Here it is! Finally...! The first installment of our long-awaited "Heads Up!" Buyers' Guide. Our month-to-month look at what's new from the skateboard manufacturers. Keep your eyes peeled, and let's get started with:
For the fall, Orangatang is introducing their "In Heat" and "4 President" wheels in a brand-new, 86a race formula. Here's what the press release says:
"August 24th, 2010 The Orangatang crew has unleashed the 4 President and In Heat wheels in their 86a yellow formula. With offset hubs and sharp lips, these wheels are designed to maintain speed and grip. Combining race-style shapes with a harder durometer yields a wheel that not only rolls fast and sticks lines but also releases into an exceptionally smooth and controllable drift. While these wheels excel at downhill and freeriding, their long and predictable slides lend them to freestyle and all-around riding. Yellow 4 Presidents and In Heats will be available September 3rd at select shops worldwide..."
The new "L'Esigenza Della Velocita" drop-through race board, available at Tailtap (www.tailtap.com), well-equipped with Paris 180's for $249.00. The clean "race" motif graphics look cool as hell. See a quick interview with Buddy Carr, and artist Antonio Carusone here: http://blog.rocious.com/2010/09/buddy-carraisle-one-interview/
See it here: www.tailtap.com
American Nomad is bringing on some serious shit with the new "Skull and Banners" deck. Measuring up at 32.25" long, 9.25" wide, and with a 14.75" wheelbase, the early-'90s era shape is reminiscent of New Deal's early "street" decks, what with the squared-off tail, the straight rails, and the minimalist graphic treatment. This one's a stunner at a measly $46.95
Also at the Nomad website: These great "stimulus package" deals that include a deck and a tee for only $39.95(?!). The dimensions are: 32.25 long, adjustable 14.75 and 15.25 wheelbase, and 9.5 wide. Looks like a ripper fersure. Also available in a popsickle for all the street rippers out there.
See 'em here: www.americannomadskates.com
We reviewed the Rat Mactrac longboard earlier this year, just as the preproduction samples were showing up. It's a great, great ride of a longboard, and it's become a "daily rider" around the Solitary Life offices. The Mactrac system is durable, functional, eye-catching, and the multitude of wheelbase options allow for all sorts of experimenting and fine-tuning. The website says that you get the following:
-the Tach Mactrac Board
-Dimensions : 42" x 10"
-25" - 29" Mactrac Adjustable Wheelbase
-Kicktail
-7 ply Canadian Maple
-Century 7" Reverse Pivot Trucks
-70mm 83a Shred Boot wheels
-Die Cut Grip Tape
...for $190.00, direct. Sounds like a good deal to us.
See it at: www.goldcoastlongboards.com
Skipperboy and the crew are always doing some really cool shit with SMA. Here, we have one of their series of hand-stained boards in what appears to be last season's "Airship" shape, called the "Woodship LTD". Beautiful! Dimensions are: 32" x 9", 6.6" nose, 15.25" wheelbase, 6.5" tail.
See it at: www.smaskateboards.com
I always love to check out what Danny Creadon's doing over at Factory 13. Danny hand-makes super-specialized skateboards for highly discriminating customers, as well as doing OEM work for a few other companies (such as Skaterbuilt). Here's the "Riff Raff" model, complete with a carbon fiber overlay, 8.75” x 32.5”, with 15” wheelbase, on a double-kick concave for $89.
See it at: www.factory13.org
