Wheelbase, how it affects pumping?

Nicholas Jackson · Wheelbase, how it affects pumping?

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone can answer a basic question I have?

When I set up my Mermaid I placed the rear truck with the second longest wheelbase.

What impact does the Wheelbase have on pump-ability I don't feel I have excessive flex with this wheelbase is a little more flex desirable?

If it helps I'm quite a tall chap 6ft 6, not sure if stance makes a difference when calculating wheelbase.

Thanks in Advance.

Nic

LDPanda

i should probably let someone with more experience answer your question, but im the one on right now so Ill take a stab at it. First, try and see! Second, at 6 feet tall riding a 40" board, i would assume youll want the larger wheel base as long as it doesnt make the board too flexy for you. Third, in my experience, a longer wheel base causes me to pump from the front more while a shorter wheel base causes me to pump more equally from the front and rear. Just my 2c, I dont have a mermaid, so take it with a grain of salt.

Bullwings

In general, flex aside:

Shorter wheel base = quick acceleration, easy to pump, harder to maintain speed. pumps will be short and snappy. you'll be pumping a lot more to maintain the same kind of speed on a longer wheel base board. in general, they're better to learn on. not as good for longer distances EX: see slalom boards (WB = 20-23").

Longer wheel base = slower acceleration, harder to get up to speed. Not necessarily harder to pump, but harder to learn on if you don't know what you're looking for in pumping. Pumps will be longer, more fluid, and surfy. much easier to maintain speed, but you need a higher speed to keep the pumps going. Better for longer distances EX: LDP boards (WB = 26.5-31")

Medium wheel base = nice compromise between the two and quite fun. These are very versatile (which is not to say that my Pulse 40 isn't/wasn't). EX: shorter carving boards (Landyatchz Mummy, GS slalom boards, Rayne Timeline) WB = 25"

Flex is something of a personal preference, but quite necessary for LDP. I can't tell you exactly what kind of flex you'll like. I prefer more flex to my boards, just as long as it's snappy and not noodly like Loaded boards. Some people like rock hard solid like slalom boards EX: Axe series...