From: byron@athena.mit.edu (Jack Miller)
Newsgroups: alt.skate-board
Subject: Re: since this sir's mail bounced.
Date: 9 Sep 92 00:46:25 GMT
Organization: SKaters At Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In article <1992Sep8.114702.13595@sdf.lonestar.org> 6o25@sdf.lonestar.org (Stephen M. Jones) writes:
>> Hi Guys,
>> 	I'm thinking about getting my own board and learning to
>> skate.  Anywhere I can go (where there aren't a lot of people so
>> I don't feel too geeky when I fall off trying to learn to turn or
>> push off) that's flat and where some kind soul might be able to
>> jeer at me and tell me what I'm doing wrong??
>> 
>
>hi...  I will help you get started... 1st step.. go to the newsstand
>and buy a copy of transworld SKATEboarding  (thrasher is not as good)

	Not true, Thrasher gives a WAY better sense overall of the
feel and attitude of skating.  TWS is better for big glossy photos of
good tricks and that's it.  Thrasher also has way better ads.  Don't
forget that Thrasher is also like $11 a year (comes with a t-shirt)
and TWS is $19 (with a hat, I think).

>read a bit... look at the pics... find the number for California
>Cheap Skates.... they are the best and the cheapest you'll find.....look

	Not necessarily true.  They are the most helpful, but for
selection and price, Skully Bros. wins.

>through all the ads at decks, trucks, wheels... etc.  here is what
>I personally recommend from my experience.
>
>deck:
>
>there are bunches of companies (new ones every month just about) although
>Powell Peralta has been around the longest.. I have found them to be
>trend followers, rather than setters...  for your first deck, I recommend
>the Tommy Guerro model made by REAL skateboards...  I have the 91 version
>and have also tried the 92... both are great.. the deck can be easily
>noticed by the big 'TG' on the bottom.... look for that in pics ads

	Go for it, all decks today are the same as far as beginners
are concerned.

>
>Trucks:
>
>I've ridden all kinds of trucks and have found that the Independent
>truck company are the best... (INdies for short)  you'll probably
>want the 169mm's and in silver (plain always looks best =)
>these turn THE best.

	Note: Few people ride 169's anymore because they are heavy and
give you a slower turn.  For a quicker turn and less weight, get 159's
or even 149's.  I hear they now have 146's and Tracker makes 139's
which is taking it a bit far.  Also there are Venture Featherlites,
which I have not ridden but have been snapped up by all the locals as
low, fast, and quick as hell.

>
>Wheels:
>
>there is a big trend for wheels to be under 50mm's  I think thats
>totally insane... my wheels are 64mm's and I can't find anyone
>who makes them that way!  small wheels are slow, noisey, and very

	Powell I think still makes T-bones and some other company
might still make Gyros, plus many skate stores and companies are
DESPERATE to get rid of that big soft heavy stuff and will sell it
cheap.  Hell, Sessions in Chicago sold me a set of 98A 55MM Hairballs
for $20 because ``they're too soft and heavy'' (this was last
Christmas).

>rough riding..  I use powell wheels... santa cruz bullets are nice

	Small wheels are also light, don't hang up, give you a lower
center of gravity and therefore a more stable ride, all contributing
to easier ollies which you WILL want to learn.

	I have often heard Powell wheels criticized but I don't really
know why.  They are, however, the only company I know of who still
makes BLACK wheels even though EVERYONE rides white wheels since added
pigment makes wheels wear faster/unevenly (so the rumor goes).

>(if they are still made =)

	Yeah, they still make Santa Cruz Bullets.  LAst I saw they
were available in the smallest size I've yet seen- 38MM.  I guess they
used to be bigger, huh?

>
>risers:
>
>risers are cushions that go between your deck and your trucks... I call
>them cushions because you really don't need risers anymore because the
>wheels today aren't big enough to give "wheel bite" (when you turn
>and the wheel locks up against the deck)  I suggest 1/4" risers..
>I personally use 1/8" with a tracker pad for cushion.

	Note: For a lower ride, many (most) skaters today use no
risers.

>
>Bearings:
>
>hmmm find some and use them.

	Get German Bearings.  They are double-shielded and will last a
beginner until he/she actually learns to bang his/her board around.
Until you Burnell mark them with ollies and apply shear stresses with
slides, they'll run real smooth.  They cost about $16 a set.  Cheaper
bearings like Hartfords are maybe $8 and more expensive ones like
Powell Swiss (which are really really good for about a week and then
are no better than Germans) run like $22.  Prices will vary, I'm just
listing local prices.
	
>
>
>shoes:
>
>ugh... anything ... leather are okay I feel.
>

	Anything to start.  If you get serious about wanting skate
shoes, Etnies are most expensive but very comfy and supportive,
Airwalks next in line.  If you are an animal rights kinda person you
will want Zero Two's which aren't great but are better than canvas
shoes and use no leather, bone glue, or animal oil.

>
>you can get a complete deck (wheels, trucks, bearings, deck, plastics,
>and grip tape) for like $88 from cheap skates... and thats almost
>all brands I believe.. excellent deal.
>  
>corrections please?  =)

	Yup.  Cheap Skates does NOT have $88 completes, they have
$99.95 completes and you have to add $3 for slicks and $3 more for New
Deal or World Industries decks.  Skully Bros. is the home of the $88
complete, no extra charge for slicks and no restrictions on companies.
Also, Cheap Skates did NOT have Zero Two shoes but Skully Bros. DID.

	My suggestion would be to call Skully Bros. and order a
complete with a slickbottom deck, maybe 50MM Union wheels, and Indy
149 trucks.  This complete comes with German bearings and everything
else you'll need including full grip tape, mounting hardware, low
risers, etc.  You also get a choice of a 6-sticker pack or unbreakable
mounting hardware, and they will assemble the board for you unless you
tell them not to.  All that for $88 + $8 shipping (ground, US).  Get a
copy of Thrasher for the ads to pick out a board and wheels and
trucks, etc. 

		Skully Bros. International
		4629 N. Blythe
		Fresno, CA 93722

		1-800-822-9992


					--Halloween Jack, breakin' in new shoes