slalom deck for LDP?

[bucksaw87]

hey guys, i just learned to pump a few weeks ago and i'm totally addicted now. so addicted, in fact, that i've been looking for a dedicated LDP setup that i could maybe use if i ever get into slalom (which is a good possibility). anywho, i saw joe&nick's build a slal board thread sticky whilst searching the slalom forums (i'm actually in the process of building a slal board for a good friend right now)...i thought that might be an option for me...but i really, really like a lot of concave. i've been looking at the sk8kings axe II complete, i've also had the subsonic lowlander and a fullbag suggested to me. can anyone vouche for these options or offer a better alternative for around the same price? also, what kind of board should i be looking for, like TS, HS, GS, SGS?

thanks, oh great gurus of all that is wiggle-boarding
(silly 6-wheeler thread has sparked my interest in slal)

[pavedwave]

the idea on a real LDP setup is a wheelbase at the very least around 24", where the size of your pump's going to match a long distance course. usually setup a WB in the 27"--31" range.

but if you're basically talking about a good GS board with a WB in the 21"--22" range-- i can definately vouch for the Axes (recommend Axe III) as I've been on that whole lineup. that doesn't mean you can't put a bigger WB through a big course -- you definately can, but a GS deck will keep you hauling fast through a big open course yet still be quick enough for some stingers.

i just tossed together this vid from last sunday's CSA session where Stryker was putting a Subsonic LDP through a fairly tight GS course-- so its possible, but realize that he was carving a lot harder and shaving speed to get that big a WB through the cones.

cool to hear you got bit by da bug!

[T.V.A.R.]

Get the fullbag HS. If you want to do more Tight, you can drill the wheelbase smaller. If you want to do GS, you can drill it bigger.

[bucksaw87]

how about a rayne libido, set up with core trucks, abec11 gummies, bones reds, and bones hardcore blue bushings?

[pavedwave]

as for comparing fullbag to axe, i can't really, because i haven't tried the FB and i make it a point not to yak up boards i've never ridden. rayne makes nice boards, it'll just boil down to what works for you-- concave, width, and kicktail-- and where you're going to ride it the most. seems you're really after GS & general cruiser more than LDP.

is the fullbag concave a lot steeper than the axe's? steep concave was what you were after originally-- anyway if you're really looking for cruising and GS deck, i'd go middle ground on either of these lines -- axe II or fullbag HS. and don't spend too much time deciding, you can always re-sell, they hold their value pretty well!!

[Whoa.there.tiger.]

thats a sweet video, whats the song paved?

[bucksaw87]

as for comparing fullbag to axe, i can't really, because i haven't tried the FB and i make it a point not to yak up boards i've never ridden. rayne makes nice boards, it'll just boil down to what works for you-- concave, width, and kicktail-- and where you're going to ride it the most. seems you're really after GS & general cruiser more than LDP.

is the fullbag concave a lot steeper than the axe's? steep concave was what you were after originally-- anyway if you're really looking for cruising and GS deck, i'd go middle ground on either of these lines -- axe II or fullbag HS. and don't spend too much time deciding, you can always re-sell, they hold their value pretty well!!

i havent' ever actually ridden any of these boards...i'm just going off of recommendations i've gotten from people in flashchat and in this thread (sounds like the fullbag hs just might be the board for me). might have to make it a point to get to a slalom event and try out some boards, eh?
as far as concave goes, i've just had better luck pumping with steep concave (and i have tried pumping a concaved board, a mildly concaved board, and a flat board and the heavy concave one worked the best)...if that's not ideal for slalom, i could just build my own flat board...but like i said, a lot of concave really feels good to me.
anybody else have any pointers?

[pavedwave]

thats a sweet video, whats the song paved?

thanks man, it's an acid jazz cover of "the beat goes on" which was a sonny and cher song! i don't know the group because its from a long dub/mix, but would like to find out...

[bucksaw87]

okay, talking to MHM through emails, i kinda got the impression that i'm looking for the wrong thing in a slal/LDP board with steep concave...can anybody shed any light on this?

[Xgecko]

Fullbags have MORE concave than an AXE that's for sure....I wouldn't LDP my HS but I'm tall and old so I'm probably not a good person to ask. I like the little LDP I had made for that anyway same length as my HS with a 24.5" WB. As for how well the HS works? I've never had my feet so well craddle'd and yet how easy it is to reposition them when needed. Mig sells a very nice board

[pavedwave]

okay, talking to MHM through emails, i kinda got the impression that i'm looking for the wrong thing in a slal/LDP board with steep concave...can anybody shed any light on this?

if the point is strictly concave and how it applies to distance riding...although Roe does do concave now (and really subtle at that) i still tend to favor my flat/cambered Mermaid because its so much easier to hop on and off -- over huge distances, there's admittedly a bit more pushing than i'd like, especially on steep inclines. that's one place where having little or no concave is nice, there's no higher edge to trip you up while steppin on and off the deck.

also, concave can wreak havoc on your foot arches after lots of mileage. a lot of that depends on how well your feet adapt. i've had the worst arch pain on 26-milers with concave that flares up at the edges. that's another reason I tend toward a flatter deck, or really smooth concave.

but -- if you're really looking at more of a slalom/racing deck, then all this stuff above is not nearly as important. you're only jamming down a course for a minute or less, so whatever powers your pumps for the short term is what matters. some people are into a lot more concave for that application.

[pavedwave]

Fullbags have MORE concave than an AXE that's for sure...

that's what i thought, never tried one. nice lookin decks tho-

[Parallel Man]

OK. I asked Karr. He doesn't know either. So I don't feel REALLY stupid asking this question:

What is "LDP?"

Is it a brand?

[bucksaw87]

OK. I asked Karr. He doesn't know either. So I don't feel REALLY stupid asking this question:

What is "LDP?"

Is it a brand?

LDP is long-distance pumping...but right now it's looking like the fullbag HS is gonna be my best option...oh well, it's not gonna be a while until i actually get it...so i'll keep exploring other options until then i guess

[pavedwave]

OK. I asked Karr. He doesn't know either. So I don't feel REALLY stupid asking this question:

What is "LDP?"

Is it a brand?

basically, endurance and marathon longboarding, mainly by pumping rather than pushing/kicking. i still like gary fluitt's reaction to it years ago ... "Long Distance Pumping? that's demented!"

[Parallel Man]

Now that I know what "LDP" means, I used to do it.

When I was much younger the neighborhood I grew up in was pretty flat (as is most all the terrain where I live.) I had a track where every night after school I could pump my Fibreflex (then my Turner) about 3.5 miles non stop. There were a couple of minor hills. One I could skate down, go up into a little cul de sac and then come back down with enough momentum to pump back up hill. All non stop. I consdered it a failed run if I put my foot down.

After about a year I was doing that course once or twice a day. My parents still live there and the course is still there, but now the asphalt in some places is over 30 years old and like skating over a dirt road.

[revzack]

I have ridden the fullbag and the subsonic, right now i just go out for short pumping excursions, like a mile ish. for some reason i can pump the subsonic better, but that is just me. I have the lowland 32 with a kicktail, and the concave is nice but not near as deep as a pavel, although i think the subsonics have a bit more concave now. The subsonic has many more wheelbase options vs the fullbag, although the fullbag has a deeper concave and concave in the tail if that is what your looking for. Hope that helped some.

[pavedwave]

I used to do it..

hopefully you won't stop! couple of the guys i skate with here are 10 years older than myself and were skating little tiny boards for distance back then, one guy's east coast and the other guy Patrick grew up right here in Tacoma -- once they got set up on the bigger boards their distance legs kicked in again and they've turned into monsters over the past couple years. its fun, its not really competitive, yet...we do have little matches from time to time. i always bring my stick when i check out other cities and new bike trails-- to me its just as natural as running for miles is for other people, and 1000x more fun!!

[bucksaw87]

does anyone know if fullbag sells completes?

[Parallel Man]

hopefully you won't stop!!

I've got a spot where I have occassionally cranked a board for some distance. The town has a paved walking trail somewhere around 5 or 6 miles long. Again, it's completely flat and an endless asphalt sidewalk winding its way through the backwoods. It's a good spot and the asphalt gets no car traffic (naturally,) so it's still pretty smooth. The only drawback for me is joggers, bicyclers and baby carriages on a path a little wider than a city sidewalk. It really screw me up to stop, coast, get by the old lady and then get back into a rhythm.