PRODUCT PATROL
30 THRASHER MAGAZINE
If you think there are a lot of
bunk products around nowa-
days, you should take a look
at one of the old Skate-
boarder mags circa 1978. It
will give you a good idea of
how everyone was trying to
cash in on this new skate-
board craze. While the prod-
ucts advertised were many
and varied everything from
Alligators and Wizard wheels
to Gordo boards-the quality
was at an all-time low. Now
we have time-tested prod-
ucts. I get a kick out of the
old days, but when I think of
the stuff that I paid my paper
route money for, I could
almost cry. The old products
were dinosaurs that gave
way to the cavemen, who in
turn made up the "big
names." Those who do not
accept the past are con-
demned to repeat it. Think
about it.
Gator
Wade Speyer
Dogtown Skateboards, P.O. Box 880787, San
Francisco, CA 94188
Dogtown is developing some new shapes
for 1991. The Wade Speyer deck is much
smoother and more satisfying for the
wide variety of skaters out there. The
Speyer is functional. Like most Dogtown
decks, it has a smooth concave and a
clean cut. Wade is known to be a no-
nonsense guy, and this is definitely a
no-nonsense board. For all you lip gods
out there, the specs are: 32" by 10" with
a 5.5" or 5" nose and a 6.75" tail that
gives you your money's worth.
Vision, 1395 Lyon St., Santa Ana, CA 92705
BOD
BOYLE
One company that's always looking to make a top quality prod-
uct is Vision. I received the new Gator model and my first
impression was "plain," but when I rode it, it felt smooth and
comfortable. The Gator deck features the Vision Lite wood that
gives it a slight flex and less weight for easier control. This
shape is definitely one for all terrains, which is always a good
feature. It has a comfortable nose and the wood does not have
any strange bends or cuts in it. The deck is 32.5" by 10" wide,
with 6.5" nose and 6.75" tail that is exceptional for ollies.
Check out this cue, it could be the one for you.
Bod Boyle
Santa Cruz Skate-
boards, 4401 Soquel
Dr., Soquel, CA 95073
SPEYER
WADE
My burly buddy Bod Boyle's deck just
came my way from N.H.S. It features the
Cruz Missile II Concave that provides max-
imum board control. Santa Cruz sticks to
the classic shapes, blunt noses and even-
tapered tails. This board is a little on the
heavy side, but it provides an excellent
ride. It is 32" long, 10" wide, with either a
5.5" or 6" nose and a 6.5" tail. When
you're at your skate shop checking out this
puppy, look for the Goodman and the
Youssefpour decks, also from Santa Cruz.
Rhino
Rhino Skateboards, 143 John Fitch Highway,
Fitchburg, MA 01420
Another new deck company is Rhino
Skateboards. They sent me one
extreme cue. This concave is serious;
when I first stood on it, I felt as if I was
in a bathtub. It has a blunt nose and
tapers back to a whopper of a tail.
While most companies are now pro-
ducing clean rounded shapes, this is
quite fish-shaped and square. The
specks on this big machine are:
32.75" long by 10.75" wide, with either
a 6" or 5.5" nose and an intense 7.25"
tri-tail. If you're a big guy looking for a
big board, check out Rhino.
San Diego
Trucking and
Supply Trucks
San Diego Trucking & Supply.
180 Mace St., C-17, Chula Vista,
CA 92011
A new company with a good
product is San Diego Trucking &
Supply. Though they look like
G&S trucks, they are not. Henry
Hester is at the helm, working on
making this company a winner.
This truck is definitely high class.
They are 158mm and come with
an all-steel hanger and a nylon
baseplate. They lay a ripping
grind and turn fairly quick. They
come in many colors, but the
most sensational is the chrome
plated that gives a real polished
look. If you're looking for a high
class truck, look to San Diego
Trucking Supply. If the price is
right, the truck is light.
Mecatron Trucks
Mecatron of America, P.O. Box
64127, VA Beach, VA 23464
Trucks come in many shapes
and sizes but none as strange as
Mecatron Trucks. This shape is
really wacky, it has a kingpin on
the opposite side of the truck
and an axle that does not contin-
ue all the way through. The
hanger has hollow body con-
struction and hides the upper
bushing, I found the truck unre-
sponsive as well as uncomfort-
able. While they remind me a lot
of Variflex trucks, this is another
attempt by some "Johnny come
lately" to make some quick cash.
The best thing about these
trucks is the bushings. Though
they were not my cup of tea, they
did provide me with one thing,
and that was a little chuckle. But,
hey, check them out yourself-
maybe they're for you.
Well, the purpose of this column is to
keep you informed and I hope I can
help all the skaters in the world find
the right parts and ward off all the
evil spells that await the over-eager
buyer. My mama told me, "Ya betta
shop around." Next month some new
Ettnies shoes as well as the Enigma
series from Airwalk and, finally, the
long-awaited Venture V-8 Truck.
Write Jake Phelps, c/o Thrasher, P.O.
Box 884570, San Francisco, CA
94188-4570.
-Jake Phelps
TSROB
THER
PAWNS OF THE
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yours from page 96
31