Nord Boards
Archive for October, 2009
Inspect Your Board before Every Ride
I’m lucky enough to live within a mile of my place of work, which allows me to avoid the unpleasantries of mass transport. Not only that, but I also don’t have much use for a car and the lofty gas prices that come attached. For the most part I can get by with a 10-speed bike or my trusty longboard. A longboard is a great mode of transportation provided one takes the proper safety precautions. First of all, never assume that drivers are aware of your presence.
Having the proper equipment is just as important as remaining vigilant on the road. You’ll want to wear a helmet and knee pads at the very least. Also pay significant attention to your longboard wheels and other accessories. When bombing down a steep hill, you don’t want something to go wrong with your trucks, bearings or wheels. That means sitting down and inspecting the board and its various parts before every extended ride.
Sector 9 Teahupoo Longboard
One of the most popular sector 9 bamboo longboards has to be the teahupoo. This board is a great size for any rider and rides like a dream. The sector 9 teahupoo longboard is fast, smooth, super stable, and turns like you’re crusin on waves. It is made from 100% bamboo wood plies which give it a nice amount of flex and creates the smoothness I’m talking about. Gullwing charger trucks make the teahupoo a street surfers paradise. They are smooth and feel broken in from the first ride. The sector 9 teahupoo is 46″ long and 10″ wide. Just about identical to the popular sector 9 oracle longboard except with bamboo wood plies instead of maple.
The sector 9 teahupoo longboard needs a good size wheel from 70-75mm in size to create lots of speed and a smooth ride. I would put some abec 7 bearings on this bad boy sector 9 for extra speed. The new sector 9 cosmic bearings are a great choice for a good price and longevity. Like mentioned earlier the gullwing charger trucks in 10″ are the perfect setup for the teahupoo.
Sector 9 Ala Moana Sidewinder Longboard
Longboards are amazing modes of transportation. Smaller sized longboard such as the sector 9 ala moana longboard are great ways to get around town, or college campus. The smaller longboards tend to manuver a lot better as they have a shorter wheel base which creates tighter turning abilities. Match a short wheel base up with some sidewinder trucks and you have a carvers dream. The sector 9 ala moana is the shortest sector 9 sidewinder series longboard. It has a nice flat deck which allows you to use the entire top for foot placement. The ala moana is also 100% bamboo wood which is great for the environment for many reasons. It is 31.75″ long x 8.8″ wide so just about the same size as a standard skateboard. Don’t let the smaller size fool you though. The sector nine ala moana longboard is fast and smooth and rides just like a larger sized longboard.
The best set up for the sector 9 ala moana longboard is sidewinder trucks to take advantage of the short wheel base for amazing turns. You want to set this board up with the correct style wheels so you can make the trucks work correctly. I would suggest either 69mm or 72m sector 9 wheels as they have the flat edge and wide wheel that allows the wheels to be extra grippy to reduce sliding. You can also get some retro zigzags or bigzigs as they are similar. Also orangatang longboard wheels like inheat and 4prez wheels are good choices.
Sector 9 Oracle Longboard
If you’re looking for a longboard and not sure what one to get the sector 9 oracle longboard is a great board to think about if you’re a beginner. The oracle is a great all around longboard. The length of this board makes for a very stable ride and is easy to balance on especially for beginner riders. The oracle longboard is 46″ long so nearly 4 feet which is a good solid sized board. It has a pintail shape which makes for nice smooth carving turns. It also has a nice wide base a 9.80″ which is perfect for learning how to ride a longboard. The length of the board also makes for a longboard that can go as fast as you want it.
How to setup the sector 9 oracle longboard: A great way to set up this board is with a good durable reverse kingpin truck like gullwing chargers, gullwing alpine, randal, or paris trucks. You want the trucks to be just about the same width as the board or even slightly wider for better stability. So 10″ gullwing trucks or 180mm randal or paris trucks are the recommended size for the sector nine oracle board. Next thing to think about is a good bearing. There are so many different bearing companies out there. Remember skateboard bearings are the same as longboard bearings, there is no difference in size as they are universal. Sector 9 makes some good longboard bearings so any of theirs would do great. You could also set it up with some bones bearings as they make the best bearing on the market. Last thing you want is a good quality longboard wheel at just the right size. The oracle board should be set up with a 70mm wheel as anything larger will cause wheel bite. Sector 9 makes good quality wheels in the 70mm size so that I what I would recommend. After that you are all set.
Qualities of an Effective Longboards
As is the case with many sports, skateboarding culture has evolved to the point where certain companies specialize in skate-specific clothing. However, in the alternative-influenced world of skateboarding, Nike and Adidas are hardly the dominant forces in apparel and footwear. Instead the market is filled with smaller niche companies that produce comfortable clothing and striking, durable longboards.
Arbor longboards provide a perfect example as they feature a flashy, stylish board made with quality hard rock maple wood. Longboard fashion is just as pronounced in the skating world as it is in any sport, but the sport takes an even larger toll on the boards. In order to perform some tricks, skaters must slide their shoe along harsh grip tape, which can create significant wear and tear over time. As a result, it’s best to select a shoe that balances fashion and function.
Gravity Longboards
Gravity Longboards have been around for a while now. They are one of the top longboard manufacturer’s in the longboarding market. They have carver style longboards, cruisers, pool boards, flexible boards, and more. They just recently started to introduce some new longboards to the line up such as the gravity kalai drop through that is the highest performance longboard they have come out with yet. They also still have the older staples like the mini carve shapes and the hyper carve longboards that are super popular.
The best thing about longboards is you can easily customize them to easily fit your wants and needs as a rider. You don’t want just stock wheels and trucks if you are a serious longboarder. You might want to pay a little extra to get want you want and make the board fit your riding style. Gravity longboards are great for any type of rider and are comparable to sector 9 and arbor longboards.
Sector 9 BHNC Longboard Review
Sector 9 BHNC Longboard Review
The staple in the sector 9 longboard series has been the sector nine bomb hills longboard for years. This year it was nicked the “BHNC” for bomb hills not countries. This longboard is long, stiff, fast, and great for beginner riders, someone looking for ultimate down hill riding, or just the bigger riders that want stability, speed, and an easy ride. The sector nine bhnc longboard is 10″ wide and 46″ long. It has a longer wheelbase that makes for smooth flowing carves. It has a good amount of concave to allow for harder turns and a good feel on your feet. It comes in 3 colorways this time around; yellow, blue, and green.
The sector 9 bhnc longboard should be set up with 10″ gullwing charger trucks that fit perfectly for this style longboard. I would go with 70mm sector 9 wheels, and a basic abec 5 bearing. The overall cost for this board is amazing for the super smooth ride it creates. You can easily customize it for your riding style to fit your needs. The bhnc longboard should definitely be an option for your next sector 9 longboard.
Sector 9 Bullet Longboard Review
The new fall 2009 sector 9 longboards are now available. One of the coolest new boards has to be the sector 9 bullet longboard. The bullet is a great all around longboard. It is a good down hill board, great for carving, and is also an amazing cruiser that flys effortlessly down the streets. The top mounted trucks allow for a very stable balanced ride. For the best performance set this board up with the gullwing charger trucks in 10″ size. The wheelbase is perfect for all around style riding and makes for smooth carving turns. It has a mellow concave that fits pefectly to your feet.
The sector 9 bullet longboard should be set up wtih 10″ gullwing charger trucks for optimal turning and smooth riding. This is one of the best boards in the platinum series line up so set it up with some sector 9 platinum bearings to get a fast smooth bearing that will last a long time. Personally I would recommend the 70mm sector 9 race formula wheels in either color or the orangatang wheels that are super popular and highly recommended by all!