Need help choosing a first board (KS, Sect 9)

**ApathyRebel333** · 04-01-2008 03:55 PM

I'm an experienced snowboarder and have some mountainboarding expierience (I own a p.o.s. mongoose mountainboard and have not taken it on anything more than medium size hills around my house). I don't really have any skateboarding experience more than trying out some friend's skateboards and trying a Sector 9 (i'm pretty sure it was a Rhythm) a few days ago.

I'm 6'3", 175 lbs. and wear size 12 shoes. I'm looking for a board to have fun with on some small or medium hills (carving) and get around my college campus and also just get into longboarding. I don't want to spend a crazy amount of money since i'm just starting out. Really i'm just shopping around and wondering what good alternatives there are to getting a sector 9 at my local shop (that's really all they carry).

So right now on my list are:
Kracked Skulls M1
Sector 9 Bomb Hills
Sector 9 Carbon Trylam

Suggestions for a first time longboarder? Are the KS Scimitars worth the higher price (for a beginner)? What length should i be looking at, keeping in mind i'm a newb but i also need
something fairly portable? I've also been reading about Earthwing Supergliders.

Thanks for your help and sorry to be so clueless.

**oregoncoast** · 04-01-2008 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by ApathyRebel333

I'm an experienced snowboarder and have some mountainboarding expierience (I own a p.o.s. mongoose mountainboard and have not taken it on anything more than medium size hills around my house). I don't really have any skateboarding experience more than trying out some friend's skateboards and trying a Sector 9 (i'm pretty sure it was a Rhythm) a few days ago.

I'm 6'3", 175 lbs. and wear size 12 shoes. I'm looking for a board to have fun with on some small or medium hills (carving) and get around my college campus and also just get into longboarding. I don't want to spend a crazy amount of money since i'm just starting out. Really i'm just shopping around and wondering what good alternatives there are to getting a sector 9 at my local shop (that's really all they carry).

So right now on my list are:
Kracked Skulls M1
Sector 9 Bomb Hills
Sector 9 Carbon Trylum

Suggestions for a first time longboarder? Are the KS Scimitars worth the higher price (for a beginner)? What length should i be looking at, keeping in mind i'm a newb but i also need
something fairly portable? I've also been reading about Earthwing Supergliders.

Thanks for your help and sorry to be so clueless.

get the carbon trylum

**thokk2** · 04-01-2008 03:57 PM

Carbon Trylam.

**jeremyheuser** · 04-01-2008 04:18 PM

EarthWing Supercharger-- Mile High Skates

TLS 40''-- TLS . longboards : The Longboard Store

or carbon trylam

**ApathyRebel333** · 04-01-2008 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by thokk2

Carbon Trylam.

are there some specific reasons you can give me why Carbon Trylams are a good choice? I'm looking to spend less than $150 and the Trylams barely exceed that. Not a deal breaker - i'm just trying to get the best board for the money i'm willing to spend. I have to admit, I'm still very attracted to the Kracked Skulls board for its uniqueness and price.

**JerseyJay** · 04-01-2008 06:32 PM

I've never ridden a Kracked Skulls, but I've always thought that their philosphy was spot on and their product (from what I've read here) looks to be a like a really high quality, handmade cruiser. The R-II Trucks and ABEC11 Flashback wheels are about as awesome as you can get on a complete

I would at least try to find a drop thru to demo before you buy one though, you might not like the feel. If someone could articulate the differences between topmount and drop better then me, it would be really helpful.

**pistol pete** · 04-01-2008 06:57 PM

krackedskulls FTW! bomb hills is good too tho. i just like the feel of a drop thru a lot better tho. and the krackedskulls is 30$ cheaper then any sector9 board

**cuna123456** · 04-01-2008 07:46 PM

I'm suggesting the Kracked skull mostly cause im ordering one.
But from what ive read they are very nice espeacily for the price.

Not to mention if thats what your leaning towards, you should probably go for it.

**WeekendxCarver** · 04-01-2008 09:35 PM

i have a ks they are great but i would also recommend the gravity hyper/mini carve

great starter board

**ApathyRebel333** · 04-01-2008 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by JerseyJay

I've never ridden a Kracked Skulls, but I've always thought that their philosphy was spot on and their product (from what I've read here) looks to be a like a really high quality, handmade cruiser. The R-II Trucks and ABEC11 Flashback wheels are about as awesome as you can get on a complete

I would at least try to find a drop thru to demo before you buy one though, you might not like the feel. If someone could articulate the differences between topmount and drop better then me, it would be really helpful.

Those are good points about the quality of the trucks and wheels and finding a demo for the dropthru. From what i understand, the dropthru lowers the center of gravity on the board, making it more stable correct? seems like a good feature for me since i am 6'4" and have a high center of gravity.
Thanks for your help!

**Hmann** · 04-01-2008 09:48 PM

ima definatley reccomend the Kracked SKulls. i have quite a bit of experiance with them and i love it! it is a super good board for carving and cruzing light bombing if you leave it set up with the stock randalls but if you add some red or even yellow (ima bout your size id reccomend red) busings it turns into a decent DH board. +10 for the Kracked Skulls!!!!

**ApathyRebel333** · 04-01-2008 09:49 PM

apparently i grew an inch today.... not that it matters, but i'm somewhere btwn 6'3" and 6'4". Anyways, thanks everyone for all the help! It's much appreciated. Colorado Springs, where i live, isn't exactly full of longboarders.

**PancakeOfDoom** · 04-01-2008 09:56 PM

kracked skulls. got mine for 135 SHIPPED usps priority. was here in 2 days and some of the best customer service i've ever had. couldn't be happier with the board.

**Stenchof76** · 04-01-2008 11:48 PM

**omeri** · 04-01-2008 11:51 PM

Earthwing Supercharger or Superglider

**ApathyRebel333** · 04-02-2008 07:16 AM

right now i'm thinking i'll go with the KS and if i decide i need a better deck soon i can just transplant the trucks and possibly wheels. I do really like the gravity mini/hyper carve though. So i suppose the next question is should i go for the KS M1 or the Scimitar?

I'm not going to be able to buy it for at least a few days because i need some more money, so i'll probably go to the shop this weekend and get some realife looks at a few boards.

Thanks again to everyone for all the help!

**Nogbert** · 04-02-2008 07:30 AM

if i were you i would go for the scimitar, i got it for my first board and i love it.
the board has extra deep cutouts for the wheels and it can nearly fit any size wheel.
that is good enough incentive to spen a little extra mulah.

since money is a constraint e mail him and disscuss different wheel options to lower the price

when i bought mine it was 135 w/o shipping now i think it is around 147 w/o shipping

i live in colorado too and the shipping is like 13 so account for that.

but yeah the KS is an amazing board

**ZampraZ** · 04-02-2008 08:09 AM

I would go for a KS.

**ApathyRebel333** · 04-02-2008 10:26 AM

can anyone tell me if there is any significant weight difference btwn the Kracked Skulls and a Gravity mini carve or a Bustin spliff? what about the flex on the KS in comparison to those two?

Another question: can anyone suggest a good place to get grip tape online? I have a plan for some grip tape art and i would like to use green or dark green if it's available.