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| Deck Reviews (10390 Posts)
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Kevin Anderson
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On 9/4/2004
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
United States
(66.116.nnn.nnn)
Worm was amazing. He was the only guy I ever saw make it to the top at Paramount. He'd get up there, look you in the eye and do a frontside one-wheeler (then called backside) and keep looking at you all twisted while he rolled back down that wall. Super athletes couldn't pump to the top but Worm just wormed his way up there.
He's also the only guy I know who could paddle out at Malibu with a lit cigarette in his mouth and keep it lit, even after punching though waves. I bought my first set of Cadillac wheels from him at E.T. Surfboards for $7.42. They were $1.75 each plus 6% CA sales tax in 1974.
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Check this out...
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On 9/4/2004 EE
wrote in from
United States
(4.62.nnn.nnn)
PSR,
You know what is really funny is because the bowl was so big I was the only one who could carve that bowl to the top because of the 5 foot board SPEED. In that photo I'm still 3ft from the top and coming down. Kevin Anderson the(worm)was the only person who'd could one wheel it. Sometimes George Orton. It was a nasty flat wall once you hit the top at speed you were committed or 16 ft to bottom all concrete. Any way a couple of years ago somebody approached me and handed me a video. The box is titled Spectacular Sports Bloopers and Fabulous Fouls, Rare action packaged footage of madcap moments from the Widening world of sports. It has Mary Lou Retton,Boxer Bobby Czyz,playboy bunnies,surfing, kick boxing, And I'm one of the pictures on the cover of the video box flying out of that bowl full speed 5 feet in the air with my five ft board in my hand. I freaked out, I watched the video and they show me go down this snake run full charge I hit this big bowl and throw this big ft side carve to the top then I shoot out of the top of the bowl, as I fly thru the air my board leaves my feet and comes under my arm I catch it and land on my feet and walk away. I never remember filming this. The box is dated 1989 and this was 1977. I just got this video in 2002 some one found at a swap meet. I never new it was out there...
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Picture of Ed on the wall
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On 9/4/2004 PSR
wrote in from
United States
(68.69.nnn.nnn)
As a Coach of Alpine Snowboarding(that's the forgotten aspect of the sport,you know,Hardboots,Go-fast gear,and big,square-tailed skinny Raceboards),I gotta say Ed,That is one Heck of a Carve!!! Man,that just ROCKS! I do wish I could set ya up on a Big Donek or Tanker at Sun Valley,and let you just Rip It Up! {Hmm,maybe JG could put that together?} Anyways,Nice Pic,Great Flow!!
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Specs, History
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On 9/4/2004
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
United States
(66.116.nnn.nnn)
55" GroundSwell specs.
Bob, when I get back in the shop I'll round up as many decks as I have there and take some pics. From memory, my blue Ed E is a flat roundtail with a fine clear roll on grip. The green one has a wedge block bolted on for a kick and gnarly clear pizza griptape. The red one is the newer one with a molded squaretail and sharp cornered cutouts and fine clear griptape. They are made out of different materials and the thickness may vary. I think that the green one has the most flex and the newer one is the stiffest. The first two boards have the old school hole pattern and the newer one uses the new school hole pattern (I think).
The kicks can also vary depending on how many plys that you're pressing. The fewer the number of plys, the smaller the radius of the bend. I'm just doing one shape, one thickness, one kick, one hole pattern and one graphic in one color.
Memory lane included hair for me. I started using 48" Chapstiks in all of my freestyle routines in the late seventies. Bob Mohr shuffle anyone?
Trivia question. Who was featured on the back cover (and inside) of the Dregs catalog with the Supertanker? How ironic is that?
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Blast from the past
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On 9/4/2004 EE
wrote in from
United States
(4.62.nnn.nnn)
I caught myself going thru my scrap book today digging for ideas on new boards and decided to share a couple of my favorites shots with you enjoy.
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Just another day
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On 9/4/2004 EE
wrote in from
United States
(4.62.nnn.nnn)
1976 Fruit Bowl not a care in the world.
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Just for fun
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On 9/4/2004 EE
wrote in from
United States
(4.62.nnn.nnn)
1977, Five Foot board 7" wide. Monster bowl 16 feet deep 8 feet flat verticle wall. Those were the days
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the x's by CC
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On 9/4/2004
chewy
wrote in from
United States
(63.105.nnn.nnn)
would be cool to see 2-3 angles for each deck of the fleet
these are all plywood...fun fun fun
but the snap of composite and V-lam rules
more skating less b*tching!
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giant boards
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On 9/4/2004
Bob Loftin
wrote in from
United States
(209.99.nnn.nnn)
Chris,
Can you post an actual image of your 55" setup? Even better if it were side by side with Eds.
With most of these online shops, they may post top and bottom shots of the boards, but it is really helpful for those of us in, say, Texas, if you post some good images that allow us to really evaluate the boards -- you know -- side profiles, kick angles, thickness, etc.
Bob
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Ed
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On 9/4/2004 RR
wrote in from
United States
(198.81.nnn.nnn)
no i dont need atteention you were beeing a goof and now I feel better.
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You guys are making me ill
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On 9/4/2004
hugh r
wrote in from
United States
(68.232.nnn.nnn)
Ok... so you all patched things up and kissed and all... but now I have to know one thing... who's plank do I need to turn into a toilet seat?
Ed... don't listen to Rooney about your bank rider just being ok... it kicks serious butt! Between us, we own 3 of them.
I am sure Chaputs Biger Red X will be bitchen too.
Haven't you all figured out how Chris works this stuff yet? We have.
He analizes the crap out of every thing... he gathers as much info as can be found... he picks brains... he analizes every similar product he can get his hands on. Then he works magic... not always on the first one, or the second one, or even the tenth one... but when he has it ready for market it rocks.
Both Rooney and I own droped big red x speed boards... they kick some serious butt too... and his wheels are considered by many, myself included, to be the finest over all line of skateboard wheels ever assembled under one mfg. The gumballs are amazing.
I am of the opinion that classic lines are classic lines... doesn't matter if it's music, math, art, skateboards, or cars... and there are going to be similarities between competing styles or types.
Did Chris rip off your design... maybe, maybe not, I don't know, I haven't seen his new boards yet... but rip off is such a harsh word. Would I guess that your boards inspired Chris? I bet a couple of lunches on it... but I'd guess that other factors probably played into it too.
I pushed your boards too Ed... I dig them. I remember that I had to hunt you down and force you to take money for the first two... and then I had to make you not give me such an excellent deal on the third one... so I'll never beleive it's all about the money for you... Rooney's just being a butt head (I can say that... he's my brother)
I dig the stuff that you have come up and I dig the guys a Gravity... I like you and Chaput ok too... each and every one of you has done ME right and have provided excellent products to the small longboard market.
As a consumer, I love the idea of Chris making a board that is similar to your bank rider... damn, now I have to buy another deck. Most of us here just need the tiniest reason to buy another deck... and now we have it. Now it's up to you to raise the bar again...
Want to know how to beat Chris in the tanker game? Shoot me an email and I'll give you some ideas! Same goes for you Chaput... but it'll cost you a deck!! It's free to Ed (to make up for my brother trying to start a fight! Thanks Rooney! Get some new leathers... I'm gonna be needing mine back!)
Hamm... take him up on his skating offer... those hills are killer!
HR
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The Same Difference
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On 9/4/2004
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
United States
(66.116.nnn.nnn)
Ed and I had a nice long talk on the phone tonight. I think we're okay. Ed has been very generous to me in the past, giving me some of his boards and his time. I did the best that I could to help promote his boards for a long time. I've been on the podium with them for slalom racing and slopestyle. I even won 2 Gold medals in the World Longboard Championship on his boards. I have always had nothing but kind words for both Ed and his boards. I've told people what they are about and where to get them.
I didn't "go to Ed's manufacturer" as it has been implied. I was already there. The same manufacturer is making my 33", 36", 39", 42", 45" and 55" boards. As a matter of fact, the only board that they aren't making is my speedboard. They are an OEM company that owns all of their own molds. I live in HB. My shop is in HB. My wheels are made in HB. This manufacturer is in HB. It seems reasonable that I'd continue to have my boards made in HB.
I did my best to differentiate my board from Ed's. I designed it on my computer first, then made and tested several prototypes. I have about 50 sheets of 15mm and 18mm 60" x 60" birch plywood in my shop that I bought 5 years ago, before I had ever seen one of Ed's boards. I had been riding supertankers with Brad and Biker before Ed and I had even met again in the modern era. After finishing my first template, I noticed that Ed's latest board was different than the one that I had been trying so hard to avoid. I redesigned my board so that it wouldn't be the same as either of Ed's boards. I didn't take his design and tweak it. As some of you have guessed, I really don't need to steal other's ideas. I have plenty of my own.
When the manufacturer made my first run, they accidently omitted one of my design features. The mistake made it look closer to one of Ed's shapes. As a result, I refused delivery. Out of respect for Ed (and at great time and expense), I had them redo the entire run. I wanted every major feature to be different than what was already out there on the market. At the end of the day though, there will alway be similarities between skateboards. I've had guys take my speedboard plans off of the internet and make a production version from it, right down to the griptape pattern. After making my Roughcuts, others started marketing some similar designs as "Smoothcuts" and "Flushcuts". I love it.
If anyone wants to know how Ed's and my boards are different, here are some of the features:
1. Ed's is a classic surfboard shape, with its widest point below the midpoint. I designed mine to be more like my other shapes, with its greatest width 1/3 down from the nose.
2. Because I do wheelies and freestyle tricks on mine, my nose is longer and a different shape.
3. Mine has a rounded square tail. All of my boards have always been rounded square tails. It's different than Ed's older round tail and his newer square tail. The kick is the same as my Chapstik and many of my other longboards.
4. The length, width and wheelbase are all smaller than Ed's and the board is therefore lighter.
5. I have unique graphics top and bottom in my company colors. They are solid (not showing wood through). They aren't stringer, striped or surfboard style.
6. I chose not to use the gnarly griptape that both Ed and I like on our boards. I use a roll-on grip that the manufacturer provides and uses on others.
7. I'm using Randals on 1/8" flat risers instead of Trackers on tall wedged risers.
8. The end of Ed's cutouts are "sharp". I use a 3/4" radius on mine.
Having said all that, it's hard to make 48" plus decks look too different, expecially with functional cutouts (all of my boards have cutouts). I'm not about to do a swallow tail or a needle nose or a winger dinger whale-tale, just to be different. And I wouldn't blame my manufacturer of any wrong-doing. I have always been adament about differentiating my boards and in doing so, they wouldn't see producing my boards as creating a conflict of interest.
Ed is cool guy. He makes a great board and I recommend them highly. One of my goals is to raise awareness about longboarding and to help grow the market. I'd rather have a fair share of a HUGE pie than a giant slice of a small pie. I see no reason why we all just can't "get along board". There's plenty to go around for everyone.
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RR Whats up with you ?
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On 9/3/2004 Ed E
wrote in from
United States
(4.62.nnn.nnn)
RR,
I have always respected and backed you and your brother for what you stand for. With your ideas and your projects. MY Turners were sold for almost for what I paid for them. Do you want to see my check book??? This has nothing to do with this discussion on longboard decks, your just looking for attention RR I still dig Ya, your just a gentle giant ED !
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turners and slalom
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On 9/3/2004 RR
wrote in from
United States
(198.81.nnn.nnn)
Hamm wrecking everything ed has ever worked for by building a deck,made me feel a bit sarcastic considering the amount of cash ed chrged for his stash of turners and on that line catering to slalomers and being surprised at the lack of huge sales being blamed on chaput but really just limeted/wrong audience thats all.His decks are ok but . Im a dick I am staying with decks and deck politics are decks and being a over thirty year long board shaper ...come skate with us at Rogers please a little bbq a little speed come on now bring leather,Ill be quiet now.
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The design controversy
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On 9/3/2004
kaspian
wrote in from
United States
(69.39.nnn.nnn)
I am taken aback by the harsh tone of this discussion, in particular the level of animosity directed at Chris Chaput. I don't have any idea what conventions and unwritten rules may exist in the skateboard industry about this sort of thing. But the way it looks to me from the outside, the whole history of skating equipment has worked this way, more or less.
Now and then, an innovator comes along with a new design that marks a significant advance over what has come before. Then, before too long, other equipment makers introduce similar products, elaborating or varying or refining the basic new idea. I'm not sure how you can draw a line and say that this product is a variation, whereas that one is a ripoff. But you can hardly declare that a basic concept -- the pintail, the cut-out, whatever -- has to be frozen for all time as it was originally conceived, or that it is somehow the exclusive property of the innovator. This certainly isn't how it works in art, which is something I know a little about.
One example of an innovative product is Ed's well-regarded longboard. Another is Chris's Abec 11 wheels. You can make some kind of argument that each of these derives, ultimately, from this or that thing that was on the market in 1979. But so what? Each was a significant development in its own right and in its own time. And both were enthusiastically adopted by a large number of expert skaters, including many of the folks on this board.
I mention Abec 11 because it is strange to me to hear Chris Chaput spoken of as some kind of rip-off artist with no skills or imagination apart from a forceful marketing technique.
It also puzzles me to hear Ed Economy spoken of as some kind of victim who has been unfairly deprived of the credit he deserves. I would remind everyone -- and invite everyone to check the archives on this point -- that the reason the Ed Economy longboard was embraced so quickly and so warmly by such a broad swath of the skating community is because of the good vibe generated by fellow skaters on this web site. John Gilmour in particular posted what, in my memory, are probably the most gushing, passionate, and complimentary reviews I have EVER read here, about any product. That's why I bought my own Big Ed, and I'm sure the same applies to many of us.
Maybe Chris violated some unwritten rule in approaching Ed's own manufacturer to make his board. Maybe the manufacturer broke some rule by helping him. Maybe Madrid is breaking some rule by making the great Wiki Wiki board I just bought for my daughter. But Jesus Christ -- how is the industry supposed to evolve if every variation on an existing theme is branded a ripoff? Are we supposed to sit around waiting for the lonely genius to grace us with a new product every ten or fifteen years?
How radical does a change have to be in order to satisfy the Chaput bashers? Is one inch longer enough? How about an inch-and-three-quarters? Five degrees more rise on that kicktail? Seven-and-a-half? Would it be different if Big Red Xs were being pressed in Taiwan? Or if Chris were the quiet, self-effacing type? Is there some personal subtext here that nobody is talking about? Inquiring minds would truly love to know.
Everyone today is standing on the shoulders of the great pioneers of 20, 30, even 40 years ago. I don't mean only in skateboarding. It's common in music, for instance, for people to talk routinely about their "influences." Nobody expects every new rock band, or every classical pianist, to reinvent the genre. It's fair to say Chris Chaput's influences include Ed Economy. I don't know how much you can really say beyond that.
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Kleenex
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On 9/3/2004 Mercury
wrote in from
United States
(208.59.nnn.nnn)
I have held that BigRedX deck in my hand and can vouch that while it looks like a copy when depicted in a photo, the actual deck is smaller, thinner, and lighter. It would ride totally different, and would not be mistaken for the EdE deck (which is one of my favorite longboard decks, BTW).
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Madrid "Wiki wiki" 46-inch
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On 9/3/2004
kaspian
wrote in from
United States
(69.39.nnn.nnn)
I am so glad to have discovered this deck. It bids fair to be named the Prrrfect Grrrls' Longboard. There's a pic to look at here:
http://www.madridskateboards.com/pages/product-list.asp?id=17
We bought this for my daughter, who just started high school, and has somehow resisted the family skateboard habit until this summer. Finally she started going out with us on mellow downhill runs, generally riding the (original design) Ed Economy Streetrider, set up with Randals and Flywheels, because of its smooth ride and stability.
After a while we figured it was time to get Callie her own board. We checked all the manufacturers and suppliers I could think of. Aesthetic appeal, as you may well imagine, was a decisive factor. There were some worthy-looking candidates from Fluid, Vision and Surf One, but none of these looked quite right to me, bearing in mind that this would be her first real longboard. (They were all too small, or had too little wheel clearance, or something.)
Finally my son Matt suggested that since Callie liked the Original Ed, then maybe I should check Madrid Skateboards, who made it. So we did, and voila: here is this thing that looks like a Little Ed. It's about 10 inches shorter, and one or two plies thinner, but it's got the same basic shape, with the same handy wheel cut-outs, and also the same clear grip over a neon-pink floral topside graphic that, ultimately, was what sold Callie on this board.
I was able to special-order the deck through SolidSkate, who got it from Madrid and shipped it out within 48 hours. (I always prefer dealing with suppliers who are known to be reliable, as opposed to ordering direct from the board maker and taking pot luck.) The deck arrived and looks great and impeccably crafted. We set it up with Randal 180s and Krypto Classic 70s. Callie is thrilled. She won't let me ride it, so this review is somewhat lacking in that respect.
But I look at it this way: The Big Ed is a classic deck that everybody loves. The Wiki Wiki looks like the same idea scaled down a bit, to a size and weight suitable for a 14-year-old girl. How can anything go wrong with this?
I point this out for the benefit of other dads on the board. You know who you are. And you know that Christmas is sooner than you think.
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Insert word here
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On 9/3/2004 T. Hinker
wrote in from
United States
(67.111.nnn.nnn)
Copying existing designs is easy, anyone can do it, even Chaput... but to push the level and break new ground??? that takes an innovative thinker like Ed E! without someone wearing the coat like he has, there are no tails for Chaput to ride on.... ha ha ha ha ha
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design rip offs.....
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On 9/3/2004 shnitzel
wrote in from
Canada
(24.66.nnn.nnn)
it happens, what can you do about it? nothing. fighting it only stunts the industry's growth. anyone notice the new trend in dropped decks???? people thought i was crazy at first, now look at the # of manufacturers following my lead. i take it as a compliment. and i let it push me to work at the next breakthrough. time is better spent working on a new prototype than protecting the last one. copying existing designs is easy, anyone can do it... but to push the level and break new ground??? that takes an innovative thinker! without someone wearing the coat, there are no tails for the rest of them to ride on.... ha ha ha ha ha
ed, you do some great stuff! keep at er!
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dropped loaded
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On 9/3/2004 ethan
wrote in from
United States
(192.12.nnn.nnn)
Thanks for the info, if anyone would know about board mods it'd be you...
Not going to sell it, not going to mod it. Going to give it away this Christmas and pass on the stoke.
My sk8 quiver isn't growing anymore, its shrinking, condensing, distilling down to boards with square kicktails and wheel cutouts. I guess i'm learning what I like, finally, or maybe just getting set in my ways.
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dropped loaded
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On 9/3/2004 hugh r
wrote in from
United States
(24.48.nnn.nnn)
While I beleive that the deck would most likely be strong enough... those micro lams will take some abuse. However, with those decks being so narrow at the nose and tail, there is no guarantee that it won't stress and break. From a safety stand point, I personally wouldn't do it.
From a performance stand point I wouldn't think that dropping the trucks on a deck with so much sprin and so much camber is going to yeild any benfit. The truck angles change so much under flex... and the board flexes so much, that I don't think you'll experience any benifit.
My two cents... HR
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Loaded Vanguard Drop Thru??
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On 9/3/2004 Ethan
wrote in from
United States
(192.12.nnn.nnn)
I wanted to ask you all's opinion on a possible board mod...
Do you think the vertical oak construction of the Loaded Vanguard would be strong enough as a drop-thru deck?
I wasgonna use a Roto-zip on it. Think it would work? Bad idea?
I have been considering selling it (only seem to ride boards with kicktails these days) but the thought of it lowered is intruiging me.
PS: EdEconomy, I have had so much freakin fun on your Streetrider. A blast bombing the Presidio with big soft wheels, a blast sliding around on the flats on real small hard wheels, just a blast in general. Peoples eyes bug out of their heads when they see that board. And the sqaure tail rocks! Thx, man!
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gravity/redx
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On 9/3/2004 design
wrote in from
United States
(198.39.nnn.nnn)
slightly rounder tail on BRX, shorter length on BRX, longer nose on BRX, shorter wheelbase on BRX, widest point further forward on BRX, BRX is most likely lighter in weight as well. Now how about a carbon fiber version?
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Re: Bozi to loan,Patience, distributors
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On 9/3/2004 Dan
wrote in from
United States
(208.200.nnn.nnn)
Hey all,
That is pretty cool of you Joe I. to offer your Bozi board as a loaner to someone who is in Bozi holding pattern twilight zone.
Anybody want to loan me a set of Seismic 180's until I get mine(it may be a long time like never)?
I originally ordered some with a complete in March(6 months ago), I have heard nothing from jeff since May, he has responded to none of my emails. My friend K-Lee talked to him awhile back and he acted like he did not know who I was(even though if he read his email I was reminding him regularly, receipts, promises and what not). K-Lee asked him to take care of me and he said he would but i think I am getting shined as this was the beginning of last month.
Everyone else out there who wants to get one of these decks, especially a complete with seismics, please go through someone like Mile High(occasionally has MB's) or Solidskate(they have new MB's in stock), it will save you lots of time and aggrivation(sp?)
Thats it, later
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R & D photo
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On 9/3/2004 G. Mark
wrote in from
United States
(199.46.nnn.nnn)
I love the little dudes in the background of that photo:
frozen in their tracks at the sight of that huge board getting monster air.
I wish I could see close ups of their faces.
My worthless opinion:
Chris Chaput makes some great wheels, and he is branching out into decks and trucks now. I feel certain he's always been a talented skater, and I have a lot of respect for the man. Most of what we ride today is based on something from before, it's only natural.
But, one thing Chris will never be: the father, or should I say The Godfather of longboard skating. The reason for that is clear to anyone who's been around skateboarding for awhile: Ed E is the man. Was, is, and will always be. Enough said.
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