Slalom set up Q's

blake · Slalom set up Q's

i know its not LDP but i am trying to get more into slalom not just DH and LDP. so i am getting a Insect sidewinder what are some things to know about slalom set up like wedgeing, trucks, wheels, movesment

pavedwave

Setup-wise, LDP is just slalom on steroids. Bigger board, wider trucks, bigger wheels in LDP, but the wedging and bushing selection is basically the same. With your first slalom setup just go a bit smaller all around, 65-70mm wheels, tracker RTS-RTX setup, make sure you get a handful of angled wedges to play with.

Over the years the slalom world has migrated away from flat decks, like the sidewinder and most of the original RoeRacing line, in favor of a concave-kicktail shape. What's interesting about this is that even though it's a definite trend, there are still guys like Pirnack that were taking 1st place podium spots on flat Roe decks at the very end of 2007. I've been one of the few "hold-outs" that stuck with the flat, flexy deck for slalom, but I'm also tinkering now with the concave-kick. Especially if you come from a pool riding background, that kind of board just feels more natural and locked in, I think that's why we'll continue to see more slalom riders on 'em.

Best way to pick this up is come out and ride. I'll let you know if we do that cyber thing tomorrow morning, kind of depends if I kick this cold and if the Puyallup crew wants to drive up tomorrow. They're going to be slaloming on a big GS-like hill today down near Puyallup, I remember you said that's far for you (for me as well) but I can shoot you some contact info if you're interested... it's Jackman, Stryker, and Dan-o so far, all kick-ass local slalom guys. We always have extra boards for people to try out as well and you can learn really fast what works and what doesn't for you.

blake

i think i might hurt my self with a kicktail. haha. but who knows so far i have not set it up but i think i will have fun with the sidewinder its really nice with concave and slight camber its also almost brand new

pavedwave

we're not doing the cyber thing today, those guys got some fast GS turns in yesterday and if the weather holds they're doing it again today, down in Puyallup.

but I think we'll do cyber next weekend, either sat morning or sunday later in the day

blake

i am not really in a shape to skate any way its was one of my friends bday yesterday and i am really tired for an early morning session. I will try and make it next week i will hopefully be a able to make it. and by that i might even mostly have my setup so i will be able to try out the sidewinder and see if i want to keep it or sell it.

LD skater since 1971

I am a old school slalom racer I have won quite a few races. I raced on cambered foam boards. My first was Ick stick then after Jim Korten went to Europe he came back and made me a Coffin shaped{ to look like Simon Levine's board} foam board that was really fast we raced on slight inclines,small hills, and flats in CASL. Mostly Tight slalom racing course from hell made up by Jim Korten because they were so many offsets and straight usally the last cones were 4 to 6 foot straights.

I used Tracker Mid tracks all plastic baseplate and Hanger . When I was on Gullwing flow team they cut me down some vert trucks so I could use mid track axles.They did not have any of teh old phoenix trucks laying around or I would have used them in a heart beat. Then when I finally got a full ride truck team it Was Cutter truck owned by Dave Dominy he made me cut down cutter truck that are on my board still great fast turning stable truck.

Wheels 78A Kryptonics rental roller skate wheels on the rear and 97 Kryptonics micro wheels on the front, Powell swiss bearings and moto bilt speed washers on hanger side of the wheel.
And axle lock nuts put on backwards so the nut did touch the bearing.

I raced a few bank slalom races at Delmar skate ranch and Upland pipeline we used are pool boards. I raced a GS race on the foam board in Montrose ,Ca in very steep parking lot I won.
Then in Vancouver,Canada I raced a in a PSL GS race at this simon ??? university that over looks Vancouver. I raced on my street deck and as everybody did I placed 5th place.Except Dave Crabb won on a Turnner summer ski cleaned our clocks. I begged him to let me borrow his board but he did not. So I was kind of bummed I did not bring my foam coffin board.

I have also seen kids race tight slalom in CASL on street board with loosened trucks and place high because they knew how to pump the board through the cones. I have also seen them plow the cones and we would have set them all back up. I have also seen them tic tack trough the course really fast and place high.

I went to watch a slalom race at the Poway pump house last summer I noticed it whole new game now they race on concave boards with the rear truck mounted on the kick tail. Lynn Kramer,Richie Corasco all raced board with the kick tails but they also had their feet surrounded by foam blocking or blocks. When I was talking to Lynn I said to her it looks like your feet are locked in place like your on a snow board. She said that's the idea for GS it allows you to power full speed through the turns in combined with full track size trucks and wide wheels.
But the long time Turner summer ski team member Tiger Williams rode a just a concave board with no kick in it. He raced more of the old school type of racing but is fast. Tiger has been on Turner since the 1970's when he was a little kid. He even has foam core tight slalom board that is carbon fiber and has little fleck of grey in it. The flecks of grey are the ashes of Bob Turner that his wife put in Tiger board resin they like him so much.

Slalom is journey in skateboarding you find out what works best for you .
Basicaly the same can be said for all board sports for example surfing,snowboarding even skiing diffrent rides work for diffrent people that why their is so many diffrent shapes and lenghts.

Have fun on your slalom journey.

blake

ya i realize that when i made this to answer just the normal stuff liek wedging and trucks and such

petary791

FWIW I weigh 165 pounds, and I'm running an RTX wedged 9* in front with a flat washer and soft Bones Hardcores, and an RTS dewedged 12* in back with Destructo and some other really hard bushings. Basically just try to kill the back and make the front super turny.