building buttboard/classic luge

[midnite-cruiser]

I just got to drawing out the lines on the sheet of Ply i got' - and holy hell - they are much smaller in person.

Are you SURE these things are limited to 12''x48? =)

I'm basing mine off the 'Lott's Classic Luge' design - and i just cant believe I'm going to lay on this thing at any real speed. It's basically the same size of my Hyper-carve - just a little fatter at the nose! I don't even know how I'm going to place cut-outs to grab onto on a piece of wood that skinny and still have enough width for my rear-end.

I haven't made the cuts for it yet, and I'm probably going to order the components for it next week. I'll get some pictures of the progress up as i make some. It's supposed to rain tomorrow so i might not get much of a chance to work on it since my table saw is out in the open(lack of room in the actual workshop).

I'm thinking of just rounding off the corners of the 48x12 piece i have so i have as much room to work with as regulation will allow LOL.

Any words of wisdom from people who are into this? Does anyone still actually still run this type of luge anymore in events or anything? I assume if there is anyone still doing buttboarding/Classic Luge events - they are all in europe or something, not EC of the states.

I just wanted something to have fun and mess around on but was also regulation - looks like i might have my hands full riding one of THESE safely though.

[spikedfro10]

I'm in the process of building one too, and I was wondering, what kind of wood are you using?

[midnite-cruiser]

Originally Posted by spikedfro10

I'm in the process of building one too, and I was wondering, what kind of wood are you using?

I used a nice piece of 3/4'' Birch plywood.

You can get 2'x4'(24''x48'' - enough to make 2 regulation boards) sheets from Home Depot/Lowes for reasonable prices - Just inspect the piece thoroughly before you buy it for any major flaws. Also if you plan on staining it instead of painting - i usually try to go for a piece with some funky/interesting grain on the top sheets that will make the stain really pop when it soaks in. It's kind of a weird practice since they all pretty much look the same at a glance lol. Also do a little bit of wood-whispering and pick a board that gives you a good vibe the second you pull it from the pile - This is something you are going to shape yourself and fly down a hill on so it had better give you positive vibrations right from the start. =)

anyway, now that you think I'm crazy - go get some birch ply, you could probably get away with some other type of hard wood(maple,oak,etc), so long as it is Plied(has several thin sheets glued together cross-grained, you will be able to tell from looking at the sides).

Let me know how it goes - I'm sort of figuring this out as i go but i have worked with wood many times for projects big and small, so if you have anymore questions just post em' up in this thread or PM/IM me

good vibes

[Darren]

It's the size of a standard long skateboard intentionally. That's what separates Buttboard racing from Street Luge racing. It's also why there are only four 70 mm wheels and two skateboard trucks. It's "just a skateboard" that you ride in a luge position. And despite the looks, what freaks people out is how well it actually works at speed.

The nose is fat and rounded because when you crash into the haybales the board can easily crash into the back of your legs. Pointy nose designs are imitating surf boards, which are meant to punch thru the face of a wave. You don't want your buttboard (or luge) punching thru the back of your legs.

You don't need to make any "cut outs" for holding onto. My first buttboard designs had cut outs to add wheel clearance and allow an "overhand grab" in extreme turns. However, some people thought they were hand holds and got their fingers pinched by the wheels. So in later designs you will notice they are omitted. Where you grab is at the front end of the grab rail which is mounted underneath. You bend your index finger around the front of the grab rail and the whole rest of your body is indexed off that. Make sure you put the trucks in the same place on the board as the design indicates. The shape of the board is highly functional, but not the magic part. The position of the trucks on the board, and the position of the rider on the board is what makes it all work.

The back of the Lott Classic design is narrow on purpose. It fits in between your shoulder blades and allows you to hold and control the back of the board. The 12" width limitation is not wide enough to fully cradle an adult's shoulder blades. You'd need to go much wider, and then you end up wanting to drop the back end to get your chest lower. Suddenly you are designing a full blown street luge. So narrow at the back is dictated by function.

The design is out there for riders to copy. I wanted to promote the sport. It's easy to duplicate exactly, so it's experience WHAT WORKS. After you have ridden for awhile, then you will be ready to come up with your own modifications. But success is based on what FEELS right, and not what looks right. Until you have a positive experience riding, you can only design through anxiety and appearance. Both which are misleading.

Originally Posted by midnite-cruiser

I just got to drawing out the lines on the sheet of Ply i got' - and holy hell - they are much smaller in person.

Are you SURE these things are limited to 12''x48? =)

I'm basing mine off the 'Lott's Classic Luge' design - and i just cant believe I'm going to lay on this thing at any real speed. It's basically the same size of my Hyper-carve - just a little fatter at the nose! I don't even know how I'm going to place cut-outs to grab onto on a piece of wood that skinny and still have enough width for my rear-end.

I haven't made the cuts for it yet, and I'm probably going to order the components for it next week. I'll get some pictures of the progress up as i make some. It's supposed to rain tomorrow so i might not get much of a chance to work on it since my table saw is out in the open(lack of room in the actual workshop).

I'm thinking of just rounding off the corners of the 48x12 piece i have so i have as much room to work with as regulation will allow LOL.

Any words of wisdom from people who are into this? Does anyone still actually still run this type of luge anymore in events or anything? I assume if there is anyone still doing buttboarding/Classic Luge events - they are all in europe or something, not EC of the states.

I just wanted something to have fun and mess around on but was also regulation - looks like i might have my hands full riding one of THESE safely though.

[Jraice]

Lott sells a different design thats more of a sheet with rounded corners...

Maybe base it off that...

I have ridden my avenger like a buttboard and thats what 10"s by 36"s or something like that...

I think 12"s and the extra foot for calf support is plenty...

[blink2wice]

i made mine based on a ironing board

[[ben]]

I made a 12" x 48" pintail out of some 3/4" Birch. I was actually intending to make a cruiser, but as I have found it also works great as a buttboard!