Texas Longboarder

Milehigh Skates Bearings — the absolute best deal on bearings you can get. Great bearings.

Here’s a video review of the Gravity Kalai and blue Gravity High-Grade wheels.

The higher quality video file, about 65 megs, is available here. Better than this youtube crap. I shot this using my Sony Bloggie, in 720 HD.

My friend Sean got a Kalai last year, so I already kind of knew I’d like the board. I am used to Comet downhill boards, w have a lot of rocker. I love ‘em. But the Kalai is just such a nice board for turning. Really sweet.

Took some video today at the local hill, with a new pocket HD camcorder. Need practice — it has no wide angle lens, but I’m really happy with the quality.

Larger displaying Quicktime file available at http://www.texaslongboarder.net/videos/hillskate2.mov — 29 megs.

My friend Marshall shot this footage from his Kodak Zi8 “Flip” style pocket camcorder. I offer up the raw video — no editing at all. While the camera work is a bit shaky, I think Marshall go some cool shots. Also, I was impressed by the quality of the video. Really nice stuff for such a small camera, and much better than the footage I get from my Canon point n shoot camera.

Actually, this isn’t the “real” raw footage. It is a Quicktime File, converted to Flash. The Quicktimes looks great. The Flash is not bad.

I was so impressed by the HD footage the little Kodak took that I have ordered one of these Sony Bloggies. The movable lens — mounted on sort of a cylinder at the top, should allow me to get some good camera angles.

I will eventually get some footage from another hill. Perhaps on a Central Texas road trip this spring. This hill is just so convenient, and that makes it great to just run out and take a few runs.

Went out with my buddy Marshall today. Wind resistance was a problem, but after a week of snow and ice just rolling was awesome.

Not Texas, but WAAAAAAAY too rad to not post. Weather in Big D has not been good — I’m dying to get out and skate!

Kick ass new Gravity Hi-Grades. 76mm of flowing goodness. Review is forthcoming...soon as the weather warms up a bit.

OK, got these sweet 76mm Gravity Hi-Grades (83a) from my brother-in-law Jason, for Christmas. Yeah, Jason is a good dude! Can’t wait until the weather is good enough to set these up and ride ‘em down a hill!

I have an extra set of Randal-IIs, so I’m thinking about setting them up on a Gravity Kalai. That would rip!

My friend Marshall, the other afternoon. Fun.

Click for big version.

Click for big version.

Every time I look up I discover another video of my friend John Armstrong that I have somehow missed.

Enjoy…

John ‘Army’ Armstrong Skate Video from Simon Victor on Vimeo.

This is another older review that I’m republishing here because the topic is still extremely popular…

the Loaded Dervish

A couple of months ago, Loaded Longboards sent me this killer setup. Well, actually mine is a little different. I stole this image from Mile High Skates, where you can purchase this fine beast.

Loaded has been making some of the most innovative boards around for a couple of years now. Having the Adams on their crew hasn’t hurt either. The Dervish is the most recent addition to their line.

Like all their boards, the Dervish is built from Bamboo and Epoxy/Glass. Its a totally environmentally friendly board. The Bamboo/Glass construction gives it a really snappy flex. Not bouncy at all — but responsive.

As you can see, the trucks actually mount on the top of the board, dropping through. This lowers the board, making it more stable while carving and ripping your favorite hill, sidewalk, or parking lot. With the cutaway nose and tail, you can run pretty much any size wheel you want and have not worry at all about wheel bite.

My board came with the new 10″ Gullwing Charger trucks. They are great trucks. I’d recommend either them or a standard Randal-II 180mm trucks. I set this up with 72mm Pink Powerballs and Biltin Bearings.

The first thing you’d notice if you picked up my setup is how light it is. Even with big wheels, the sucker is light. That’s because the board itself if really light.

Like their other boards, the Dervish comes in a couple of different flexes. A softer flex (Flex 2) for you lightweights, and a harder flex (Flex 1) for big tubs like me.

If you’ve ridden any of Loaded’s other boards, like the Vanguard, you will find the Dervish is very different. It has less camber, straight rails, and is just a little more predictable in any riding situation. However, like the Vanguard, the Dervish is bi-directional. You can ride it either way — both sides are exactly symetrical.

A huge and special thanks to Loaded Boards for continuing to support Bob’s Trick Tips, longboarding, and innovative thinking.

Here is a rad video of the Adams riding the Dervish. These guys are just the worlds absolute masters of this kind of riding. Makes you want to buy a Dervish. Well — do it!