PRODUCT
PATROL
Companies sometimes take a dif-
ferent idea and make it into reality.
It happened with conical wheels and
concave boards, and eventually it
had to happen to the lamination pro-
cess. Powell-Peralta has altered the
laminate process to make boards
lighter, yet still durable. Lately they've
been toying with a new concept
called Bonite.Bonite is quite a step
away from the standard wooden
board. The first Bonite, the XL com-
pound, was a blend of poplar and
maple woods thinly laminated into a
more flexible and impact-resistant
deck. Powell-Peralta has now
redesigned the original Bonite for-
mula in the new XT (Extra Tough)
series, leaving out the poplar wood
and using 100% maple for a rock-
solid, light-weight board.
The board we received for review
this month was the Mini Bonite, Steve
Caballero which we set up with the
new Independent 149's and
Slimeball 92A's. This mini-Cab is an
excellent deck made for the smaller
skater. It is both light and flexible, with
the same shape as the bigger one,
only reduced a little all the way
around. Bonite does not claim to be
indestructable, and can chip or break
just like any other board. It is simply
a lamination process that Powell-
Peralta thinks may be the "state of
the art" in a few years, Bonite decks
tend to cost a little more, but for some
it may be worth it. The only thing that
bothered us about the shape of the
mini is the fact that it is very thin in
the hip area. It has a smooth concave
with no routed wheel wells, a slight
upturned nose, and a comfortable tail
angle and width makes this a tight
little shape. The board measures at
29" long, 9%4" wide, 3" of nose and
a 6%4" tail. The deck also has a 14½"
wheel base for maximum stability.
Look at it this way, it is a new idea
and whether you like it or not it may
be here for quite a while. Check it out
for yourself or ask the people at your
skate shop what they think and what
they have heard and most important-
ly what they know. Or contact Powell
Peralta, 501 East Gutierrez St., San-
ta Barbara, CA 93103.
On the underside of the board we
have the newest from Independent,
the 149. In between the 159 and 131,
they're designed exclusively for the
new mini board market. They have
the same quality that has been the
trademark of Independent for years,
as well as the new Stage 5 hollow
body hanger design. Companies
realize that in order to secure the
market in the future, they must make i
products for tomorrow's market, the
kids. The kids don't want to ride the
big and bulky stuff they get from their
big brother. They want custom parts
for the way they ride and the size they
are. The 159's and 149's look very
similar, so make sure your local
shopkeep has sold you the right size
before you pull or send cash.
Independent, PO Box 1127, Capitola,
CA 95010
The rollers this month are the very
popular Slimeballs 92A's. Slimeballs
92A's are good street or ramp wheels
because they are tall and wide, mak-
ing coping slides easier and curb
grinding smoother. As we have stated
before, they are reversible, center set,
and are a real 92. So you know what
you are getting. They are even a bet-
ter deal than most wheels because
you get more urethane and that i
means longer riding. These wheels
slide well and wear evenly if rotated
properly. The higher durometer
Slimeballs sometimes have a pro-
blem with the bearing seat being
even (parallel), so make sure you get
the bearings in solidly before you ride
them, or they won't roll as well. (A
note to manufacturers: In the future,
please don't send one wheel. How
can we review one wheel?) Thanx!
And how about some of those Cruzer
wheels.
HOSOI KNOWS
106
SuperCush
Suspension
To order direct, send $2.00 per package to:
SUPERCUSH, PO. Box 884234, S.F., CA 94188.
Specify Soft, Firm or Extra Firm formula:
Each package contains 2 bushings.
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POWELL PERALTA
501 E. Gutierrez Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103 (805) 963-0416
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