pavedwave longboarding

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

Why this deck is still in the Subsonic "Future" section, is beyond me! It's here, it's now, and I've been on this board just kicking on flats and cruising the lake, and it feels perfect underfoot. Just the right cradling of the feet, the slight flex of natural wood gives some dampening, and the transition to the nose is a little steeper than his other boards, though I do hear that some still prefer this transition to be even steeper.

This is the deck that Sheldon Lessard rode across the length of New Zealand, and from everything I heard, it was a hands-down favorite, rivalling if not beating out the Dervish in terms of how well it suited that treacherous terrain. Tons of chip seal road, loose rocks, pot holes, steeps, cow pies, and everything else the vast rural expanse could throw your way.

Sheldon · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 23

The bonus of this board for pushing is that it can get so low. In New Zealand I lowered this board even more with some "risers" and if I remember right was around 1 in off the ground. If all you're doing is pushing the set up was excellent. It can handle the speeds too.

I rode Nz on the shorter of the two Ravens, making it noticeably lighter than the longer I believe. Set up with Randal 180s, some khiro mixtures and lime big zigs, the board absorbed the road really well, due to the slight give in the wood. Once or twice I traded the board with Adam when we'd come to a monster hill so he could take advantage of its height, while I strolled and pushed up.

The other bonus, this board can DRIFT! Raise it up back to normal so you can get some lean and the board is smooth. Theres a video of Adam and I drifting a narrow one lane windy street in Auckland on the board the day before we left Nz. Sadly this was the last time I rode that board, I broke it when I sent it into a curb on the St. Granted it had done 1400 and some miles already under extreme conditions. Scott sent me a new Raven, this time the 42. Set up with Paris 180s, and amber fly wheels, once again a drifty smooth ride. The Paris trucks are excellent for lowered boards which naturally should give you less turn leverage. I still get great turn out of this board, which I didnt get with the Radals. I dont feel as stable at higher speeds, but I'm sure some kingpin or bushing adjustment would cure that.

I personally liked the 40 in better for strictly pushing, but that has a lot to do with the fact that it was the perfect space for my stance, I was right at the front and back angles and no extra board hanging around to push.

Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=BWZhRdXR704

fishermantpr · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 4

Does anybody have the spsecs for this board. looking for the platform length on 40 and 42.
Also, I have been having a difficult time contacting any one at subsonic about puchasing this deck, any suggestions?

fishermantpr · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 4

OK I'll answer my own question:
42 23" platform 33" wheelbase
40 21" platform 31" wheelbase