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Buttboarding (778 Posts)
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Buttboarding Info |
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On 3/18/2002
Mario
wrote in from
(148.87.nnn.nnn)
Flashbacks. Get 'em. I rode this weekend on a bumpy twisty gnarly road that eats wheels. Contrary to what others have said, I don't think the Abec 11 'than wears any better than other wheels. In fact, I think my 78a Aluminators wore slightly better. In 1.5 runs I chunked my wheels but good.
Nevertheless, the straight-line speed of the Flashbacks (75a rear, 78a front) is simply astounding. Mark was riding 76mm Krypto race cores on his spin-axle Randals, and my R2-mounted Flashbacks just ate him up. No freakin contest.
In the corners I was having a harder time with the Flashbacks than I'm used to, because they're level of grip is high, but totally different than other wheels; they grip really well up until a very high limit, then they play grip-and-slip in a most untidy way. On Alumninators I would have had a much more controlled slide, whereas when I put the Flashbacks over say 10% slip, they started to bite really hard. I learned the limit and crashed hard, sommersaulting over the front and whacking my full face helmet on the face.
This is in no way a slam on Flashbacks. I just need to retrain the way I ride them. They are so fast that I could have parked it in the corners and made up all my time on the straights. I don't know how the different durometers feel, so there's plenty of experimentation left, and perhaps one of the other durometers will suit my sliding style better than the setup I used this weekend.
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On 3/18/2002 Malcolm Campbell
wrote in from
(169.139.nnn.nnn)
L've been butt boaring for about 1 1/2 years with my friends on the local hills on our 49'' boards but sense I moved to Flordia I seemed to learn that I took hills for granted. But if there are any people out thhere that actually butt board in Florida I will like to hear from you.
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On 3/13/2002
Tommy
wrote in from
(212.185.nnn.nnn)
Yes, E.K. you're right ! The thrill is the cornering ! For me it's the main reason why buttboardin' is that much fun. It feels fast and speed is relative anyway :-) cheers (P.S. and that's why I love the hotheels course soooo much. just to refer to the last post...)
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On 3/13/2002
Gerhard
wrote in from
(195.3.nnn.nnn)
Hope you are all doing well !
1.IGSA World Championship and 11. Hot Heels entry open go to www.hotheels.net
Any questions email me.
cheers Gerhard.
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On 3/12/2002
E.K.
wrote in from
(204.246.nnn.nnn)
Lexx, My current buttboard is 42" long, 11" wide (concaved at the seat), with 215 Indys and 70mm sector 9s. The wheelbase is 36" long. I have been testing this set up and it's pretty stable (averaging at the low 40s mph). I would like to try some Randals but as of right now I am o.k. with the indys. I still need to work on my cornering and sliding. I think that too long of a board can reduce your fun, missing out on the thrill of cornering. I agree that speed is great but even taking a tight corner at 20 to 25 mph is a rush. Anybody can shoot straight down any hill but buttboarding is more "driving" skill than "land speed" skill.
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On 3/12/2002
Chris
wrote in from
(80.225.nnn.nnn)
Lexx You can use your R2s but you need to change the bushes for the black and blue used in the luge trucks.
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On 3/12/2002 Andy
wrote in from
(206.210.nnn.nnn)
Lexx,
I have been down a very similar path to the one you seem to be on.
My first deck was a 48" S9 pintail with pivots. It used to scare the hell out of me on hills. But then I got some skill and can ride the board down my 10% grade hill with the trucks full loose and stock bushings. BUT I CAN"T BUTTBOARD ON IT. It wobbles like crazy. I think this is just the size and shape. It is just not right for me. So I haven't tried to luge on my 50" longboard with RII's either.
My buddy got a Big Worm from Afroman with indy 215's and started to lay down on it while rolling down the hill. It took about one run to learn that we wanted to do this more often (lots more speed on the same hills!!!). So I built my own 58"x10" "buttboard." I use quotation marks because it is really just a big long board that I use like a luge. It has Indy 215's on it, and Krypto Classic K's. They work just fine!
One comment about the Indy's though. The casting quality is horrendous!!! They seem to be cast with the bushing cup at a non-parallel angle to the axle. This means they don't sit with all four wheels on the floor at the same time. Kinda like a table with a short leg. The bushings act as an equalizer when the deck is weighted, so I can ride them.
I have two pairs (one was supposed to be a better quality replacement of the first pair I bought). They are both identical though. The guys that made them offered to take a look at them but it just wasn't worth it to me to get a third pair in the mail that was just as bad.
The trucks work fine but make sure you get someone at Longskate or Solidskate to check them before the send them to you (or whoever you get your gear from).
Incidentally, I don't get the whole short wheelbase thing. My wheelbase is somewhere around 46" axle to axle. That's on 13 ply birch. I just figure the longer the wheelbase, the larger the turning radius, and the less twitchy the ride should be. I'm sure that doesn't fly in a competition situation. Like you said, there are certain spec's that must be adhered to. But I have no problem making any turns that I have encountered on my hills.
Have fun!!
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On 3/11/2002
lexx
wrote in from
(195.92.nnn.nnn)
Hey, im planning on making some buttboard style rides for myself. Probibly wider than the rules alow, 10-11", but i dont exactly want to compete... I plan on making some flat 10-11"wide boards with a 30" wheel base. My question is: what trucks suit buttboarding? I ride a 48" longboard and i have R2 180s on it, but when i try and ride it buttboard style its way to unstable. Ive tried flipping the hanger and wedging some steering out, but they seem too sunstable and as a result i dont want to put them on my new buttboard thingies. Are they perfectly stable for buttboarding and do u think its just that im not used to riding buttboard? As it is i ride my longboard with sector9 pivots tightend to the point that they will not turn at all, and thats the only way i feel stable, but that doesnt seem right to me:S... basically i just want to know what trucks would work well.
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On 3/8/2002
Jeremy Kahn
wrote in from
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
: Hello racers, rec-riders, and people following/wanting to get into buttboarding. This is your opportunity to get into the 1st Bi-Monthly Newsletter produced in association with IGSA. Yes, unfortunately we lost the X-Games. But, this is the beginning of bigger and better things that are yet to come. You can read all this and more in the 1st Bi-Monthly Newsletter.
We are looking for any content you want to add that is relevant to Gravity Sports. There are many upon many e-mails coming in as we speak, so we will ONLY take the most interesting of all. If you are a new racer going to a race, and already sent in your entry form, please e-mail me as well. There will be a section just for you! This is going to be produced to be out to everyone by early April. If you want in on this ground breaking event, you must send this to me at my e-mail address Luge668@aol.com by March 20, 2002.
If you haven’t already, please also send me your mailing information. If you want to receive this, by mail is the only way you will receive it. You pay for the races, you pay for your membership, you get something concrete so you can show your friends and family. For you new racers out there, you can brag to your friends about how you got your name in your own section. This newsletter is all about Gravity Sports, so don’t hesitate. Get in while you can, and send me your mailing information, any content you think might be good(you might get lucky and have your story published!), and anything else. Please, don’t forget to include your name, address, phone number, any e-mail address, and whether or not you are a rec. rider, racer, or just a fan. Thank you all for your time, and I look forward to seeing more e-mails coming in soon.
Sincerely, Jeremy Kahn
P.S. If you would like to advertise in the IGSA Newsletter, send an e-mail with the subject line as advertising and what you are looking to advertise. I will be in touch with the costs. Thank you.
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On 3/7/2002
E.K.
wrote in from
(198.81.nnn.nnn)
I guess I'm the only buttboatder in the state of Utah. Haven't heard nor seen any fellow boarders. Well tried out my "dirt" buttboard and intiallt it was not as cool as street for a first try. I found out that you need a steeper hill to get the same "rush" as a street buttboard. Also haven't found any really good dirt roads to ride, due to the time of the season. Maybe when things get warmer. But did get some fairly good runs down some grass hills (cruised to a park in to canyon). The 12" gullwing trucks worked great... stable. Not too hot on the dirt wheels but I think need a steeper hill to get momentum out of them. Planning on going back to Hawaii for a visit in June and was wondering if there's any "brahdas" out there on the rock who buttboards. There's a hill on O'ahu that I use to rush in high school called "Cadillac Hill" near Pearl City. Used to be a new housing area, running into the hills. I'm planning on making a "reunioning" run on that hill. Well let me know if ant locals out there exsist. Laters.
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On 3/6/2002 Tony Healy
wrote in from
(32.100.nnn.nnn)
Sorry, missed Danno's post under the trucks forum...
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On 3/6/2002
Tony Healy
wrote in from
(32.100.nnn.nnn)
Have to get the buttboard out again when it dries up out here. Have the RII-B truck setup from Randal. Relly like Bones hardcore bushings with Randal trucks on all my longboards tho. Anyone tried Hardcore bushings in RII trucks on a buttboard? If so, what hardnesses or combos?
PS Thanks HC for taking some of the first rides on the board to get it tuned up...and not crashing in the process. [Yeah, will swap out the Labeda wheels for white Kryps.] Probably wondered why I was happy to loan it to you, eh? ;-)
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On 3/6/2002 Duane
wrote in from
(68.15.nnn.nnn)
Black equals blue, blue equals black, oops
still don't like them...
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On 3/5/2002 Mathew
wrote in from
(65.174.nnn.nnn)
they are.
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On 3/5/2002 hc
wrote in from
(65.184.nnn.nnn)
i thought the blues are harder than the blacks. (it is on mine)
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On 3/5/2002 Mathew
wrote in from
(65.174.nnn.nnn)
Anyone tried torsion trucks for buttboarding?
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On 3/5/2002 Duane
wrote in from
(68.15.nnn.nnn)
Black are 95A blue are 90A. I don't like these cushions, the black are too hard for me, and I don't think they engage the seats all that well, I end up carving a bevel on them to seat well. Order some soft or medium Tracker stimulator bushings and run them on the bottom with no washers, and you'll like them a great deal better. I did.
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On 3/5/2002
Martin
wrote in from
(62.67.nnn.nnn)
I allready posted this in the trucks forum, but did not get a reply so far. So here is my question to the buttboarders: How hard are the randal luge bushings (blue and black)? I´m trying to modify r2 trucks for a buttboard,but can´t get original randal bushings here in germany. Any tips on what to use instead? Thanks
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On 3/4/2002
Andy
wrote in from
(206.210.nnn.nnn)
Speaking of cops, and this probably will be a simple question with a complex answer, what can cops do to you??
I've never really considered it. Been ID'ed a couple of times, but that was because somebody saw my empty car parked on their street and got uptight. Haven't been chased out of anyplace yet, although I ride in an office park or two where I'm sure I could be booted.
Maybe some insight will help me deal with the inevitable someday.
Thanks. Andy
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On 3/3/2002
E.K.
wrote in from
(204.246.nnn.nnn)
Been reading Darren Lott's book and came to the chapter on "Dirt Luging". Sounds pretty interesting and I think the idea of luging or buttboarding down a "dirt" road or trail sounds challenging. Also the idea of being free of the hassels of the cops, which comes with "street" boarding, sounds great (getting ticketed while bomding a dirt road?...right). In Utah there are alot of dirt roads at the ski resorts and one ski resort has the ski lift running during the summer for the mountain bikers to get to the top of the runs. I am thinking of trying some "dirt-buttboarding" so currently I am putting a buttboard together with risers, 12" gullwing trucks and dirt board wheels (purchased from Montainboardz)and wearing protective gear similar to moto-x (read in Lott's book about protective gear for dirt luging). If anyone out there has done some dirt luging or have any advise for me, post it. I will get back later on my experience. Laters.
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On 3/1/2002
E.K.
wrote in from
(204.246.nnn.nnn)
Just posting some stuff about my adventures in buttboarding here in Utah. Besides news that the Olympics have gone, the weather here has been pretty much clear and very cold. The roads are pretty much clear and I have been checking out bike paths around point of the mountain and in the Utah Valley. Took a morning for some rides at the road near the "Point" and got bored so went to search for a different hill. Hear of a bike trail built before the snow fell near the mall in Orem. Searched it out and found it to be clear of snow. It's about half a mile long and starts as a 7% grade hill, running with an S-curve then a sweeping left hand 3% grade slope. This trail is built along a four lane road, which runs down into the next town, Provo. It's a good basic run and but currently needs the dirt and gravel spots swept off the asphalt. One day as I was on this trail, a man in a SUV drove to the side of it at the botton of the run. My first though was, "Great... an off-duty cop... coming to tell me I was doing a no-no". Anyways remembering what Lott said in his book of luge "ethnics", I sat up from my board, took my helmet off, and with a smile said, "What's up?". He introduced himself as the man who designs bike/peds trails around the state of Utah and he wanted to know how fast I was going. After a long friendly talk, he said that what I was doing was really cool and that he hopes they don't modify this trail just because of my riding it and then gave me his card if I ever wanted to talk shop. Cool, huh? Imagine that... I met the very person who designed this trail. Before he left, he asked me if I tried the trails in the Provo Canyon. I told him I did take a look at them but they were still covered with snow. He said that there is a 7 mile trail and he said I would love it. Well enough... pretty long post. Thanks for your continual input brother buttboarders. Laters.
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On 2/27/2002 Mario
wrote in from
(148.87.nnn.nnn)
My flexy buttboard broke last night. I was screwing around in the kitchen seeing how much it would flex and it broke after some abuse. But I didn't like the feel of it at all. It was twisting torsionally as I tried to lean it. I think this was because 6 plys were going longitudinal, while only 3 plys were going cross-wise. I'm plying up another laminate this morning with a 5-4 ratio, to see if that will help. It's really light, btw. At only 3/8" thick, it's got half the material that my first board had.
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On 2/26/2002 Mario
wrote in from
(148.87.nnn.nnn)
More thoughts: I don't mind the spin-axle ban, but only because I don't have any. I've always wanted them, but couldn't fork over the money. Do they have an advantage? Not having them, I always thought so.
I do like the idea of keeping buttboaring cheap, but when you add up the cost of leathers, entry fees, and especially travel, even buttboarding becomes expensive (though still a fraction of any other type of racing).
No matter how they change the rules, it will still be fun. Even if they made me ride my 36" Alva and Indy trucks, it's the close racing and parity of equipment that will keep it challenging. What they messed up on was restricting the LUGE class to eliminate pegless luges. I think the luge class should represent what is fastest, and should remain on the cutting edge. Limiting the design of a buttboard makes sense - it's a spec class, but in an "unlimited" class like luge, let the ideas fly!
In other news, I tried to make a 3/8" flexible buttboard (3 sheets of 3-ply 1/8" birch this time instead of the usual 4) this weekend. It seems to have come out OK, but it doesn't flex as much as I wanted. My friend "Catfish" says perhaps a balsa core would work better. Anyone ever try that? I'm now considering drilling some holes in the deck to make it more flexible, but since this is an irreversible opperation, I'm hesitant.
Got my Flashbacks yesterday. I've got sorely bruised/cracked ribs (over-rotated a backside air) so it will be at least a week before I can try them out. Nice looking, though, with a really wide contact patch.
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On 2/26/2002
Mario
wrote in from
(148.87.nnn.nnn)
All the sudden I'm wondering if my R2s with 8mm axles are legal. I had the axles replaced because I bent one (the R2 axles are the softest axles I've ever tried). If I replaced the axle with 8mm chrome-moly, does that make my trucks illegal? I hope not, I'm just trying to get over a weak limitation in the truck. Kinda like replacing the kingpin with a stronger one, or replacing the bushings with ones that don't crack, etc.
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On 2/26/2002
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
(63.168.nnn.nnn)
Duane, that would most likely be considered a custom truck and would not be allowed. The rules are dumb. Even after you learn about the reasons for the rules, you'll still be wanting more sensible specs for building a safe and effective board for laying down on. The basic premise assumes that guys are going to go to a skateboard shop and be able to find all the equipment needed to make a great board. How many skateboard shops do you know of where you can get Randal Luge Trucks, Moes, R-IIs, a good choice of 70mm wheels and a buttboard?
It is fear-based rule making. They fear that the boards will be too much like a luge and not enough like a skateboard if they ease up on some of these limitations. They don't want some poor kid from a third world country to feel bad if his pool board doesn't appear good enough to race on.
The truth is, a lugeboard is an excellent opportunity for riders to gain access to streetluge and other downhill sports and a 48" x 12" board with only 4 70mm wheels is never going outgun a well designed and more unlimited streetluge on a decent course. It's a lot of fun and can be a great class of luge, especially if we accept it for what it is becoming and make more sensible rules.
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