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Are pro boards worth it? (piefed.world)

submitted 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) by Vegan_Joe@piefed.world to c/skateboarding@piefed.social

3 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've been skating blanks for a while now, so it's hard for me to justify jumping from paying $30 for a blank board up to $80 for a pro board.

Is there any substantial difference these days, or is it solely the graphic?

I've been hearing a lot of the pros complain that skateboarding goes through waxing and waning periods, and that we are currently in a waning period. When you look at general skateboard sales, that is not the case.

It seems like the accessibility of custom blanks has allowed every hometown skate crew to start their "own brand", which obviously cuts sales to the larger brands. I imagine this is why the larger brands feel like the sport is waning despite worldwide sales going up in general.

If that is the case, then by buying blanks, I am contributing to that problem. If I want to live in a world with professional skateboarders to watch, then I obviously should support that part of the industry.

But times are tough and boards aren't necessarily cheap, so is there a quality incentive to buying pro decks? Better shapes, laminate, glue, wood quality, better pressing process, etc.,?

What have you experienced?

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[–] Weirdfish@lemmy.world 9 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

I could talk for hours on this, but the simple answer is, a well made blank is just the board they paint the pro's name on.

If you want to support a brand or rider, do it.

There are some exceptions, like Andy Anderson's heron series, but at the end of the day, a $30 blank from CCS is as good as any pro model.

[–] Vegan_Joe@piefed.world 7 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Those flight decks look amazing, but my hucking days are over. So, razor tail and a general soggy feeling kill my decks before I ever do.

I grabbed a cheap mini logo deck (Christmas complete), and it skated... But after about a month it definitely felt like it's price.

I had been grabbing Z-Flex completes. I initially snagged one just for the trucks because I like Aces. When they are on sale, a complete is $60 with Ace 144s. I was pleasantly surprised when the deck was stiff and poppy. With some better wheels and bearings, that setup was solid.

I grabbed a Tactics Blank the last time I needed grip and bearings because the sale price dropped the board down to $22. When I showed up to the park, my buddies could immediately hear the difference in pop.

My favorite so far has been Woodchuck laminates. It's a Canadian company and the concave and pop have been amazing.