THE
SKATER'S
EDGE/B
The deck is one of the most expensive
components of your skateboard and unfor-
tunately it takes the most abuse. There are
products, that I'm sure most skaters are
aware of, that can be added to your deck
and subsequently extend its life. These de-
vices are commonly known as nose, tail
and rail guards. One thing I would like to
say before we dive into this subject is that
I've picked up an attitude among some
skaters that these devices (mostly nose
and tail guards) are "uncool." Uncool in that
most of the pro skaters that appear in the
magazines do not use these devices. Well,
there is one thing that separates those pro
skaters from your everyday street thrash-
ers and its name is "free equipment." Don't
get caught up in peer pressure or following
someone in a magazine. Use your com-
mon sense and seriously think about pur-
chasing these guards. Enough lecture,
here we go, starting from the nose, with
hints thrown in here and there.
NOSE GUARDS
A nose guard is a plastic device, shaped
in a semi-circle with three loops that ac-
commodates mounting hardware. They are
made of plyable plastic or urethane and
they bend to the shape of almost any nose
on a skateboard. Their function is simple:
they take the abusive smacking instead of
the precious plys of your deck. You simply
fit the nose guard around the area to be
protected, mark the holes with a pencil, and
drill an "a" hole at each mark completely
through the deck. You then push trusshead
screws (round heads) through each hole
from the top of the deck and fit the nose
guard on the screws loop by loop. Now
comes a little trick I use to make your nose
guard fit better and keep the loops from
cracking or tearing away. Before putting on
the aircraft locknuts, slip a thin washer on
the screw, right after the nose guard, then
put the locknuts on and tighten them down.
This gives the washer the pinch from the
locknuts and not the plastic mounting loop.
When all the nuts are tight, break off any
excess screw sticking out with vice grips
and you're done. I've been to many shops
that put nose guards on with wood screws
and not a screw/locknut type procedure.
Don't let these lazy gorillas do this to you.
This type of mounting instantly voids your
warranty and is far inferior to the other
mounting procedure. Having a wood screw
in a high impact area like the nose is like
putting three little log splitters up there,
your board is sure to crack. If the shop
doesn't do it any other way, find another
shop or do it yourself."
14
GUARD RAILS
DND CA
Rails are long, thin strips of plastic or
nylon, with a three or four hole pattern that
accommodates wood screws. Now I know
just got finished telling you about the hor-
rors of wood screws but it is okay. The
edges of your deck, between the trucks,
don't take as much abuse as the nose or
tail and wood screws can be used for
mounting. The function of rails is simple.
They protect the precious graphic on the
bottom of the deck, add a little strength,
serve as finger grabs for certain moves
(their original function), and they allow for
long, sliding maneuvers. To mount them
you simply place the rail" from the edge,
slightly bending the rail to conform to the
board's shape and mark the holes with a
pencil. Then drill pilot holes with a "%a" drill
bit three-quarters of the way through your
board and mount the rails with the screws
(you should receive screws with the rails).
If you choose not to use pilot holes, you are
again playing with log splitters and taking
the risk of badly delaminating your deck
while also voiding the warranty. One last
thing about rails: there really is only one
way to mount your rails and that is approx-
imately parallel to or conforming
the edge of your deck. Don't get fancy with
your rails and start radically bending them
or putting them on diagonally or V-shaped.
You are only cheating yourself from the full
potential of the rails' function.
TAIL GUARDS
from
Tail guards are plastic, nylon or wood de-
vices that come in almost every shape and
size imaginable, with the majority being
long and oval in outline with a two or three
hole pattern that accommodates the truss-
head screw/locknut mounting set-up. Their
function is simple: to protect the tail area
from obstructive scraping and smacking
when you ride. This device, by far, is the
most valuable to add to your deck because
the tail takes the most abuse. Surprisingly
through, it is probably the least purchased
protection, when comparing all three de-
vices (uncool maybe? I don't know). Any-
Keith Meek edges out on a nude board.
way, if you do buy one, the mounting is
simple. Put the tail guard in the area to be
protected, making sure all areas of the tail
are covered. It's overhanding, you say?
Good. Any overhang of your tail guard will
function like your nose guard, by letting the
overhang take the smacking and not the
deck's edge. Mark the holes with a pencil,
drill an a hole through the deck for each
hole and mount with trusshead screws and
locknuts. Make sure you purchase a tail
guard you are willing to stick with for the life
of your board because when the time
comes to replace the tail guard, you will
have to buy the same one due to the unique
hole pattern of the type you purchased.
Again, do not mount your tailguard with
wood screws for the previously mentioned
reasons.
SPECIAL CASES
Some protection devices have special
mounting hardware that you must use to
mount whatever it is. But they usually come
with clear instructions to follow. Also, some
board manufacturers spell out special re-
quirements or hardware that must be used
when mounting. Make sure you follow the
warranty's instructions carefully.
FINALLY
I cannot stress enough the importance
and advantages of nose, tail and rail
guards. When properly mounted, they can
at least double, if not triple the lifetime of
your deck. Be prepared to spend an addi-
tional $10 to $20 for a good quality set of
guards. I know it is difficult, when saving
your bucks for a deck, to hold off and save
a little more money for these devices, but in
the end, you will be skating longer and
learning more radical tricks for one simple
reason: your deck can take it.
Take care and skate safe.
--Bob Denike
Skateboard Specialists
LOWEST PRICES!
444
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3593 MERCER UNIVERSITY DRIVE MACON, GEORGIA 31204 ⚫ (912) 477-3625
COMPLETE SKATEBOARDS (Completely assembled and ready to THRASH)
POWELL McGill or Caballero (7-ply
maple with Indy 151 trucks and Powell
Cubics) $95.00
DECKS
SIMS Hosoi or New Wave (with Tracker
6-Tracks and Sims THE Wheel) $98.00
WT-With Tape, W/O-Without Tape, SN- Spoon Nose, CC-Concave, E. CC-
POWELL (W/O).
MSN (30x1025) $38.00
OT.CC (295x95)$38.00
Cable SN (29x10) $38.00
Galland 10 $37.00
Red
(285x10) $37.00
Rodriguez WT. (30x10) $37.00
Males F.S. (25x7) $32.00
General Issue (28.5) $28.00
TRUCKS (Priced per truck)
TRACKER
-Track (8.5) $16.50
Ex-Track (75516.00
Full-Track (75) $15.50
Mid-Track (6.25)$15.00
COPERS
-Capers $4.50 ea
Ex Full Mid $3.50 ea.
SIMS (WT)
HC (29.5x1025) $49.00
Lester E. Ce. (30x10.5) $40.00
New Wave E. C. (30x10.5) $48.00
Street Wave E. C. (29.5x9.25) $38.00
Andracht E. Ce. (30.5x11) $49.00
(30.75x10.75) $49.00
Lamar E. C. (30.5x10.5) $49.00
Feimer E. Co. (29.5x10.25) $49.00
F.S. (27x7) $37.00
INDEPENDENT
018 $16.50
161-(8.5) $15.50
131-$13.00
GRINDMASTERS $2.00
169 or 151131
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Rector Knee Pads $29.95 SOMOL
Rector Elbow Pads $26.00 SD OMOL
Replacement Caps $5.50/pr. (one size)
Rect. Wrist Guards $18.50 SOMOL
Cal Pro Wrist Guards $16.00 SOMOL
Norcan Pro Knee Pads $20.00 SMOL
Norco Polow Pads $18.50 SOMOL
VARIFLEX (WT & ralis) except
Vectra C (29.75x975) $32.00
Bogey C. (30x1025) $48.00
OL Mountain C. (30x104) $48.00
Hirsch Co. (30.25x10.5) $48.00
Grisham C. (29.75x1025) $48.00
Allen Lael Ce. (296x101) $48.00
C. (30.5x10.75)$48.00
ZORLAC (W/O)
C. (30.25x10.5) $40.00
GULL WING
Preu, Red, Wh$16.00
PreSonly $14.00
VARIFLEX
$13.50
$13.00
ACS
800 ($11.50
651 (6.5) $8.00
Protect Helmets $32.00 OSOMOL
Red Yel Blue
MAILING PROCEDURE: Please send your order to the
above address indicating exact items, quantity, and size (color substitutions may
sometimes be necessary) Send check (requires slight delay) or money order, or
large to Visa or Master Cand. Credit card orders must include expiration date and
phone number. Also C00's-$1.75 exdra
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PLEASE USE CURRENT PRICE LIST ONLY.
NO FOREIGN COD ORDERS.
PHONE ORDERS-CALL (812) 477-3625
We's take care of problems or special orders
SANTA CRUZ Street Skate Concave
(with Indy 109 trucks and Powell Cubics)
$73.00
Epoxy Concave, F.S.- Freestyle)
GORDON & SMITH (W/O) SANTA CRUZ (W/O)
By Ruff C. (30x10.25) $48.00
Blender Co. (31x1025)$48.00
Sidecut Ce. (30.25x10.25) $48.00
Gr C (295x1025) $51.00
Jay C. (30x975) $39.00
Chuck Webb F.S. (28x75) $30.00
Street Cruiser (30x9) $33.00
INVADER (WT)
Street Ce. (30x10) $40.00
C
(31x10.75) $38.00
MD.
(29x1025) $38.00
Alba Bevel Co. (31x11) $38.00
DC (30.75x10.75) $38.00
C. (309) $28.00
Red Dot (30.25x10) $25.00
WALKER Boards (W/O)
Mark Lake Co. (210) $49.00
Shaw Peddie C. (30x10.7) $49.00
WHEELS (without bearings, add $2 per wheel with precision bearings)
POWELL V-IV's
Cubics (gr, pr, bi, whv93A) $7.50 ea.
Mini-Cubics (gr, pr, b93A) $7.00
Street Cubics (rd, bl, pri) $7.00
Street Bones (rd. y0) $6.50
SIMS
THE Wheel 50/50 (93.5A) $8.00 ea
THE Street Wheel 50/50 (85) $5.00
Bowman B-52 (93.5A) $7.50
(93.5A) $4.50
ACCESSORIES
Plose Guards $3.75
G&G $3.00
Powell Tall Side $3.75
090875 072505.75
$2.50
Vex Siders $5.00 pr.
Powell Rib Bones $7.00 pr.
G&S Siders $6.00 pr
Schmidt Sks $5.50 pr.
Tracker Riser Pads $2.25 pr.
URP Risers $2.00 pr
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
KRYPTONICS
70mm Street (d/78A) $6.00
64mm Street (rd, b78A) $6.00
62mm Street (d/78A) $4.50
VARIFLEX
X-Wheel (or, pr94A wh91A) $8.00 ea
GORDON & SMITH
Yo Yo 50/50 (0-4A) $8.00 ea.
O.J.'s
Street Juice (86A, rd/90) $6.50
Track Lapper $5.50
Clad (8 bushings) $3.50
E-Wrench $2.50
Grip Tape 10 W. Bx Only $250 foot
Precision Bearings $10/set of 8 (NMB)
Gold Bearings $14/set of 8
T-Shirt $9.95
Powell Varifies Santa Cruz
Tracker Indy Sims
Med
ZIP
STATE
COD ($1.75 extra) Check Money Order Visa Master Card
Card No.
HANDLING
Expiration date.
Accessories
U.S.A
$2.50
Canada Europe
$4.00
$4.00 $5.00
None
Signature
1 deck or 2 trucks or
$ 3.50
$6.00 $9.00
wheels or safety equip only Air
$7.00
None
Any 2 of above
Ex: 1 deck and 4 wheels
Ar
Complete Skateboard
(deck, trucks & wheels)
Ar
$4.50
$23.00
$10.00 None $38.00
$5.50 $15.00 $18.00
$13.00 None $50.00
Phone No.
Subtotal $
Handling.
COD
Total