old guy - first step in bowl /skate park

[ninefeet]

I've started skateboard a few years ago with longboard at the age of 38.It was just for going around, checking waves.
Since 2 month, with collegues of mine I've tried skateparks and bowls...
I ride my 44" fiberflex, but I'm looking for something in the 38-40" range. Not shorter, I'm scared when it's shorter!
Like gravity BE40, SMA Stigmata, Arbor Hybrid...
What else would you suggest ?
Thanks

[nothclif]

Earthwing Drifter in the 38" one would be good.

[goldfishofhate]

i suggest the sector nine "the rising" deck. its right at 38... and unlike the be40 and jp38... it has alot of concave and really nice nose/tail. it really feels and handles like a 36" board

[prettynoiselab]

I've started skateboard a few years ago with longboard at the age of 38.It was just for going around, checking waves.
Since 2 month, with collegues of mine I've tried skateparks and bowls...
I ride my 44" fiberflex, but I'm looking for something in the 38-40" range. Not shorter, I'm scared when it's shorter!
Like gravity BE40, SMA Stigmata, Arbor Hybrid...
What else would you suggest ?
Thanks

Welcome to the great big world of bowls. THE Best longboard for what you want to be doing is definitely the Gravity B40. I just talked with Brad the other day and he put so much thought and revisions into this deck that it is insane. Increased concave to lock your feet in and it has a very subtle amount of rocker. He likes this because it helps when he scoops into an ollie. The hot tip from Brad is a flat riser in the back and a angled riser in the front. He is using 65mm wheels.

I just checked and Daddies has a deck in stock right now. Here is the link-

40" Brad Edwards deck

Now go out and have some fun!

[Blix]

goldfishofhate, have you tried a recent BE40? It has lots of concave....
The versions before the current model is much flatter.

[goldfishofhate]

i havent tried the new ones. i wasnt impressed when i stepped on an older one tho, a lil narrow for my liking. same with the jp 38. i dont see how the nose is completly functional.

i'm up to try a new be40 tho. had they changed the concave when the new graphic came out? i tried one of the older zep models

[BobLoftin]

i havent tried the new ones. i wasnt impressed when i stepped on an older one tho, a lil narrow for my liking. same with the jp 38. i dont see how the nose is completly functional.

i'm up to try a new be40 tho. had they changed the concave when the new graphic came out? i tried one of the older zep models

I agree. the Brad Edwards model is a rad park board -- but versatile for everything.

[Blix]

i havent tried the new ones. i wasnt impressed when i stepped on an older one tho, a lil narrow for my liking. same with the jp 38. i dont see how the nose is completly functional.

i'm up to try a new be40 tho. had they changed the concave when the new graphic came out? i tried one of the older zep models

Yeah, they changed the concave with the last change of graphic.
I love mine and think it`s a great park board, but I comes down to what you like of course...
I don`t have large feet so the width suits me just fine.

Brad seems to do alright on it too

[kookyfish]

Hi ninefeet,
Ive decided to give park pool riden a go as well, and have been some what put off by the shorter decks, just like you ,they freak me a little,
anyhow I have choosen... after much consideration a drifter also but a 35.5 wb 17. the 38 drifter is 19-20"wb .which Ive been told will be harder to manuvor ,if its something to start out with, also they are abit more flexi, but you have already been riden pools for 2 mths on a fibreflex44 thats big ,
is it just the deck size that spooks you like under 38" or do you just prefer the feel of a larger plank under you,
There are guys here with way more knowledge of these things than me , and they have pursuded me to go shorter, so fingers crossed they know there stuff,

ha I should have read this thread more ,,,you sound like you know what you want, disregard my noobness on this subject,

[ninefeet]

Thanks for your tips,


Daddiesshop has the less expensive shipping cost for internationnal even if the board is 9$ expensiver.

I'll go for a BE40, if personnaly recommanded by BE...It will be better than :

That was before I had the correct set up on my 44".
What trucks would you recommand ?
I'll try my RII + kryptos 65mm.
Do I need rails under the board ?

[prettynoiselab]

Thanks for your tips,


Daddiesshop has the less expensive shipping cost for internationnal even if the board is 9$ expensiver.

I'll go for a BE40, if personnaly recommanded by BE...It will be better than :

That was before I had the correct set up on my 44".
What trucks would you recommand ?
I'll try my RII + kryptos 65mm.
Do I need rails under the board ?

Here is Brad's truck and wheel setup. He was in the front office chowing down on a sandwich.
Trucks- Tracker 149 Darts, says it is between a traditional Tracker and Indy feel. Get these or just go for either Indys or Grind Kings.
Wheels- Run whatever 65mm wheel that you enjoy.
Rails- Helps for grabs, he runs crooks. Helps make the board also have a longer life. As a team guy Brad goes thru maybe a max of 3 decks a year and trust me, he rides em hard.

[Blix]

Thanks for your tips,


Daddiesshop has the less expensive shipping cost for internationnal even if the board is 9$ expensiver.

I'll go for a BE40, if personnaly recommanded by BE...It will be better than :

What trucks would you recommand ?
I'll try my RII + kryptos 65mm.
Do I need rails under the board ?

You can buy direct from Gravity, I have bought from them a couple of times, shipping cost to Norway was around $70. Don`t look at that shipping calculator, they also ship by USPS.
And you can even pay by paypal. email kevin@gravityboard.com and he will help you out.
Get it with Tracker darts IMO, not Randals.
I run mine with Bones SPF`s in the park. For park riding you`ll want hard wheels, soft ones will be very slow unless the surface is rough.

[ninefeet]

Thanks BLIX,

So lets order, and I let you know...

Next step, Where to get crooks ?

[ninefeet]

OK, I got crooks...without your help.
Where and how to instal them ?
Didn't find any tips in the forum

[Blix]

OK, I got crooks...without your help.
Where and how to instal them ?
Didn't find any tips in the forum

Sorry, I missed that question on the rails, I would have said Tailtap.com - Skateboard Shop For Pools, Parks & Pipes they have Crooks

As for installing them, doesn`t they come with wood screws you can just screw in?

As for where, look here:

[dcphotos]

That's still a really long board for riding pools. I'd look around and try some others first. You are used to the big cruiser so all the shortboards are going to seem scary, but when you learn to pump through corners you are going to be happier with a tighter wheelbase. If you are into Gravity you might like this:

GRAVITY SKATEBOARDS | ROGER MIHALKO MODEL

I'm an old guy also and that's more my speed that a 40" deck. I ride longboards also, and I have one(Schmidt stix yardstix) that I'll ride on ramps and stuff, but it's more for shits and giggles than really skating. A 40" board is going to feel like swinging a boat around when you kickturn, get a board made for it and you'll be happy once you get used to it. That BE40 has 22" of wheelbase, that's way too much for riding bowls.

I ride a board I made myself, it's a basic 80s style shape. I think my WB is 16.5" but I am not really sure. I use Tracker Six Tracks, rear truck on a 1/4" flat riser and the front on a 1/8" flat and two Khiro wedge rails that give it a slight wedge, it rides great.

There is nothing wrong with those popsicle stick boards either, they serve a purpose. I tend to lean on the nose too much with my front foot and I don't do nollies or 180 shove-its so those things don't work for me. That plus I learned on 80s shapes and need my nostalgia.

[dcphotos]

This is my ride:


A lot of people on this forum won't agree with me, but remember it's a longboard forum. Check out some other forums like Old Man Army or Skull and Bones and see what those guys suggest.

[ninefeet]

DCphoto:
What's that board ?
Too late, my BE 40 on his way I hope...
But I'll certainly go for shorter board if everything goes right.

Blix:
Thank you for the picture of your board !

[Blix]

DCphoto:
What's that board ?
Too late, my BE 40 on his way I hope...
But I'll certainly go for shorter board if everything goes right.

Blix:
Thank you for the picture of your board !

It`s not mine, it`s Brad Edwards board, from the Gravity forum a couple of years back.

[Blix]

Here`s the thread: Gravity Skateboard's :: View topic - BE40 and risers?

Good setup advice for it there.