point higher in durometer means a bigger
difference in performance. Just remember
that a 94A wheel will perform much differ-
ent than a 95A, so don't interchange them
when choosing. Once again, wheels up in
this range are for very smooth ramps and
pools.
One last thing on hardness. There is a
common fallacy that harder wheels always
go faster than softer wheels. In actuality,
the surface conditions and rebound of the
wheel are more important than the hard-
ness. To sum everything up, as a general
rule, pick the hardest wheel you can that
will still provide a reasonably smooth ride
and the traction you will need for the sur-
face you are riding on.
Your next question may be, "What size
wheel do I want?". To begin with, small
diameter wheels accelerate quicker but
have lower top speeds. Larger diameter
wheels are just the opposite. A 63-64mm
wheel gives the perfect mix of both speed.
and acceleration, so you may want to look
for something in this size. The smaller.
60mm wheels, that are popular today, tend
to be a little less stable, so you beginners
may want to try something a bit larger. The
advantage of these smaller wheels are
their quickness and lightness, allowing for
overall board weight to be reduced.
Width of wheels can also affect perfor-
mance. A narrow wheel will react quicker,
Bob Denike but it will have less traction. The exact op
posite is true for wider wheels. The width of
a wheel also goes hand in hand with how
big the radius is on its edge. The larger the
radius, the less you will catch on the riding
surface, but the narrower your riding sur-
face will be, again going back to how much
traction you want.
Another question you may have is, "Do I
need a core in my wheels?". Well, maybe I
can answer this by explaining what a core
does. First, the core lines the bearings up
so they spin truer. Second, the core makes
the wheel lighter in weight, and third, the
core assures that softer wheels stay on the
bearings. If you want a truer spinning wheel
or one that is lighter, get one with a core.
Also, if you purchase a wheel that is 82A or
under, get one with a core so you limit the
risk of pulling it off the bearings,
How about the question, "What color
should I get?"? Well, if you're not worried
about matching your overall color scheme,
get white or a light color. Darker colors tend
to be a bit slower.
A final question you may have is, "Do
center bearing wheels perform better?".
Not only do they perform better, they also
last a lot longer. The weight over a center
bearing wheel is more evenly distributed,
resulting in better performance and longer,
even wear.
The final decision you have to make is
figuring out what your needs are and what
wheel will satisfy these needs. Don't ride
what everyone else is riding. Ride what is
best for you. Take care and skate safe.
THE BURTON EXPERIENCE
HREY
BURTON
SNO
THE WHEEL THING
Too many times have I seen someone
buy a new set of wheels for all the wrong
reasons. Color seems to be a big deciding
factor as well as what is most popular
among the pro skaters seen in the
magazine. Don't do this to yourself! Buy a
set of wheels that will satisfy your needs,
not someone elses. This purchase can be
confusing and only after certain questions
can you begin to zero in on what you want.
The first question that you must ask is,
"Where will I be doing most of my riding?". If
you're in the street most of the time, get a
street wheel and vice versa for a ramp
wheel. Don't limit yourself by purchasing a
ramp wheel if only 10% of your actual skat-
ing is on ramps. This is the most important
question to ask yourself, so answer it hon-
estly.
The next question may be, "What is the
difference between a street and a ramp
wheel?". The answer is hardness of the
wheel, which is measured with a durometer
from a scale of about 78A to 100A. Street
wheels are 88A and under, where ramp
wheels are about 90A and above. A softer
wheel is needed in the streets to mush out
under the increased pressure. If you are
going to ride on the street and ramps, buy a
wheel that is at the center of hardness
scale (about 88A).
Now before I move on I have to mention
something about wheels that are 93A and
above. Once you get into this range, each
BACKSIDE BONELESS ONE OVER THE CHANNEL ON A WEIRDO Team Rider: Robb Björklund
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805 962-0283
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the world's leading Snowboard manufacturer. Send no money. ($0.) This one's on us.
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