Just came here to say i am a 35 year old Belgian. Stopped skateboarding when my daughter was born 11 years ago because i had bad knees. I had a knee surgery a few years later and thought i never could skate again. Now my son wanted a skateboard for his 10th birthday and i bought myself a new deck and am starting to skate again. I can only do sessions of 30 to 45 minutes before my knee starts to hurt a little. I can do some Ollie's, 180, s and shovits. Today a made myself a little curb to start some grinds again. My favorite trick in the day was backside 5-0. Long story short, i having a good time. You are a big inspiration to me. I use your warm ups and i am doing the 4 steps to inprove my ollie you thought me. Keep up the good work
thierry lens infuse some cannabis in olive oil and use that to rub your knees, youll see the pain relif , do it beffore and after, and all days if you want, it will keep you knees ready for battle 👍🤘🤘
Warm up and stretch your calf muscles,man. Check out Athlean-Xs' channel, he's got an advanced calf stretch that will blow your mind in terms of knee pain relief
thierry lens I don’t know how bad your knees are but I would suggest you give transition skateparks a shot. It’s all pumping your legs so it’ll be tiring at first but will help you build strength and stability for your legs and knees. Skating flat is all impact and bad for you feet if you’re that severely injured. Transition has been rehab for my knees. Wear protective gear.
Bienvenu de retour dans le monde merveilleux du skate! I am 43, I paused skateboarding many times because of "life" but never stopped. "Getting old" will bring more pains with it, yet skateboarding will give you extra life moments, endless youth souvenirs and priceless connection with your boy. So, just enjoy, as you can and keep motivation at the top while supporting Ben:)
Welcome man! just turned 42 and been skating more than one year, love it. Ben is such an inspiration and I think he and Chad are aliens with skater's skin on
Victor Angelotti it’s true... I broke down and bought a 8.25 with a super steep tail with some 148 thunders. It’s cool for cruising but nothing like my old 7.75 With late 90’s destructos... skated that setup for 10 years
@@kevinhunter5349 I tried to skate every size between 7.75 and 8.5 this year, because I'm tall and heavy and people said it would be better to ride a larger board...but I lost a lot of tricks with the big sizes...I'm done with that and decided to go with 7.75 or 8.0 forever hahaha
@@victor.skater I have a similar experience, was experimenting in the 7'.75/7.9 range and now im back to 8.125+ and it feels super limiting (I know it's prob just placebo) but especially when you are skating tech and knee high ledges I feel like there really are some massive advantages to slimming down.
@@e-money. high ledges are a big problem to me when skating 8.25+ boards...also I feel that I can skate for more time with a 7.75 because it takes so much less effort to do the tricks (I'm a 31 fat guy so to be able to do a 90 min session is a bless hahaha)
That fs flip at the end was clean. 7.5 was probably my whole little crew's size. I remeber going to a 8 and felt like I was skating on a boat. Now I'm on a 8.38 and stepping on a 8 feels like a broom stick lol
@@kevinhunter5349 it was the perfect size to me. When thrill of it all came out I went and got a 8 in Hope's of skating big lol.... I went back to 7.5 right after. Now i like the big boats lol times change
I bought a 7.3 board, and I flow so diferent on it, I really have a nice time with this board... I've ridding 8.0 for 4 years but I felt weird some times and wasn't sure if I should change my board, but I seen this video and inspired me so much! 🙏🏼🇲🇽
I’m 29, when I grew up skating early 2000’s I remember Bam skating like an 8 and thinking he must be insane to have a board that big. Now an 8 is small lol
30 here, and just got back into skating after 10 years of not doing it. Went into a shop and there are hardly any 7.75 that. Asked online and a lot of people are saying 8.25 is average now... What?!
@@amadousy7543 Skated pretty much since i was born (2003) Grew up on the skatevideos my brothers owned like This is skateboarding, almost round three, darkstar battalion, dvs skate more, really sorry, yeah right and remember when i was like 4 and fully flared came out and i thought the intro was the sickest thing ever lmfao. But when i got my first real board like around 2010 7,5 and 7,75 were still the norm up here in sweden.
yea 100% i remember thinking bam skating an 8 was ridiculous. barely anyone skated 8 or above back then it was usually 7.5-7.825. i skated 7.625 for years. i was so amazed to hear that eveyrone skates huge boards these days. i just ordered an 8" to try out for the first time after not skating for like 18 years.
Im 42. Got back on a skateboard 2 years ago after a 25+ years break. I've tried almost all the deck sizes, (trying to follow the trend) and always come back to the 7.75-8 inches.. Feel more agile and more fun (for me).. After seeing your video I want a 7.5!! Thanks for keeping my addiction alive!! Hahaha!!!
Just recently coming back into skating 5 years since I last skated I bought a cheap prebuilt and was so surprised at how quick it came back. 30 mins in and I landed my first kick flip just couldn't believe how at home my feet felt on that board didnt even realize how much I missed it till I started watching your videos and a few other youtubers and got back on the board ,keep making videos I'll keep watching.
Being a talented carpenter and obviously super aware of your perfect board dimensions/specifications, have you ever been tempted to make your own deck?
The good ol days! I moved up to 8.0 because the 7.75 just feels small to me now. You're right about the flip tricks feeling sluggish but I've gotten use to it. 32 yrs old and actually progressing again after 10 years of no skating. Beats the gym lol
I'm 46. I skated from about '83 until somewhere around '88 or '89. We were riding the 10" decks. I just recently got a skateboard because my kids can't believe their dad used to skate. Its taking some time getting used to a 8.5 deck compared to a 10" deck. I cannot imagine riding something as tiny as 7.5 inches.
I started skating in '89 on a 10" board and eventually ended up on a 7.5" by the mid 90's. It's crazy to think about how much boards changed in just the span of a few years back then. Now I'm in my 40's and mostly skate 8.125" decks with Indy Forged Titaniums (for my old legs) and 53mm Spitfires.
That was awesome to see the water reservoir session; I definitely remember seeing this spot in 90s skate videos and it looks really fun to skate as well. You have a certain skate style that takes me back to that era; a time when individualism seemed to shine through in every push and the way skaters would land there tricks. Over the years, an overemphasis on landing perfectly ‘clean’ tricks seemed to erode some of this individual expression away from the style each skateboarder has. You land things clean and smooth, but your individual style always shines through in your skateboarding; it’s refreshing!
I've also been skating 27 years (1992) but am 31, so was 4 when I started. Propoganda was "my" first video that I kept renting over and over. These guys felt SO much older at the time, but I still remember it for the most part.
From the mid 90s until a couple months ago I was always skating 7.5, 7.62, or 7.75. I only just recently bumped up with my current 8" and an 8.25" on standby. These wider decks have been easier for me to adjust to than I expected.
Your flip tricks and catch are so much crisper and "flickier" on the smaller boards. Just what I notice from watching loads of your videos. As always I enjoy all your videos keep it up 🤘👍👌
Hellyeah! I’m 37, grew up sk8ng 7.5s....even some minis, cuz I’m short. Now I ride 7.75. Love the classic setup too with the Ventures and 49mm Spitfires 👍
This is so sick, thanks for making this! I really wanted to see you skate something like this. You are killin it my g. 7.75/7.875's/7.9s are so fun. Was rocking them on some thunder 148's in the past year and im likely going back to that range of boards on my setup as 8.25 feels like a boat now. The thinness of the boards give a super nice flick while the wider trucks give you a load of stability which i need for my 12 size shoes, haha. Wish there were more 7.875's out there in specific, kind of a rare size to see at the shop
I’m actually half your age Ben but because of your talk of mike carrol throughout your videos I went back and watched a lot of his parts and he’s now of on my favorites, definitely top 5. I was actually watching goldfish this morning.
Pausing a 6 minutes flat, I grew up tech skating and I totally feel you on the muscle memory, I felt kind of out of balance lately with this 8.25 I've been skating recently I stepped on a 7.625 and was nailing tricks I haven't even tried in years. Anyway back to the video
Great vid as usual Ben! I have been skateboarding for 19years and still ride boards in the 7ns. Started my career with 7.5, later on 7.625 and nowdays 7.75. #LoveTechSkateboarding
The lines at the reservoir were so classic! Really took me back. Beautiful. I've been skating since '95, and this year I finally moved up to an 8" after riding 7.75-7.88" for the last couple decades. I think I like it, but I wonder how I'd feel if I sized back down now.
I still have those Feather Lites...when they came out(93)they were the supposed to be the lowest & lightest...I got them on a 7.4” Hufnagel that I still bust out every now and then. Great vid...enjoyed it.
I'd love to see a video of the importance of the length of a deck. Definitely feel like thats one of the things thats really overlooked, especially compared to just choicing a board by the width. Keep doing your thing Ben!
37 yeras old here and yeah a new 7,5 cliche boar here, have had it laying around for years and its about time to use it now.. got some old small street wheels as well .. love the 90s feel :)
I really wish I had known about this other channel you have. I started to learn how to skateboard at 32, about nine years ago. It took me a year to find my balance and comfort level. I rode for 4 years then things got a bit more busy and complicated and someone stole my original board. I did continue with a second one and I still have that board and get on it every now and then. I really appreciate this video and both your channels now that I know about this one 😀. Thanks Ben, from Gus in Ohio.
🎶Ben’s World, Ben’s World...Party time, Excellent!!! 🎶 Woodallooo Woodallooo Woodalloo Yep I’m 36 and I rocked a 7.5 TomPenny Flip deck on GullWings!! :)
Dude im so happy i found your channel, Ive been out of the skating scene for like 12 or 13 years and got back into it again last summer and the first thing i noticed was how big the boards are haha not saying its a bad thing i think its super interesting, i remember people with 8.0's and over were like vert skaters haha, I always rid 7.625. But after watching your videos my soul feels at rest lol thanks man
I tried ventures for the first time just the other day and i absolutly love it, i reallized that i just don't get the crisp feeling from indipenden on a 8 inch board with a 14 inch wheelbase. Thank you ben for making videos i can rewatch like a 100 times XD
I knew you were going to feel at home on that set up, your skate grew up on that era....just like mine on 10" boards and 60mm wheels, thats why i feel so confortable on 9" and 58mm
Always skated GIRL or Plan B 7,5"-7,625" and thunders 145s from 2000 to 2017, then I switched up to 7.75 and later 8, 8.25, shaped and so on, but today I bought a Malto board 7,5" and some thunder 145 LOWS (yes lows they been in our skateshop for 12years) again, and I'm a kid having fun again at 27yo
I'm 34 and my first board was a Guy Mariano 7.5 probably in this same shape. I was hoping you were going to hate this board, but now I have to try it. I have some venture low 5.0s to put on there too. Thanks Ben for helping me buy more stuff that I don't need when I should be buying Christmas presents!
Been skating on and off again since 1992. Got back into skating again in 2014 and immediately went to a 8.25 setup. Been up to a 8.5 then back down to an 8 for a while. Latest setup is a 7.8 with 8” ventures (a little heavy) and 54mm wider wheels. Rides nice for everything and flips pretty good. Been itching for a 7.5 with 7.6 trucks and 50mm wheels. Haven’t rode a board that small since 1999! Hoping to land a tre flip and double kick flip! Haha great video and thank you for sharing… going to go back to 7.75 and 7.6 trucks next.
Ok, went with a 7.75 x 30.75 with thunder team 7.6 axels and 52mm OJ’s. Flips super easy but is taking time getting used to tighter wheelbase. Feels a little swirly at times and getting used to less grinding surface. I am a pretty mediocre skater and only can do a few tricks. The smaller board is fun but takes getting used to. Transition is very difficult but flat skating is fun. Ledges are ok as the smaller trucks take a minute to get used to as you need to be more precise in my opinion. I am 40 now and have been on 8 or bigger for a while. But I do have a 7.8 with 8 size ventures that rides like an 8 but flips a little easier. I recommend that setup very much so! But the small 90’s style board is a lot of fun and am riding it at the local DIY spot lately. Thanks for the video it was super helpful!
I have a feeling boards are going to go back down in size. I actually just picked up 5.2 venture lows and an 8" board. Down from an 8.5 with indys. Cant wait.
I have a hard time understanding an 8 inch choice if you ever do anything other than tech, and really hard time understanfing an 8.5 cause you can go hella fast on an 8.25, still feeling like you have total control
Seriously the best street part , flat session I have seen of you so far - looking forward for more dude,!! . Same age as you, I had the Caroll Astroboy , and a Tim Gavin in 94, some skinny Josh Kalis 7,6 in early 2000’s - you just motivated me to set up a new board - Thanks !
Beautiful trucks Ben! I used to have the “Awake” Featherlights. Didn’t turn much. Beautiful pop. I love the shape of older Ventures specifically just before the change from Street Corner Distribution to Deluxe Distribution. Even though the finishing was rough around the edges, prior to Ermico Foundry taking over the production, the shape of the grooves in the front of the hanger was more straight, rather than diagonal ish. And the trucks didn’t look so big and tough. But more lean and cool!
I used to ride an 8.25 in the early 00's, which was pretty big for back then. I was always able to do tricks better on skinnier boards, but just riding around felt most comfortable on a bigger board because I have big feet. I think it's weird how everybody skates roughly the same board sizes during whatever era although there's such a vast spectrum of foot size, but there doesn't seem to be any real advantage for any of them, judging by ability. Everybody just kind of gets used to whatever, I guess. Those lines look so fun. That switch back tail.
I'm 24 now & started skating 10y ago. My first deck was an 8" and I've skated everything from 7.75" popsicle to 9.6" shaped. I've found my sweet spot to be 9" popsicle decks... that with very loose indies/ace, and spitfire f4 conical fulls is one hell of a setup.
Switch mongo made my day brother. If you had of told me back in 97 I would be on an 8.5 in twenty years I would of laughed, I thought 7.75 was huge back then.
Back in the day Neal Hendrix had a trick tip in Thrasher and in the description he said "You need at least 45mm wheels for REAL vert", haha. Imagine him seeing the mega ramp setups.
Pausing at 52 seconds in, not going to lie I'm only 27 been skating 20 years and that went clean over my head. Going to continue the video now and probably leave more comments since it's good for the UA-cam algorithm and your channel
I am 35 and have a hard time skateboarding these days. I started skating in the mid 90s. 4 years ago I bought a new setup after skating 7.75s 7.8s my whole life. The skateshop dude convinced me to buy an 8.5 with some 149 hollow indies. The setup is fun and it feels comfortable, but it doesn't skate the same. I lost all of my pop. I am going to split the difference and start skating 8" boards, titanium indies, and 52mm spitfire classics. Hopefully I see my pop return. There is something crazy good about those old ventures. I preferred the red bushings. I felt like you could crook grind for days with those! No other truck has ever compared for me. The way they locked into rails was something special.
I skated from '99 until about 2011, and we definitely were riding 7.5 and 7.75. An 8" deck was the max for most street and park guys that weren't on vert, but I had an 8" Habitat in like 2008 and it was my all time favorite. I came back to it recently and was shocked to see guys skating 8.5s on the streets! I'm still on 8", but want to try 8.125/8.25.
I started in '97, and skated until 2017, I rode a 7.75 board with a 31.25 length, girl boards with almost no concave and a wide almost flat nose haha. I have a 7.75 flip board leaning against the wall with some formula four 49mm, and an 8.1 girl with some ricta slix 52mm. both I haven't skated in three years.
I'm 41, funny how boards went from toothpicks to boats, back to toothpicks, now goin back to boats. I just used to Frankenstein whatever I could to skate. My first legitimate board in 1994 was a hand-me-down Sal Barbier H-Street with gullwing trucks that had the groove in the middle, with massive G-bones wheels. Then in '95 my friend showed up on a 8" popsicle with tiny wheels, probably around 45mm. My mom wouldn't get me a full complete, so I got an 8.125 channel one deck, and some small wheels from a friend, and slapped it together with the gullwings that were way wide for the deck. I didn't care, just wanted to skate. When you just wanna skate, you'll use what u got. (As long as it wasn't a variflex or nash, which were the Wal-Mart boards of those days)
Every time I watch another one of your videos regarding board size I start to think, "Did I pick the wrong board size? Should I have gotten this board size instead?" But now I've realized, from 7.5 to 8.75, any size is the right size.
You have to realize the board 7.5 is meant to flip the board faster its not the best to ride around. I can do both. Wide board have that cruise control stable when going down hill. "Some people" can ride wide boards and do tricks.
@@kurtrussel4905 Sure, not denying that. Just saying that I'm from an older generation than Ben is, in which you either have 10 inch boards or 7 minus (for freestyle). So these boards feel tiny. Also, using my big board I can still do a couple of tricks. I'm not a wizard, but kickflips, heelflips, and 360 flips ("Tre"). 46 (now 47) seems old, but Jason Lee is 51.
7.5 was my favorite. After getting back into skating 3 years ago, they didn't have any 7.5 boards at the shop I went to and the smallest size was 7.8. I've gotten used to it and now I'm thinking of going to 8 or 8.25. I do miss the old days of the 7.5's
Early 2000s i rememebr i got my hands on a 7.75 mike carroll girl skateboard.. the best pop. I learn primo toe rimo, tre shoves, half and full cabs fakie and nollie. The beat board ive had.. Popwar was also my favorite.. Slowly getting back into it.. Ita the best feeling
Hi Ben, you are the master! Perfect video. First, amazing how consistant you are! Your battle fs flip looks like an easy balad, you look really easy for most of your tricks, c'est impressionant. Thank you for this trip back in the days and with this mythic spot. I remember plan b video with C Mc Kay there, and thank you for the vid parts with M Carroll, I see how inspiring he has been. I did not think of it but you are right,our muscles memory was somehow built on this type of decks. They deserve a new try and I am sure they will be "trendy" decks some day. To me, the main weak point is in terms of durability, 7,5 decks are fragile and break easier than 8,25 or more... thank you again for this sequence, very pleasant, instructive and motivating, as usual:)
Today i checked a thicker setup at my local parking lot: Enuff 8.0 deck, old Tracker dart truck (it is maybe an 129 wide) mini logo 52mm 101a (they are as old as the truck 15years almost) and a bones redz in it. Suprisingly it was very comfortable, quick kick flips, turnable and did not lose from stability too much to feel it hard to stay on it after landing.
dude! you definitely have more "Snap" on that board. i found myself repeating "damn!" while watching this video. I got a board ready to set up a bit similar to that. 8.0, 31in long, 14in Wheelbase and so flat you could land a plane on it but im exited to try it. I'm now bummed I donated my old Mercury trucks because those were meant for a 7.75 and I wanna go smaller after watching this. cheers!
I used to want a skinny deck with good concave back in the 90s and i rode a lot of Girl Skateboards because they had a lot of those. Toy Machine always had slightly wider boards. I always rode venture trucks spitfire wheels and swiss bearings back in the 90s I just turned 44, I still have my last skateboard from back then I think it's a Girl or Blind deck, Venture trucks swiss bearings. Skinnier boards are just easier to flip, they just are.
I didn't skate during this time. But I have been looking back on it to fill the gap from the 80s i know until now. Just watch useless wooden toys. Amazing video. Anyway the board looks sick and looks like you had a rad time on it.
Just came here to say i am a 35 year old Belgian. Stopped skateboarding when my daughter was born 11 years ago because i had bad knees. I had a knee surgery a few years later and thought i never could skate again. Now my son wanted a skateboard for his 10th birthday and i bought myself a new deck and am starting to skate again. I can only do sessions of 30 to 45 minutes before my knee starts to hurt a little. I can do some Ollie's, 180, s and shovits. Today a made myself a little curb to start some grinds again. My favorite trick in the day was backside 5-0. Long story short, i having a good time. You are a big inspiration to me. I use your warm ups and i am doing the 4 steps to inprove my ollie you thought me. Keep up the good work
thierry lens infuse some cannabis in olive oil and use that to rub your knees, youll see the pain relif , do it beffore and after, and all days if you want, it will keep you knees ready for battle 👍🤘🤘
Warm up and stretch your calf muscles,man. Check out Athlean-Xs' channel, he's got an advanced calf stretch that will blow your mind in terms of knee pain relief
thierry lens
I don’t know how bad your knees are but I would suggest you give transition skateparks a shot. It’s all pumping your legs so it’ll be tiring at first but will help you build strength and stability for your legs and knees. Skating flat is all impact and bad for you feet if you’re that severely injured. Transition has been rehab for my knees. Wear protective gear.
Keep at it dude skating is great
Bienvenu de retour dans le monde merveilleux du skate! I am 43, I paused skateboarding many times because of "life" but never stopped. "Getting old" will bring more pains with it, yet skateboarding will give you extra life moments, endless youth souvenirs and priceless connection with your boy. So, just enjoy, as you can and keep motivation at the top while supporting Ben:)
I'm 43 and I've been skating one year!
🙌
Welcome back. This month I hit 2 years at 43. Well 3/4 of the Saturdays. Never been this mentally healthy as an adult.
Welcome man! just turned 42 and been skating more than one year, love it. Ben is such an inspiration and I think he and Chad are aliens with skater's skin on
Welcome to the club!
y’all fucking killin it
I'm 41. I still ride a 7.5" Been skating 1987. 🔥🔥
What shoe size?
Me too. 41 and riding a 7.5 with 45mm wheels.
@@TomAtencio hitek wheels?
Mako ii Yes. And I also ride 44mm Boardy Cakes wheels.
@@TomAtencio cool
“Go skate, it’s your turn”
Looks outside at the rain :(
ive been out for a month i fucked my ankle up on a 5 stair so i feel you ):
I went back to a 7.75 with 5.0 trucks and I'm having the time of my life.
Victor Angelotti it’s true... I broke down and bought a 8.25 with a super steep tail with some 148 thunders. It’s cool for cruising but nothing like my old 7.75 With late 90’s destructos... skated that setup for 10 years
yeah I got back into skating with a 7.8. it seems good but I don't feel like I can forget about my feet like I could on an 8.0+ board
@@kevinhunter5349 I tried to skate every size between 7.75 and 8.5 this year, because I'm tall and heavy and people said it would be better to ride a larger board...but I lost a lot of tricks with the big sizes...I'm done with that and decided to go with 7.75 or 8.0 forever hahaha
@@victor.skater I have a similar experience, was experimenting in the 7'.75/7.9 range and now im back to 8.125+ and it feels super limiting (I know it's prob just placebo) but especially when you are skating tech and knee high ledges I feel like there really are some massive advantages to slimming down.
@@e-money. high ledges are a big problem to me when skating 8.25+ boards...also I feel that I can skate for more time with a 7.75 because it takes so much less effort to do the tricks (I'm a 31 fat guy so to be able to do a 90 min session is a bless hahaha)
I am "pleasantly surprised" that you uploaded this video this morning.
LOL
That fs flip at the end was clean. 7.5 was probably my whole little crew's size. I remeber going to a 8 and felt like I was skating on a boat. Now I'm on a 8.38 and stepping on a 8 feels like a broom stick lol
Adam Jackson yeah, i skated 7.75 and all the homies viewed that as huge! Everyone I was around was 7.5
@@kevinhunter5349 it was the perfect size to me. When thrill of it all came out I went and got a 8 in Hope's of skating big lol.... I went back to 7.5 right after. Now i like the big boats lol times change
I bought a 7.3 board, and I flow so diferent on it, I really have a nice time with this board... I've ridding 8.0 for 4 years but I felt weird some times and wasn't sure if I should change my board, but I seen this video and inspired me so much! 🙏🏼🇲🇽
I’m 29, when I grew up skating early 2000’s I remember Bam skating like an 8 and thinking he must be insane to have a board that big. Now an 8 is small lol
30 here, and just got back into skating after 10 years of not doing it. Went into a shop and there are hardly any 7.75 that. Asked online and a lot of people are saying 8.25 is average now... What?!
@@nyphon I started 7 yrs ago and 8.0 was the norm, 2yrs later 8.25 took over
@@amadousy7543 Skated pretty much since i was born (2003) Grew up on the skatevideos my brothers owned like This is skateboarding, almost round three, darkstar battalion, dvs skate more, really sorry, yeah right and remember when i was like 4 and fully flared came out and i thought the intro was the sickest thing ever lmfao. But when i got my first real board like around 2010 7,5 and 7,75 were still the norm up here in sweden.
yea 100% i remember thinking bam skating an 8 was ridiculous. barely anyone skated 8 or above back then it was usually 7.5-7.825. i skated 7.625 for years. i was so amazed to hear that eveyrone skates huge boards these days. i just ordered an 8" to try out for the first time after not skating for like 18 years.
Im 42. Got back on a skateboard 2 years ago after a 25+ years break. I've tried almost all the deck sizes, (trying to follow the trend) and always come back to the 7.75-8 inches.. Feel more agile and more fun (for me).. After seeing your video I want a 7.5!! Thanks for keeping my addiction alive!! Hahaha!!!
Just recently coming back into skating 5 years since I last skated I bought a cheap prebuilt and was so surprised at how quick it came back. 30 mins in and I landed my first kick flip just couldn't believe how at home my feet felt on that board didnt even realize how much I missed it till I started watching your videos and a few other youtubers and got back on the board ,keep making videos I'll keep watching.
Being a talented carpenter and obviously super aware of your perfect board dimensions/specifications, have you ever been tempted to make your own deck?
The good ol days! I moved up to 8.0 because the 7.75 just feels small to me now. You're right about the flip tricks feeling sluggish but I've gotten use to it. 32 yrs old and actually progressing again after 10 years of no skating. Beats the gym lol
Those Vans Half Cabs are absolutely amazing looking. The colorway is sublime.🔥👌🤤
Thanks for putting this back up!
I'm 46. I skated from about '83 until somewhere around '88 or '89. We were riding the 10" decks. I just recently got a skateboard because my kids can't believe their dad used to skate. Its taking some time getting used to a 8.5 deck compared to a 10" deck. I cannot imagine riding something as tiny as 7.5 inches.
I started skating in '89 on a 10" board and eventually ended up on a 7.5" by the mid 90's. It's crazy to think about how much boards changed in just the span of a few years back then. Now I'm in my 40's and mostly skate 8.125" decks with Indy Forged Titaniums (for my old legs) and 53mm Spitfires.
When the winners rolled pinners 😂😂😂😂😂
Bro f-*** off 7.5 are sick i can beat anyone in a game of skate with it
@@kurtrussel4905 chill, whats your problem man 🤭
That was awesome to see the water reservoir session; I definitely remember seeing this spot in 90s skate videos and it looks really fun to skate as well. You have a certain skate style that takes me back to that era; a time when individualism seemed to shine through in every push and the way skaters would land there tricks. Over the years, an overemphasis on landing perfectly ‘clean’ tricks seemed to erode some of this individual expression away from the style each skateboarder has. You land things clean and smooth, but your individual style always shines through in your skateboarding; it’s refreshing!
No words needed... Embarcadero baby! You see who's real old Skool!
I've also been skating 27 years (1992) but am 31, so was 4 when I started. Propoganda was "my" first video that I kept renting over and over. These guys felt SO much older at the time, but I still remember it for the most part.
I rode that size a lot. I still have a hard time with a 8 inch board lol
Adrian god that board would feel tiny to me I’m riding an 8.5 rn
I’ve ride a bit of everything never going below 8.0 and 8.25 is definitely one of the best sizes
From the mid 90s until a couple months ago I was always skating 7.5, 7.62, or 7.75. I only just recently bumped up with my current 8" and an 8.25" on standby. These wider decks have been easier for me to adjust to than I expected.
That would tiny for me i ride a 8 75
I ride 8.8 any board will work if you want it too and work hard enough for it
I like the style of how the 7.5 looks when you skate street. It has the Tom Penny flow when you flip and seeing your legs turn as you do 180 tricks.
Your flip tricks and catch are so much crisper and "flickier" on the smaller boards. Just what I notice from watching loads of your videos. As always I enjoy all your videos keep it up 🤘👍👌
Hellyeah! I’m 37, grew up sk8ng 7.5s....even some minis, cuz I’m short. Now I ride 7.75. Love the classic setup too with the Ventures and 49mm Spitfires 👍
I just started skating again. Been off the board for 5 years. Going from a 7.5 to an 8 feels crazy. I couldn’t imagine skating anything above 8.
This is so sick, thanks for making this! I really wanted to see you skate something like this. You are killin it my g.
7.75/7.875's/7.9s are so fun. Was rocking them on some thunder 148's in the past year and im likely going back to that range of boards on my setup as 8.25 feels like a boat now. The thinness of the boards give a super nice flick while the wider trucks give you a load of stability which i need for my 12 size shoes, haha. Wish there were more 7.875's out there in specific, kind of a rare size to see at the shop
I’m actually half your age Ben but because of your talk of mike carrol throughout your videos I went back and watched a lot of his parts and he’s now of on my favorites, definitely top 5. I was actually watching goldfish this morning.
That line with the switch frontside heel and inward heel front tail, sooooo clean dude
Pausing a 6 minutes flat, I grew up tech skating and I totally feel you on the muscle memory, I felt kind of out of balance lately with this 8.25 I've been skating recently I stepped on a 7.625 and was nailing tricks I haven't even tried in years. Anyway back to the video
Don't say that, the 8 wides and up will shun you and remind you of "how wrong you are for skating anything less".
Great vid as usual Ben!
I have been skateboarding for 19years and still ride boards in the 7ns.
Started my career with 7.5, later on 7.625 and nowdays 7.75.
#LoveTechSkateboarding
They only have 7.75 now i cant find 7.5 no more they claim them as kids boards
@@kurtrussel4905 fr like wth
Moose makes 7.5 and 7.625 blanks.
The lines at the reservoir were so classic! Really took me back. Beautiful. I've been skating since '95, and this year I finally moved up to an 8" after riding 7.75-7.88" for the last couple decades. I think I like it, but I wonder how I'd feel if I sized back down now.
This deck brings me back to the good ol days. Thanks Ben.
Those lines at the water reservoir were tight!!! thanks for the upload, ben!
I still have those Feather Lites...when they came out(93)they were the supposed to be the lowest & lightest...I got them on a 7.4” Hufnagel that I still bust out every now and then.
Great vid...enjoyed it.
I'd love to see a video of the importance of the length of a deck. Definitely feel like thats one of the things thats really overlooked, especially compared to just choicing a board by the width. Keep doing your thing Ben!
Yesssssssssssss
i just got a venture flashback from seeing those bushings, i rode venture in the early 90's
37 yeras old here and yeah a new 7,5 cliche boar here, have had it laying around for years and its about time to use it now.. got some old small street wheels as well .. love the 90s feel :)
This setup looks good on you dawg
for real looking mad comfortable
Just got my 8 in this deck, what a design. Your lines at the reservoir were mint.
I used to have that exact deck. Brings back some forgotten memories. :)
Ahh, you're the best Ben. Thanks for the laughs, Skate Dad. Excellent!
Hi Ben, I skated back mid 90’s to late 2000’s, been watching your clips all week, I’m getting back in a board at 35! Thanks mate!!!
Dood, the white Half Cabs, Jeans, and a hoodie on that deck/at the reservoir- giving me huge flashbacks. Dig.
I really wish I had known about this other channel you have. I started to learn how to skateboard at 32, about nine years ago. It took me a year to find my balance and comfort level. I rode for 4 years then things got a bit more busy and complicated and someone stole my original board. I did continue with a second one and I still have that board and get on it every now and then. I really appreciate this video and both your channels now that I know about this one 😀. Thanks Ben, from Gus in Ohio.
🎶Ben’s World, Ben’s World...Party time, Excellent!!! 🎶 Woodallooo Woodallooo Woodalloo Yep I’m 36 and I rocked a 7.5 TomPenny Flip deck on GullWings!! :)
Dude im so happy i found your channel, Ive been out of the skating scene for like 12 or 13 years and got back into it again last summer and the first thing i noticed was how big the boards are haha not saying its a bad thing i think its super interesting, i remember people with 8.0's and over were like vert skaters haha, I always rid 7.625. But after watching your videos my soul feels at rest lol thanks man
I loved the 7.75 M.C. boards that came out after the 7.5. I switched from feather lights to the old school indies and loved that set up.
I tried ventures for the first time just the other day and i absolutly love it, i reallized that i just don't get the crisp feeling from indipenden on a 8 inch board with a 14 inch wheelbase. Thank you ben for making videos i can rewatch like a 100 times XD
Late response but, venture high or low ? 😁
@@pierrekruk low:)
I knew you were going to feel at home on that set up, your skate grew up on that era....just like mine on 10" boards and 60mm wheels, thats why i feel so confortable on 9" and 58mm
Dude you killed it, I just went from 7.75 to 8.0, I’m 39, this vid was dope
Always skated GIRL or Plan B 7,5"-7,625" and thunders 145s from 2000 to 2017, then I switched up to 7.75 and later 8, 8.25, shaped and so on, but today I bought a Malto board 7,5" and some thunder 145 LOWS (yes lows they been in our skateshop for 12years) again, and I'm a kid having fun again at 27yo
I'm 34 and my first board was a Guy Mariano 7.5 probably in this same shape. I was hoping you were going to hate this board, but now I have to try it. I have some venture low 5.0s to put on there too. Thanks Ben for helping me buy more stuff that I don't need when I should be buying Christmas presents!
😂🙌 my pleasure
Been skating on and off again since 1992. Got back into skating again in 2014 and immediately went to a 8.25 setup. Been up to a 8.5 then back down to an 8 for a while. Latest setup is a 7.8 with 8” ventures (a little heavy) and 54mm wider wheels. Rides nice for everything and flips pretty good. Been itching for a 7.5 with 7.6 trucks and 50mm wheels. Haven’t rode a board that small since 1999! Hoping to land a tre flip and double kick flip! Haha great video and thank you for sharing… going to go back to 7.75 and 7.6 trucks next.
Ok, went with a 7.75 x 30.75 with thunder team 7.6 axels and 52mm OJ’s. Flips super easy but is taking time getting used to tighter wheelbase. Feels a little swirly at times and getting used to less grinding surface. I am a pretty mediocre skater and only can do a few tricks. The smaller board is fun but takes getting used to. Transition is very difficult but flat skating is fun. Ledges are ok as the smaller trucks take a minute to get used to as you need to be more precise in my opinion. I am 40 now and have been on 8 or bigger for a while. But I do have a 7.8 with 8 size ventures that rides like an 8 but flips a little easier. I recommend that setup very much so! But the small 90’s style board is a lot of fun and am riding it at the local DIY spot lately. Thanks for the video it was super helpful!
That was a good era I had the Rick Howard New York Knicks board it was fun.
With how many decks and trucks you’ve showcased, it may be good to do a video on what you have. Even discussing how you get these skate relics!
I have a feeling boards are going to go back down in size. I actually just picked up 5.2 venture lows and an 8" board. Down from an 8.5 with indys. Cant wait.
I just did the same. It feels much more natural for me
I have a hard time understanding an 8 inch choice if you ever do anything other than tech, and really hard time understanfing an 8.5 cause you can go hella fast on an 8.25, still feeling like you have total control
Seriously the best street part , flat session I have seen of you so far - looking forward for more dude,!! . Same age as you, I had the Caroll Astroboy , and a Tim Gavin in 94, some skinny Josh Kalis 7,6 in early 2000’s - you just motivated me to set up a new board - Thanks !
Beautiful trucks Ben! I used to have the “Awake” Featherlights. Didn’t turn much. Beautiful pop. I love the shape of older Ventures specifically just before the change from Street Corner Distribution to Deluxe Distribution. Even though the finishing was rough around the edges, prior to Ermico Foundry taking over the production, the shape of the grooves in the front of the hanger was more straight, rather than diagonal ish. And the trucks didn’t look so big and tough. But more lean and cool!
🙂
ben degros is for the culture
🙌
those white cabs and that board matches so well !!! great style !!!
I used to ride an 8.25 in the early 00's, which was pretty big for back then. I was always able to do tricks better on skinnier boards, but just riding around felt most comfortable on a bigger board because I have big feet. I think it's weird how everybody skates roughly the same board sizes during whatever era although there's such a vast spectrum of foot size, but there doesn't seem to be any real advantage for any of them, judging by ability. Everybody just kind of gets used to whatever, I guess.
Those lines look so fun. That switch back tail.
i ride a 7.75" toy machine deck. felt it was a fairly big step up from 7.5" as it is but absolutely love it. similarly fairly flat concave
binging your channel again, this is one of your better videos
I'm 24 now & started skating 10y ago. My first deck was an 8" and I've skated everything from 7.75" popsicle to 9.6" shaped. I've found my sweet spot to be 9" popsicle decks... that with very loose indies/ace, and spitfire f4 conical fulls is one hell of a setup.
Love watching you skate
Switch mongo made my day brother. If you had of told me back in 97 I would be on an 8.5 in twenty years I would of laughed, I thought 7.75 was huge back then.
Back in the day Neal Hendrix had a trick tip in Thrasher and in the description he said "You need at least 45mm wheels for REAL vert", haha. Imagine him seeing the mega ramp setups.
Pausing at 52 seconds in, not going to lie I'm only 27 been skating 20 years and that went clean over my head. Going to continue the video now and probably leave more comments since it's good for the UA-cam algorithm and your channel
I am 35 and have a hard time skateboarding these days. I started skating in the mid 90s. 4 years ago I bought a new setup after skating 7.75s 7.8s my whole life. The skateshop dude convinced me to buy an 8.5 with some 149 hollow indies. The setup is fun and it feels comfortable, but it doesn't skate the same. I lost all of my pop. I am going to split the difference and start skating 8" boards, titanium indies, and 52mm spitfire classics. Hopefully I see my pop return.
There is something crazy good about those old ventures. I preferred the red bushings. I felt like you could crook grind for days with those! No other truck has ever compared for me. The way they locked into rails was something special.
I skated from '99 until about 2011, and we definitely were riding 7.5 and 7.75. An 8" deck was the max for most street and park guys that weren't on vert, but I had an 8" Habitat in like 2008 and it was my all time favorite. I came back to it recently and was shocked to see guys skating 8.5s on the streets! I'm still on 8", but want to try 8.125/8.25.
I started in '97, and skated until 2017, I rode a 7.75 board with a 31.25 length, girl boards with almost no concave and a wide almost flat nose haha. I have a 7.75 flip board leaning against the wall with some formula four 49mm, and an 8.1 girl with some ricta slix 52mm. both I haven't skated in three years.
so dope your style is straight out of the 90's and looks so sick
That was your best video yet. Especially at the reservoir. Looked like bonus footage from Goldfish. 👍
Sick lines and beautiful board , i love that 90's era even if i'm only 28, started in 99. Thks for the review
I'm 41, funny how boards went from toothpicks to boats, back to toothpicks, now goin back to boats. I just used to Frankenstein whatever I could to skate. My first legitimate board in 1994 was a hand-me-down Sal Barbier H-Street with gullwing trucks that had the groove in the middle, with massive G-bones wheels. Then in '95 my friend showed up on a 8" popsicle with tiny wheels, probably around 45mm. My mom wouldn't get me a full complete, so I got an 8.125 channel one deck, and some small wheels from a friend, and slapped it together with the gullwings that were way wide for the deck. I didn't care, just wanted to skate. When you just wanna skate, you'll use what u got. (As long as it wasn't a variflex or nash, which were the Wal-Mart boards of those days)
Every time I watch another one of your videos regarding board size I start to think, "Did I pick the wrong board size? Should I have gotten this board size instead?" But now I've realized, from 7.5 to 8.75, any size is the right size.
I'm thoroughly impressed that you were able to frontside flip a garbage can with that tiny board.
Been watching your channel for a couple months now and I can say that I’m a fan! Love your content!
7.5 deck, White half cabs, & grey sweatshirt. That looks like 90s skateboarding to me.
@Roger Dodger You're right. He shouldn't be able to see his shoes.
46 year old dude here. Funny thing is, back in 'my' day, decks were 10+ inch wide. So 7.5 seems like a freestyle deck to me.
You have to realize the board 7.5 is meant to flip the board faster its not the best to ride around. I can do both. Wide board have that cruise control stable when going down hill. "Some people" can ride wide boards and do tricks.
@@kurtrussel4905 Sure, not denying that. Just saying that I'm from an older generation than Ben is, in which you either have 10 inch boards or 7 minus (for freestyle). So these boards feel tiny. Also, using my big board I can still do a couple of tricks. I'm not a wizard, but kickflips, heelflips, and 360 flips ("Tre"). 46 (now 47) seems old, but Jason Lee is 51.
@@jdmresearch agreed
7.5 was my favorite. After getting back into skating 3 years ago, they didn't have any 7.5 boards at the shop I went to and the smallest size was 7.8. I've gotten used to it and now I'm thinking of going to 8 or 8.25. I do miss the old days of the 7.5's
Early 2000s i rememebr i got my hands on a 7.75 mike carroll girl skateboard.. the best pop. I learn primo toe rimo, tre shoves, half and full cabs fakie and nollie. The beat board ive had.. Popwar was also my favorite.. Slowly getting back into it.. Ita the best feeling
Looking fresh in those white cabs 👌
a nice piece of history to shred on!!!
I would automatically pay to see a new shared part of yourself and Ted.
Loving those lines at the reservoir! All the sessions you're putting in have paid off and I'm psyched to see you do those lines!
You're looking really good on that set up. Keep rocking it bro, it's so you!
I'm 6'3 with size 14 feet and I started on a 7.5 flip Tom Penny on destructos. I now have an 8 but still ride the 7.5
im wearing shoe size US 9. 7.5 and 7.75 deck is what i find really comfortable. i had tried 8 and 8.25 and didnt like it
Small boards are fun.
I have a 7.75 set up I use every now and then when i need a change.
Party on Ben
Hi Ben, you are the master! Perfect video. First, amazing how consistant you are! Your battle fs flip looks like an easy balad, you look really easy for most of your tricks, c'est impressionant. Thank you for this trip back in the days and with this mythic spot. I remember plan b video with C Mc Kay there, and thank you for the vid parts with M Carroll, I see how inspiring he has been. I did not think of it but you are right,our muscles memory was somehow built on this type of decks. They deserve a new try and I am sure they will be "trendy" decks some day. To me, the main weak point is in terms of durability, 7,5 decks are fragile and break easier than 8,25 or more... thank you again for this sequence, very pleasant, instructive and motivating, as usual:)
Nice, you even did the switch mongo push like back in the days! I'm 36 and still ride a 7.5 deck with 5.0 grindkings.
Today i checked a thicker setup at my local parking lot: Enuff 8.0 deck, old Tracker dart truck (it is maybe an 129 wide) mini logo 52mm 101a (they are as old as the truck 15years almost) and a bones redz in it. Suprisingly it was very comfortable, quick kick flips, turnable and did not lose from stability too much to feel it hard to stay on it after landing.
dude! you definitely have more "Snap" on that board. i found myself repeating "damn!" while watching this video. I got a board ready to set up a bit similar to that. 8.0, 31in long, 14in Wheelbase and so flat you could land a plane on it but im exited to try it. I'm now bummed I donated my old Mercury trucks because those were meant for a 7.75 and I wanna go smaller after watching this. cheers!
I have an old (late 90's or a few months into 00) pair of ventures that fit a 7.5... Damnit now I'm tempted to find a board and try'em.
I used to want a skinny deck with good concave back in the 90s and i rode a lot of Girl Skateboards because they had a lot of those. Toy Machine always had slightly wider boards. I always rode venture trucks spitfire wheels and swiss bearings back in the 90s I just turned 44, I still have my last skateboard from back then I think it's a Girl or Blind deck, Venture trucks swiss bearings. Skinnier boards are just easier to flip, they just are.
damn, you seriously got great board control at 38. lovely stuff.
Alien Workshop and Habitat have a few decks out now that are 7.5 and 7.6 as well if Girl doesn't keep doing reissues
I used to skate those don pendelton alien workshops in that size.
Sooooo good Ben I remember when you had like 3k followers... Dope content and a dope guy, well deserved!
Reminds me of mad circle. Had a moses itkonen model that i loved.
I didn't skate during this time. But I have been looking back on it to fill the gap from the 80s i know until now. Just watch useless wooden toys. Amazing video.
Anyway the board looks sick and looks like you had a rad time on it.