So glad freestyle has made a comeback, i felt like a fish out of water back in the days, i found street tricks utterly boring while i adored this form of lost art nobody was interested in. I fell in love with it the moment i watched Mullen's scene in Gleaming the Cube, i knew it was my thing. There was no one around to teach me the basics and we had little to no internet in the late 90s/early 00s. Thank you for all the valuable info, i'll use it for my first (proper) freestyle setup!
I totally get personal preference and all that but how could you find street boring? It’s every freestyle trick done in more dimensions plus a bunch and some of that bunch can take a lot of work to get. You’re telling me a pop shove it late heal flip is boring? Ever try a kick flip 5-0 yo-yo 50/50 shove it out? Boring, right? I’m not trying to be a d^(k (or make any claim that I ever COULD do that last combo😂). What you wrote just doesn’t make sense to me. Gleaming The Cube got me hooked too.
@@H3LLE I dont think you understand street at all. Everything you just wrote in praise of freestyle applies equally to street. Actually, I think street IS freestyle. There is no clear delineation between the two. In fact I think it would be accurate to say that street is the most complete style in that it contains all other styles. What’s really amazing to me is your assertion that street has become too technical and your smear of “obsessing” blahblahblah. Freestyle isn’t technical?!? If that were true every decent street skater would be able to dominate freestyle comps. They cannot. Here’s what I really think. The technical stuff is too hard for you so you stuck with what was easy and fun. There is nothing wrong with that but you shouldn’t talk down on the other branches of the art. I suggest checking out people like Daewon Song. That guy flows. FWIW, If you get any trick down you can flow with it. I watched a video with a friend where Chad Muska tre Flips a biggish gap but between two buildings with a decent fall if he didn’t make it. I asked my friend what he thought went through Chads mind as he did that trick. He looked me in the eye and with a smile said one word, “nothing”.
@@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural It sounds like the shit old guitar players who can't play say. They say new music is soulless when they just can't accept that they didn't practice properly and can't reach the level of technicality lol. WTF is soul and feels? A f*cking 12 to 14 bend? lol. Just practice old man. Stop being jealous and appreciate greatness.
@@SarahParkMatott you should try doing old school kickflips. Space walks, walk the dog. (J walking/walk the dog variation) and end overs. Their pretty fun.
i mainly want to learn freestyle skating to incorporate it into street so i have a new way to view obstacles in the streets and have other creative ways of getting up down and around them
Sarah your editing skill is improving! I can see you putting time and efforts in the setup b-roll, and of course the rest of the video. Keep the good work :) I had also been experimenting a hybrid setup for both park (mainly transitions) and freestyle. Sadly, to my personal preference, they are on the different ends of the spectrum, wide vs narrow deck, tight vs loose trucks, and also wheel hardness. So I end up having two separate setups. The process is fun though!
Thank you! Always trying to improve the videos little by little 😃 haha, I get that..in a way! That's similar to the main reason I've ended up with so many set ups. Just didn't know what my preferences were yet. I went back and forth between what I thought I liked and didn't. Finally getting to a place where I am learning what I prefer though 😃
Thanks for all the detail. I have been watching Mike's channel for a little while now and only recently discovered you are both friends. I have been trying some basic freestyle tricks to help improve my balance on the board and get more familiar with it. When I see the likes of Jonny Giger doing some epic freestyle tricks on a regular lollypop board it gives me hope. I am also using the water bottle and deck as aDIY balance board (courtesy of a Braille video) which is massively helping with my balance control.
ah yeah! Mike and I have become pretty good friends--especially this last year. I love his channel too! Stoked you're into freestyle though 😃 Jonny Giger always impresses me because I know how difficult those tricks are on regular set ups 😂 Freestyle set ups have huge advantages. Right now I'm just skating a popsicle with freestyle wheels for my main freestyle board and I've been having a lot of fun with it lol Keep shredding 🙌
Thank you so much for posting this and sharing Mike's video! I'm building my first board in 20 years or so and would like to dabble in freestyle tricks, so this really came in at a great time for me! Thanks! 👍
Good point at the end. Having a freestyle deck won’t necessarily help you skate better. Getting out and doing it no matter the setup is the one true way to get better.
Haha love that setup montage!! Lol I've been wanting to learn some freestyle tricks after seeing andy anderson skate the past year, and this is a great resource as well. I would definitely like a deck with a smaller wheelbase since whipping my regular 8.25 deck around can be a challenge with me being 5feet7 skinny...
Thanks 😃 It was a lot of fun to make that and try and have fun with it. Glad you liked it! Yeah, just an inch or two really makes a difference. I just bought new trucks not too long ago to shorten the wheel base on my regular popsicle decks, and it's so much better for it. Love it 💪
Thank you so much for this. The hybrid set-up you’ve had in the video is a hella sweet idea. I’m thinking about giving that a try, especially when I haven’t skated in so many years and I’m trying to reteach myself.
I was about to order the single kick from waltz but now thinking about the double. First I wanted a cruiser then went to freestyle lol. Hoping to buy one in the next week just have to fine the right set up. I was sure after all this research i had it figured out. Back to thinking lol leaning towards double kick freestyle waltz set up
ahhh, I totally understand you (and glad you chose freestyle! It's so much fun). I was so caught up in the "right" board for a long time. And now, I've actually skated both the waltz double kick (bixby) and the single kick (huntington). I've been skating the huntington for the first time this month. Both boards have great designs. And the good news is that, as long as you like the width, it's much cheaper to get a new deck than a whole set up. So, you can really choose either board and if you want to try another, get it when you can. I personally still prefer double kicks. But it's been fun playing on the huntington.
That's awesome! Mike Osterman also has a great video about choosing trucks and wheels now. It's really helpful if you want to watch it ua-cam.com/video/Vct7GdKk1Cw/v-deo.html
I'm wanting to try my hand at freestyle, and here in the UK it's pretty difficult to get hold of dedicated freestyle decks so I've been thinking of building out a freestyle friendly rig using a standard board -so, thanks for this - really helpful!
That was the coolest intro montage of a skateboard set-up that I've ever seen in all of my lives! Also, as chill as skateboarding is by nature, you somehow take the chill vibe to another level! As far as content, as someone who skated from around 12-19 years old then started back, almost religiously, again back in January (at the age of 34), I just went with the standard street set up that I've always known. (Hit up Armada skate shop in Charlotte NC! I got that Grimple Egg (my attempt at creating some novelty in my setup) on Thunders, Big Balls, and Dragon Formulas (needed that newnew) with that clear! Gotta shout out my local!) But starting back again after such a long hiatus, I had to re-grind the ollie. Last time it took around a year to get to where I could ollie over something consistently, and this time it took approx 3 months (so a bit of an improvement!). When I discovered skaters like you, Mike Osterman, and the cross-over king Andy Anderson, I found myself learning more and more about freestyle! A big difference that I've noticed is that the more freestyle technique that I learn, the more tech street stuff that starts to click into my mind/body. It almost feels like everyone needs to learn freestyle first; it's almost foundational. It seems like the perfect way to make the mind-body connection the most rigid as quickly as possible...then from mastering those (almost passive skills after spending thousands of hours drilling them), then building on transferring that on-ground balance/technique to off-ground (and off-hand) manipulation of the board, it just seems like a very logical way to progress as quickly as possible.....but what do I know, I'm only 5 months deep after a 15 year break :*(*****
ahh, that's awesome! Welcome back to skateboarding. Stoked you've been having a good time and found some interest in freestyle. As someone who couldn't learn to shove it in years as a kid and the coming really far as an adult, I totally agree. I think freestyle has been the ultimate force for progress for me too. The better I get at freestyle, the better I get at everything. I also think it helped me get a slightly different and more in depth level of board feel...at least way faster than if I had just done street skating. But, I can take that understanding anywhere like you are saying. Stoked you're having fun with it too 🙌
@@SarahParkMatott thank you!! If I would have had resources like yours back in the day, I probably never would have stopped lol but I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate the thought and depth that you put into your videos. I found your recent one on getting deeper squats for flat ground tricks and, as an adult skater, I didn’t realize how much that effected my pop n scoop until now! It also revealed my lack of ankle flexibility as well as how much I was hinging…with the deep squats, my legs get tried fairly quickly but I’m having significantly less lower back pain after a 1.5-2 hr sesh! So thanks again for all of the effort you put into your content, it’s very helpful!!
@@pretengineer ahh! Really stoked you got so much out of that video 😃 I’m still adjusting to it myself. Building up strength and such. Awesome it even helped with some back pain! Keep pushing💪
This is probably the most in depth freestyle set up video I've seen, great job. One thing that I think should be mentioned is the size of the person. When I first got into freestyle way back when... I would ride a teeny tiny freestyle board. I ended up growing to 6' 3" and slowly kept having to get bigger decks to feel good on a board. I'm now riding a 8.75" Popsicle with skids, and hybrid freestyle / street wheels, and I have never looked back since. If you are around 6' tall I'd recommend a bigger street board for sure. - Timmy B
Hi Timmy! I'm really glad you liked the video. That's a great point (one I like talking about too haha). I did consider talking about height here because I think that the size of skaters and their board size preferences are often related. But, I'm 5'1" and like "larger" freestyle decks around 7.8 and 8. My 7.8 waltz deck is my favorite in part because it's 29" long. I wish some popsicles were that long too. But I also have a 6'1" friend who loves 7.4s. Even I think 7.4" is too small haha. I would have never known if I hadn't tried all the sizes though. 😃 But I would also recommend taller people trying out wider decks first if someone asked. Or, I at least always try to warn people that the decks are narrow haha I certainly didn't realize how small some of the decks would be that I tried.
Cool vid to start the day! As a beginner I think having a freestyle board definitely helps but if your only option is a normal popsicle deck you’ll be fine for the most part.
Ah, thanks! I'm obviously biased because I started with freestyle, but I feel like it was so much easier than flatground (haven't been able to try transition much yet) haha at least in the beginning and the foundational tricks! Then freestyle indeed gets intense 😂
In romania there's Cirus Skateboards who make a sells some freestyle boards ! And marshall skateboarding in Germany too (shop) . Thanks Sarah for your video, always great and informative ! And great video editing :)
I got my skid plates from waltz skateboarding. They fit my waltz boards. I know waltz, decomposed and mode skateboards sell skidplates online. There are other retailers who sell skids too--especially if you're looking for skids for popsicle decks. I've found the non-freestyle brands in google searches when looking around (quick edit: also thanks! I dove right into my answer. I'm glad you liked the video 😃)
@@SarahParkMatott I see they have different thicknesses. Let's say I get the thickest one, does that affect pop? And which brand would you recommend from Decomposed site. So many options lol
@@kingkento Thickness and width/shape. You want one that will fit your tail/nose pretty well. I've actually never skated a skid that wasn't from waltz, so I can't really say what one I'd recommend. They should all be decent options. Skids are just plastic. And it will affect pop a little--mostly the pop angle. I have a video on that here too that goes into that ua-cam.com/video/fNhpSlVazO4/v-deo.html 💪
thank you! I'm glad you liked the video. 😃 I wanted to make this in part because I realize how hard it can be to get a freestyle deck (and afford one too)
Really cool to see your setups! I'm gonna get skid plates for a regular deck next year and then focus more on the freestyle tricks I can do on my setup. I hate getting razor tail so I've been reluctant about learning freestyle. 😩 Loved the editing in the beginning btw.
@@SarahParkMatott My tip to prevent razor tail and still allow me to skid the nose and tail, without skid plates, is to run a bead of epoxy on the underside of both ends. My favorite is Gorilla Glue Clear epoxy. As it wears down it's simple to do a quick touch up. Lasts surprisingly well and less chunky than skid plates.
Hello, what brand of wheels would you recommend to get started in freestyle with a cross-over setup? I usually skate miniramps with 54mm 97a conical wheels and a 8.5 deck/8.38 trucks lmao
Hm..well, to grab a similar wheel, Waltz skateboarding has a 54mm 97a freestyle wheel right now. I've also had good luck with Mode wheels, but they are mostly sold out right now. Those trucks might be just small enough to get freestyle wheels onto too! Probably won't need any washers.
eyoooooo, I'm back. I cant believe i miss 2 vids from you. Things have been so crazy here, also I wasn't able to skate for like a week and a half now. Sick intro btw. Its a pretty cool b-roll especially the one that starts at 0:31. I think it was pretty cool and unique. Also pretty nice editing there. Also.. cool morning sesh.. mwhehhe. About having a street set up but also wanting to freestyle. I want to know if you can still pop your board even if it has tail guard.... (im not sure whats the name of it..........or.. skid plate...? woof) mweheh Love your Vids as always woof!
Thank you! I'm glad you liked the intro so much. It was a lot of fun to play with and see what I could make. And funny you ask, because I will be talking about it soon. But, yes you can still pop the tail with the skid plates on the deck. 😃 It does affect the height of the tail, but I'll explain that in the video! :D
Comment and a question. This video was super helpful. I have been thinking about this a lot because I want to get back in and I want to learn a lot of freestyle to incorporate into street. This has me thinking that I should get a double kick freestyle board to learn and preserve my street board and a hybrid set up for street. My only question is what size trucks should I get to accommodate freestyle wheels on a 7.5-7.75 popsicle deck?
Ace 11s fit that range pretty well. I've used them on a 7.5 and 7.75. You just need to add/remove washers to adjust where the wheels set. Mike Osterman also has a whole video about the math that makes it possible to check any truck/wheel/deck combo 💪
@@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural they’re narrow so not great staying on ledges compared to other trucks I imagine. But, I’ve never used them for grinds, so I’m not sure 🤔
@@SarahParkMatott been doing as much research as possible and I am starting to think I am going to have to just spend time experimenting with different set ups.
What durometer wheels are recommended for freestyle? I cruise alot and have a 9" Crailtap board, ACE 66 RAW Trucks with risers on 59mm 80A Mini Logos. Thanks for any help and your video was superb as always, you make the finger flip look so easy but its definitely not 🤣👌💚💛❤🤙
It always does come down to preference. I've seen a lot of wheels from 95duro to 99. And I've skated all of them, but have enjoyed the 97s the most so far 😃 And thanks! The finger flip is definitely not easy, I did, however, practice them a million times haha
@@noobg6908 ah, I prefer the graphics of all my wheels hidden just because I like the solid colors more. However, freestyle wheels are asymmetrical in shape because the bearing sits off to one side and not in the middle like regular wheels. So, there is a side that must face inward for the wheels to work properly. 😃
Would you suggest getting 2 nose tail guards for a popsicle deck? I noticed on waltz website that the nosegaurd looks rounded. I think i might buy 2 for my nose and tail.
The nose guard looks rounder because it's a bit shorter. I would look at the dimensions of the nose and tail guards on Waltz and then check your own popsicle deck to see which size you think will fit better!
What's the best skid plate for a 8.25 or 8.5 Popsicle shaped deck? Would the Waltz one work alright? I think it would be a little too small, but, might be alright. However, I have a tendency to wear one side of my tail down more than the other, and have a feeling the smaller skid plate wouldn't be ideal.
Hmm.. I would look at "tailbones" too. A lot of skate shops still sell them. They're the oldschool skids, and they're online too. I would look up the tailbone and compare the length and shape with the waltz ones to see which might fit better. You can also send mike a DM on the waltzskateboarding instagram to ask about his skids and how they work on a larger deck. I know he's set them up before at least from an older video he has on his channel! And I've seen a lot of freestylers use them too. I'm not sure if they were waltz skids in particular though.
@@SarahParkMatott I actually bought a Powell Tail Bone a few weeks ago. It's way too big for a Popsicle shaped board. Would only work on an old school shaped deck. Turned out to be a waste of money. Maybe I will put it on an old school deck at some point. It appears that Radskidz makes a bunch of skid plates in various sizes. I saw that Tactics had an 8.5 one. Which you would think would fit an 8.5 deck. That's not the case though. you have to measure the deck 2" back from the tail. Which think works out to 6.5" if I remember correctly. I'll have to look around some more. I only saw the Radskidz ones listed on their website, and I prefer to buy online from sites that I'm familiar with.
@@idmhead0160 That makes sense since they were making those tailbones for the older boards that probably had square tails. I haven't tried them myself. I didn't know if they had other sizes. Well, that's too bad. Hopefully you can find one close to 6.5" to try out 🙌 and I don't blame you. I don't like random websites. I prefer to shop in person and then known sites if I need to.
@@SarahParkMatott I already had my SSN and license number get onto the Internet no thanks to T-Mobile. They had a data breach that leaked 50 million customers data. And I was only their customer for 3 days. I bought a phone in 2003 and returned it 3 days later. Back then, they required you to give them your SSN (total BS). They kept my data on file this whole time and then they got broken into.
Hi! What size freestyle deck and wheels do you ride? I want to get into freestyle and am a smaller girl. I ride an 8 street deck and was tempted to go with an 8 freestyle deck as well, but am thinking maybe I should go with 7.6 instead.
I've almost always ridden the 7.6 sizes (Waltz - 7.75 Yuta, 7.6 bixby, 7.5 huntington). I struggle with anything smaller still. I find this size to be the best one for how I skate 💪 And freestyle wheels are almost always 54 or 55mm around. I ride the 54mm waltz wheels myself. I would actually recommend going for the 7.6. A lot of tricks are easier on the smaller board. And if you already skate an 8, this would be more suited towards the niche you're looking at. It's a bit of an adjustment, but I think the rewards are higher 😃
@@SarahParkMatott thank you so much for the info and recommendations. It helps me a lot! There’s not a whole lot of info on freestyle skateboarding compared to street, especially for someone just starting out.
Hey! I was just wondering, would nickel board/penny board wheels work for a freestyle setup since they have a sort of cone shape to the end of them that covers the wheel bolt?
hm..I've never had a nickel or penny board, so I can't really answer that...but I imagine they have more grippy soft wheels for cruising, which wouldn't be ideal for freestyle tricks anyway. Depends on what you're planning on skating of course!
You definitely could if it suits your goals 🤔 maybe with some risers and cruiser wheels if you want too. It’s a little more compact than an actual cruiser but also bigger and stronger and more versatile than like a plastic penny board 😃 It would be a solid option for the right use case.
Yeah i have a penny board now, but i would like to be able to do some tricks if i feel like it but mostly cruise to and from work, i used to street skate when i was younger, but i just think freestyle skateboards look cooler
@@dasein3317 yeah, you definitely could if you wanted! 😃 If you want just one set of wheels too, I’d look at the 55mm 95a yellow mode skateboard wheels. They are a little softer and still good for tricks. But they aren’t ideal for cruising, since you really can’t beat soft cruiser wheels, but still a solid option if switching up wheels is a no-go 🤔
@@SarahParkMatott Found them on their site! They are sold out T_T It seems like there was a model for each of the sailors! I'll keep an eye out in case they reissue. Thanks!
yeah, a lot of places are stuck ordering online, if available and at the cost of high import/shipping fees. 😢 There are some DIY methods of making skid plates I heard, but I'm not sure how.
@@SarahParkMatott yeah I actually can teach you how to do a no handed 5050/truck stand (I’m intermediate when it comes to that trick). but i do know a cool trick combo you can do) (if u have a social I’ll likely send it there) ps your pretty good at freestyle skateboarding.
@@SarahParkMatott and i agreed it’s honestly really cool how it started from that to a popsicle deck(and honestly shaped decks. also 80s things in general are coming back now theses days.
@@darkXwolf17-UD I actually know how to get into no handed 50/50. Not consistently yet. But, I’ve landed a few this summer. 💪 And yeah. I think it’s awesome how boards evolved and changed shape. I’m all for the difference kinds. Just got a cruiser to explore more 💪
@@SarahParkMatott nice (Mabye u can help me improve on my 50/50s (also I forgot to mention I got my first freestyle skateboard from a skateboard website call decomposed skateboards) they sell the Original 80s single kick skateboards and modern ones too.
I wonder if in ancient times people researched what chisel Michelangelo used to carve the statue of David thinking if only, they had the same brand chisel they too could carve a David LOL
Oh! Is that shop owned by Marius by any chance? I can see he is in the promo videos on the website, but don't know Romanian to figure it out haha Will add the shop to the list though!
So glad freestyle has made a comeback, i felt like a fish out of water back in the days, i found street tricks utterly boring while i adored this form of lost art nobody was interested in. I fell in love with it the moment i watched Mullen's scene in Gleaming the Cube, i knew it was my thing. There was no one around to teach me the basics and we had little to no internet in the late 90s/early 00s. Thank you for all the valuable info, i'll use it for my first (proper) freestyle setup!
I'm so stoked that it's making a comeback too! 💪 Hope you enjoy your first proper set up 🙌
I totally get personal preference and all that but how could you find street boring? It’s every freestyle trick done in more dimensions plus a bunch and some of that bunch can take a lot of work to get. You’re telling me a pop shove it late heal flip is boring? Ever try a kick flip 5-0 yo-yo 50/50 shove it out? Boring, right? I’m not trying to be a d^(k (or make any claim that I ever COULD do that last combo😂). What you wrote just doesn’t make sense to me. Gleaming The Cube got me hooked too.
@@H3LLE I dont think you understand street at all. Everything you just wrote in praise of freestyle applies equally to street. Actually, I think street IS freestyle. There is no clear delineation between the two. In fact I think it would be accurate to say that street is the most complete style in that it contains all other styles. What’s really amazing to me is your assertion that street has become too technical and your smear of “obsessing” blahblahblah. Freestyle isn’t technical?!? If that were true every decent street skater would be able to dominate freestyle comps. They cannot. Here’s what I really think. The technical stuff is too hard for you so you stuck with what was easy and fun. There is nothing wrong with that but you shouldn’t talk down on the other branches of the art. I suggest checking out people like Daewon Song. That guy flows. FWIW, If you get any trick down you can flow with it. I watched a video with a friend where Chad Muska tre Flips a biggish gap but between two buildings with a decent fall if he didn’t make it. I asked my friend what he thought went through Chads mind as he did that trick. He looked me in the eye and with a smile said one word, “nothing”.
@@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural It sounds like the shit old guitar players who can't play say. They say new music is soulless when they just can't accept that they didn't practice properly and can't reach the level of technicality lol. WTF is soul and feels? A f*cking 12 to 14 bend? lol. Just practice old man. Stop being jealous and appreciate greatness.
Digging the music and the reverse paper crumpling. You're also progressing quickly in presentation, Sarah!
Thanks! Always trying to make the videos a little better when I can too 😃
@@SarahParkMatott you should try doing old school kickflips. Space walks, walk the dog. (J walking/walk the dog variation) and end overs. Their pretty fun.
i mainly want to learn freestyle skating to incorporate it into street so i have a new way to view obstacles in the streets and have other creative ways of getting up down and around them
Sarah your editing skill is improving! I can see you putting time and efforts in the setup b-roll, and of course the rest of the video. Keep the good work :)
I had also been experimenting a hybrid setup for both park (mainly transitions) and freestyle.
Sadly, to my personal preference, they are on the different ends of the spectrum, wide vs narrow deck, tight vs loose trucks, and also wheel hardness.
So I end up having two separate setups.
The process is fun though!
Thank you! Always trying to improve the videos little by little 😃
haha, I get that..in a way! That's similar to the main reason I've ended up with so many set ups. Just didn't know what my preferences were yet. I went back and forth between what I thought I liked and didn't. Finally getting to a place where I am learning what I prefer though 😃
Thanks for all the detail. I have been watching Mike's channel for a little while now and only recently discovered you are both friends. I have been trying some basic freestyle tricks to help improve my balance on the board and get more familiar with it. When I see the likes of Jonny Giger doing some epic freestyle tricks on a regular lollypop board it gives me hope. I am also using the water bottle and deck as aDIY balance board (courtesy of a Braille video) which is massively helping with my balance control.
ah yeah! Mike and I have become pretty good friends--especially this last year. I love his channel too! Stoked you're into freestyle though 😃 Jonny Giger always impresses me because I know how difficult those tricks are on regular set ups 😂 Freestyle set ups have huge advantages. Right now I'm just skating a popsicle with freestyle wheels for my main freestyle board and I've been having a lot of fun with it lol Keep shredding 🙌
Thank you so much for posting this and sharing Mike's video! I'm building my first board in 20 years or so and would like to dabble in freestyle tricks, so this really came in at a great time for me! Thanks! 👍
Good point at the end. Having a freestyle deck won’t necessarily help you skate better. Getting out and doing it no matter the setup is the one true way to get better.
Haha love that setup montage!! Lol I've been wanting to learn some freestyle tricks after seeing andy anderson skate the past year, and this is a great resource as well. I would definitely like a deck with a smaller wheelbase since whipping my regular 8.25 deck around can be a challenge with me being 5feet7 skinny...
Thanks 😃 It was a lot of fun to make that and try and have fun with it. Glad you liked it!
Yeah, just an inch or two really makes a difference. I just bought new trucks not too long ago to shorten the wheel base on my regular popsicle decks, and it's so much better for it. Love it 💪
Thank you so much for this. The hybrid set-up you’ve had in the video is a hella sweet idea. I’m thinking about giving that a try, especially when I haven’t skated in so many years and I’m trying to reteach myself.
Go for it 😃 Whatever you think'll be fun!
I was about to order the single kick from waltz but now thinking about the double. First I wanted a cruiser then went to freestyle lol. Hoping to buy one in the next week just have to fine the right set up. I was sure after all this research i had it figured out. Back to thinking lol leaning towards double kick freestyle waltz set up
ahhh, I totally understand you (and glad you chose freestyle! It's so much fun). I was so caught up in the "right" board for a long time. And now, I've actually skated both the waltz double kick (bixby) and the single kick (huntington). I've been skating the huntington for the first time this month. Both boards have great designs. And the good news is that, as long as you like the width, it's much cheaper to get a new deck than a whole set up. So, you can really choose either board and if you want to try another, get it when you can. I personally still prefer double kicks. But it's been fun playing on the huntington.
Thx u what i was asking to myself like how could i ease my self doing some rail flip on my popcicle,and all tht info was really helpful !
Merci
That's awesome! Mike Osterman also has a great video about choosing trucks and wheels now. It's really helpful if you want to watch it ua-cam.com/video/Vct7GdKk1Cw/v-deo.html
I'm wanting to try my hand at freestyle, and here in the UK it's pretty difficult to get hold of dedicated freestyle decks so I've been thinking of building out a freestyle friendly rig using a standard board -so, thanks for this - really helpful!
google offsetskatesupply, it's a UK based freestyle shop run by Tony Gale. UK is one of the easier places for getting a freestyle setup honestly
That was the coolest intro montage of a skateboard set-up that I've ever seen in all of my lives! Also, as chill as skateboarding is by nature, you somehow take the chill vibe to another level!
As far as content, as someone who skated from around 12-19 years old then started back, almost religiously, again back in January (at the age of 34), I just went with the standard street set up that I've always known. (Hit up Armada skate shop in Charlotte NC! I got that Grimple Egg (my attempt at creating some novelty in my setup) on Thunders, Big Balls, and Dragon Formulas (needed that newnew) with that clear! Gotta shout out my local!) But starting back again after such a long hiatus, I had to re-grind the ollie.
Last time it took around a year to get to where I could ollie over something consistently, and this time it took approx 3 months (so a bit of an improvement!). When I discovered skaters like you, Mike Osterman, and the cross-over king Andy Anderson, I found myself learning more and more about freestyle!
A big difference that I've noticed is that the more freestyle technique that I learn, the more tech street stuff that starts to click into my mind/body. It almost feels like everyone needs to learn freestyle first; it's almost foundational. It seems like the perfect way to make the mind-body connection the most rigid as quickly as possible...then from mastering those (almost passive skills after spending thousands of hours drilling them), then building on transferring that on-ground balance/technique to off-ground (and off-hand) manipulation of the board, it just seems like a very logical way to progress as quickly as possible.....but what do I know, I'm only 5 months deep after a 15 year break :*(*****
ahh, that's awesome! Welcome back to skateboarding. Stoked you've been having a good time and found some interest in freestyle. As someone who couldn't learn to shove it in years as a kid and the coming really far as an adult, I totally agree. I think freestyle has been the ultimate force for progress for me too. The better I get at freestyle, the better I get at everything. I also think it helped me get a slightly different and more in depth level of board feel...at least way faster than if I had just done street skating. But, I can take that understanding anywhere like you are saying. Stoked you're having fun with it too 🙌
@@SarahParkMatott thank you!! If I would have had resources like yours back in the day, I probably never would have stopped lol but I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate the thought and depth that you put into your videos. I found your recent one on getting deeper squats for flat ground tricks and, as an adult skater, I didn’t realize how much that effected my pop n scoop until now! It also revealed my lack of ankle flexibility as well as how much I was hinging…with the deep squats, my legs get tried fairly quickly but I’m having significantly less lower back pain after a 1.5-2 hr sesh! So thanks again for all of the effort you put into your content, it’s very helpful!!
@@pretengineer ahh! Really stoked you got so much out of that video 😃 I’m still adjusting to it myself. Building up strength and such. Awesome it even helped with some back pain! Keep pushing💪
This is probably the most in depth freestyle set up video I've seen, great job.
One thing that I think should be mentioned is the size of the person. When I first got into freestyle way back when... I would ride a teeny tiny freestyle board. I ended up growing to 6' 3" and slowly kept having to get bigger decks to feel good on a board. I'm now riding a 8.75" Popsicle with skids, and hybrid freestyle / street wheels, and I have never looked back since. If you are around 6' tall I'd recommend a bigger street board for sure.
- Timmy B
Hi Timmy! I'm really glad you liked the video. That's a great point (one I like talking about too haha). I did consider talking about height here because I think that the size of skaters and their board size preferences are often related. But, I'm 5'1" and like "larger" freestyle decks around 7.8 and 8. My 7.8 waltz deck is my favorite in part because it's 29" long. I wish some popsicles were that long too. But I also have a 6'1" friend who loves 7.4s. Even I think 7.4" is too small haha. I would have never known if I hadn't tried all the sizes though. 😃 But I would also recommend taller people trying out wider decks first if someone asked. Or, I at least always try to warn people that the decks are narrow haha I certainly didn't realize how small some of the decks would be that I tried.
The camerawork is insane!!
You are awesome... Great delivery 👌all the time.. keep up the good stuff ❤
Thank you so much!! Will do 😃💪
This video was a great help, thanks!!!
Cool vid to start the day! As a beginner I think having a freestyle board definitely helps but if your only option is a normal popsicle deck you’ll be fine for the most part.
Thanks! :D
I was just starting to research freestyle boards yesterday! This is a great help. Thanks for the links too.
oh, glad the timing worked out! 😃
great video and editing! i love your clear presentation of different topics.
ah thanks John! Happy to hear you thought it was a clear presentation. 😃
Freestyle has a super steep learning curve compared to flatground and transition. You've got some talent!
Ah, thanks! I'm obviously biased because I started with freestyle, but I feel like it was so much easier than flatground (haven't been able to try transition much yet) haha at least in the beginning and the foundational tricks! Then freestyle indeed gets intense 😂
Great advice. You're smooth on the freestyle I think. Good job.
Thanks Sarah, great video, really inspiring! LOVE the graphic on your new deck!!
Thank you! So glad you liked it 😃
hi black kitty. Nice intro Sarah. it definitely made the video more interesting. videos are informative as usual. looking forward to ur next vid.
Thank you! 😃Glad you liked it
In romania there's Cirus Skateboards who make a sells some freestyle boards ! And marshall skateboarding in Germany too (shop) .
Thanks Sarah for your video, always great and informative ! And great video editing :)
Thank you! I added the shops to the list. Really appreciate that :D
And I'm glad you liked the video 😃
Thank you Sarah. This is super helpful x
Glad to hear it Laura :D
Thanks for this video. It was fun to learn about the different setups and the reasons you might have one vs the other
Thanks Mike! 😃
Hi Sarah, great video! Where did you get the skid plates?
I got my skid plates from waltz skateboarding. They fit my waltz boards. I know waltz, decomposed and mode skateboards sell skidplates online. There are other retailers who sell skids too--especially if you're looking for skids for popsicle decks. I've found the non-freestyle brands in google searches when looking around (quick edit: also thanks! I dove right into my answer. I'm glad you liked the video 😃)
@@SarahParkMatott I see they have different thicknesses. Let's say I get the thickest one, does that affect pop? And which brand would you recommend from Decomposed site. So many options lol
@@kingkento Thickness and width/shape. You want one that will fit your tail/nose pretty well. I've actually never skated a skid that wasn't from waltz, so I can't really say what one I'd recommend. They should all be decent options. Skids are just plastic. And it will affect pop a little--mostly the pop angle. I have a video on that here too that goes into that ua-cam.com/video/fNhpSlVazO4/v-deo.html 💪
@@SarahParkMatott UA-cam recommended that video after I commented on your video :)
Thanks for these tips Sarah! Been thinking about if I should splurge and get a freestyle board. This video helped me see what the benefits would be.
Glad the video helped and came out right around when you were thinking about it 😃 What good timing 💪
Thanx! Really helpful
Wow, loving the intro and overall production quality of this video! Keep it up. 😁
Thank you Lauren! Trying to making them a little better whenever I can 😃
amazing video as always! really helps because it's been almost impossible to find a freestyle deck here
thank you! I'm glad you liked the video. 😃 I wanted to make this in part because I realize how hard it can be to get a freestyle deck (and afford one too)
5:01 and 6:49 what are those wheels called?
The first wheels are Mode Freestyle Wheels 55mm 95a. And the second wheels are Waltz Freestyle Donut Wheels 54mm 97a ☺️
nice cinematography.
Awesome editing!
😃Thanks!
amazing video, also great skate vibes to you
ah, thank you! 🙏 gotta share the skate vibes 🙌
Really cool to see your setups! I'm gonna get skid plates for a regular deck next year and then focus more on the freestyle tricks I can do on my setup. I hate getting razor tail so I've been reluctant about learning freestyle. 😩 Loved the editing in the beginning btw.
Yeah! I'm excited for you to try the skid plates and see how it goes 😃 And thank you. Glad, you liked that bit! :D
@@SarahParkMatott My tip to prevent razor tail and still allow me to skid the nose and tail, without skid plates, is to run a bead of epoxy on the underside of both ends. My favorite is Gorilla Glue Clear epoxy. As it wears down it's simple to do a quick touch up. Lasts surprisingly well and less chunky than skid plates.
Hello, what brand of wheels would you recommend to get started in freestyle with a cross-over setup? I usually skate miniramps with 54mm 97a conical wheels and a 8.5 deck/8.38 trucks lmao
Hm..well, to grab a similar wheel, Waltz skateboarding has a 54mm 97a freestyle wheel right now. I've also had good luck with Mode wheels, but they are mostly sold out right now. Those trucks might be just small enough to get freestyle wheels onto too! Probably won't need any washers.
eyoooooo, I'm back. I cant believe i miss 2 vids from you. Things have been so crazy here, also I wasn't able to skate for like a week and a half now. Sick intro btw. Its a pretty cool b-roll especially the one that starts at 0:31. I think it was pretty cool and unique. Also pretty nice editing there. Also.. cool morning sesh.. mwhehhe. About having a street set up but also wanting to freestyle. I want to know if you can still pop your board even if it has tail guard.... (im not sure whats the name of it..........or.. skid plate...? woof) mweheh Love your Vids as always woof!
*btw. i also love the part where you synched movements with the beat of the music. i think its pretty cool.
Thank you! I'm glad you liked the intro so much. It was a lot of fun to play with and see what I could make.
And funny you ask, because I will be talking about it soon. But, yes you can still pop the tail with the skid plates on the deck. 😃 It does affect the height of the tail, but I'll explain that in the video! :D
Oh okok noted. Thank you! I'll be waiting for that vid then... Soon. Mwheheh
Comment and a question. This video was super helpful. I have been thinking about this a lot because I want to get back in and I want to learn a lot of freestyle to incorporate into street. This has me thinking that I should get a double kick freestyle board to learn and preserve my street board and a hybrid set up for street. My only question is what size trucks should I get to accommodate freestyle wheels on a 7.5-7.75 popsicle deck?
Ace 11s fit that range pretty well. I've used them on a 7.5 and 7.75. You just need to add/remove washers to adjust where the wheels set. Mike Osterman also has a whole video about the math that makes it possible to check any truck/wheel/deck combo 💪
@@SarahParkMatott rad. How do the aces hold up to grinds?
@@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural they’re narrow so not great staying on ledges compared to other trucks I imagine. But, I’ve never used them for grinds, so I’m not sure 🤔
@@SarahParkMatott been doing as much research as possible and I am starting to think I am going to have to just spend time experimenting with different set ups.
Great advice!!
Thank you! 🙏
What durometer wheels are recommended for freestyle? I cruise alot and have a 9" Crailtap board, ACE 66 RAW Trucks with risers on 59mm 80A Mini Logos. Thanks for any help and your video was superb as always, you make the finger flip look so easy but its definitely not 🤣👌💚💛❤🤙
It always does come down to preference. I've seen a lot of wheels from 95duro to 99. And I've skated all of them, but have enjoyed the 97s the most so far 😃 And thanks! The finger flip is definitely not easy, I did, however, practice them a million times haha
Wicked setup
Editing is unreal!
ah, thank you! 🙏🙏
0:41 why do you put your wheels like this?🤔
What do you mean?
@@SarahParkMatott the graffics are inwards
@@noobg6908 ah, I prefer the graphics of all my wheels hidden just because I like the solid colors more. However, freestyle wheels are asymmetrical in shape because the bearing sits off to one side and not in the middle like regular wheels. So, there is a side that must face inward for the wheels to work properly. 😃
Would you suggest getting 2 nose tail guards for a popsicle deck? I noticed on waltz website that the nosegaurd looks rounded. I think i might buy 2 for my nose and tail.
The nose guard looks rounder because it's a bit shorter. I would look at the dimensions of the nose and tail guards on Waltz and then check your own popsicle deck to see which size you think will fit better!
What's the best skid plate for a 8.25 or 8.5 Popsicle shaped deck? Would the Waltz one work alright? I think it would be a little too small, but, might be alright. However, I have a tendency to wear one side of my tail down more than the other, and have a feeling the smaller skid plate wouldn't be ideal.
Hmm.. I would look at "tailbones" too. A lot of skate shops still sell them. They're the oldschool skids, and they're online too. I would look up the tailbone and compare the length and shape with the waltz ones to see which might fit better. You can also send mike a DM on the waltzskateboarding instagram to ask about his skids and how they work on a larger deck. I know he's set them up before at least from an older video he has on his channel! And I've seen a lot of freestylers use them too. I'm not sure if they were waltz skids in particular though.
@@SarahParkMatott I actually bought a Powell Tail Bone a few weeks ago. It's way too big for a Popsicle shaped board. Would only work on an old school shaped deck. Turned out to be a waste of money. Maybe I will put it on an old school deck at some point. It appears that Radskidz makes a bunch of skid plates in various sizes. I saw that Tactics had an 8.5 one. Which you would think would fit an 8.5 deck. That's not the case though. you have to measure the deck 2" back from the tail. Which think works out to 6.5" if I remember correctly. I'll have to look around some more. I only saw the Radskidz ones listed on their website, and I prefer to buy online from sites that I'm familiar with.
@@idmhead0160 That makes sense since they were making those tailbones for the older boards that probably had square tails. I haven't tried them myself. I didn't know if they had other sizes. Well, that's too bad. Hopefully you can find one close to 6.5" to try out 🙌 and I don't blame you. I don't like random websites. I prefer to shop in person and then known sites if I need to.
@@SarahParkMatott I already had my SSN and license number get onto the Internet no thanks to T-Mobile. They had a data breach that leaked 50 million customers data. And I was only their customer for 3 days. I bought a phone in 2003 and returned it 3 days later. Back then, they required you to give them your SSN (total BS). They kept my data on file this whole time and then they got broken into.
At 9:29 what kind of tape was this? This is the 1st video I've seen by you...and it was so informative. Thanks
Ah that was clear mob grip tape 😃 and happy to hear that!
Your new skateboard is beautiful
Ah thanks! I love this deck 😃
Hi! What size freestyle deck and wheels do you ride? I want to get into freestyle and am a smaller girl. I ride an 8 street deck and was tempted to go with an 8 freestyle deck as well, but am thinking maybe I should go with 7.6 instead.
I've almost always ridden the 7.6 sizes (Waltz - 7.75 Yuta, 7.6 bixby, 7.5 huntington). I struggle with anything smaller still. I find this size to be the best one for how I skate 💪 And freestyle wheels are almost always 54 or 55mm around. I ride the 54mm waltz wheels myself. I would actually recommend going for the 7.6. A lot of tricks are easier on the smaller board. And if you already skate an 8, this would be more suited towards the niche you're looking at. It's a bit of an adjustment, but I think the rewards are higher 😃
@@SarahParkMatott thank you so much for the info and recommendations. It helps me a lot! There’s not a whole lot of info on freestyle skateboarding compared to street, especially for someone just starting out.
@@flisskahn6010 I totally understand 💪 Glad that the recommendation was helpful 😃
Sarah could you do a video on the old school kick flip?
Definitely will when I feel more confident with it! 💪 and more consistent
Hey! I was just wondering, would nickel board/penny board wheels work for a freestyle setup since they have a sort of cone shape to the end of them that covers the wheel bolt?
hm..I've never had a nickel or penny board, so I can't really answer that...but I imagine they have more grippy soft wheels for cruising, which wouldn't be ideal for freestyle tricks anyway. Depends on what you're planning on skating of course!
Coolest intro 👌
😃 thank you!
Do you think you could use a freestyle skateboard for mostly cruising?
You definitely could if it suits your goals 🤔 maybe with some risers and cruiser wheels if you want too. It’s a little more compact than an actual cruiser but also bigger and stronger and more versatile than like a plastic penny board 😃 It would be a solid option for the right use case.
Yeah i have a penny board now, but i would like to be able to do some tricks if i feel like it but mostly cruise to and from work, i used to street skate when i was younger, but i just think freestyle skateboards look cooler
@@dasein3317 yeah, you definitely could if you wanted! 😃 If you want just one set of wheels too, I’d look at the 55mm 95a yellow mode skateboard wheels. They are a little softer and still good for tricks. But they aren’t ideal for cruising, since you really can’t beat soft cruiser wheels, but still a solid option if switching up wheels is a no-go 🤔
Did you made that Sailor Moon graphic? It looks great!
Thanks! Primitive skateboards came out with a line of sailor moon decks 😃
@@SarahParkMatott Found them on their site! They are sold out T_T
It seems like there was a model for each of the sailors! I'll keep an eye out in case they reissue. Thanks!
@@NullAxis you can also check local shops or chains. I saw them a few times! Hope you can find one sometime 💪
Honestly with Winter coming on I probably should zone in on freestyle tricks. I have a basement lol
Freestyle set ups are hard to do or get in Australia even skid plates seem hard to find
yeah, a lot of places are stuck ordering online, if available and at the cost of high import/shipping fees. 😢 There are some DIY methods of making skid plates I heard, but I'm not sure how.
Why do skateboarders turn the wheel graphics to the inside?
I'm not sure. Personally, I like solid colors over graphics on wheels 😃
@@SarahParkMatott ok thanks. Just curious. I see it often on setup videos haha
I honestly think a flat noes (for me) made kickflips, olies, shovets and other tricks much easier for me.
that's cool! I mean flat noses are where they started, so can definitely do them 💪 Cool it works for you so well!
@@SarahParkMatott yeah I actually can teach you how to do a no handed 5050/truck stand (I’m intermediate when it comes to that trick).
but i do know a cool trick combo you can do) (if u have a social I’ll likely send it there) ps your pretty good at freestyle skateboarding.
@@SarahParkMatott and i agreed it’s honestly really cool how it started from that to a popsicle deck(and honestly shaped decks. also 80s things in general are coming back now theses days.
@@darkXwolf17-UD I actually know how to get into no handed 50/50. Not consistently yet. But, I’ve landed a few this summer. 💪
And yeah. I think it’s awesome how boards evolved and changed shape. I’m all for the difference kinds. Just got a cruiser to explore more 💪
@@SarahParkMatott nice (Mabye u can help me improve on my 50/50s (also I forgot to mention I got my first freestyle skateboard from a skateboard website call decomposed skateboards) they sell the Original 80s single kick skateboards and modern ones too.
Nice 👍👍👍
Thanks! 😃
Beautiful cat❤
I wonder if in ancient times people researched what chisel Michelangelo used to carve the statue of David thinking if only, they had the same brand chisel they too could carve a David LOL
セーラームーン❣️🇯🇵✨👍
Sorry, I can’t speak English😊
私もセーラームーンが好きです笑 😂 It’s okay. I speak a little Japanese 💪
rad
Hi Sarah, can I send you my ollie video to help me correct my back leg please?
Sure. I'm always happy to look at it.
@@SarahParkMatott much appreciated how to send to you?
@@liuchangee my Instagram is linked in the description
@@SarahParkMatott I sent it to you on instagram message:) BTW, what wheels are you using?
@@liuchangee they change quite often. But I like waltz freestyle wheels and spitfire tablets! 😃also, thanks!
Until recently I bought a popsicle deck and reshaped it.
#abolishconcave :DDD love vid as always ^^ also shoutout to nose and tail from Romania :D super nice dude with amazing shop !
Oh! Is that shop owned by Marius by any chance? I can see he is in the promo videos on the website, but don't know Romanian to figure it out haha Will add the shop to the list though!
@@SarahParkMatott yp thats my dude :D