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Setting Up a Slide Deck - Sliding Gear and Equipment for Downhill Longboarding

By Steve Cave, About.com

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Grip Tape and Trucks

Setting Up a Slide Deck

Slide Gear - Setting Up a Slide Deck

Photo: silverfishlongboarding.com
For the top of the board you need the most horrid, aggressive grip tape you can find. Broken glass and sharks teeth, with a thin layer of poly, tend to work quite well! If you’re short on shark teeth, Jessup or the leftover “gnarley grip” Gravity has both work quite well.

Truck choice is all about your preference, but most people tend to run conventional trucks such as Tracker, Indy or Orion. They’re lower to the ground and provide a more reliable transfer from edge transition to slide. However, some people do quite well with Randal-style trucks. No matter what you use, ensure that the axle width is such that your wheels lay flush with the edge of your deck. Add risers to minimize wheel bite, if needed. If you like running it loose, that’s fine; if you like a tighter bushing combo, go for it. Finding your personal sweet spot should translate from how you usually ride your trucks. The more comfortable you are, the faster you can go and the better the slide.

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