Best feeling 😊. Just recently took a trip to Regina to skate the plaza and setup a new deck, rocked new shoes and pants and let me tell you, I was flying around with the swagger of a young smolik. Best feeling
Ben I like you because you put in your bearing spacers and you tightened them and then loosened up for just a bit of play. I have to dock only 0.1 points for not sanding the edge of the grip but you came back and sanded it once with the tool so only a .05 deduction. No silverados would normally be another deduction but you made up for it with Allen hardware. All in all this is a highly rated high quality setup that any of us would be proud roll around on.
They also make my favorite board shape. symmetrical 8.5 with 14in wheelbase. With Indy hollows, it feels super fun while still being short to get techy and flippy. Nothing but good times
I run the G096 Cory Kennedy twin tail [8.5x14x31.875] which feels incredibly managable on 149 thunders and 53mm conicals with all of my ledge tech. I've messed around with a LOT of trucks and deck wheelbases recently and this trumps everything by far.
@@robertbaker3620 Literally every Pennswood 8.5 (or any other width) popsicle I've ever seen has a 14" wb. Its the default option and you have to pretty much move heaven and earth to get them to do something else.
8:59 freakin switch Ben!!!! 😲😱🤯👏💕👍 ur too awesome. I just set up an 8.75 yesterday, feels like a tank compared to my 8" 😆. Almost 1lb heavier. And 14.5" wheelbase. Lil long for me at almost 33". Set up to mostly skate the bowls at the park though
Hey Ben, as you really like to dive into the small details like a lot of us “older riders” tend to do I thought I might give you another thing that I really like to do when setting up a new deck. So when the grip is on and I have poked the holes for the hardware, I use a countersink to get that tiny bit of grip tape off underneath the head of the bolt and help the screw sink in better. The grip around the bolt has been wrinkly at times when I haven’t done this and my mind tells me right away that something is wrong😄 if I don’t have a countersink at hand I have used a big Phillips bit which also seems to work quite alright. As for setting up a new deck “on site” I have been preparing my spare decks ahead of time. So the grip is on and holes fully prepped and ready to go. Just to mention one last crazy thing: whenever I have a new deck or two with me I seem to go harder on everything since I have my spare waiting 😂 don’t know why. Thanks for your commitment and love for skating!
I walked by that first park when I was in town for a work related conference about 5 years ago. This librarian/skater geeked out seeing the stack of books. Such a fun idea.
My first ever board was a Girl on destructo's. That's how I learned nearly all my flat ground tricks. I switched up to ventures after only 1 pair of destructo's. I still ride them to this day, although I prefer venture Hi's just cuz that's what I'm used to. The venture lows are good but I'm just used to my standard pop. Venture low seems like it throws me off just a bit. Would love to pick up another Girl deck tho. It's been awhile. I usually ride cheap shop decks as of late.
I just spent close to $300 on a new complete. 8.5 symmetrical 14" wheelbase with 148 thunder titanium lights, modus titanium coated bearings, acer titanium hardware, acer bolts for the thunder trucks, Powell dragon wheels. Its the lightest and most beautiful board i ever had in 20 years and skates like a dream
Really nice set up!! Try a Kenny Anderson board with 144 standard Indy trucks with red bearings and OJ key frames cruiser wheels 56mm or 58mm will be to cruise on any type of pavement and go fast.
In love… ive been skating crailtap boards with ace trucks and some 103a wheels and they have been great to me!! I just need a bigger size then an 8”. Im so happy this video was about chocolate!!
Real classic oval 8.125 with 14 inch WB and very short like 31.5 - feels amazing with thunders when new. It is a flip machine and somehow feels amazing on Indys when its been ridden for some time
Change is good. I've jumped up from 8 to 8.75 (big boy board, looks proportionate with my size 12 feet) and it's fun. 14" wheelbase Venture lows, 52mm spitties, all good.
@@toryfry7636 an old GX1000 deck a homie at the shop gave me. One of their logo boards with a split veneer. Couldn't tell you which woodshop it is but I'm guessing BBS as it's got some stiffness to it
I'm soon going to try the G052 shape on Venture 5.6 lights with 52mm f4 classics and also on 5.8 lights with 53mm f4 conical full. Board is already prepared with the 5.6s waiting for me to be done with the current setup :D Haven't been riding Ventures or Crailtap boards for at least 10 years I guess, so I'm hyped to try both again. Crailtap concaves are sooo flat, I'm so not used to that after riding BBS for years now, mostly Real, Krooked, DW. It's even more flat than the April 8.25" 14" WB I rode a few weeks ago, which I liked on Thunders, but I really had to get used to it for 1 or 2 sessions. Edit: After your vid, I also might try Thunders on it, but I don't think that the board will last long enough :D
How do you like the Girl setup? I have the same setup and I like it. I want to try an April 8.25 14wb with venture 5.6 lights. What was your experience with the April Deck?
@@shyn0o0 actually I didn't skate that setup that much yet. I'm back on my standard all around setup at the moment (acutally im injured since a few weeks), which is 14.38" WB, 8.38" and Indy 149 forged hollows. I guess I even prefer Aces nowadays, I've ridden them on my last setup and really liked them. To finally answer your question: I like the April shape more than the OG crailtap concave. It is to flat for me tbh but I was biased because I was so used to all the other BBS Boards like Real, Krooked, Deathwish. Also April eventhough that one also was way more flat compared to the other BBS boards mentioned, but not nearly as flat as the Girl concave. Maybe it was the combination with Venture trucks which I've also not ridden in the past 10 years. But in theory that's a good combination, if you get used to it. I remember all my switch flips were doing pretty well on that setup, I will try it again soon :) Please try the Venture + April combo and tell me how you liked it, really curious about that setup. I'd ride April again that's for sure. I really liked it on my 148 + classics and also 149 Thunders. On 149 with conical fulls even more, because that's what I'm used to as mentioned.
On the April and also Girl board all my flips worked a lot better when putting my back foot slightly more on the tail, like you see dylan jaeb do. I really had to adjust on these boards
I just set up those exact spitfires a few weeks ago. They were kind of slippery! Granted, all I skate is the super smooth concrete at my local. But any backside 180 or back boardslide on my pyramid and I was slipping out! They finally are reacting better but I got hella scabs from those first few sessions 😂
I’ve ridden that set up, it is super nice, quick and easy, but still powerful pop. Plus the lower ventures makes sitting on a rail much more comfortable, the only set up I’ve felt comfortable doing 5050s on down rails, but I stopped skating that set up cause of wheelbite
I just set up an antihero 8.75 but it’s only an 14.25 wheel base and 31.75 length, and even though I haven’t skated Indy’s in forever some reason it was just calling for them. I’m coming off a super flat 9 inch egg and this new deck just feels so much safer and has like super pop lol
I just switched from small classic shape wheels to 56mm conical fulls. They are noticeably more heavy but totally worth it for the stability. The small wheels didn’t work with my indy 159s and I kept losing balance while setting up for flip tricks. Now I’m starting to land flip tricks with more speed
Ben, you gotta try April’s 8.125. It was a game changer for me. Perfect popsicle shape with 14 inch wheelbase. I ride it on Thunder 147s and 52mm spitfire classics…best combo I ever tried
Hey Ben thanks for all you do. Best to you and your success. I'm an older skater I've been skating CALIBER street trucks for a few years now was wondering if you ever skated them. I dig them alot. Hope you get to try them. Thanks.
i appreciate that you actually use a knife to grip your board. idk why i see so many people just use a loose razor blade, just get a dang utility knife
Rnnning the go52 and the infamous 8.25 with a longer tail than nose boards for sometime now. I love the quick pop feeling of the indys but hate the height and weight of the truck. But I got some thunders and the press of the tail felt amazing. Been on thunders for a while and been curious to try ventures.
I dig the 14" wheelbase but as a 6'1" tall person with size 10.5 shoes I can't have a board thinner than 8.38. I swear 8.38 with a 14 - 14.25" wheelbase is the ultimate sweet spot for me. Tiago Lemos' pro model for Primitive is 8.38 with 14" wheelbase and a big round nose and it's PERFECT. Also the Hockey/FA 8.38 is perfect as well.
I just switched to an 8.375 full shape blank. The large nose threw me off for awhile but I've gotten used to it. Think I'm going to go back down to an 8.25.
That nose blunt then fs bigspin was too smooth buttery all steez Damn it Ben now I gotta get a pair of 5.2 lo! But I agree after kinda getting over the madness I’m just back to the og 14” wb. Back to good ole 7.75-8, thunder or venture lo, 52mm wheels and I’ve been actually able to have fun and just skate and not think oh why why The 14” wheelbase helps a lot with popping
Also riding my first girl board in over a decade on 5.6 v lights with the 14’ wb and the flatter concave is definitely hard to get used to. The shorter wb has been my favorite for a while now but might go back to dlx shapes cus i feel i have more control over the board than the flatter crail shape
Hey Ben just a quick alpha: Back in the day you said the Nike Blazer (which they dont sell at the time as low in the "normal" form) is the best shoe. I agreed and still do, best fit for my foot and great, even boardfeel with even a little bit of protection. I've tried 200-300 shoes in my life (no idea really) and in the comfort area I feel like the old DC Nyjah 2 is the comfiest shoe. I tried the Brandon Westgate NB 508 and shit let me say thede go into my top 3. Fits great, boardfeel is very good for a cup and they just look and feel so good. So I highly urge you to try a pair before they stop selling them. Would be great to hear your thoughts on them!
I hate to do this to ya my Canadian brother but have you tried any of Andy Anderson's boards yet. they skate really great idk if it's cause I rode it for an entire winter at an indoor park but I automatically was consistent with some of my hardest tricks. I only learned kickflips in like April or May and they were consistently under me on a completely different board than I was riding before. Noseslides were underneath me again nollies were weirdly high for me and some how my back 180s and front 180s were reversed in how good I was at them. Large landing space for gaps. Spun a treflip for fun cause I can't land them and I almost did. a lot of room for being in grinds too. I'm riding thunders with 52mm wheels and this has been one of my favourite setups I might even fuck with my trucks and grab my forged baseplate and put it on the hangers I have for it cause it's a lil heavy but honestly it's not even that bad Im popping up to stuff like its no big deal
@@bendegros yeah that's fair they are not for everyone was mostly just curious if you would have an opinion on any of them shape wise. Probably didn't put it that way though cause I get way too hyper focused when talking about em and tbf I ate shit and twisted my ankle yesterday on it cause I got too cocky on the stair set
I've been slowly tinkering to find the perfect board. It's a little trickier (or at least a little different) in the UK with the import tax. At the moment I'm really liking the skateboard cafe C2 shape at 8.5, big square nose but not quite hockey or quasi level, big round tail and a 14.2 wheelbase. Bigger nose and tail really help with slides with size 11 feet and the steep kick with hollow Indys are making my nollie flips and similar tricks feel incredible. Coupled with some conical 53mm f4s and indy hollows it's just kind of perfect for everything that doesn't require a 360 rotation ATM.
My last 4 decks I've sought out 14" wheelbases because it has a more compact center of gravity for scoop tricks. I've been testing a couple theories, one of which is having "wide roots for a tall tree": I'm 6'3" and have been riding 8.75-9 width on the 14 inch wheel base boards and 8.75-9 trucks. I have definitely felt more stable and comfortable on these boards and have been able to improve at manuals significantly after almost 20 years of skating. The other theory I had was that board width is not as important for flip trick speed as people think. I've found board width has some effect on flip speed but technique, strength, board mould, grip and shoes are more important.
I think I read somewhere that Jacuzzi plans on having a 13.75 wheelbase on a modern width. That would not be for me at all but I'm sure there's some people who would be excited about that.
14 inch wheelbase is king. I recommend you try the santa cruz fabiana shape sometime it's an 8.25 with 14 inch wheelbase and pretty short overall, love it
Nice setup!!! Cool to see you ride what you really want!!I really like those Girl/Chocolate board! But im turning more toward the Vx board rigth now because i break too much board. And because of that i found à creature 8.53 vx everslick that is way less steep than 8.5 santa cruz but if i ride the Girl deck i really like the G033 8.5 square tail with standard venture 5.8!
If you're ever going into "wheel madness," check out the Ricta Crystal Cores. They are 95a, right in between the Dragons 93a and the X-97s 97a. They also have a hard core like the Spitfire Sapphires; which have 101a cores and 90a outsides; which cause them to make a good rolling sound. The contact patch is about as wide as Conicals, but the outside edges are rounded like a Classic. They go well with ceramic bearings. Being older, 44, I can skate for 3-4 hrs., no problem. Oh, the black MC Raps, in person, actually look better than the white/beige/green ones. I just got the black ones not too long ago. You can't see the holes. They are made of all brushed leather/suede that's one solid color, and they don't get dirty easily. Reminds me of the old Raps. The black and gum-rubber actually look good together.
I'm 6'3 and prefer a smaller wheelbase too. It's funny, a quarter of an inch shouldn't matter but it does. It's easier to get the board off the ground. And I'll take all the help I can get at 37 years old lol
Alveer is so good. Also, your switch game is so good. I'm going to start calling you Ben Janoski. Haha. Sw flip bs tail, sw board the handrail, sw bs 5-0 in a line. Killing it!
I got my old kneepain on top of my knee back after being gone for years since skating ventures for some weeks now.(pop,flick and stability feels nice indeed) I think it's the way i turn my body /hips etc when landing and squatting caused by not fast responding trucks, Am i overthinking? Had the same with indys years,ago couple times with thunders i have not had this for some years. Coincidence? Yes i am old and had 2 kneesurgerys
I recently switched to an 8.0 baker deck, so 14.25 wheelbase, and Indy mids. The Tiago ones. I have 52mm spitfire conicals 99a and I really like it. All my tricks felt just as good if not better than my previous setup except for heelflips at first. Those were a struggle but now after getting use to it those feel great as well. I think I found a setup I really really like.
I've been loving crail G052 but here is tricky to find it sometimes so I got lucky and found some 8.25 primitive pretty much with the same dims. Should be fine
What about trying an 8.25 with the lows? I ride too big of wheels so I switched to the 5.2 forged ventures highs. Got 5.6 on right now and I’m kinda liking them
I’ve been riding an 8.25 Primitive board with 144 Indy Mids and 52mm Spitfire tablets, I think it has a really mellow feel, but I am still able to get a high effortless pop. I’d be curious to see what your thoughts are on my set up.
“I can’t put my finger on why it feels that way”
As he’s putting his fingers on it
Best feeling 😊. Just recently took a trip to Regina to skate the plaza and setup a new deck, rocked new shoes and pants and let me tell you, I was flying around with the swagger of a young smolik. Best feeling
Funny syncronicity, I heard a canadian guy on a podcast today talk about a town called Regina, but he pronounced it like you pronounce vagina.
@@antediluviangocart that is the correct pronunciation believe it or not
@@E-Bizzy That is so weird! Im surprised it havent been brought up on a south park episode. What if your name is Regina, does the same rule apply?
@@antediluviangocart lol I wouldn't think so. That would be an unfortunate name to have if that were the case.
Always a pleasure watching you skate ❤
Ben I like you because you put in your bearing spacers and you tightened them and then loosened up for just a bit of play. I have to dock only 0.1 points for not sanding the edge of the grip but you came back and sanded it once with the tool so only a .05 deduction. No silverados would normally be another deduction but you made up for it with Allen hardware. All in all this is a highly rated high quality setup that any of us would be proud roll around on.
Well put... but I never sand my grip, using grip.
They also make my favorite board shape. symmetrical 8.5 with 14in wheelbase. With Indy hollows, it feels super fun while still being short to get techy and flippy. Nothing but good times
Yea I've wanted to try that shape for a while. It's almost impossible to find a 8.5 and a 14" wheelbase.
I run the G096 Cory Kennedy twin tail [8.5x14x31.875] which feels incredibly managable on 149 thunders and 53mm conicals with all of my ledge tech. I've messed around with a LOT of trucks and deck wheelbases recently and this trumps everything by far.
I always wanted that shape, so got a blank and cut it myself. Nice to know it's out there
choco shapes rule
@@robertbaker3620 Literally every Pennswood 8.5 (or any other width) popsicle I've ever seen has a 14" wb. Its the default option and you have to pretty much move heaven and earth to get them to do something else.
The pop sounds so good. 👍
Lipslides are looking perfect 👌
Im on an 8.125 ! Thanks for the review Ben . God bless , and peace ! Oh yeah , support your local
i love the skate community ! they get hyped and cheer for the hard tricks u land ! also that sw flip bs tail was fire !
8:59 freakin switch Ben!!!! 😲😱🤯👏💕👍 ur too awesome. I just set up an 8.75 yesterday, feels like a tank compared to my 8" 😆. Almost 1lb heavier. And 14.5" wheelbase. Lil long for me at almost 33". Set up to mostly skate the bowls at the park though
Bet the nose and tail are massive on that board
@@61936 😆 yeah pretty big, but I got used to it. Now an 8" feels like a toy
That sw flip back tail was a thing of beauty, well done Mr Degros
OMG skillz. Ur killing it man. Pro for our age group.
I love to see these set up videos, keep it up Big Ben
Hey Ben, as you really like to dive into the small details like a lot of us “older riders” tend to do I thought I might give you another thing that I really like to do when setting up a new deck. So when the grip is on and I have poked the holes for the hardware, I use a countersink to get that tiny bit of grip tape off underneath the head of the bolt and help the screw sink in better. The grip around the bolt has been wrinkly at times when I haven’t done this and my mind tells me right away that something is wrong😄 if I don’t have a countersink at hand I have used a big Phillips bit
which also seems to work quite alright. As for setting up a new deck “on site” I have been preparing my spare decks ahead of time. So the grip is on and holes fully prepped and ready to go. Just to mention one last crazy thing: whenever I have a new deck or two with me I seem to go harder on everything since I have my spare waiting 😂 don’t know why.
Thanks for your commitment and love for skating!
Spacers good for preventing axle slip bearing pinch.
That long nollie crook was amazing
Your skatings top notch dude. Hope I age that gracefully
Those etnies are dope, like that colorway
I walked by that first park when I was in town for a work related conference about 5 years ago. This librarian/skater geeked out seeing the stack of books. Such a fun idea.
Try the April 8.125 shape it has lil more mellow tail and nose I feel like it feels best with forged venture lows
I bet it does :)
You are the man Ben, shout out to all the dads that still rip....
Let's gooooooo got the first kf back tail in a while stoked for ya man
My first ever board was a Girl on destructo's. That's how I learned nearly all my flat ground tricks. I switched up to ventures after only 1 pair of destructo's. I still ride them to this day, although I prefer venture Hi's just cuz that's what I'm used to. The venture lows are good but I'm just used to my standard pop. Venture low seems like it throws me off just a bit. Would love to pick up another Girl deck tho. It's been awhile. I usually ride cheap shop decks as of late.
Sick set up and sick etnies. 👍
Congratulations!! It's fun to see you happy and smiling
Gonna pick up those Girl bolts for sure! Really clever design!
I recall Moses saying that Vancouver is "The best place on earth" and watching your videos and my experiences there I agree with him....
I just spent close to $300 on a new complete. 8.5 symmetrical 14" wheelbase with 148 thunder titanium lights, modus titanium coated bearings, acer titanium hardware, acer bolts for the thunder trucks, Powell dragon wheels. Its the lightest and most beautiful board i ever had in 20 years and skates like a dream
Really nice set up!! Try a Kenny Anderson board with 144 standard Indy trucks with red bearings and OJ key frames cruiser wheels 56mm or 58mm will be to cruise on any type of pavement and go fast.
Nice set up!!
Thanks man@@gabrielcherbonnier491
Sales of crailtap just went up 1000%
In love… ive been skating crailtap boards with ace trucks and some 103a wheels and they have been great to me!! I just need a bigger size then an 8”. Im so happy this video was about chocolate!!
5:50 That's what she said!
Congratz on the new setup!
Real classic oval 8.125 with 14 inch WB and very short like 31.5 - feels amazing with thunders when new. It is a flip machine and somehow feels amazing on Indys when its been ridden for some time
Change is good.
I've jumped up from 8 to 8.75 (big boy board, looks proportionate with my size 12 feet) and it's fun. 14" wheelbase Venture lows, 52mm spitties, all good.
We are riding identical set ups, what deck are you riding? Always on the lookout for wide and short.🙌
@@toryfry7636 an old GX1000 deck a homie at the shop gave me. One of their logo boards with a split veneer. Couldn't tell you which woodshop it is but I'm guessing BBS as it's got some stiffness to it
I'm soon going to try the G052 shape on Venture 5.6 lights with 52mm f4 classics and also on 5.8 lights with 53mm f4 conical full. Board is already prepared with the 5.6s waiting for me to be done with the current setup :D Haven't been riding Ventures or Crailtap boards for at least 10 years I guess, so I'm hyped to try both again. Crailtap concaves are sooo flat, I'm so not used to that after riding BBS for years now, mostly Real, Krooked, DW. It's even more flat than the April 8.25" 14" WB I rode a few weeks ago, which I liked on Thunders, but I really had to get used to it for 1 or 2 sessions.
Edit: After your vid, I also might try Thunders on it, but I don't think that the board will last long enough :D
How do you like the Girl setup? I have the same setup and I like it. I want to try an April 8.25 14wb with venture 5.6 lights. What was your experience with the April Deck?
@@shyn0o0 actually I didn't skate that setup that much yet.
I'm back on my standard all around setup at the moment (acutally im injured since a few weeks), which is 14.38" WB, 8.38" and Indy 149 forged hollows. I guess I even prefer Aces nowadays, I've ridden them on my last setup and really liked them.
To finally answer your question:
I like the April shape more than the OG crailtap concave. It is to flat for me tbh but I was biased because I was so used to all the other BBS Boards like Real, Krooked, Deathwish. Also April eventhough that one also was way more flat compared to the other BBS boards mentioned, but not nearly as flat as the Girl concave.
Maybe it was the combination with Venture trucks which I've also not ridden in the past 10 years. But in theory that's a good combination, if you get used to it. I remember all my switch flips were doing pretty well on that setup, I will try it again soon :)
Please try the Venture + April combo and tell me how you liked it, really curious about that setup. I'd ride April again that's for sure. I really liked it on my 148 + classics and also 149 Thunders. On 149 with conical fulls even more, because that's what I'm used to as mentioned.
On the April and also Girl board all my flips worked a lot better when putting my back foot slightly more on the tail, like you see dylan jaeb do. I really had to adjust on these boards
Those shoes are sick 🔥🔥
I just set up those exact spitfires a few weeks ago. They were kind of slippery! Granted, all I skate is the super smooth concrete at my local. But any backside 180 or back boardslide on my pyramid and I was slipping out! They finally are reacting better but I got hella scabs from those first few sessions 😂
I love girl and chocolate boards I’ve been riding them for well over 7 years all different shapes and set up’s favorite company for sure
I would have thought that 8.125" Nyjah board with it's tiny tail would have been perfect if one wanted pop on the Venture Lows.
I’ve ridden that set up, it is super nice, quick and easy, but still powerful pop. Plus the lower ventures makes sitting on a rail much more comfortable, the only set up I’ve felt comfortable doing 5050s on down rails, but I stopped skating that set up cause of wheelbite
@@tresfordays9644 kewl my dude! It’s the one set up I’d want to try.
The go52 will be my next board. I switched to an 8.375 full shape blank. Ready to go back to an 8.25.
I just set up an antihero 8.75 but it’s only an 14.25 wheel base and 31.75 length, and even though I haven’t skated Indy’s in forever some reason it was just calling for them. I’m coming off a super flat 9 inch egg and this new deck just feels so much safer and has like super pop lol
Love the way Ben says Jesus
You're cutting that grip-tape like a boss!
Damn switch flip back tail. Look at him go
New Aurelien Girauds looking so fresh and so clean clean 👊
BTW, your set-up madness would hate what I run 8.125s on!
I just switched from small classic shape wheels to 56mm conical fulls. They are noticeably more heavy but totally worth it for the stability. The small wheels didn’t work with my indy 159s and I kept losing balance while setting up for flip tricks. Now I’m starting to land flip tricks with more speed
Ben, you gotta try April’s 8.125. It was a game changer for me. Perfect popsicle shape with 14 inch wheelbase. I ride it on Thunder 147s and 52mm spitfire classics…best combo I ever tried
Hey Ben thanks for all you do. Best to you and your success. I'm an older skater I've been skating CALIBER street trucks for a few years now was wondering if you ever skated them. I dig them alot. Hope you get to try them. Thanks.
i appreciate that you actually use a knife to grip your board. idk why i see so many people just use a loose razor blade, just get a dang utility knife
8.12 is golden! Recently switched to 8.18 and that’s def my goldilocks zone
I'm going to use the longnecks from now on. I'm not blowing out bolt holes and I notice zero difference, I just like that they fit better.
Good show old man!
that's an acceptable amount threads showing on hardware. i like 1" or 1 1/8" bc i often ride risers
Nice board , still killing it
Rnnning the go52 and the infamous 8.25 with a longer tail than nose boards for sometime now. I love the quick pop feeling of the indys but hate the height and weight of the truck. But I got some thunders and the press of the tail felt amazing. Been on thunders for a while and been curious to try ventures.
I dig the 14" wheelbase but as a 6'1" tall person with size 10.5 shoes I can't have a board thinner than 8.38. I swear 8.38 with a 14 - 14.25" wheelbase is the ultimate sweet spot for me. Tiago Lemos' pro model for Primitive is 8.38 with 14" wheelbase and a big round nose and it's PERFECT. Also the Hockey/FA 8.38 is perfect as well.
I just switched to an 8.375 full shape blank. The large nose threw me off for awhile but I've gotten used to it. Think I'm going to go back down to an 8.25.
My friend I think you would like the DLX True Fit Mold ;) It’s 8.38 with a 14 WB
Looking good Ben. Time to put out that 2/ 2 and-a-half minute street part! 🍤🍦
Christmas complete in Sept!!! Looks like a dope setup!
That board madness is still there. You just contained it a little bit. It will be back😅
That nose blunt then fs bigspin was too smooth buttery all steez
Damn it Ben now I gotta get a pair of 5.2 lo! But I agree after kinda getting over the madness I’m just back to the og 14” wb. Back to good ole 7.75-8, thunder or venture lo, 52mm wheels and I’ve been actually able to have fun and just skate and not think oh why why
The 14” wheelbase helps a lot with popping
Also riding my first girl board in over a decade on 5.6 v lights with the 14’ wb and the flatter concave is definitely hard to get used to. The shorter wb has been my favorite for a while now but might go back to dlx shapes cus i feel i have more control over the board than the flatter crail shape
Trying out this shape on thunders has been great so far the snap is great
Hey Ben just a quick alpha: Back in the day you said the Nike Blazer (which they dont sell at the time as low in the "normal" form) is the best shoe. I agreed and still do, best fit for my foot and great, even boardfeel with even a little bit of protection. I've tried 200-300 shoes in my life (no idea really) and in the comfort area I feel like the old DC Nyjah 2 is the comfiest shoe. I tried the Brandon Westgate NB 508 and shit let me say thede go into my top 3. Fits great, boardfeel is very good for a cup and they just look and feel so good. So I highly urge you to try a pair before they stop selling them. Would be great to hear your thoughts on them!
I hate to do this to ya my Canadian brother but have you tried any of Andy Anderson's boards yet. they skate really great idk if it's cause I rode it for an entire winter at an indoor park but I automatically was consistent with some of my hardest tricks. I only learned kickflips in like April or May and they were consistently under me on a completely different board than I was riding before. Noseslides were underneath me again nollies were weirdly high for me and some how my back 180s and front 180s were reversed in how good I was at them. Large landing space for gaps. Spun a treflip for fun cause I can't land them and I almost did. a lot of room for being in grinds too. I'm riding thunders with 52mm wheels and this has been one of my favourite setups I might even fuck with my trucks and grab my forged baseplate and put it on the hangers I have for it cause it's a lil heavy but honestly it's not even that bad Im popping up to stuff like its no big deal
If I was going to try it I would have done it by now.
😂i would die to see Ben ride an Andy Anderson board!!! 😆🙏
@@bendegros yeah that's fair they are not for everyone was mostly just curious if you would have an opinion on any of them shape wise. Probably didn't put it that way though cause I get way too hyper focused when talking about em and tbf I ate shit and twisted my ankle yesterday on it cause I got too cocky on the stair set
I've been slowly tinkering to find the perfect board. It's a little trickier (or at least a little different) in the UK with the import tax. At the moment I'm really liking the skateboard cafe C2 shape at 8.5, big square nose but not quite hockey or quasi level, big round tail and a 14.2 wheelbase. Bigger nose and tail really help with slides with size 11 feet and the steep kick with hollow Indys are making my nollie flips and similar tricks feel incredible. Coupled with some conical 53mm f4s and indy hollows it's just kind of perfect for everything that doesn't require a 360 rotation ATM.
Nice sw kickflip back tail slide 👍🏽
My last 4 decks I've sought out 14" wheelbases because it has a more compact center of gravity for scoop tricks. I've been testing a couple theories, one of which is having "wide roots for a tall tree": I'm 6'3" and have been riding 8.75-9 width on the 14 inch wheel base boards and 8.75-9 trucks. I have definitely felt more stable and comfortable on these boards and have been able to improve at manuals significantly after almost 20 years of skating. The other theory I had was that board width is not as important for flip trick speed as people think. I've found board width has some effect on flip speed but technique, strength, board mould, grip and shoes are more important.
I think I read somewhere that Jacuzzi plans on having a 13.75 wheelbase on a modern width. That would not be for me at all but I'm sure there's some people who would be excited about that.
14 inch wheelbase is king. I recommend you try the santa cruz fabiana shape sometime it's an 8.25 with 14 inch wheelbase and pretty short overall, love it
Yeah, I love Fabi's SC shape, ridden two of her 8.25 x 31.6 x 14 and love the ride feel and pop.
As someone who keeps breaking their bearings from not paying attention and over tightening, I use spacers
Same Sewa set up
8.125 board
Venture lo
51mm Wheels
Alveer griptape
That's so good sir!!! Love the setup and kickflip bs Tails so nice... Wonder if you can flip it out too hahah hope to meet you soon sir
Nice setup!!! Cool to see you ride what you really want!!I really like those Girl/Chocolate board! But im turning more toward the Vx board rigth now because i break too much board. And because of that i found à creature 8.53 vx everslick that is way less steep than 8.5 santa cruz but if i ride the Girl deck i really like the G033 8.5 square tail with standard venture 5.8!
What’s the tool you use? Brand?
Sounded like Owen Wilson was in the background watching you skate
Looks like the new setup work pretty well. Good skills, great video 😊
Ben changes his components and setups like a girl changes clothes and looks. Its OK, I change my setups too. 😂 from the ❤
Sewa is crazy clean with his tricks.
You should go full on 90s with a setup. Like 7-7.75 board with 49mm wheels
If you're ever going into "wheel madness," check out the Ricta Crystal Cores. They are 95a, right in between the Dragons 93a and the X-97s 97a. They also have a hard core like the Spitfire Sapphires; which have 101a cores and 90a outsides; which cause them to make a good rolling sound. The contact patch is about as wide as Conicals, but the outside edges are rounded like a Classic. They go well with ceramic bearings. Being older, 44, I can skate for 3-4 hrs., no problem. Oh, the black MC Raps, in person, actually look better than the white/beige/green ones. I just got the black ones not too long ago. You can't see the holes. They are made of all brushed leather/suede that's one solid color, and they don't get dirty easily. Reminds me of the old Raps. The black and gum-rubber actually look good together.
Early 2000s my best skating was on chocolate and Ventura’s. My kingpin broke and went to royals. Killed my skating
christmas complete🤩🤩🤩
I'm 6'3 and prefer a smaller wheelbase too. It's funny, a quarter of an inch shouldn't matter but it does. It's easier to get the board off the ground. And I'll take all the help I can get at 37 years old lol
i am absolutely stealing the screw through grip technique
Stop the madness! XD
I'm on a 8.125 Quasi Mirror deck, Ace AF1s and F4 54mm Radials 99duro. I think I'm getting to my sweet spot!
Alveer is so good. Also, your switch game is so good. I'm going to start calling you Ben Janoski. Haha. Sw flip bs tail, sw board the handrail, sw bs 5-0 in a line. Killing it!
Thanks Kevin :)
So what’d you think of the grip Ben?
It was good 👍
Element sale gave me deck for the rest of my life its cool to ride a fresh board whenever you want that nothing bad about that if you can
We have the same setup almost, this video was sick,.
I got my old kneepain on top of my knee back after being gone for years since skating ventures for some weeks now.(pop,flick and stability feels nice indeed) I think it's the way i turn my body /hips etc when landing and squatting caused by not fast responding trucks, Am i overthinking? Had the same with indys years,ago couple times with thunders i have not had this for some years. Coincidence? Yes i am old and had 2 kneesurgerys
Very nice, Ben!
The Anti Hero
grimple Kanfoush deck has a tight 14" wheelbase, and it is just fine*
The 8.55? That has a 14.12" wb. It's his custom "Yinzer" shape. Austin is from Pittsburgh (412 area code) so the WB is a little easter egg.
@@loveandnapalmsaid it as if you already know!
I ride the 5.2 lows on an 8.25 Santa Cruz Mario McCoy twin shape and its my favorite setup
I recently switched to an 8.0 baker deck, so 14.25 wheelbase, and Indy mids. The Tiago ones. I have 52mm spitfire conicals 99a and I really like it. All my tricks felt just as good if not better than my previous setup except for heelflips at first. Those were a struggle but now after getting use to it those feel great as well. I think I found a setup I really really like.
Always a treat to see a new Ben video 😎🖤
9:28 woooow 😂 ..describes the whole video
I've been loving crail G052 but here is tricky to find it sometimes so I got lucky and found some 8.25 primitive pretty much with the same dims. Should be fine
i like ventures infinitely more than thunders. i'm keen to try some 5.6 highs and 5.2 lows
Really enjoyed the skating in this one
What about trying an 8.25 with the lows? I ride too big of wheels so I switched to the 5.2 forged ventures highs. Got 5.6 on right now and I’m kinda liking them
I’ve been riding an 8.25 Primitive board with 144 Indy Mids and 52mm Spitfire tablets, I think it has a really mellow feel, but I am still able to get a high effortless pop. I’d be curious to see what your thoughts are on my set up.