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anyone know a good, cheap slalom truck?

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 3:07 am
by Luke Hickling
my friend has a deck that would be great for slalom. neither he or i have ever really done it before, but both wanna try. what would be a cheap, fairly beginner, good slalom truck? and what do u think would be the best wheelS? thanks, luke

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 3:12 am
by Wesley Tucker
Luke,

The Tracker RT-S/X front and rear trucks are solid performers. Costs run about $20 each.
The Bennett Truk is back on the market and it's also very good for slalom. It runs around $27.50 each.

The best all around slalom wheel for just getting started in the 3DM Avalon. Try either a 80A duro or 86A. These wheels are good for everything: tight, hybrid and giant slalom.

You will find as you practice and race each of these items may not perform as well as some of the more expensive, custom stuff out there. I guarantee you, though, if you buy som Trackers or Bennetts with some Avalons, you'll make courses set to any specification.

Now. getting faster and more competitive? That comes with time, experience and listening to others a lot fast and a lot more competitive.

It's fun. Glad to see you giving it a try.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 4:12 am
by Steve Collins
Luke,

I agree with Wes on the trucks. Those are pretty much the only inexpensive trucks out there. Get them.

I disagree on the wheels. Avalons are not beginner wheels. Get ZigZags, HotSpots or Manx. They do everything Avalons do but without the fussiness.

All IMHO, of course.

Newbie wheels/truck , IMHO

Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 3:50 am
by Eric Brammer
Not to confuse this topic, but...
Avalons and HotSpots are just fine, thank you.. Avalons, once you're pumping aggressively, may need a little 'trimming' of the front lip by 4-8 mm, easily done chucking the wheel to a drill, and using a bastard file. Or you can keep the wheels on a truck hanger, and use a disc or belt sander. Beware, though, that some vendors overtrim these but sell them 'trimmed' with large flat areas on the face of the wheel. Buy untrimmed Avalons, trim to suit "You" when you're ready.

Manx's however are to used with caution in the 80A or harder versions, They grip, but then 'let go' without any warning. I've been skating 33 years, without a head injury for 31 of those years, but one Bad lap on Manx's got me a number of stitches to my right temple. So, shall I infer that even experienced riders might want to pick their uses of manx wheels with care? Even so, my experience isn't representitive of that wheel's potential. Racers like Kenny Mollica have used Manx wheels to race with great success. Personally, i'd use only the softer (under 80A) durometers.

With trucks, the Tracker RTS is great as a rear truck, only needing the bushings dialed in, and once you're pumping hard/racing actively, an 8mm axle refit for better traction.
The Tracker RTX is a front truck designed to turn better than Indy's, even though it's close to that truck's specs (even can swap bases w/ an Indy). Best used with softer bushings.
Another great front truck now available is Bennett's Vector. Beware though that bushings may be hard to obtain in softer or harder durometers, though some Rollerskate truck bushings will swap out perfectly.

Decks, be sure to pick a board that's mostly wood (some fiberglass or Carbon fiber is good, too), as mostly-glass/foam or carbon/glass/foam decks won't deal with miscues or curb-bashes too well. Most of the companies out there offer both types of construction, and Pocket Pistols and Roe have great boards that are wood-cored that won't kill the piggy-bank, and offer great 'learning potential' without being obsolete within a season's practice.

There's a lot to sort through for a newer participant in Slalom Racing (as with any Racing, really), so don't just take one opinion, but rather get multiple feedback, and pick stuff that'll work with your budget. Once you know just how serious you're gonna be, well, Then go get 'the race gear', but ride other people's stuff where you can, just to sort out what FEELS BEST under Your Feet. What I ride might not fit or suit you. I say this as someone who's coached racers in Skateboarding and Snowboarding to international podium finishes. Take what you will from it.

trucks

Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 4:02 am
by Luke Hickling
thanks a lot everyone. where can i find the Tracker RT-S/X?

Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 10:45 pm
by Luke Melo
You can buy it here