That's the Svitak (on the left), next to the Danforth that came in the same package (on the right). The shapes give you a pretty solid clue as to what they're designed for: The Olson-esque shape of the Danforth lends itself to "big" terrain, while the blunt-nosed Svitak lends itself to retro-street skating, or tighter terrains...
Just The Facts, Ma'am:
Width: 9.375"
Length: 30.25"
Wheelbase: Double-drilled for either 14" or 15" wheelbases.
Nose: 4.50", or 5.50"
Tail: 6.50"
Construction: A fairly beefy 7-ply maple.
Concave: Double kick, 5/8" deep, no rocker.
It's not the deepest around... but on a retro-street deck, you don't really want that "glue-footed" feel, either. This concave keeps you in place just fine, but also allows you to get around in the board for quick ollie-setups, and even the occasional kickflip.
Price: $46.95, direct from Nomad
The Set Up:
1/2" hard risers, 60mm 92a NOS Santa Cruz Bullets, and Independent 169's (aka, "Same as the Danforth").
The Good:
I got this, along with the Danforth skull-and-crossbones deck. So, everything that I said about the great guys, the prompt and punctual service, the speedy shipping, and the bonus goodies goes with this one, too.
Obviously, the graphics reflect Kristian's Ohio roots (he grew up in Cleveland). The shape is a heavy nod to his favorite deck as a kid, the Powell-Peralta Per Welinder street model. This one has a more "modern" twinkick concave, and is a little narrower then the OG. As such, it's a little more functional than those old planks were. The double-drilled wheelbase is a nice touch, too.
This deck is a smidge bit smaller than the Danforth. As such, this one would be great for:
- Smaller dudes,
- Tighter terrain, or
- Retro-style street skating.
The double-drilled nose is an awesome addition to this deck, giving it a lot of versatility. Unlike most double-drills that are about 1/2" apart, this board has a full-inch spread. That gives this board a bit more "definition" than most double-drilled decks. That could be good, or bad. Or: You could just drill more holes to suit your tastes. Whatever.
Like the Danforth, the wood is still pressed stateside, and it takes a hell of a beating. The squared-off nose is functional, modern, and comfortable, while the hips give the deck a retro-street feel.
Set up with the 14" base, this board really does excel at getting into, and out of, tight places. With the full 15", I thought it was a great mini-ramp and tight-tranny tool.
This view really emphasizes the truly all-around potential of this deck...
The Bad:
Just like the Danforth, a little bit of rocker would have done wonders for this deck... as a lowered midsection would have helped loads with overall comfort and stability, as well as adapting well to street ollies, et cetera.
Being a fairly big fellow (6'5", 320 lbs), I found this deck to be a smidge bit "small". Most skaters, though, definitely won't have this problem. They'll find it "plenty big".
The Final Verdict:
A really fun little deck that you can trust to last you for quite a while, from a really great crew.
