pavedwave longboarding

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

okay since this "science" thing will apparently continue to live a long long life, i'm going to add some random thoughts... because its friday.

1. i dislike terms like "BigZig Killer" - that is marketing crap
2. i believe chris chaput is a genius and his longwinded rants just so happen to tick some people off - so when Otangs were released there was a lot of vibe about supporting a product that would finally "shut him down"
3. i dislike when people buy products only because they dislike chaput
4. i like new shiny things, like new shiny Otangs, just like anyone else, and I'm sure they are great wheels, though I still have not tried them, it doesn't mean it's because I think they suck -- its because I support a family and i'm not a fricking Warren Buffet
5. i do not dislike Loaded
6. superior performance is often a reason that people will purchase one product over another, regardless of whether that person will actually appreciate let alone tangibly benefit from the performance advantage it provides
7. i dislike hype claims made about superior performance
8. when superior performance (i.e, speed differences) are claimed, then science is the only way to prove it. hint: it starts with tape switches or a stopwatch.
9. silverfish is full of impressionable 13-year olds who tell their parents what to buy them
10. seismic blackops are a completely underrated wheel and only because Gesmer is a chill guy who hasn't blown massive coin on the marketing game
11. it is very cool to be a non-scientific, chill surf dude like Laird Hamilton or Jason Mitchell, everybody likes that because you don't care about the details brah, and you don't blog, you just ride brah! you just happen to be the best in the world riding the most highly advanced scientifically engineered stuff
12. it is very cool to be a geeky scientific nerdy dude like chris chaput, not everybody likes you but most people respect what you do because you care about details that nobody else takes the time for themselves
13. sometimes i take time to compose my thoughts. this is not one of those times.
14. our planet's going to get hit by a big asteroid some day so get out and enjoy the sun on whatever the #@$#@$ wheels you want
...
99. for approximately 97.734% of the skateboarding world who aren't actually standing on podiums: bigzigs = otangs = blackops. the end.

model.citizen · Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:33 pm Post subject:

never tried them myself, but i'm not keen at all on anything from Loaded simply due to their unrealistic prices.

i mean, come on, they retail complete Dervishes here for $700 Shocked

, or a deck for $400 Shocked

, or o'tangs for $170 Shocked

(STRs, Avilas, BlackOps, etc all available here for < $100).

although i do own their sliding gloves...but again what a price at $90.

what the hell is so special about Loaded cack that pushes up the prices to ridiculous levels? (well, outside of our rubbish exchange rate at the moment)

blake · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 198 Location: Seattle

those prices seem a little crazy? are you sure? and i dont like o-tangs for either DH or pumping. they slide to much and they dotn last very long especailly when you are pumping them. ZIGS FTW. Best wheels ever i love them for anything and everything. and with all the different duros you can find something for your every desire. Bigzigs/zigzags=LOVE<3
_________________
The concrete is our canvas, our wave, our playgound, our catalyst for growth. When you feel it, flow with it, live in the moment; and shred it like you'll never skate again, everytime.

model.citizen · Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:27 pm Post subject:

yep, that's the state of things when you live down in the arse-end of the world. shipping anything down here costs an arm and a leg. a set of Khiros for one truck costs $10. Bones Reds set you back $40. even a (pro) street popsicle is $120-$150 for the deck.

and the exchange rate doesn't help, since our dollar devalued any new stock coming in has been inflated by around 40%. a Dervish complete used to set you back $500 until around Xmas.

luckily i managed to buy what i wanted/needed while our dollar was strong.

not complaining tho, them's the breaks. i guess we have other benefits down here that $$ can't buy. Very Happy

angelo_pb · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject:

The options menu for the Mermaid complete by stoked is pretty impressive.
http://www.stokedskateboards.com/roemeco.html

Interestingly, the 75mm 83a tangs are the default wheel. You can go less expensive or more expensive. I think this is smart on their part, as its an all-around great wheel for LDP for speed and grip. More importantly, it doesn't require sooth pavement to function.

I also though it is interesting that the menu lets you choose less expensive wheels. Usually, the menu options on board builders just go more expensive. I recently learned the hard way that more expensive wheels does not always mean better wheels.

The sheer number of options is so impressive. I think the bushings code scheme is a helpful reference by itself.

The remaining default components seem equally well thought out.

Kudos to Stoked. At least i can direct people to a store that sells a turn key LDP board ready to roll without requiring too much research on their part.

It also seems to suggest that the subtle changes in 2009 are to the Mermaid's width. Did they make them wider up front?

petary791 · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

I heard they go faster when they heat up.

Rolling Eyes

_________________

angelo_pb · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:16 am Post subject:

Happy Uerthane

Black Ops Urethane

Retro Urethane

I don't think i could have a serious discussion about any of them while keeping a straight face.

But Seismic's "Black Ops" does sound the best.

blake · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 198 Location: Seattle

i say nothing beats the Retro urethane is the best all around kind.
_________________
The concrete is our canvas, our wave, our playgound, our catalyst for growth. When you feel it, flow with it, live in the moment; and shred it like you'll never skate again, everytime.

LDPanda · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 418 Location: Seattle, WA

As far as names go, i like earthwing's purethane (especially if you pronounce it pure Uh thane) and it may be appropriately named as ive heard its nearly air bubble free. But id have to agree with blake, i like the retro thane the best of everything ive tried. Havent spent much time on black ops yet tho. Tried otangs, didnt like em. The old seismic thane is ok, kind of middle of the road imo. Retro seems to grip really well in the lower duros and respond really well in the higher duros.

Pureadrenalin · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 35 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii

When you guys say earthwing's purethane are you guys referring to the obombers. If so I cant find them any where locally.

_________________
No stress get a hobby. Go skate