PRODUCT
PATROL
by Jake Phelps
The most significant development in skating lately is the super advancement of board technology. Ten years ago you
could mass produce flat schlock and people would buy it. Nowadays the companies have to produce an excellent product
or they will be laughed out of the shop. When I look back at old columns and see the stuff I used to think was killer, I am
painfully reminded of how slow the evolution of the "double-tailed" skate has been. I know that even now many of the decks
flowed my way are not the "new" thing. I would like to take this time to show you some decks that I think are at the front
of today's high-tech movement, as well as some other stuff that came my direction.
MARK GONZALES
Blind Skates, 3848 Del Amo,
Unit 304, Torrance, CA 90503
Mark lost Vision and now
he is Blind. The original Vi-
sion pro has left the fold
and started his own deal, so
now he writes his own
paycheck. When the bigger
GONZALES
companies tend to exploit
today's riders it is not un-
common for some to say
"Why should I make money
for them when they treat me
like dirt?" This Blind deck
is one of the best on the
shelf. It features a pro-
gressive shape and an ex-
cellent nose kick to tail kick
concave. The noses get
longer while the wheelbase
stays the same. 324" long,
9%4" wide, with 54" of
nose, a 6½" tail and a 15%"
wheelbase-it isn't hard to
see where the future lies. I
liked this ride, and besides,
if it's good enough for the
Gonz, it's fine with me.
More from Blind later.
FLYAWAY HELMET
Airbourne, 7945 Dunbrook, Unit
E, San Diego, CA 92126
I think I've seen the flyaway
helmet before. Yes, as I recall
about two years ago I heard
that they were making them
again and I even patrolled it.
Well, Airbourne has reshaped
it and now this seabucket fits
as snug as a knit cap. Face it,
ProTecs are dull-everywhere
you go it's the same old bicy-
cle helmet mass hypnosis. If
you march to your own drum
maybe the Flyaway is right up
your alley. The Airbourne line
is wide and varied, so expect
more dope soon.
BUCK SMITH
Sims, 1295 S. Lyon St., Santa
Ana, CA 92705
I was reading my mail and
it seems that more than a
few of you out there agreed
with me about the new Sims
Snake not living up to its
legendary name. However,
the decks they are putting
out now are some of their
best ever. You dudes in
Florida know him as a
homegrown ripper. We know
him as Buck. Well, Buck did
his homework when he laid
down this cue. Nice cave,
big nose and a simple no
b.s. shape. The Smith
checks in at 32" long, 9¾"
wide, with 42" of nose, a
6%" tail and the stability of
a 15½" wheelbase. Like the
Nash and the Guiterrez, the
wood held up commendably
under some heavy impact.
AGGRO QT 1600
Tracker, P.O. Box 217, Cardiff, CA
92007
Tracker has a new futuristic
looking truck on the market
that is redesigned with all of the
extra metal eliminated. The
name is QT 1600, it is about the
size of the ever so popular 169
and it is one of the
lightest trucks on
the market. A
basic truck weighs
about 15 to 15%
ounces. This as-
sembly comes in
at 14. That dif
ference may make
you say big deal,
but all the parts
add up. Tracker
has experimented
with plastics and
magnesium, but
this truck is all
metal. Stability
and workmanship
are the Tracker.
trademarks. The
turn takes a little
while to master,
but the proof is in
the pudding.
THUMBHEAD
tail. In fact, it looks to be from the
same press. I think Lucero has
the right idea: His pros are
regular guys and the company is
small so that he is never out of
touch with the everyday skater
(you know, the guy the fat cats
have turned their backs on). The
numbers are as follows: 32½"
long, 10%" wide, with the 8-hole
truck pattern it ad-
justs to either 5" or
5½" nose, a long
6% tail and either
a 15" or 15%*
wheelbase. John, I
wish you luck.
BURLY CAPS
Robbie, RPO Box
31072, Halifax, Noval
Scotia,
Canada
B3K5T9
I have had a set of
Burly Caps for almost
six months and I have
never gotten around
to doing the ink. Well,
like the flyer says,
"Welcome to eter-
nity," they just don't
wear out. The caps fit
on my Rectors like a
dream and once they
got broken in, they
made my pads last
and last. The cost is $12.00
Canadian and they are well worth it.
Vision, 1395 S. Lyon St., Santa Thanks, Greg, send me some more.
Ana, CA 92705
John Lucero has been around
more companies than most peo-
ple have fingers. Well, he has
settled down under the wing of
Vision and I think he finally.
got it right. The Lucero Thumb-
head is a slab to grab. The con-
cave is similar to the Sims in that
it is well tapered from nose to
Update on Speed Wheels: Street
Razors are now in a killer 63mm
shape. Same popular 92, 95 and 97
durometers. The Street Razor cuts
where others fall behind.
Thanks for your support. Keep those
cards and letters coming. Jake
Phelps, c/o Thrasher, P.O. Box
884570, SF, CA 94188-4570.
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