The Pink Forum

[Friction VixXxen]

I've been playing roller derby in Denver, CO for 2 years now and I'm looking to branch out a bit with my quads...I'm looking for some guidance on what kind of skates I should have for agressive skating...obviously my Reidell 595 aren't going to cut it.

I've got a pair of Rediell Carerras, but I'm not sure what it'll take to get them ready to take to a skate park...

[RollerGirl]

Hey FV,

As a beginner ramp skater, you don't need to make any alterations to your current Carrera Setup. I would however advise wearing toe protectors, as they will extend the life of your boots.

With just a standard pair of skates you can learn most of the basics. Turning in transition, carving the bowls, dropping in, stalls and airs.

It is much easier to learn to drop in with grind bars though. With grind bars, you just step onto the coping and then lean into the ramps. Without grind bars you have to balance on a toe stop and then jump over the coping!

The grind bars also enable you to do plate grinds.

After you have mastered the basic ramp skills, you will need to set yourself up with some wide trucks. Wide trucks will enable you to do do trucks grinds (grinding on the coping between the wheels).

Wide trucks are very hard to ride. They are heavy, unresponsive and you are likely to hook up your wheels at first. But, once you get used to them, you will never go back. They open up a whole world of tricks.
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RollerGirl

[RollerSkater Dave]

[RollerGirl]

Hey Dave

How are you doing? It is good to hear from you.

That is pretty cool footage!

Wide trucks are good for all types of aggressive skating, including street skating. They are terrific for high speeds, as they give you great support and control.

They are also great for big guys in general. A size 12 skate looks and feels better on wider trucks. They are in better proportion to the skate size and body weight of the rider.

But they are hard to get used to. I don't know anyone who transfered to wide trucks that doesn't have a scar to show for it. You have to learn to skate with an unnaturally wide stance or your wheels will lock together and bang!

The wide trucks that we sell come in two sizes: wide and xtra wide. The "wide" ones are great for more recreational style skating, but they won't take skateboard wheels (except for a few models of longboard wheels). The "xtra wide" ones are used more for ramps and bowls. I would never ride these for transportation or recreational purposes.
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RollerGirl

[Crazy Dave]

I've never heard a good logical reason for the use of a wider sk8 truck on any surface.
I know of no one that had a problem falling over sideways?
If you skate with one foot forward and the other back everywhere that's OK too but it looks even more awkward than it feels.

This "wider trucks" all came about when skateboard designers needed to maintain stability with wider boards.
This does not translate to quad skating as your feet never got wider.....lol.

Seems that same j.r.r. outfit from Spain rides the bowls with STD trucks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H25vSg5F62Y
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61 seconds of Seylynn reunion 1986: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYJgY2PJ_vk

[zorg]

Hi Crazy Dave,
The good reasons to use standard modern (street 4") skateboard trucks are:
-much less wobble at high speed: this is suitable for 3m and higher ramps or downhill. (parallel or sidestance)
-feet can be placed closer to the ground: this adds lateral stability to your feet.
-for rollerskating, they are unbreakable, easy to find and the alloy is harder, so grinds and trucks last longer...
Of course on ramp or downhill setup, you have to increase both the length AND the width in order to increase stability.
You should try both on 4m verts, the difference is stricking.

Have fun


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtpXggTSI50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huakWuRYtII

www.zorgdotnl.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/zorgdotnl
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Toward the coping and beyond!!

[RollerGirl]

For me, the main benefit of wide trucks is that they allow you to grind between your wheels. Which is impossible with normal trucks.

I can't imagine skating ramps with your quads and not being set up to do grinds.........
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RollerGirl

[Crazy Dave]

[zorg]

[Crazy Dave]

HI zorg

Sorry if I came on a little stong but this same debate has been argued for almost 30 years.
The sk8 knowledge I've aquired over the years was hard earned.
There were no other vertical quad skaters to emulate, no sponsors, no promotions, no events, no contests and no videos to look at.
We were there for the shear thrill & pleasure.
Luckily someone took some VHS video in 86 [reunion after 5 years as I'd moved 350 miles away] or we'd have no vid record at all.
Yes, the clip is of my buds and I in 1986.

Danny Way is an excellent extreme boarder.
In the same breath, he was about 4 years old when we started bowl ridding.
At 56 I'm not quite up to attempting any super jumps.

In our time to shine there was only one real ramp within 300 miles.
It was about 16ft high [4.8 meters] and we rapidly found it boring.
Back and forth emulating boarders was NOT a challenge.
We wanted our own style and persued tricks that boarders couldn't attempt.

Back to the wide trucks:
To insinuate a wider quad truck gives more stability where it is needed [front - back] contradicts all engineering mechanics and just plain common sense.
You don't see a single training wheel sticking out in front and behind a bicycles tires!
Skaters don't fall over sideways!
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61 seconds of Seylynn reunion 1986: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYJgY2PJ_vk

[RollerSkater Dave]

[Crazy Dave]