If you already read our blog post on how to grip tape a longboard, then you already know what you’re doing. But if you still have questions about the process, you can watch this handy video we put together which shows a sped up play-by-play. Remember, in order to grip your longboard deck you’ll need: a box cutter, a file, and scissors.
*If your deck is wider than your grip tape, you can do horizontal or vertical stripes instead. Just use a ruler to help you cut a straight line. Then flip it so the ragged edge is on the outside of the board, on the side that will be cut off. Our favorite grip tapes are gnar grip and edger grip. But if you have a deck made of bamboo or walnut, you may want to use clear grip to let the wood grain shine through. If you’re still having difficulty gripping your deck, bring it by our Seattle longboard shop and we’d be happy to do it for you.
To retrieve a loose Slingshot kiteboarding kite, make sure you have a plan and can predict where the kite will go. If the kite is tumbling, don’t try to grab it until it settles down. Wait until the kite seems to be staying on the water.
1. Go downwind of the kite as you approach so that you won’t get into any line behind the kite.
2. As you pass the kite, look for a place to grab where you can control it.
3. Stay a little upwind of the kite so that your kite is pulling you away. This will help to avoid getting wrapped up in the loose kite.
4. The nice thing about grabbing a bridle is that you don’t need to flip the kite over. Simply pull the kite with you, and the wind will lift the kite above the water.
If the kite doesn’t have a bridle, you can grab a wing tip to stop the kite and then drift away from the kite and begin to help it flip over before you start to ride on your board. Either way, make sure you approach, observe, plan, and then proceed to grab the Best Kiteboarding kite. If it doesn’t feel right, just trust your instincts and let go of the kite.
Before you start, decide whether to grip the entire board, leave a pinstripe, a custom design, or horizontal strips. For a solid grip, you need enough length to cover the entire board or the portion of the board which you want gripped. Boards wider than 10 inches can be difficult to grip entirely (since most grip doesn’t come wider than that), so we’d suggest using a pinstripe or horizontal strip design (see Step 1 for details).
You’ll need: a box knife or razor blade, scissors (very useful when cutting patterns for the grip), a ruler or something with a straight edge, something to file the edges, and a sharpie.
Step 1: Remove the paper backing from the grip completely, and line up the grip where you want it, making sure that you don’t have it crooked leaving any standing platform exposed.
To add a pinstripe or horizontal design, you’ll need to cut the grip in half lengthwise (hot dog style, not hamburger) before you remove the paper backing. Don’t worry about how straight it is. Once you have the grip in two pieces, you can flip the them around so the outside edges are aligned on the center pin stripe for a nice straight line.
Step 2: Press down evenly to ensure the grip stays on well. Focus on small sections of your board to avoid air bubbles. With a drop deck (like the Rayne Demonseed longboard), it helps to work from one end of the board to the other once you have lined up the grip.
Step 3: To assure that your grip will stay on, use a spare wheel to roll across the deck using your hand to apply pressure.
Step 4: Now, using the file (the metal handle of a socket wrench works like a champ as well) run down the edge of the grip tape against the rails of the board at a 45 degree angle. When you are done with this step you should see the shape of the board but still have the entire piece of rectangular grip on the board. The whole point of rubbing down the edge is to score the edge and make it easier to cut.
Step 5: Using the razor blade or box knife, while holding the board, run the knife up the side of the board using the rail as a guide of where to cut. It may take some time, so be patient. Make sure that the blade is pretty sharp because a dull blade won’t give you as clean of a cut.
Step 6: Once you have removed a majority of the excess grip, check the edges for any grip that you missed. A nice finishing touch is to take that file again and run it down the edges, this helps ensure the edges of the tape don’t lift up and begin peeling.
This is the Motion Boardshop video review of two of our favorite longboard decks, the Rayne Nemesis and the Rayne Demonseed. We decided to make this video after getting multiple requests from our youtube subscribers that wanted to learn more about the decks, particularly the Nemesis. Trevor lays it down for you all.
Nemesis: Bamboo core sandwiched between two layers of fiberglass giving it for a nice lightweight without sacrificing any strength. This is one of the few boards that will work for pretty much any kind of riding discipline. So many people ask us “what deck will do it all?” and 9 times out of 10, we’ll recommend the Nemesis. Thanks to its short wheelbase, its great for carving, while the symmetrical shape and 1″ drop makes it a killer freeride board. The shorter wheelbase option will make the deck more nimble and the long WB will make it more stable at higher speeds. Wide trucks (like Paris 195s or 200mm Surf-Rodz) work best since the standing platform itself is so wide. The fact that 80% of Motion employees own a Nemesis speaks volumes about the deck.
Demonseed: Newly redesigned to be symmetrical which is a huge improvement upon last years model. It’s basically a longer Nemesis with the added drop thrus. A better option for taller guys with a wider stance. Thanks to the nice big cut outs, you rock wheels upwards of up to 85mm. It has 6 plys of bamboo in the middle between the two sheets of fiberglass making it light but still stiff. Consider it the big brother to the Nemesis. We like it with the Abec 11 Freeride wheels thanks to their buttery-smooth slide. Or for downhill, try the new Nersh Money Hax for super grip and roll speed.
Unlike all the other longboard decks in the Kebbek lineup, the Hairpin isn’t named after one of their teamriders. The thing that stands out most about this deck is it’s super gnarly, aggressive concave. It’s not like your average concave though. A nice, wide flat in the middle makes it a lot more comfortable on your feet than most crazy concaves. But once you get to the sides, the rails jut upwards to grab onto your feet like a claw. Compared to the JimZ and the Steve Daddow, this concave takes the cake. Those claws make sure you have super leverage without having to worry about your feet slipping.
longboard deck
The ever-so-precisely cut drop through mounts make the Kebbek Hairpin longboard ideal for freeriding or speedboarding. Made from 100 percent solid Canadian rock maple just like all the other decks in the line-up, this board is built to last. All 8 plys of wood are compressed underneath tons of pressure to sandwich it all together. This deck features a universal drop through mount so you can saddle up with any combo of trucks and wheels your heart desires. Thanks to deep wheel wells, you can ride bigger wheels than usual.
kebbek longboards
It may have taken Kebbek a few years to get their stuff together but it was well worth the wait. Their new designs are pure perfection. And at $169 a pop, this is a purchase you can’t go wrong with.
If you’ve been skating hard all summer, chances are your bearings are probably due for a cleaning. If you spin your wheels and hear a gritty, crunchy sound, that’s the dirt in there slowing you down. Sure, if you’re lazy you can always shell out $13 for a new set of Mini Logo Bearings but it’s super easy to just clean them too.
1. It should be obvious, but you’ll need to pop your bearings out of your longboard wheels first. You can use the axle of your truck to pry them out which is much better than a screwdriver.
2. To completely clean the bearing, you’ll also have to take the outer shield off. You can use a thumb tack or needle to pull it off but be careful during this step so you don’t damage the shield.
3. Use a papertowel or toothbrush to scrub off any loose dirt on the bearings.
4. Place the bearings in a container (one that has a top) and fill it with mineral spirits or acetone.
5. Shake the jar to distribute the cleaner through the bearings and let them marinate in the solution for 15 minutes.
6. Rinse your bearings off with a high concentration isopropyl alcohol which will remove any last bits of dirt and will also evaporate to dry the bearings.
7. Place 2 drops of bearing lube or speed cream inside the bearings.
8. Spin them to disperse the lube around the bearings.
9. Place the shield back over the bearings.
10. Pop them back in your wheels and you’re ready to take your longboard deck for a cruise.
how to clean longboard bearings
**NOTE: DO NOT use WD 40 to clean your bearings. Avoid riding through puddles which will rust your bearings quick. Thanks to this blog for the play-by-play.
Steve Daddow is arguably the face of longboarding in Australia. He pioneered the sport in his home country and worked hard with local media to get the sport off the ground and portrayed in a good light. Many of Aussie’s best downhill skaters and slalom riders have Steve to thank for getting them started too. He’s been skating for 26 years and has a lot to show for it, including multiple titles for giant slalom racing.
The Kebbek Steve Daddow deck is one of the newer boards added to the Kebbek line-up for 2010. Just like Daddow’s style, this deck is designed to be super versatile for all riding disciplines. Underflushed truck mounts make for stability at high speeds without sacrificing traction in those hairpin corners. Did I mention it has gas pedals too?
Made from 100% solid rock Canadian maple, this board is made to last a lifetime. No need to worry about delams here. Beefy wheel wells and a universal flushmount mean this is one of the rare longboard decks where you can throw down with any truck and wheel combo you can dream of. You want 75mm bigzigs on Bear Grizzly 852s? Not a problem. 76mm Flywheels with Surf-Rodz? Consider it done. I can guarantee we’re the only Seattle longboards shop where you’ll be able to find this deck.
Most people know the name “JimZ” for bushings and trucks. True, this legendary longboarder was one of the first to pioneer the stim shaped bushing which are still regarded as some of the most stable in the industry. He also cranked out some of the first precision trucks to hit the market from his company SpeedParts. But did you know he had his own board too? That’s right, JimZ was an integral part of getting Kebbek up and running in the early stages, and he got one of the sickest pro model boards in exchange.
The Kebbek JimZ Flushcut is legendary in the world of speedboarding. It’s one the very few longboard decks that features a dropped deck in addition to dropped-thru flush mounts. What does this mean? Lower center of gravity for unparalleled stability at high speeds. The flush mount provides a little more grip/traction than a deck like the Rayne Demonseed longboard which is a drop thru/drop combo. The symmetrical shape makes it a killer deck for freeriding and sliding too, in case you aren’t hittin’ high speeds quite yet.
Features: Made in Canada. 43″ long, 9.5″ wide with a 32 3/4″ wheelbase.
**Keep in mind this deck doesn’t come gripped and only fits Paris trucks.
Here’s Nate with a new 60 second video (which ended up being more like 7 minutes…) talking about how he likes to setup his Black Dog Pussy Gato longboard deck which is the topmount speedboard in the BD Series. It has an 1/8″ rocker, 1/2″ concave, and aggressive wheel wells so you can rock 70mm wheels without getting too much wheelbite.
Nate’s Setup
-Munkae Trucks with a red (90a) venom cone roadside and a yellow (85a) venom barrel boardside. Both have a cupped washer for a divey feel on the front truck. For his back truck, he ditches the boardside washer so the bushing can deform a bit for lots of grip. It’s more sloppy bit has more traction.
-1/8″ riser on the back truck and 4 degree wedged riser on his front truck
At the Maryhill Festival of Speed this year, we got a chance to spend some time with Blake Startup from Landyachtz. He just happened to have a sexy new carbon 9two five longboard deck with him. We were able to sneak him away from the races for a few minutes to give us the scoop on this hot new deck and here’s the video for all of you to check it out too.
Blake’s favorite setup for the 9two5? 70mm Mini Monster wheels (he prefers the 78a “turbo” blue race formula ones) and the Bear Grizzly 852s. He’s also got a nice little custom grip job with a skull and wings.
If we don’t have this board in stock, just email, call us, hit us up on livechat, whatever. We’ll special order it for you and the shipping is on us as usual! We got a chance to try it out firsthand and it really was truly amazing.
Benefits of the Carbon Foam Core?
-super stiff and no torsional flex
-input from your front foot will transfer movement to back truck
-results in more control and more grip
-added stiffness makes it a killer deck for racing too
-still has all the features we love about the regular 9two5 longboard deck including drop thrus, gas pedals, rocker, and the widest possible foot platform with big wheel wells.
It’s bound to happen, and nobody likes when it does. You’ve lost your board. Sigh, so sad! Too bad you didn’t have one of these babies to slap on there.
Reward if Found stickers are here again! For the locals, these tags are some great insurance that their board will be returned. Just last week we rescued a Slingshot kiteboard from Harborview Park in Everett. It had been washed up, torn apart and mauled by a boat propeller. None the less, it ended up safely in our arms.
Yes, we sell a lot of boards. But trust us, we remember all of them. You may just be the guy who bought the Earthwing Supermodel 8 ply (with Retro ZigZags, Paris trucks and some Venom Eliminators), but in our eyes, you are the new mama or papa of a precious little baby that we hope you will nurture.
We know that you love you board just as much as we do. It’s a huge deal when you’ve lost something so near and dear to the basis of your existence like a longboard deck. With one of these, you at least know who to call first.
We got some new longboard decks in the shop today that we’re really stoked about. We’ve been carrying Bombsquad noseguards for awhile now and they are an amazing product for anyone with a delicate board that has a habit of sending it flying into curbs or parking garage walls. I hope they continue to crank out new noseguards that will fit all the popular decks on the market these days.
However, Bombsquad also makes some really killer boards. We’ve just brought in two decks for the time being but we’re really impressed with the quality. The F-Bomb and the Wooden Saltflat are the ones that we’re starting out with. It’s not too often you can find a drop through speedboard for just $125! The Earthwing supermodel deck is the only one that can even touch that price range.
The Saltflat longboard deck is a 9 ply topmount made for agility and precision when drafting down big mountains at high speeds. It has just enough concave too-mellower than what seems to be the concave trend these days with super aggressive concave. The Saltflat is $125. I have to say, Bombsquad longboards can do no wrong in our book.
Looking for a grippy wheel to nail hairpin turns on a super tight, technical course? Well look no further than the Nersh Money Hax longboard wheels and the Abec11 Centrax wheels. They both feature a monster contact patch so you get the ultimate contact with the pavement for traction like none other. But for two wheels that seem so similar on the surface, what’s the difference between the two?
*Nersh longboard wheels are an offset wheel with a 70mm contact patch and a 75mm height. The super squared-off lips really dig into the pavement to give you a ton of traction. The softest option, a 76a durometer, will glide over any bumps in the road to give you the smoothest ride possible. In the harder duros, 80a and 83a, you can actually drift them a bit and the urethane gives a pretty smooth slide but they still get a ton of traction to make them a good all around wheel.
*The Abec 11 Centrax wheels are grippy like none other. No drifting out of these bad boys. Made from the “Reflex urethane”, these wheels are fast, grippy and predictable. The urethane also has a reputation for durability and holding up during usage. The square lips will fold under while cornering to give you traction. UNLIKE the Nersh, these wheels are center-set so you can flip them around and get a nice even wear pattern on them.
This video is part 2 of our surf-rodz precision trucks review. You can watch part 1 in the blog post just before this one. In the second part of this series we aimed to tackle life’s toughest questions, like “How do Surf-Rodz trucks compare to Munkae precision longboard trucks?”
Compared to JimZ Precision Trucks, Surf-Rodz come in 3 different baseplate degrees to dial in your ride. JimZ trucks are designed for stability and nothing else so they are limited to a 35 degree baseplate only. Jimz Trucks have a tight bushing seat with minimal lean. Surf-Rodz have a deep bushing seat.
You can expand the axle widths on the Surf-Rodz trucks by purchasing the axle extensions to make it a 220-240mm width. Narrower hangers will offer a nimble ride with quick turning for easy carving. The wider option will be super stable, especially at high speeds. You can also get the 150mm hanger which can extend to 160 or 170mm. It’s suited for small longboards like longboard hybrid minis. These narrow hangers will turn on a dime for ultimate thrashability.
Did we mention that they come in a huge variety of colors like purple, blue, gold, and black?
This is part one of our video for our Surf-Rodz precision truck review. We love Surf Rodz Trucks because they bridge the gap between inexpensive cast trucks and super pricey high-end precision trucks, while still maintaining the quality of a truck twice its price. They have really nice deep bushing seat for maximum rebound (great for venom barrels, but won’t fit an eliminator) and a beveled edge for a super wide range of motion.
They are basically the first precision truck on the market to take carving and freeriding into consideration. They don’t have sphericals so your motion isn’t so restricted and you can choose the baseplate angle for the style of riding you’ll be doing. You can bomb hills and be stable or you can carve and drift with no problems. The 45 degree plates are our favorites. You can flip these too unlike other precision longboard trucks. Unflipped (indented side of hanger will face outwards) they are more nimble for freeriding and flipped they are more stable for high speeds.
In order to reduce costs without sacrificing performance, the threaded part of the axle screws into the hanger. Set screws are inserted on the underside of the hanger to make sure your axles don’t back out while you’re riding. See our part 2 video for more info.
I wanted to tackle one of the most frequently questions we get in the shop. “How does the 10 Best Kahoona V2 kite compare to the 09 Kahoona?” Since we teach on the Kahoonas almost exclusively in our school, these kites practically sell themselves. They have a great reputation among the kiteboarding community and if you do your research and scour the forums, you won’t find a bad word said about the kites. Pretty amazing since you can’t please everyone, and every other kite out there has its pros and cons.
Since a lot of people bought the original 09 Kahoona, they’re wondering why they should upgrade to the 2010 Kahoona. Here’s what we think…
The Kahoona V2 has the newly redesigned V2 bridle system which eliminates a main pulley and incorporates a unique stainless steel block that allows the bridle to move so you can trim the kite effortlessly. The old pulley had a tendency to build up with sand over time so it would glide as easily. Plus, it was a plastic piece that had a higher chance of breaking, compared to the metal ring.
The new Kahoona is made with a higher quality dacron on the beefed up leading edge. We estimate that it’s about twice the strength of last year’s so it’s more durable and resistant to abrasion. Here in the northwets we have to be careful of barnacles, mussles, driftwood, oyster shells and other sharp objects which can mangle our kites.
The new redline bar is a huge benefit too with it’s increased line strength, and other cool features which you can find more about on our Best Performance redline bar review.
It looks like there is a little bit more adjustment per size, especially in the trailing edge. The 13 and 11 have more lower end and are easier to relaunch in lighter wind conditions (the trailing edge is longer so it has more surface area to help catch the wind and relaunch).
In reality, it just does everything better-more depower, much more stable when fully depowered, relaunch is effortless even in light wind, turning speed is about the same which is plenty fast (even in the larger sizes).
If you’d like to try one out for yourself please contact us for a demo.
One of Motion’s biggest supporters, Christian Johnson, took the time to test out the brand-spankin’ new 2010 Best Redline Performance Bar that now comes with Best kiteboarding kites, both on the water and off. He documented the key features that set this bar apart from the rest and was nice enough to put it in a video we can all watch. I have to admit, my favorite part is watching him personally test the chicken loop release in the beginning. : ) He’ll always sacrifice his body for the sake of a good review. So here you have it, the unofficial 2010 Best Redline Performance Bar Review.
This is an unbiased opinion that doesn’t sugar-coat anything. Christian talks about both the good and the bad parts of this kiteboarding bar. He’s tried most all bars on the market so he can offer a great comparison.
PROS-smaller chicken loop (good for people with shorter arms), dependable chicken loop release, stopper ball works really well, above the bar sheeting (less likely to tangle with chicken loop), actual RED line has a bungee feature to decrease shock on your body when you engage safety system, OSR on both sides of the bar, line trim/adjustments under the floats,
CONS-smaller chicken loop (not as good for wakestyle riders), above the bar sheeting (harder to reach, more clutter)
The Cabrinha Custom Kiteboard is a new favorite at Motion Boardshop (particularly the 136 and 140 sizes), thanks to the demo we’ve had a chance to session on over the last two months. I’m guessing the fact that kiteboarding legend and wakestyle phenom, Andre Phillip, collaborating on the design may have had something to do with it. The new flex pattern gives ultimate pop for wakestyle tricks like hitting sliders and riding unhooked. But it also makes the board excel in choppy conditions too.
The unique 3D bottom shape with quad concave means you can rock this kiteboard finless for flatwater riding or for nailing sliders and ramps. The unconventional shape allows for maximum drive and speed. It also has concave that narrows around the middle of the deck which provides a lot of stability.
The Custom is made with a Paulownia wood core and is reinforced with carbon deck stringers. The wood core means that you’ll have a smooth ride but it will also stand the test of time with unparalelled durability. (Slingshot kiteboards are also wood-core which is why we’ve been big fans of their boards for a long time too)
Wanna get on the water and see if everything I said is true? With our choppy Pacific Northwest conditions, I guarantee you’ll love this board more than your mama’s apple pie. Give us a call to demo one on the next windy day.
It took forever for Sam, 7 years old, to save enough money for something very special.
We were honored when he walked into Motion to purchase his first longboard—an Earthwing Superglider.
Sam saved $150 by doing his chores, selling lemonade, and saving money from his birthday.
This man works hard for the money. He’s no stranger to skating either—he’s been skateboarding since he was 4 years old and spends most days at the skatepark. He says he can’t wait to use his new board on some ramps and to get more speed!
Sam completed his board with Indy trucks and MiniMonster wheels. Pretty fly for a small guy! We are stoked on his setup too. We can see him ripping at Maryhill in no time!
These wheels are just as pretty as they look—smooth and sticky.
Nersh Longboard Wheels are here just in time for Maryhill and the summer race season. Similar to Centrax Wheels, these wheels pack a massive amount of ‘thane ready to grip pavement and drift smoothly.
Being one of the widest wheels on the market, the Nersh Money Hax is designed to provide the best traction with maximum grip for racing.
Not only do these wheels grip, they hold speed and roll over bumps like a bulldozer.
Nersh Money Hax Wheels 75mm come in 3 varieties of durometers: 76a, 80a, and 83a (pictured in order.)
To allow more drift, go for the harder 83a. If you’re looking to carry your speed through a turn, go for the softer 76a.
Made in Huntington Beach, California, Nersh Wheels are made by the same company that makes Sector9, Abec11, and Seismic.
If you’re interested in a pair and don’t have time for us to ship them to your doorstep before the Maryhill Festival of Speed, then give us a call at the shop. We’d be happy to bring a set of Nersh Wheels (or anything else for that matter) down to the race with us with your name on them.
We consider ourselves to be super lucky to have snagged a good amount of the first produced batch of Abec11 Centrax wheels that came out just days ago. Perfect timing too! With the Maryhill Festival of Speed just days away (June 29th-July 4th in Goldendale, Washington), they couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
We’d gotten a glimpse of the wheels at different races over the last year as prizes given away for podium spots. Last year at the Festival of Speed, we got a chance to scope out a few of the prototypes for these longboard wheels and couldn’t wait for them to hit the market. After almost a year of anticipation they’re finally here!
So far, they’re only available in the popular lime, 80a durometer right now. With a 68mm contact patch and a 77mm height, these longboard wheels use of more thane than all other wheels out there combined! Their center-set hub and uber wide contact patch make for the grippiest of all grippy, sticky wheels. That means when you’re taking a hairpin turn on a technical course at high speeds, you’ll be able to keep your traction.
There’s no doubt in my mind that these wheels will fly off our shelves, especially since we featured them in our latest newsletter. So snag a set quick at our Seattle longboard shop or on our online store, there’s no telling how long it will be before Abec11 can crank out some more!
We posted a Holesom Longboard Review not too long ago and got a huge amount of interest from that. This deck is just one of those boards that sparks people’s interest and they want to know more about it. Truly, there’s nothing else like the Street Sweeper deck on the longboard market these days. Big ups to Holesom and Longboard Larry for coming up with a unique design in an industry populated with copycats.
We’ve been selling these longboard decks like hotcakes, we can barely even keep them in stock! I think the demo deck at our seattle longboard shop that we keep around at all times really helps solidify how bad-ass the street sweeper deck is.
To follow up our review, we decided to crank out a little video to really show you what the deck is all about. Afterall, if picture is worth a thousand words, then a video must be worth a bazillion words. We decided to do something a little different this time though. Instead of just filming in the shop showing you the ins and outs or each product, we decided to hit the streets a little bit. I hope Nate and Spencer show you how this deck rides on the streets in case you’re not in Seattle to try one for yourself.
Looking for a versatile commuter? MOBO rider Nate Blackburn says the Fullbag Foboo Longboard Deck is a great campus cruiser. If you’re in the market for a board that can carve and bomb hills, than this board is for you. As much as we love decks like the Evo and Demonseed, they’re pretty heavy to carry around during the summer time as you’re hitting the roads and cruising to the beach. A nice light-weight board is where it’s at.
“It has a solid, mellow concave, a wide wheelbase, and is a really light weight board,” Blackburn says. The bottom of the deck features a sweet bamboo veneer. So you’re able to have a deck that looks as nice as bamboo, but is actually made out of maple so you can keep the stiffness you need to be able to bomb hills. It has a mild torpedo shape, similar to the original Topmount deck from Fullbag.
The Foboo is also a great board for garage and downhill riding. This deck is 38 inches long by about 10 inches wide, providing plenty of foot space. It has a top mount with wheel cut outs perfect for lower trucks.
We recommend pairing this board with a nice turn-y truck such as the Randal 180’s, Bear 852’s, or Paris 180’s.
If you want to longboard Seattle, then get your Fullbag Foboo Longboard Deck at MOBO for $149.95.
Here at MOBO we toss the word “great” around a lot. But the Earthwing Supermodel fits our definition of the word. It’s a great board with a great concave. Best of all—it has a great price.
“It’s a ridiculously cheap price for how nice it is,” MOBO rider Ryan Vanderveen says, “especially for being a downhill freestyle board with a ton of features.”
This twin-tip, symmetrical, drop through deck comes in two flexes: 8 and 9 ply (go for 9 ply if you want a stiffer deck). It’s also got a big grab rail, ready for locking you in.
We recommend turny trucks, like Randal 180 trucks (with a 50 degree baseplate), Bear 852 trucks, or Paris 180 longboard trucks. Vanderveen says he’d suggest a pair of Indy’s. Keep in mind that pretty much any truck on the market comes with stock bushings that are sub-par. Venoms are the way to go to dramatically improve the way your trucks feel for only $14. Not sure what durometer combo to go with? Hit us up on Live Chat and we’ll help you dial it in.
Get your Earthwing Supermodel deck at MOBO for $100. With free shipping, what more could you ask for?!
**Update-The 8 plys have sold out for the time being but we have a few more of the 9ply decks still left in stock. It’s an awesome board for a heavier rider or anyone who doesn’t like any flex in their deck.
Father’s Day is coming up this weekend, but what to get dad?? My dad is one of those guys that already has everything he could want so I always have a hard time finding a good gift for him. If your father is anything like mine, you could use a little help in the gift-giving department.
Has your dad been talking about how much he’d love to learn how to kiteboard? If he’s really serious about it, you could always purchase him a kiteboarding lesson where he can really get a feel for the sport and see if he likes it. If nothing else, it’s just a fun day on the water where we can guarantee he’ll have a great time.
Another way to introduce him to the sport is with a kitesurfing trainer kite. It’s something that we always recommend spending some time on before getting into lessons and we have a wide variety of trainer kites to choose from. But one of my favorites is the Slingshot B4 Trainer Kite. It’s more powerful than the rest making it super versatile so you can use it for snowkiting or landboarding as well. The power of a B4 is going to help give you a really good idea of what the power is like in the larger kites we use on the water.
At $319, its a great value for a kite that you can have enormous amounts of fun with.
However, if you’d rather spend a little less, we have trainer kites ranging from $119-$250 as well.
With summer kiting season upon us, we’ve got some gear worth mentioning—Motion Tested and Approved! Here is just one of our picks for 2010. Keep your eyes peeled because we’ll be reviewing TONS of gear over the next few weeks. I love this time of year!
Mystic Star 5/3 Wetsuit
Last summer the Motion test crew gave lessons in the Mystic Star 5/3 Wetsuit everyday. Even after the repeated thrashing of lessons, these suits reigned true to their flexibility and durability. We didn’t have any of the damage that wetsuits with heavy use typically sustain such as zipper breakage, seams coming apart or blowouts in the material. If you have questions about it, please let us know so we can gloat about this suit. We like it. A lot. Best of all, they are one of our lest expensive 5mm wetsuits at only $219.95. If you’re a big fan of them as well, please leave us a mystic wetsuit review on our website so more people will know what a great suit it is.
“The Miniglider is an urban assault deck, good for city riding where you need to be nimble, agile and ready for curbs,” Blackburn says. “Its kick tail allows riders to ollie up or down curbs with ease.”
The board is a smaller deck, with wheel wells, and a short, compact wheelbase. Blackburn says the concave works well for human slalom as well, by giving you lots to dig your feet into. This deck is also excellent as a campus cruiser because it’s small enough to strap onto your backpack during class and weave through the crowds like a dream.
We’ve been selling these longboard decks like hotcakes, no joke. If you’re a taller or heavy-set person and the miniglider looks a little dainty for your size, then the superglider is your deck. Think of it as the beefed up version of the Earthwing Miniglider 33. Looking for a good setup? Look no further than randal R11 180s on 50 degree baseplates with 66mm Retro Zigzags and Bones Reds bearings for a combo you can’t go wrong with.
Friday afternoon the highly anticipated shipment of Cabrinha paddleboards arrived and practically stopped traffic in it’s wake. The freight truck had to shut down traffic in the far right lane in order to unload the 10 stand up paddleboards into our shop. Pete Cabrinha is a legend in the big wave surfing world with the likes of Laird Hamilton and he brings his expertise to the paddleboard industry now.
We’ll have some of these decks available for demo and rental. For a Seattle paddleboard rental the costs are….
$25-4 hour rental with paddle
$50 for a full 24 hour period with paddle.
Cabrinha makes three different SUPs ranging from 9′8″ to 11′6″ but we’re fully stocked on the 11′6″s which will be perfect for people just getting started in the sport. It will provide a nice wide platform making balancing a breeze. This board is specifically designed for the flat-water touring that Lake Washington is suited for. However, you can totally take it into small waves and have a blast. Because this board is nice and stable, it’s great for touring long distances where you want to bring along a small cooler or any gear. If you’re looking for something to get you over to Jetty Island and cross the channel safely with all your kiting equipment on board, this would be a winner.
With the mast track, you can even attach a windsurfing mast base when the wind picks up a bit. You can also use that track as a carrier. For a more detailed look at these stand up paddle boards, check out Cabrinha’s new surf website.
At $1279 for the Cabrinha 11′6″ Touring paddleboard, they’re also a great value.
Holesom Longboards is a new, green-friendly company based in Laguna Beach, California. The company uses fresh bamboo, hemp and 8 holes along each side. Holesome joined up with legendary custom longboard shaper, “Longboard Larry” to perfect the shape and construction. The idea for the Street Sweeper longboard deck was inspired by everyone’s favorite youtube classic, the Whirling Dervish, with Adam Colton.
It took about 15 months of going through 16 different prototypes and playing around with various hole placements before they finally agreed on the final product. Wonder what the holes are for? They decrease weight, add extra grip for your feet, lock in your feet during standies, and make for a snappy rebound.
Nate says the board rides similar to a Dervish but is able to carve more. Top mounting gives more vertical leverage to your wheels during turns, increasing grip, and really powering you out of the turn with its balanced flex pattern—which means the board doesn’t want to slide as much.
“It’s a super nice, versatile board,” Blackburn says. “ Multiple wheel base options also makes it easy to customize.”
“Sector 9 Slide Gloves are badass,” Motion Boardshop’s Nate Blackburn says. “And since they are black, they go faster.”(kidding of course!) If you already have a longboard deck, getting slide gloves is the next logical step, especially if you’re homemade ones aren’t holding up.
Blackburn says the Kevlar reinforced fingertips make the gloves great for dragging fingers right across the pavement. The Landyachtz gloves are great too but boarders who are using gloves for the first time tend to drag their fingertips instead of curling them back and end up wearing a hole in the tips super quick. A softer wrist strap makes the gloves feel more natural and flexible, in addition to being lightweight and breathable. These are comfy gloves with big removable pucks for a great value….only $39.95!
Glove features:
Delrin Pucks for smooth slide and speed control
Neoprene comfort knuckle panel and cuff
Reflective print on top panels
3mm Anti-vibration foam under palm puck Velcro
Sonic weld patch and strap detailing
Extra strength twin needle at stress areas and palm Velcro
We’re super excited about introducing a few new products to our shop. The way I see it, both of these products from Advanced Elements are the answers to some of our customers problems.
#1. The Friday Harbor Adventure Kayak-This solves our local kiteboarding conundrum of “How to get to Jetty Island?” After people go through our All-in-One Kiteboarding lesson, the next step is for them to get geared up and go out there on their own. The Everett Parks Department offers a free ferry to get people over to Jetty Island which is an awesome option for people. However, the ferry stops bringing people back to the mainland around 6pm, and us kiteboarders like to take advantage of that late afternoon wind that can linger on until 7 or 7:30. So to provide an alternate transportation option, we now carry this inflatable kayak that’s big enough to carry your quiver over to the island. Best of all, it packs down nice and small so you can keep it in the trunk of your car. Plus, it retails for only $149.95, making it a no-brainer!
inflatable kayak
#2. The Hulu 11 Inflatable SUP- Let’s face it, not everyone has a car big enough to haul around a big ol stand up paddleboard everywhere. Or, maybe you don’t have the room in your studio apartment to store it safely when you’re not using it. Then there’s always the issue of using an SUP in a rocky area (like those guys who are paddling down white white rapids, or even just on a flat but craggy riverbed) and potentially damaging your fiberglass SUP. The Hulu 11 is an 11ft stand up paddleboard that you can inflate with a double action hand pump. It packs down into a bag that’s about 1′x2′x3′, only slightly bigger than a kite bag. And for the record, you could use one of these to get you and your kite gear over to Jetty Island as well. Traveling with an SUP has also been a major battle, but you can easily check this SUP as baggage to take with you on your next coastal vacation.
Thanks for being so patient! We’ve been working hard with long hours at home to keep pumping out the videos. It’s not uncommon for Jason to stay up until 2 in the morning working on the latest vid. We have so many manufacturers these days knocking on our door to make a video showcasing their products. Can’t complain though, it’s actually a lot of fun.
Black Dog Longboards is our newest brand and happens to be a Motion Exclusive product. You can’t find them anywhere else.
Some of the names have been updated so the lineup now is the Chica Esquela (with or without wheel cutouts), El Pescador and the Pussy Gato. Duane (Black Dog shaper) has also perfected the big boy model that we call the El Gordo. It’s basically a 12ply tank that’s perfect for the guys over 220lb. It’s been put to test by getting abused by our biggest riders and it passed with flying colors!
The Pussy Gato deck has been a unanimous favorite longboard deck out of the lineup and best of all, they dropped their price to only $120 with grip!
Woop woop! Yeah that’s right. Bear Grizzlies are in the HOUSE! We got a huge shipment from Landyachtz and unpacked a case of their improved 2010 Bear 852 Longboard Trucks. Our teamrider Trevor said it best: “Landyachtz is one of the few companies that’s always moving in the right direction with their products. They listen to what people say and make the improvements.” Amen. These trucks are super sexy too, even the new baseplates look like the hourglass shape of a woman’s body.
According to Landyachtz, “The new geometry and bushing seats will give you the best combination of lean, rebound, and response possible. All the goods of the 2009’s are still here, including the sweet-spot 181mm axle width, flipable hanger for cruising and bombing options, and a baseplate shape/hole pattern to mount to just about any board out there today including drop-through’s.”
Skate[Slate] did a comprehensive report on the trucks (here) and found that they are….
-10 grams lighter than before
-twice as strong (less chance of bending your axles)
-wider bushing seat to accommodate any bushings
-thicker pivot cup wall
-graphite impregnated pivot cup
-oval shaped bushing seats for better turning and less restriction
The best part is that they’re still only $47 for a set of these longboard skateboard trucks.
At Motion Boardshop, we’re on a constant mission to find the best products available. We look for longboard gear with amazing performance, long-lasting durability, a great warranty, and an affordable price. Our latest and greatest find are Surf-Rodz trucks and we’re super stoked to carry them in our shop. They’re one of the few companies out there using an eco-friendly manufacturing process to create technically advanced and innovative products.
I was surprised to find out that they also make highly technical parabolic snowboards designed specifically for serious carving. Not only that, but they also produce classic 9′ and 10′ longboard surfboards. Most of you probably know Surf-Rodz by their axle extension products which will transform your average randal longboarding trucks into wide, stable, downhill machines. You can also convert that dusty pair of slalom trucks into something more useful now too.
Surf-Rodz are precision, CNC’d trucks made in the US of A. With 6 different colors, various finishes, 8mm or 10mm axles, and 3 different baseplate degrees, the combinations are endless!
Here’s what Surf-Rodz and Motion Teamrider Trevor Preston had to say about their trucks:
“Surf-Rodz are cranking out of Seymore, Connecticut and model themselves on their motto, “performance, adjustability, and availability”. When I got a hold of their product, they did just that. The performance was fantastic. Created by some of the greatest engineers and machinists in the country, with a mind set on skateboarding and skills worthy of Dragster racing parts (which they do), they have created one of the highest performing trucks on the market. They are one of the first companies to create a precision truck that has racing in mind but is actually designed for carving, freeriding, and aggressive skating. With this all-around skating mentality, Surf-Rodz has created a truck that is not only stable, high traction, smooth and predictable, but FUN. They have the turning radius of your favorite carving trucks, and the stability of your favorite downhill trucks. With bushings seats that are set deep within the hanger you get unparalleled rebound out of your bushings, making high speed cornering feel extremely comfortable. The axles of the trucks are incredibly true and the pivot cups are 100% slop free, leaving no room for error and giving the rider’s wheel full contact on the pavement which results in superior traction. Whether you’re a downhiller or a soul-carver, these trucks are you!”
We are so super crazy stoked to finally reveal the latest MOBO Exclusive! Drum roll please…… Black Dog Longboards! These decks are made by Seattle shaper Duane Boschee who loves surfing and skiing along with his passion for longboarding. He’s been handcrafting and pressing these boards for a little over a year now, using his background in surfboard shaping to good use. Duane has worked closely with our teamriders to tweak and perfect his designs.
Not only are these boards practically a work of art but each deck is absolutely one-of-a kind. Everyone is really stoked on the topmounted Swallow Tail Longboard but my personal favorite is the Chica Esquela (School Girl) which is a comfy cruiser with a nice drop to it. I think it’s the perfect longboard skateboard for anyone getting into the sport that just wants to roll ride around without getting too extreme.
Oh and did I mention they’re only $130 for the deck AND they come with Gnar Grip. Hmmm, sounds like a no brainer to me! If you’re local, come by the shop and demo some out firsthand.
We’re working on finalizing the editing of our Black Dog Longboards Video so you can expect to see that soon.
The new Rayne Isis longboard is quickly becoming a Motion favorite here in the shop. Why? Here’s some of the features on the Isis:
Slim-cave (a downhill concave specifically developed for smaller feet), a 1/2″ dropped riding platform, it’s topmounted like the avenger for tons of traction, and it has a “flat top pleasure dome” which is specifically dialed in for stand-up slides and cornering high speed turns.
With such features, the Isis longboard is a perfect board for just about anything. Being a Rayne longboard, it obviously features that famous Rayne construction of a bamboo core and fiberglass sandwiched on top and bottom, giving it that perfectly stiff ride, and an incredibly durable board.For those riders who are looking for one board that does it all, this board will surely make a good addition to the quiver.
Earthwing Skateboards finally released the new, highly sought after, batch of the Supermodel Longboard Deck. It’s still available in an 8ply and 9ply version, depending on if you want a soft, flexy ride or a stiffer deck. Of course, your weight and riding style will determine which ply will suit you best. As you can obviously tell, this latest batch is much lighter in color but still has the same routered channels for torsional flex, drop through cutouts, deep concave and wheelwells. In the picture below you can see there’s a faint brown outline around the channels and wheelwells. The decks come with either brown, red, green, blue, or purple. We only have a few Supermodel decks left at this point and Earthwing themselves are already sold out so we won’t be far behind! We found they ride especially nice with the new Venom SHR bushings.
Sorry for the long blog title! I’ll have to figure out how to shorten that up a little bit for the future. We’ve been cranking out more episodes of our 60 Seconds of Tech Series. This one features the Rayne Demonseed Longboard. Nate talks about it’s specs and how to optimize this speedboard as a downhill longboard, especially if you’re a heavier rider that can take advantage of the premium footspace on this deck. At 44″ long with a 1″ drop, this board is as stable as it gets for bombing hills. Here’s some of the components we recommend but obviously you may way to customize it to better fit your size and riding style.
I know, I know. We just had a Rocky Bomber Longboard video just a few posts ago. BUT, that was the one made by Eastside Longboards, the manufacturer. That one’s a lot more fun to watch since it’s action packed with Eastside’s team riders. This one’s a little different since it’s a video that we produced ourselves. It’s actually the first of many videos we’ll be pumping out as new products hit the market. For all of you longboarders out there without a skateshop nearby where you can touch and feel things firsthand, this is for you. We want you to feel like you’re right in the shop with us and you can see the concave, rocker, drop etc. instead of just looking at a picture of the deck’s graphic.
We’ll try to offer some insight for you on how to complete the deck for different riding disciplines. For the newly redesigned Eastside Rocky Bomber Longboard, we recommend:
Randal RII 180mm Trucks (42* or 50* depending on if you’re using this super versatile deck for downhill or freeriding)
Let us know what you think about the video. We’re totally open to suggestions on what we can do better. These videos are to help you out afterall, not us. Check it out on youtube, give it a quick rating and leave us a comment. We do our best to respond to all of them.
Ahhhh, springtime! That means the arrival of all the hottest new gear for 2010. The Best Kahoona V2 was one of our favorite kites in 2009 and they’ve managed to improve on it for ‘10. This is one of those rare kites that appeals to riders of all skill levels.
Beginners will love it for it’s super easy auto-relaunch, beefed up construction, and stable progression platform. Wave hounds will love its downwind drift, improved unhooked handling, and auto-relaunch. Free-style riders will go crazy over it’s low-end power, unbelievable hangtime, improved high wind handling and stablity.
One huge selling point for the Kahoona V2 though is it’s PRICE! For a new kite, it blows other kites out of the water at under $1000.
We’re also completely stocked up on Best Trainer kites, which we love because they’re a high-aspect, fast-turning, durable trainer kite that comes with it’s own instructional DVD for $199.00
The first of many Best Surfboards just arrived too. In this photo you’ll see the white, Best 5′6″ ShortStick. Designed to be ridden strapless, this swallowtail board excels in mushy waves, choppy conditions or light wind. We have a demo of the 5′11″ Spacekraft surfboard here at the shop if you want to try one out for yourself.
One of our bestsellers, the Dakine Kite Compression Bag, has been sold out for months now. And unfortunately, it was during the busy winter travel season that this occured. Even we couldn’t get a few bags for ourselves when we flew to La Ventana in January. I’ve blogged about these bags before. Basically, the biggest benefit is that you don’t have to take your heavy stock kite bag with you. That way, you can keep your stock bag nice and clean looking to keep your resale value high. Also, since it’s nice and light, you can cram more into your golf bag without going over the 50lb weight limit. On our last trip, we were stuck with 4 golf bags which could have easily been negated if we had compression bags to allow us to fit 4 kites in each golf bag.
We’ve just released our latest informational longboarding video. We made a deck video about 6 months ago but there’s so many new brands and decks that have recently hit the market, not to mention the new technology they’re using now, that it was necessary to put out something more up to date. In this latest vid, MOBO teamrider Trevor Preston goes over some of the new brands that we’ve started carrying like Insect and Subsonic and also talks about the characteristics of the latest decks like the Comet FSM Mini. It’s about 10 minutes long so prepare to get schooled!
NEW PROMOTION: Buy a complete and get a free venom bushing upgrade, your choice!
We just brought in a big box of compression kite bags from Dakine and it’s a product we’re really excited about for 2 reason. They’re cheap and they’re functional! Compression bags are made out of a super lightweight nylon material so you can get rid of your heavy stock bag that came with the kite. When you’re traveling with a golf bag, space and weight are the two big concerns.
These bags cinch down really tight around the kite so you can fit more kites into your bag, and you save a ton of weight you didn’t realize the stock bags had. So, you don’t have to worry about tipping the scales at the airport check in station.
Or, you can use the cheap black compression bags to replace your stock bags so that you can keep the stock bags looking clean and new. That way when you go to resell your used kite, it will look a lot fresher than some dirty, torn up bag. We’ve found you can fit at least two compressed kite bags into one stock bag so you can easily throw more kites on your back when walking to the beach.
We just got in a shipment of accessories from Hyperflex wetsuits. We recently acquired them as a brand and we couldn’t be more amped about the quality and price of their products. The Playa Jacket is one of our favorite, must-have items for winter kiting. You’ll see pictures of Dmitry Marimendes wearing one in most of the Hyperflex advertisements lately. It’s super warm, stylish, well-made and low-priced.
We brought in some of their 3mm Mesh Skin Gloves which are only $19.99. We were really impressed upon trying them on. For under $20, they are comparable to gloves we’ve seen that cost 20 or 30 dollars more! They’re really warm, flexible, have pre-curved fingers and won’t cut your circulation off. We’ve tried gloves with dry seals on the wrist but they end up being so tight that not only do they keep water out, they keep your blood from flowing to your fingers too!
The Cyclone 5/3 Split Toe Boot is going to be our choice bootie for the fall/winter kiting season. It’s on sale from $47.99 down to $39.99. The lower strap is a great feature and it has an external split toe with a connection piece to keep any lines from getting snagged around your big toe. They’re sized more true to our standards too since they’re an American company. The 5/3mm thickness will keep your feet plenty toasty, even in 45 degree waters.
The HD GoPro POV cameras (point-of-view) are being released at the end of the month and we couldn’t be more giddy with anticipation. They just leaked the most killer video to showcase the clarity of this camera so I had to share it with you. The cameras will be available on October 31st but we’re taking preorders now so you can be sure we don’t sell out before you get yours. At only $299 for the HD HERO Helmet camera, it’s a steal of a deal.
We just got our first shipment of the new Rayne Isis which is the pro model for women’s downhill longboarding champ Brianne Davies. So far it has exceeded all our expectations. It’s like a smaller, but topmounted Demonseed. The Isis has a really comfortable downhill feel to it when tucking. It’s less expensive than the Killswitch and the drop locks you in really nicely since the drop extends the full width of the board.
The w-concave is a little bit more correctly positioned for freeriding and downhill (it starts further back which feels really nice for pushing). It also has more mounting holes so you can shorten or lengthen the wheelbase and really customize your ride. One of our longboard pros describes it as a deck he would actually pay full price for and not just nab the shop demo.
Insect just unveiled their new Mosquito Drop deck. Now the Mosquito has a .5″ drop for even more stability. Plus, it has a full radial concave to really lock your feet in during slides. They’ve improved their mainline construction to make the decks stronger by laterally distributing the energy and allowing more of that energy to be transferred through the nano instead of the wood. The concave is a little bit deeper and the slight camber creates pockets between the drop and the camber so you always know where your feet are. They now have a gloss finish over the nano to help protect the composite and make it look extra pretty.
We are in the process of putting together a video with Steve Hopper, the mastermind behind Insect Longboards, explaining the new construction and design behind the Mosquito Drop. Watch for that to be released soon! For now, come by the shop and try out our demo so you can see what the hype is all about for yourself.
After much anticipation, Orangatang finally released another duro for their freeride wheel family. This time, they’ve produced a super slidey yellow 86a durometer for the freeride longboard junkies out there. So far, only the 75mm Durian and 70mm Stimulus wheels are available at the moment but the 66mm Fat Free isn’t far behind. If these 86a wheels are too hard for your liking, you may want to try the original 83a purple Freeride wheel.
Unlike the Retro Freeride wheels, the Orangatang Freerides come pre-broken in so you don’t have a long break-in period. We haven’t had a chance to try them out yet but a review will be on the way soon! We only have limited quantities at the moment so get ‘em while they last!
So the AWSI industry trade show last week allowed us to try kites and boards from about 90% of the manufacturers, from all the big companies to lesser known up-and-comers. After trying almost everything that was available, along with a team of other retailers around the country that we work with, the consensus was that HANDS DOWN the most impressive kites were the Wainman Rabbit Series.
They have a different name for every size, like their 14m is the Big Mama and the 9m is The Smoke. They only make one style of kite and then they tweak each size individually to perfect it (as opposed to making a perfect 9m and then sizing it up or down like other manufacturers do)
It’s a delta shaped kite that performs like a mix of the RPM and Fuel with fast turning and Slingshot-esque durability. It’s one of the smoothest kites we’ve ever tested and the design is the future of kiteboarding in our opinion. It’s low aspect ratio makes it good for users of all skill levels. It will likely be our school kite of choice because of it’s excellent relaunch, stability while flying and the fact that it won’t oversheet. So beginners learning to put the board on their feet won’t find it sneaking off to the side of the window. It also has small tags on the pigtails which clearly label “more power, less power, better upwind” etc. making it easy for even a former blonde like myself to tune their kite to the conditions and their riding style.
Some features include:
-above the bar sheeting
-colored line sets (good for kook proofing and snowkiting)
-a plastic sheath over the chicken loop (to ensure minimal wear on the sheeting line)
-push away chicken loop release
-suicide ring option on chicken loop
-beefed up LE with Dacron which goes into the wingtip itself for extra durability
We also carry the Kahoona which is a delta kite and you may wonder what the main differences are…The Wainman kite is a little more expensive but that’s because the construction on it is so beefy. It’s also created on more of a freestyle riding platform, so even though it will loop good, it’s not as fast turning as the Kahoona. Both have excellent relaunch.
NOW ONTO THE BOARDS…
The Wainman boards are out of this world. They have great upwind capability, surprisingly so since they have insane concave on the bottom and added rocker too. This concave allows for the feeling of a larger volume board so you can get away with riding a size smaller than usual. Very predictable, excellent pop and is probably the lightest board we’ve ever tried. Squishy, soft, comfy footpads are great for hot landings and long sessions. Just like the kites, the boards are very durably made with high quality. Overall, we wouldn’t tweak a thing on the boards.
The Wainman surfboards are something we weren’t able to try out first hand but they’re so beautiful they could be mistaken for a piece of art. They are shaped and finished by renowned board maker Jimmy Lewis and have a distinct gun shape making then good in heavy surf. Oh yeah, and they also come with a padded board bag to make sure it stays in good condition.
FOR DEMO we have a 9m and 12m Rabbit Kites and a Blunt 130 twin tip and the Surfboard. This is what we were able to snag at the trade show and more will be arriving shortly. But you can consider us your Wainman connection. After talking with other shops around the country, I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot more about this brand in the very near future.
We are super pumped to be carrying the line-up from Hyperflex and the 2mm Playa Jacket happens to be our favorite product at the moment. It’s great for throwing on before or after sessions, warming up in the car, wearing while you’re waiting in the boat for your turn to wakesurf or whatever it may be. You’ve probably seen some ads with Dmitry Marimendes wearing his. They are not too bulky, yet are still stylish while being wind and waterproof.
They come in two different design options which you can see Jason & Joaquin wearing.
While we were in Hood River for the AWSI Trade Show this weekend, we had a chance to go to the Monster party debuting the new line-up from Major League Kiteboarding. The American Apparel MLK tee shirts are super soft and comfy and have a dope graphic to boot. They’re available in black and white. They also have regular MLK hats and MLK trucker hats, both in FlexFit, in the same colors. Remember, free shipping and we have tons of MLK stickers to dish out too. Here’s some pics of us partying with some of MLK’s founders, Suds and TJ.
Here’s the latest video from Slingshot featuring teamriders Erik Volpe and Ben Wilson in the waves as well as flat-water freestyle. They push the 2010 Slingshot Octane to the limits and show what it can do when put to the test by the pros.
The new 2010 Control Bar is really what sets the ‘10 Slingshot line-up apart from the rest. With the center line swivel, below the bar sheeting, & a push away chicken loop release, this bar is in a league of its own.
See what all the hype is about and demo one yourself.
After much anticipation, Five Mile Longboards are finally in production and available for sale. And for the time being, you can only get them here at Motion Boardshop! Lucky us. : ) Five Mile made a big showing at the Maryhill Festival of Speed this year and their demos gained a lot of attention. We love Five Mile for their support and participation in the Northwest Longboarding scene, as well as their overall infectious stoke of riding.
Their freeride deck is the A-10 Warthog, which is everyone’s favorite board at the moment. It’s 39.5″ long with a little bit of drop, rocker, camber AND concave if you can believe it.
The downhill model they’ve produced first is the B-17 Fortress. As you can tell, their boards are all named after attack aircraft. It’s 37.5″ long with spooncave and shape-tapered cave. Here’s what Micah Bartel had to say in his review of the Fortress on our website:
“It has very deep concave that locks your front foot in, as well as a “gas pedal” edge on the back to keep your back foot in that “sweet spot” every time you go back into a tuck. It is a very comfortable feeling speed board. However, my feet are on the bigger side so when I am out of a tuck and my feet are sideways, it feels a bit funny, although I don’t plan on using it as a carving board.
The top mount design and the convace make for a board that corners like a dream. That “gas peddal” in the back locks your back foot in so it’ll never slip on either heel or toe side cornering. I’ve always felt that top mount boards can corner really well and presise, and this one meets that description.”
We’re working on an informational video featuring Cody Shea, boardmaker and teamrider for Five Mile so keep a look out for that in the near future.
We just received a shipment from our favorite Eastern Canadian longboard manufacturer, Sayshun. They’ve introduced a few new decks to their line-up including the symmetrical freeride decks, Compass & Polar, which are the same shape but the Polar deck is 2″ longer. For the Speed and Crisis decks, they’re now making them with a dyed red veneer sheet on the top and bottom.
They’ve also started using a CNC machine to cut out the wheel wells for extra precision. We have demo boards in from Sayshun as well so you can come try them first hand. The Plasma O+ wheels are also available to demo.
We just completed the latest in our line-up of informational longboarding tutorials. After the success of our wheels, trucks and deck videos, we decided it was finally time to make a video on the different bushings available and how to select the right set for you. Bushings are particularly amazing because they are by far the cheapest way to drastically change the feel of your ride. However, the different combinations available can give you a headache if you think about it too hard. In this video, we focus on Venom bushings which are by far our personal bushing of choice.
Still not sure what combo is right for you? Just call the shop to talk to a bushing expert. 206.372.5268
After a long wait, we just got a small shipment in for super-custom Oregon-based Subsonic Skateboards. Not only do we love Subsonic for it’s chill owner, Scott Moore, who goes to pretty much every event in the NW but they have some sic boards to boot. We hope to get all of the Subsonic decks in at some point but for now we were at least able to get a few of the Buckshot 41 and a Barrage 40. With small, custom board builders it’s harder to stay stocked up on items so get ‘em while they last!
We just got stocked up on some of the latest and greatest accessories from our favorite up and coming company, GoPro. They make the worlds smallest and most affordable, waterproof POV (point-of-view) camera that you can mount to just about anything. Whether you bmx, windsurf, or skateboard, the GoPro Video Camera is awesome at capturing your session. We’ve even used them inner-tubing behind a boat!
We’re super stoked to be linked with the private manufacturer of the GoPro Kite Line Mount which can only be found on our website! It’s only $39.99 and can be hooked up to your center kite lines so that the camera is pointing down at you for a really cool point of view, especially when you’re jumping and doing tricks. Here’s a video showcasing this angle from Jim Stringfellow (creator of the mount).
Did I mention they’ll be releasing an HD version in later October for under $300? Stay tuned!
We carry a product called the Banshee Bungee that is a 10ft or 20ft long bungee that stretches out to 3 times that length. Once stretched to it’s maximum, it will fling you at 35mph in just seconds! It’s perfect for all board sports, whether it be skim, skate, wake, or snow. No more hills, ramps, winches, or boats needed. These big, tough bungees are designed for one purpose: hucking willing human beings across their surface of choice, be it asphalt, concrete, rails, snow, ocean spray or river current.
Just like their devotees, Banshee Bungees love a little abuse. With three strands of vulcanized rubber providing their tough demeanor, the bungees are ready for just about anything. Drown them in saltwater, freeze them in Minnesota, drag them around the concrete jungle: they’ll still spit a speed freak out at 35 miles per hour, for hundreds of feet – launch after launch.
We carry the Federal Offense Bungee, Urban Assault Bungee, and Outlaw Bungee along with all the necessary accessories like the handles, anchors, and release system.Prices start at $149.
This weekend we had the opportunity to stop by the Slingshot warehouse in Stevenson, WA and check out their latest and greatest including some hush-hush releases for 2010. This included their new board line-up and the kick ass Slingshot CSS Control Bar. It’s the first true spinning bar, no more having to take your kite leash off to spin the bar back around after doing three backrolls in a row. If that wasn’t enough, it also has a push-away chicken loop release, below the chicken loop kite leash attachment point, and is fully convertible from 4 to 5 line.
We also got a chance to check out the 2010 Slingshot Glide which has some new flex tips on the nose and tail. They’ve stiffened up all their decks by adding a 45 degree stepped rail instead of the 90 degree angle they used in 2009, creating less flex. In addition, they’ve used brighter colors to make it easier to spot your board after a wipeout. Here’s a preview of the ‘10 Slingshot SX and Misfit kiteboards.
Aside from the bar, the other major change for 2010 is the new Slingshot Bolt-ons Integrated Foot Pads and Straps. The pads are extra thick and cushy for maximum comfort. The straps utilize a lace-up system to accommodate all foot sizes. I’ve always had a hard time finding bindings that will cinch down small enough and these are finally the answer!
The new straps and pads are now easier than ever before to mount onto your board also. They use a system with a rod that inserts through a sleeve on each side of the foot strap that feeds through a mounting plate. Then all you have to do is simply screw the plate to the inserts on the kiteboard. Here’s a schematic:
The Glide, Misfit and SX with the new bolt-ons strap system are all available for demo now. Call ahead of time and we’ll bring it up to the Jetty for you to try out! 206.372.5268
Did you just drop all your hard earned money on a pricey new longboard deck? Looking for ways to protect it so it will last longer? At just $27.95, Bombsquad Noseguards are an easy way to add to the longevity of your deck. They’re made from a 10 gauge steel laser cut base plate and a 7 gauge nose piece with rubber backing. So far, we carry noseguards that fit the Demonseed, Dervish, Drop Speed, Hustler, Hellcat, and Nemesis.
If you still don’t believe in how well they work, check out this youtube video that Bombsquad produced (notice how the noseguard actually broke the concrete curb, not the longboard!)
The downhill model they’ve produced first is the 
