Beginer slalom setup

**biggytalz** · 10-03-2009 09:11 PM

What kind of set up should i get im about 6 foot and 145lbs

**snozzboarder55** · 10-03-2009 09:19 PM

Sk8kings.com

the Axe series are some of the best beginner boards, with a bennet front and a tracker rt-s rear you are good to go, just mess with the bushings to get the feel you like.

im about your size and im running a tracker rt-x in front double wedged with 2 while khiro cones on bottom in a reverse hour glass shape and a blue cone on top. the rear needs to be double dewedged to get it back to "neutral" as you mount it on the kick tail. my rear truck is a tracker rt-s and has a blue khiro barrel bottom with a white barrel on top.

anyways check out the Sk8kings site for a bunch of good info, and check out the slalom setups to get an even better idea

**tedzepplin** · 10-03-2009 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by biggytalz

What kind of set up should i get im about 6 foot and 145lbs

I would get the best you can afford. I've seen a number of beginners skating with the less expensive stuff and they are constantly messing around with their wedges and bushings and are rarely happy with the set-ups. They are constantly asking why their board feels tippy or doesn't turn sharp enough, or why their rear truck slides out. Then they slowly upgrade to slightly better stuff and still aren't happy. and if they added up cost of all the average equipment they bought, they could have bought the best stuff to begin with. So, start with the affordable stuff to begin with if you have to, but then if you stick with it, save up and get the best in one big jump, don't make the multiple tiny upgrades that we all have made - myself included.

When you have excellent equipment you can concentrate on your technique and know it's not your board holding you back. Boards can be expensive but I think they are a lot cheaper than what some people spend on snowboard gear each year. I think it's relatively easy to sell the good stuff on these forums if you decide slalom isn't for you.

There are lots of excellent boards and trucks from many manufacturers. I currently ride GOG trucks and Pavel decks, Zig Zag wheels.

And buy some cones!!! It seems that it's the last thing beginners think of buying. They are always waiting around for the guy with cones to show up.

**snozzboarder55** · 10-03-2009 09:53 PM

on the flip side people are very happy with a bennet front and a tracker rt-s rear. many times it comes down to simple bushing setups, but do go for quality products over cheap ones

**yooeu** · 10-07-2009 02:41 AM

does it matter that the bennet 4.3 hanger is like 5 mm longer than the rts 106mm?

**Gearfire** · 10-07-2009 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by yooeu

does it matter that the bennet 4.3 hanger is like 5 mm longer than the rts 106mm?

Nah. People will often even do weird things like ~100 front ~130 rear, or ~150 front ~130 rear. 110 Bennett front and 106 RT/S rear will do fine, though I never liked it. Don't listen to me though (really) cause I just didn't find my slalom setup very fun in the long run or versatile, but then again I still haven't figured out what exactly I didn't like about it. Maybe it was the deck, an LBL COHO which is a pretty strange, more TS/HS wheelbased deck. I know if I tried another slalom setup the WB would be at least 22" and the trucks at least 130mm.

Anyhow ignore my ramblings, other than that the 4 mm difference is fine.

**Lenny** · 10-07-2009 08:43 AM

I have to echo the Sk8kings sentiment. The Carrascos are GREAT when it comes to setting up boards/gear for the riders' weights. The set-ups are also GREAT quality while not breakng the bank. As you ride and advance, you can always upgrade as well, but just starting out, there's no need to drop $500 on a set-up when $175-$200 would serve your purposes just fine.

And DEFINTELY get some cones!

**BumbleBee_43** · 10-07-2009 03:03 PM

And DEFINTELY get some cones![/QUOTE]

I cannot agree more. I have bought decks and changed trucks but have some cones at my house for the past couple of weeks has made a huge diffrence.

Next to cones I would say front truck. I have a Skennet now and it has helped me improve my pumping ability greatly. When I put it on I had been riding a Tracker RT-X and the difference was indescribable.

**sethgoesfast** · 10-07-2009 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by snozzboarder55

on the flip side people are very happy with a bennet front and a tracker rt-s rear. many times it comes down to simple bushing setups, but do go for quality products over cheap ones

Im happy with this setup on my first slalom board. Its great to learn on I feel like. Ive ridden other boards with spendy trucks and stuff too, there is definatly a difference but not noticable enough to convince me that the price is worth it. Practice a lot anf mess with bushings you will be champ in no time. Ive made leaps in ability since I started practiceing at least weekly.

Edit: Those trucks are on an Axe II with lime zigzags in the back and lemons up front.

**snozzboarder55** · 10-07-2009 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by sethgoesfast

Im happy with this setup on my first slalom board. Its great to learn on I feel like. Ive ridden other boards with spendy trucks and stuff too, there is definatly a difference but not noticable enough to convince me that the price is worth it. Practice a lot anf mess with bushings you will be champ in no time. Ive made leaps in ability since I started practiceing at least weekly.

Edit: Those trucks are on an Axe II with lime zigzags in the back and lemons up front.

my setup is the same!

ya as far as precisions go, i feel you only need them in competition. you dont need to spend money to learn. BUT if you can afford them then why not right? i heart bennett/rts!

**Lenny** · 10-07-2009 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by snozzboarder55

ya as far as precisions go, i feel you only need them in competition. you dont need to spend money to learn.

Very good point indeed!

**sniffleless** · 10-07-2009 07:56 PM

Here's the deal on Sk8Kings....

If you are getting your first board and don't know much about proper set up Sk8Kings can take a lot of the guess work out of it. You can contact them and they will work with you on tailoring a board just for you. You let them know your weight and the type of slalom you want to run (if your not sure Richie will talk you through it). Richie will set the board up for you with the right wedging and bushing combo for you. He's good at what he does. He will set you up with a board that is pretty much perfect out of the box. A few tweaks of the wrench to fine tune it and you are ready to race.

I've ordered trucks from them a few times and paid for the bushing upgrade and so far, every time he has set them up perfect for me. The man knows bushing combos. That is all you can say.

So if you are in the market for your first board and have no clue how to set it up, Sk8Kings is a great option to consider.

**yooeu** · 10-08-2009 03:14 AM

seeing as how wheels come in sets of 4, for a beginner just getting a taste of slalom would it be alright to not use split duro? like going all 80a or 83a or 86a?

**snozzboarder55** · 10-08-2009 03:16 AM

Originally Posted by yooeu

seeing as how wheels come in sets of 4, for a beginner just getting a taste of slalom would it be alright to not use split duro? like going all 80a or 83a or 86a?

im on same duro wheels, but if you go to most online stores like Milehighskates.com or daddiesboardshop you can get them in pairs. how much do you weigh? right now im 150lbs and on 80a limes, but im thinking of going 83a in front.

**yooeu** · 10-08-2009 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by snozzboarder55

im on same duro wheels, but if you go to most online stores like Milehighskates.com or daddiesboardshop you can get them in pairs. how much do you weigh? right now im 150lbs and on 80a limes, but im thinking of going 83a in front.

bout 145lbs. you sliding out?

**snozzboarder55** · 10-08-2009 03:33 AM

Originally Posted by yooeu

bout 145lbs. you sliding out?

i slide out sometimes when i take my weight off my back foot, but that comes from technique mistakes. you could always go 78a zigs back and 80a front. i was thining of going softer in the back, but when i started getting a better feel for my board, it slipped out less.

i think having the same duro front and back is what is making my setup feel off, the front just feels a bit too sticky so im going to try to get some 83a 66 zigs.

**Lenny** · 10-08-2009 07:26 AM

I weight significantly more than that

and slide out some. The majority of that has to do with foot placement over wheel selection (though wheel selection IS a factor, to be sure).

IMO, I've been on Seismic Hot Spots for a long time and, especially in the Black Ops 'thane (81A in back, 84A in front), prefer them over Zigs.

**sethgoesfast** · 10-08-2009 12:03 PM

Richie knows wheels too talk to him. sliding out happens less and less with practice and depending on bushings/trucks they can force the wheels to do weird stuff. I have slidden out a doven or so times but i know it was because of foot placement and wieght distribution. When I did the course with close to perfect technique I wasn't even close to sliding. Go to daddies and buy pairs of what Richie says.

**sniffleless** · 10-08-2009 05:10 PM

A good general wheel arrangement that works well for most everyone starting out would be something around 84a in front and 80a in back. In Zig Zags that would be like a lemon lime combo pretty much. Also go for a wheel size around 66-70mm.