How much flex?

mooney · How much flex?

I see a lot of comments about flex. How do you tell if a board has too much or not enough flex for pumping. For example I have a 10 ply STIFF downhill board with really no flex or very little. Then, I have a bamboo 4 or 5 ply pintail board that feels like a trampoline, I can almost touch the ground while bouncing on it. It only flexes a little while pushing it down the street, but very noticeable.

I know these aren't the best LDP boards, just using them, my only longboard experience, as examples to help understand what is needed for good pumping. I think this is the only aspect of LDP and general longboards that really confuses me at this point.

BTW - I'm 5'8" and weigh 220lbs (I'm hoping LDP will help slim me to my 185 normal weight Smile

which certainly makes a difference with how much my boards flex.

Thanks in advance,

Mooney

LDPanda

Well, a lot of it is personal preference but there are defenitely some aspects to look for. A super stiff deck can certainly be pumped (most modern slalom decks are stiff) but you wont be able to store energy in the flex of the board and they can be uncomfortable for long distance. Super flexy boards can be pumped too but you will lose some energy in the process and they can be a bit sketch on downhill. The most important aspect to look for is rebound, how well does the board return to its original shape. A good LDP deck should be snappy, not soggy or slow. Carbon fiber is a great way to achieve this kind of return.

From the two boards youve described, I would say the pintail is your better bet for learning to pump. It will help you get used to using the deck to store energy from weighting and unweighting the deck rather than just mashing the trucks. If you find LDP is right for you, i would highly recommend getting a dedicated LDP deck from a manufacturer like subsonic, roe, galac, or LBL as they have dialed the flex of their boards specifically for LDP.

mooney

Yes, I was going to get a dedicated LDP eventually. I'm actually look at the LBL Walkabout and the new GBomb Illuminati in case I decide if this pumping thing is for me. I like pushing and i have a Kahuna Big Stick, so I do like the flat cruising exercise style of longboarding. I suspect I'll like LDP and end up with a LDP only board very soon Very Happy