2f - Setting The Standard Online: Switchback Longboards. Silverfish Longboarding. Bustin Boards.

Many companies are combining their knowledge of longboards with well designed and easy to use websites.  Like other industries in today's market, we are beginning to move away from the brick-and-mortar skate shops.  Fellow enthusiasts and newcomers alike browse through the vast assortment of boards, products, and media available online.  Forums or blogs are included for interaction, options for customization are often available, and making a purchase is simple using online banking or a credit card.  This really is Web 2.0 at its finest.

All of the information and reviews needed to find the board for "you" are only a click away.  And trust me, once you start skating and improving, you'll always want something different and new.  I haven't been longboarding very long and I already have two boards, four sets of wheels, three sets of trucks, and a bowl full of used bearings.

Luckily, my information is conveniently saved on these sites.  Placing an order, looking up product reviews, or just following trick tips an is effortless task. 

1. Switchback Longboards

 Switchback is my absolute favorite place to browse for new longboard products.  They have dubbed themselves, "Canada's Premier Online Longboard Retailer," and I would have to agree with the title. They have all of my favorite brands and products, and they ship for free in Canada and the US on orders over $25.  I wish I had known about this site before I overpaid for my first board from West 49.  I could have gotten a better quality board for the same price.

Switchback Longboards is a grass-roots, community based shop that spawned out of Nanaimo, BC. They simply wanted more friends to ride with and better products offered in their area, but in the process, they reached the entire country and now the US.   They have been operating for over 4 years and deal with nothing but longboards.  Their expertise is shown in the description of every product, and they offer advice that can help a new or experienced rider in choosing a product.

The Switchback Team uses their 'community' page to keep longboarders connected and involved. They organize, promote, and sponsor local events that attract some of the biggest names in longboarding.

Switchback provides a simple environment to shop for anything, from the board itself, to a sporting wind sail.  Their prices are quite reasonable and they'll ship your order very quickly, often accompanied with a free magazine or stickers.

Check out Switchback Longboard's Facebook, Twitter, and Vimeo pages.  You will be amused by the witty status updates, amazing videos and the funny pictures.

 2. Silverfish Longboarding


When the banner says, "Everything Longboarding," it is not stretching the truth at all.  Anything you need to know about longboarding is available on this site.

It is simple to navigate through the pages using the content bar and drop down menus.  It includes news, forums, gear reviews, buy and sell ads, events, galleries, downloads, links, and a search section.  An infinite amount of focused information is available on 'the fish'.


The reviews are very helpful with personal and honest opinions about various products. The forums touch on every possible subject, such as the best setups or the biggest hills, and the galleries share the most popular media sources.  Their Twitter and Facebook pages are also a good way to follow the feed and they allow followers and friends to view everything as it is posted online.

'The Fish' is the largest online community of boarders today. The user generated experiences, media and thoughts are the main source of content on this world renowned website. Silverfish Longboarding stands as the absolute hub of the longboarding industry, and will continue to do so, with their use of Web 2.0.




3. Bustin Boards


Bustin Boards, based out of Brooklyn, is one of the coolest, most innovative sites in the longboard world.  They continue to release new technologies, materials and ideas into the market.

They use flash on their site so riders can design their own board.  The customer chooses the flex (example: 7-ply or 8-ply), the graphics right down to the color of the layers, the trucks, wheels, and the bearings.  During the entire process, your board is previewed on the screen, exactly how you design it.  Like Dell and other huge companies, Bustin Boards is using the option of customization to compete in today's market and to provide the ideal board for "you."

Here is an example of a 38" Maestro I designed on their site:

Bustin Boards also has a Twitter and Facebook page where they share information on their new products, team riders, and other company activities.

In a recent tweet they wrote, "Hooking our mailman Tony up with an early holiday gift!  It's the Brooklyn way!  Here is a photo of 'Toe Knee' getting his new board:

Aside from the great reviews I've read about Bustin Boards, I cannot provide any opinion about the products themselves, as I have never ridden one.  I had to include this company in my list because of it's amazing design and growing online presence.

 

 Out of the hundreds of longboard sites on the web, I am especially drawn to these three.  I will continue buying from them, checking their blogs, watching the videos and sharing my own experiences when a topic intrigues me.  If you are an avid longboarder, or just starting out, I would highly recommend visiting Switchback Longboards, Silverfish Longboarding, and Bustin Boards.

1f - Riders and Setups

Over the years I've tried many different types of boards.  Some are long, some are short, some have a nose and tail, and others are directional.  I feel like after test riding so many setups, and continuously upgrading my own, I've figured out my favorite style of riding and the ideal board for me.  If only I had an extra 208 dollars to buy it!  But, until I do, I'll keep riding what I have --and what my roommates have--, pushing my limits and dreaming of the Loaded TanTien that will someday be mine. 

Mitch Pateman (Me)

Board: Earthwing Supermodel 40"
Trucks: Randal II 180
Wheels: Sector 9 Race Formula-81mm/82a
Bearings: Bones Reds

Style: Downhill, Freeride, Freestyle
Favorite Hill:  Sir Johns Homestead to Redstart Dr.
Favourite Boarding Music: Jaydiohead, The Sheepdogs, Born Ruffians


 The Supermodel is great for cruising and weaving through crowds of people on campus.  I like the concave shape of the deck because I can shift my weight on the edge of the board and carve as sharp as I want.  I wish the board had a lot more flex and was a bit lighter, but I guess that's what I get for buying a 9 ply maple deck instead of bamboo.

My board is a drop-through deck.  Drop-through decks are naturally much lower to the ground because there are holes where your trucks can fit through and mount.  I prefer the lower deck because it provides a very stable, yet responsive ride that seems to be more forgiving to mistakes.  This is beneficial because the rider doesn't need to bend their knee as much when they pump or foot-brake.  Drop-throughs have less traction than top-mounts, and they are known to be better for controlled slides.

I recently went on switchbacklongboards.com and ordered a new pair of Gullwing Charger 10" trucks to replace my Randal IIs.  I'm hoping that this will make my 81mm wheels flush with the outer edge of my board.  --And yes, I know my wheels are huge, but that's how I like it!--  I just don't feel like bailing because of short trucks that cause wheel bite when I'm throwing my body weight around sharp corners.

As for the bearings, we all use Bones Reds, because they are the best in their lower price range.  They are fast, smooth and reliable.  The Earthwing Supermodel is excellent for anyone who wants to cruise, fly down hills, and slide --both hands down or stand-up-- with stability. 




Mark Dumschat

Board: Loaded Vanguard
Trucks: Gullwing Charger 10"
Wheels: Abec 11 Gumballs- 76mm/78a
Bearings: Bones Reds

Style: Downhill
Favorite Hill:  Sir Johns Homestead to Redstart Dr.
Favourite Boarding Music: Wu-Tang, Hey Rosetta

Mark's Vanguard is one of my favorite boards to ride.  The flex is amazing and it feels like you're riding on clouds.  His trucks are very wide and can turn circles inside of my Randals.  This is one of the reasons why I ordered the same ones.  His wheels are 76mm, big enough to absorb some of the rough terrain, but also wider than most, for increased stability.  Other than the fact that this board has almost nothing for kicktails, it is a great deck that provides a smooth and responsive ride.

Mark's board utilizes a top-mount pattern for his trucks.  Top-Mount decks are higher off the ground, providing the rider with more leverage when turning sharply.  Stability and traction at high speeds are the key features of a top-mount board.  They are maneuverable and agile but you can feel the grip when you're carving down a hill.

Jigten Nyandak

Board: Kracked Skulls Scimitar 42"
Trucks: Randall II 180
Wheels: Abec 11 Flashbacks-70mm/78a
Bearings: Bones Reds

Style: Cruise
Favorite Hill:  UTM South Entrance Hill
Favourite Boarding Music: Coldplay, Kings of Leon

The Scimitar is a handmade board with great value.  The owner of Kracked Skulls designs and skates these boards himself.  You can order one of these decks from krackedskulls.com for less than $80.

This deck is pretty light, has a lot of flex and is very fast.  The trucks mount a little different than usual drop-throughs, but it makes the board even lower to the ground than mine.  On the other hand, it is so low that the tail hits the ground when you jump on and start out, or when you pull it up a hill like a suitcase.


Amanda Costantini

Board: Sector 9 Joel Tudor Signature 38.5"
Trucks: Gullwing Charger 9"
Wheels: Earthwing-76mm/82a
Bearings: Bones Reds

Style: Cruise
Favorite Hill: Council Ring Road (Burnhamthorpe to South Millway)
Favourite Boarding Music: La Dispute, Against Me, Every Time I Die

The board in the right side of the photo is a real treat to ride.  It has a small kicktail for manuals or popping up curbs, and the nose works great for shovits as well.  Just before this photo was taken one of my friends smacked into the side of a curb and flew into the grass.  This is why the nose has wood filler in it.  I had to fill the cracked part, sand it down, tape it off, spray paint, then use Varathane to seal it up.  It looks alright and seems tough enough.  We'll see how long it lasts.