Help for New Slalomers! (please read)

[GPymp]

JC..first thanks for the rep

With my FullBags, I just run a Khiro soft wedge (7 deg) in the rear and..lets start with my JITT, the 28 deg Randal plate flat.(we be talking Splitfires) So in theory that puts me roughly at 26 degrees.

Now you have bushings to play with, like how much you weigh and how much bounce/play you want.
Then as we have mentioned wheels...there are Seismic purists (abec abolitionists) and everyone else. The pros ride what they get for free..remember that.

Dont forget to do the REAR truck test..Push the truck towards the board..if it moves more than 1/4-3/8" then you give the KP a slight turn to tighten. At least this is my guide for tractraction. If the rear is too loose, with my weight, the rear tends to turn too much and on a fast hill you have less control. Less control means the ground hits you harder and hurts more.

For the front..what is too loose? There are those who run "a bearing" on a Bennett that will wheel bite, yet still run the course. There are also some that when you shake the board and the front trucks flop back and forth..I call this blowin' in the wind..thats what they like.

I try to not over think my set ups too much. I ride some of the boards of the local skaters here in rado' and I get a feel of rear truck tightness, front truck looseness. As I go through the cones at speed I think to myself...geezus ##### this guy with his floppy front truck is crazy like peanut butter on pizza. Yet I am still in control. They have their rig rear set or "dialed" to the course speed, thier ability and medical benefits package.
We can go on about "pumping" too. Once you have the equipment, Then what? What methods do you throw yourself through the cones? Watch video! I personally can't pump my way through toilet paper. Practice on a FLAT service aka tennis courts. (from coach pappas) That will teach you to pump through courses that have little depth to them. Because I can't pump, I practice on a steep hill with wind.. about 25-30mph. Which is a terrible way to learn slalom. Should you lose control, you slide farther and fall harder. When you wake from your unconciousness, your friends will hopefully turn you over so you get a good view of the Rocky Mountains.

A big help is testing and listening to others who have walked on the path of traction nirvana. (or neurosis depending on how good you're not)
Sniffy is a very bright man. (read: more brain cells than I) And always has great advice. So Purr and Someone watch and read his posts. I just slalom skate because of the way it makes my ass jello feel as I wiggle it.

I just go to races to have fun. Someday I will be good at.(I think I am on my fourth year saying that )

[sniffleless]

Thanks for the GLove there, GPymp. You deserved that rep too and you know it.
Truthfully. Just start skating and trying stuff. You will know what works and what doesn't when you try it. Just have fun with it and don't worry it. If you get hung on a problem come back and we will help you out. First you just have to order that board and set up. When and if you order from Sk8Kings call it in or e-mail them about your order and they will work with you to get a sweet set up. That should get you up and running. After that we'll help you down the road to being a true gear-whore like the rest of us.

[GPymp]

<--is just a whore.

[[(Erik)]]

hey i need help with a deciding on a new slalom setup
i have an axe 2 and i was thinking.....

skennet front
cindrich 100mm hangar on 28* randal rear
pps racer x rear 80a
lemon zig front

i plan on using it for HS and some TS, what do u think of my future setup? what would you change?
also i need help with bushings(i weigh 140 pounds) and wedging, what would you guys recommend?
and i know probly no one has tried the cindrich hangars, as they came out last tuesday
and if u need to look at them heres a link to the thread:
Cindrich Slalom Trucks

thanks to all who respond

[GPymp]

Erik, At $140 for a hang and plate, not bad. My only concern is that the pivot is solid. In a Splitfire the pivot is a ball and adjustable.
On an Axe 2, you will need, I believe, two Khiro 7* soft wedges to flatten the tail. Then you can run the 28* plate.
As for bushings..I happen to love Venoms. I am too heaving to even guess what bushes would work for you. In fact I dont know anyone that light or remember when I was 140lbs. Hell, I think I ate your weight this past Thanksgiving.
Alright, who is a Skennett enthusiast that can help Erik?

[Ogre]

Blue Venoms would fit his weight, maybe an orange or Yellow bottom rear.

[[(Erik)]]

My only concern is that the pivot is solid

yea im gonna Pm dave and see if he could swap out the stub pivot for a ball one if i gave him a little more cash
and thanks for the help, much appreciated

[PurrCrabs]

So, I have the chance to buy a 90mm Splitfire off Pat Switzer for $65... Depending how much shipping would wind up being from BC to NY, should I get the Splitfire and a 35* Randal plate instead of an Airflow?
Can Splitfire hangers be spaced out to change the width, and if yes, what could I space a 90mm too?

Oh, and silly question: flat head or pan head hardware?

And is there any general preference about Venom vs Retro vs Sabre? I don't know how to choose what bushings to use, I weigh 145, any tips? I know you use a hard back and a soft front, but my cruising/carving/dh/freeride board uses 88a Sabre botton, 78a Elim top, with the Randal kingpin flush with the nut

[GPymp]

So, I have the chance to buy a 90mm Splitfire off Pat Switzer for $65... Depending how much shipping would wind up being from BC to NY, should I get the Splitfire and a 35* Randal plate instead of an Airflow?
Can Splitfire hangers be spaced out to change the width, and if yes, what could I space a 90mm too?

Oh, and silly question: flat head or pan head hardware?

And is there any general preference about Venom vs Retro vs Sabre? I don't know how to choose what bushings to use, I weigh 145, any tips? I know you use a hard back and a soft front, but my cruising/carving/dh/freeride board uses 88a Sabre botton, 78a Elim top, with the Randal kingpin flush with the nut

Yes, Splits can be moved out farther. But Mr. Splitfire says its best that you dont spread farther than 5mm on eash side (or is it 7mm hmmm) Unless you are using it for GS, which you shouldn't really. For TS and HS a 90mm should work fine. I am running 104mm on my Virage for HS and GS. (w/PPS Racer X wheels..they are wider than Zags) I am running a 90mm Split, not spaced for TS and small HS courses.
$65 is an excllent price. Hang and plate or Hang only? With a used Split you might want to check the threading. I clean up used trucks (axles) myself just to be sure.
You can get a 35* plate fairly easy. Note On the AirFlows, I believe they use metric axle nuts. They used to at least. You lose one, better have a spare(s) and dont mix them.

The only suggestion I would make for bushings is: Khiro's (Bitches too) and or Venom's. Reason: Usually everyone has spares at the races of either. More so on Khiro's than Venom's for financial reasons, obviously.

Again these are just suggestions/opinions. If any of this makes sense, its because I'm not paying complete attention to The Family Guy which is on right now.

[PurrCrabs]

How would a 90mm Split work as a front truck with a 50* randal plate, wedged into the low-mid 60*s? Curious if this would work decently with a 95mm Airflow rear... if its a good combo I can do that instead of a Skennett front and Split rear, and it would be narrower, which I may like. If I do space the Split it will only be 5mm on either side to get it to 100mm
I'll start with Khiros in order to find out what duros work for me, then I want to switch to using Venoms, and maybe even Sabres. Sabres are ridiculously reboundy so they might work well in the rear
The two things I'm really going to need to ask people to tell me are where to start with wedging (when i decide what trucks I'm getting...) and what bushings I should use. I have no idea what wedging I need for a rear truck, or what bushing hardnesses to use in front or back

At this point I just keep thinking of ways to potential make the setup better, as long as I can afford to do so. I really want good, high quality trucks, and I want to love this board. Ideally it will replace my Knuckleduster as my cruise and carve board. Pumping around will even be great practice for cones. I need to make sure not to speed check this board though... I speed check a lot


EDIT: Any opinions on 80a Cone Crusher rear? I want to grip, and I've heard they rock

[PurrCrabs]

Sorry for the double post buuuttt
Just ordered my Louis Ricard deck from Tactis, and a Skennett and risers from Sk8Kings.
Will get a rail kit and wheels and all that jazz at Christmas, but this is at least the bare minimum to throw everything together and cruise and pump until then

[[(Erik)]]

hey i still need help with my bushing setup i alredy decided that im gonna run 78a venom conical boardside and 81 conical roadside for my bennet in the front, i need help deciding bushings for the rear, again i weigh 140 lbs and im gonna be using a cindrich slalom truck

[GPymp]

hey i still need help with my bushing setup i alredy decided that im gonna run 78a venom conical boardside and 81 conical roadside for my bennet in the front, i need help deciding bushings for the rear, again i weigh 140 lbs and im gonna be using a cindrich slalom truck

Dave (Ogre) Gale, former Pepsi Team rider, that's a skate icon in my book, and all around good guy, suggestd blue and yellow Venoms. So let me add to this, if I may Dave: I suggest Erik that you get a pack EACH of Venom 78a 85a and 90a. (blue, yellow and red.) This should allow you to "dial in" the rear truck fairly well.

The more bushings you have, the more it looks like you know what you are doing. (Excpet in my case. )

[Sneakerholic]

I've just bought a Fullbag HS with tracker RTS/RTX 105mm and Zigzags, lemon on the front and lime on the back.

I would like to ask you guys some tips for bushings setups and also what would be the best upgrades for the hangers. Airflow? G.O.G?

[Kevin in Edmonton]

OK guys I have a question. How come people are telling me I can't pump with a loose truck in the back? I've tried with a loose back (keep in mind the front is even looser though) and it pumps GREAT.

Sooooo... why?

[PurrCrabs]

I've just bought a Fullbag HS with tracker RTS/RTX 105mm and Zigzags, lemon on the front and lime on the back.

I would like to ask you guys some tips for bushings setups and also what would be the best upgrades for the hangers. Airflow? G.O.G?

Bennett or Skennett front, and Airflow rear would be a good step up from the RTS/X, its what I'm using on my first true slalom board

OK guys I have a question. How come people are telling me I can't pump with a loose truck in the back? I've tried with a loose back (keep in mind the front is even looser though) and it pumps GREAT.

Sooooo... why?

You can use whatever the hell you want, Kevin. The stiffer rear is better for stability, and will probably be much more reboundy. Its all taste man, you know that

[Ogre]

OK guys I have a question. How come people are telling me I can't pump with a loose truck in the back? I've tried with a loose back (keep in mind the front is even looser though) and it pumps GREAT.

Sooooo... why?

There's a large difference between "being able to pump" And being able to accelerate in an explosive burst. While true, it's largely personal preference you are limited to how much force you can apply to the rear and be effecient. Too lose in the rear will slid out and try to break traction, instead of propel you to your next cone. Best advice is get used to your set up, and push it to the limit.. then mentally mark that limit, and change set up.. Repeat as neccesary

[Sneakerholic]

[QUOTE=PurrCrabs;1297898594]Bennett or Skennett front, and Airflow rear would be a good step up from the RTS/X, its what I'm using on my first true slalom board

Thanks man, that was what I had in mind. Just another question right now what bushings would you put on the trackers? I weight 155 lbs.

[Bookworm]

I see that people mention the skennett arflow combo a lot, should I be looking for an airflow to replace my RTS? I'm pretty happy for now, pumps like crazy and seems agile enough.

[Ogre]

I see that people mention the skennett arflow combo a lot, should I be looking for an airflow to replace my RTS? I'm pretty happy for now, pumps like crazy and seems agile enough.

You just answered your own question.. If you're happy for now, just continue to progress.
It's only a matter of time you will out skate the RTS (lose grip) then up to an offset. Some great racers still run RTS' but usually with true 8mm axles. That's a huge benefit, good axles.