF. So he shows me some youtube clips and i was hooked.
He is running a bamboo board with nice flex. All winter i kept standing on it in the basement of his place and said thats it. I'm buying one. So since the weather is now nice i'm out and getting better and better each time.
We decided to make a Halifax appearance last sunday in hopes of running into fellow longboarders. With no luck. So we went the explorer route. First stopping with an underground parking garage to which we were removed fast. We ment no harm just wanted a warm up. Then on to south end where we ended up at Point Pleasent. Wow these boards handle well on the paths lol.
I get what your saying on the stare down. We get both positive and negative reaction on them. More less people are curious as to what we are riding. One old man commented that he hadn't seen boards like that since the 60's.
Kids stop and stare in amazement while mothers cringe at the thought of their kids asking for one. lol.
Well i was talking to Rahb and Dirt about getting a few boarders together in a meet and go boarding. The larger the group the more interest people will have in what we are doing.
Rahb made a pair of sliding gloves that worked for a bit till the glue seperated. But it will get better.
One suggestion on maybe getting people together is that we discovered longboarders heaven here. Dartmouth Crossing after 10:30pm on a saturday night. A whole huge parking lots and roads all to ourselves. Not much traffic at all. And i tell ya that goes along way.
I will talk to the guys and we will work out something to meet up with you and your crew and go for a run. Let ya know dude.

[tart_monkey]

You don't happen to know the laws in halifax/dartmouth do you?

I got in trouble with the PoPos on sunday! supposibly it is against the law to ride your board on the sidewalk? I was minding my own business and not many people around..

So I picked up my board and kindly asked the officer where he would like me to ride. He told me on the side of the street! Along barrington? I think he has lost it. It is 100% against the Nova scotia motor act. I was informed that there is a bylaw against the sidewalk riding, but I challenge anyone to find it. I don't believe it exists. So basically; from what I can find boarding in halifax is illegal and they can fine you 117.25. The only place it isn't illegal is the skate park. (Which our boards aren't designed for)

P.s. Wear your helmet if you have one because they were out and about kicking people off their bikes in the south end sunday/monday.

Let me know the place and time and I'll at least cross the harbor make the meet.

I was out in the south end riding some of the local streets (Rogers which is right by smu) is a nice calm ride; there are a couple other roads just north east of point pleasant park

Well I started out just 6 weeks ago (or less i can't remember) Rahb was a co-worker of mine and last year he whipped out of the shop on a longboard and i was like WTF. So he shows me some youtube clips and i was hooked.
He is running a bamboo board with nice flex. All winter i kept standing on it in the basement of his place and said thats it. I'm buying one. So since the weather is now nice i'm out and getting better and better each time.
We decided to make a Halifax appearance last sunday in hopes of running into fellow longboarders. With no luck. So we went the explorer route. First stopping with an underground parking garage to which we were removed fast. We ment no harm just wanted a warm up. Then on to south end where we ended up at Point Pleasent. Wow these boards handle well on the paths lol.
I get what your saying on the stare down. We get both positive and negative reaction on them. More less people are curious as to what we are riding. One old man commented that he hadn't seen boards like that since the 60's.
Kids stop and stare in amazement while mothers cringe at the thought of their kids asking for one. lol.
Well i was talking to Rahb and Dirt about getting a few boarders together in a meet and go boarding. The larger the group the more interest people will have in what we are doing.
Rahb made a pair of sliding gloves that worked for a bit till the glue seperated. But it will get better.
One suggestion on maybe getting people together is that we discovered longboarders heaven here. Dartmouth Crossing after 10:30pm on a saturday night. A whole huge parking lots and roads all to ourselves. Not much traffic at all. And i tell ya that goes along way.
I will talk to the guys and we will work out something to meet up with you and your crew and go for a run. Let ya know dude.

[MechanicalAnimal]

Are you serious. I didn't think that HRM was so against boarders. We passed a few cops in the dartmouth areas but they don't seem to even look. But I'm sure they would if the monthy quota was slack. I think they tend to confuse us for the regular boarders they usually see.
We rarely wear helmets but if we were doing an insane run we would definately suit up proper for it.
We are exploring more and more runs in Dartmouth but we are thinking of doing a run to Halifax soon via longboard. No cars, no buses. So i'm sure once we go over we would like to find some boarders and explore the halifax area.
We tend to ride in the evenings since traffic is lighter and easier to see coming. But we will let ya know.

[Twist Tie]

I'm not sure of any shops other than West49, but all they have are Sector 9 Pintails and that's all they have had since 2008 when I bought mine (Still have and ride it haha). I've been looking around for a new board but it looks like I'll have to take my business online.
As for places to ride, I found that anywhere in the South end is great, as well as downtown around the waterfront. Both are awesome in the evening because of how sparse the traffic is.

I haven't been on my board since early autumn last year, so I'm definitely a little rusty. I was also just getting used to doing some downhill stuff so I'm not too keen on large hills yet but I'm going to really get in to boarding a lot more this coming spring and summer, so if you live in or around Halifax or the South Shore area like Chester and Hubbards send me an inbox.

[Animatedrobot]

what about slide gloves??? does anyone know if pro carries any?

[WayneDouglas]

what about slide gloves??? does anyone know if pro carries any?

They do carry some sliding gloves but it isn't worth the 70-80$. Just make your own.
Go to the Source for sports at Park Lane Mall and buy some nice leather batter (baseball) gloves for 20$; then, head downstairs to the "Buck and Near" and buy 2-3 cutting boards at 1$ a pop. Head down Spring Garden a couple of blocks till you hit Graften street and buy 2-3 Feet of Velcro from Maritime Hobbies and Crafts. In the area of 4 blocks you just bought everything you need to make sliding gloves with 2 years worth of replacement pucks for under 30$.

If you do plan on making your own just be sure to cut the boards big enough that they start under the base of your fingers and are long enough to cover the start of your wrist. Use the soft part of the velcro on your gloves and the hard side on the puck. Also the best way to cut the boards is using a jigsaw but be careful if you're not familiar with it. Also try to cut the boards outside as they tend to make a mess of flakes.
If you're not a fan like me of having small pucks on the fingers you will need to learn to sew. If you can't then you can always put some black hockey tape on the first/second phalanges and just replace them when you wear though it.

Well I'm done writing this book but if you have any questions just PM me up.

~Wayne