This is a brand-new feature here at The Solitary Life, where the focus is going to be on companies or products that we haven't reviewed [yet]... and, that didn't make it into The Buyers Guide. Why wouldn't a company make it into the Buyers Guide, you ask...? Typically, a company wouldn't "make" it into the Buyers' Guide if they don't have much of a reputation in the marketplace (if any). This is usually because, they're new companies. Or maybe, they're just not widely advertised, promoted, or accessible for one reason or another.
Whatever the case may be, some of these companies are doing extremely interesting stuff. This run-up-to-the-Buyers-Guide segment, is where we'll be spotlighting those companies and products.
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Company: Street Swell
Website: www.streetswell.com
E-mail contact: info@streetswell.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Apparently so.
Standout Product:
The "Cruise Zulu" complete. Mounted up with Seismic "Black Ops" Speed Vents [73mm/76a] and Bear Grizzly 852's. This is one gorgeous ride, folks…
Spotted at: Street Swell's website.
Price: $345.00. Definitely, not "cheap".
Why we picked this:
There's a million and one "small longboard companies" out there right now. But, very few of them are doing anything remarkably different than the same 'ol, same 'ol "stringered-wood-look", or the boatload of Sector Nine "sand-and-surf" clones in the marketplace.
Here, the almost understated "wave" graphic, and the similarly understated "Street Swell" logo gives this board a measure of refined elegance that's just not seen in many longboards on the market. And, the choice of remarkably high-end componentry… from brands with solid reputations for being world-class… is smart complement for a board aimed at this price range. The 4-oz fiberglass generally means that this will be an incredibly snappy and durable rider for years and years to come.
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Company: Dregs
Website: www.dregsskateboards.com
E-mail contact: None, actually. At least, nothing on their website.
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Sure! You just can't e-mail them...
Standout Products:
The 76mm, 78a durometer "Luv Your Mutha" wheels. A [partially] soybean-oil based polyurethane means that less petroleum [natural gas]-based "oils" are required. But: Are they truly "Green"? Or, just muck-green...?
Spotted at: Dregs' website, via Daddies', after seeing them in (but, not remembering much from) an old Concrete Wave "Noteworthy"
Price: $59.95. Again, "not cheap!"
Why we picked this:
This looks like 76 millimeters of soy-based, slide-able goodness, right here. According to the hype-vertising on the Dregs website, "The Love Yo Mutha formula uses soy oils to offset the use of petroleum product." It doesn't say how much petroleum product is "offset" by the use of soy-based oils… something that we'd like to find out, to gauge just how "significant" this "offset" truly is. And, if it's worth the price. However: What probably impressed us the most, is that these are the first wheels that I've seen in a while, that could be described as "loveable". I mean, that funky, putrid green... that earth-happy, trippy name... and, the fun-loving graphic treatment almost screams, "Hug Me!".
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Company: Goldcoast Longboards
Website: www.goldcoastlongboards.com
E-mail contact: sales@primodist.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Yup, sure can!
Standout Products:
The Pier (complete):
-The Shovel Board
-Dimensions: 27" x 7.5"
-16" Wheel Base
-Kicktail
-7 Ply Canadian Maple
-Century 5" Trucks
-57mm 87a Vicious Wheels
-Die Cut Grip Tape
The Modra (complete):
-The Dart Board
-Dimensions: 44" x 10"
-25" Wheel Base
-Kicktail
-7 Ply Canadian Maple
-Century 7" Reverse Pivot Trucks
-70mm 83a Shred Boot Wheels
-ABEC 7 Bearings With Teflon™
-Printed Grip Tape
The Freedom (complete):
-The Moon Board
-Dimensions: 40" x 9.5"
-24" Wheel Base
-Kicktail
-7 Ply Canadian Maple
-Century 7" Reverse Pivot Trucks
-73mm 81a Freedom Wheels
-ABEC 7 Bearings With Teflon™
-Printed Grip Tape
The Seed (complete):
-The Pan Board
-Dimensions: 24" x 6.5"
-14" Wheel Base
-7 Ply Canadian Maple
-Century 3" Trucks
-52mm 87a Seedling Wheels
-ABEC 5 Bearings
-Printed Grip Tape
Spotted at: Goldcoasts' website.
Price: The completes are priced as such: The Pier, $100; The Modra, $150; The Freedom, $150; and The Seed, $90. Somewhere between "midrange" and "pricepoint", price-wise.
Why we picked this:
There's only a few "pricepoint" longboards on the market... depending on how you define "pricepoint". I'd say that anything under $130 or so, would be pretty "bargain". The only "pricepoint" brands that I can recall, are Layback (who's status is kinda questionable, what with the lack of advertising and all… but, apparently, they're still available through VK Sports…), and another apparent newcomer to the game (scroll down a bit), San Diego Speed's "Stella" brand.
Unlike a lot of their competitors, Goldcoast seems to have everything that a "pricepoint" brand needs to succeed in the marketplace: Good, consistent promotion (full-page ads in Concrete Wave are a good start); Massive graphic appeal (once again, getting out of the Sector Nine, "surf-inspired" rut…); An informative and comprehensive website... but: Does the product measure up to the hype…?! Well, we're gonna find out. Probably sooner, than later...
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Company: Nersh
Website: www.getsomenersh.com
E-mail contact: nershlongboarding@gmail.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Yup!
Standout Products:
Here, we have what just might be the widest wheel on the market, today: The Nersh "Money Hax". A "pretty-tall" 75mm, by an "insanely-wide" 70mm. Best use? Where grip is absolutely critical. Such as: Rear-wheel setups for slalom decks, maybe…?
Spotted at: Nersh's website
Price: $73.00 a set, for either 76a, 80a, or 83a.
Why we picked this:
Because, it's such a fun, nutty, and highly-specialized sort of product, that it might have gotten fully overlooked, otherwise...
All of those guys that were jumping on the "six-wheeler" [slalom setup] bandwagon a few years back, might wanna check these bastards out. Seriously. As would anyone that pushes their riding so hard, that sliding out is a perpetual and intractable issue. At $73.00, they're pretty pricey. On the other hand: If you're need that grip to avoid imminent danger, I'd probably counter with "Well, so is _______ surgery…!"
Besides: Can you really put a price on "fun"...?! The Bottom Line is: If the rebound and resiliency are there (both being key to that other desirable wheel quality, "speed"...), these might just be the standout wheels of 2010.
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Company: Stella
Website: www.sdsskateboards.com
E-mail contact: info@ sdsskateboards.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Nope; only dealers can buy direct from SDS.
Standout Products:
The "Battleaxe", a lowered speedboard (very akin to the current Landyachtz Evo), at a "Blue Light Special" price…
Spotted at: Stella's website (via Silverfish Longboarding). Photo from www.inertiaboardshop.com.
Price: $129.95 (complete) at Inertia.
… and, the "Slow Dayz" kicktail…
Spotted at: Stella's website (via Silverfish Longboarding). Photo from www.jazzygearsports.com.
Price: $98.98 (complete) at Jazzy Gear.
Why we picked this:
Again, this appears to be another "pricepoint" entry into the longboard market. Boldly taking another big step out of "the rut", and breaking some new ground graphically, Stella is on the same general pathway as a lot of the new, bargain-priced upstarts. An outcropping of San Diego Speed (a distributor/importer that deals almost exclusively in "pricepoint" products), the price is more than low enough for anyone to make this their low-buck, entry-level choice. But: How much "upgrading" is it going to need, to get it "workable"? If, any at all…? Advertising at Silverfish is a super-good start that lends a lot of immediate credibility (as Silverfish doesn't usually fuck around with B-Level advertisers that make crappy stuff...)... but, is the beef truly there…? Are they worth "the money", regardless of how little "the money" may be...?
Again: We'll soon find out…
