Skateboard Setup Explained: Why I Ride What I Ride

New Skateboard Setup

• 🛹 Fresh skateboard setup featuring a new deck with a "time" graphic, a PS Sticks Pulmitt 7.75 size.
• 💡 The skater explains the choice of a 7.75 size, which might be considered small by some, but feels right for their style.
• 🤝 The video includes a moment where the skater offers a free skateboard with beginner trucks (Bullet Trucks) to someone else, while they continue with their preferred advanced trucks (Thunder Trucks).

Components and Preferences

• 🛞 Wheels: Dragon Wheels, noted for being soft yet engineered to slide like hard wheels, offering the best of both worlds.
• ⚙️ Bearings: Braille Bearings, available at braille-skateboarding.com.
• 🚚 Trucks: Thunder Trucks (hollow kingpin, hollow axle), praised for looking cool and turning well, contrasted with beginner-friendly Bullet Trucks.
• 🛠️ Grip Tape: The skater demonstrates a unique, OCD-like method of carving the grip tape and counter-sinking bolts to prevent excess tape from poking up.
• 🎨 Deck Graphic: The "Dreamer Series" graphic is a personal favorite, collaborating with a digital artist, symbolizing the importance of dreaming and striving for improvement.

Skater's Philosophy and Habits

• 🧠 Experience: With 31 years of skateboarding, the skater has developed specific preferences and quirks, like carving grip tape, which they humorously admit are not standard practices.
• 📍 Orientation: A key tip is remembering which truck goes in front, as leaning on trucks can cause them to lean in a certain direction; bolts should face the center for proper turning.
• 🔪 Grip Tape Customization: A small triangle design is cut into the back of the grip tape to quickly identify the tail of the board.
• 📏 Board Shape: Preference for a flatter tail with a taper and a round nose; the 7.75 size brought them back to a happier, more effective skating style.

Personal Insights and Challenges

• 🎥 Filming: The video is filmed by the skater's wife, Danny, with humorous commentary about her filming skills and a past anecdote about a video not being posted due to hair concerns.
• 🤝 Favorite Skaters: Mentions Jason Park and Johnny Guyger as favorite skaters to skate with due to shared preferences for obstacles like manual pads.
• 🌟 Idols: Expresses immense admiration for Eric C., calling him the GOAT, and recounts a starstruck encounter.
• 🎶 Inspiration: PJ Ladd's "Wonderful Horrible Life" video part and its associated song are a significant inspiration.
• 🏆 Challenge: A kickflip challenge is proposed where landing the first kickflip means winning a high five; failure means discarding the board (though the skater is recovering from an ankle injury).