ISSA - International Slalom Skateboarding Association

I've always wanted a board with a foot block and I got one from Atilla. Here is a photo of the set up which I further customized by "cutting out" unnecessary material.

The foot block is on a single bolt held up off the deck by a 8mm bearing spacer. The foot block can swivel (with resistance) to accomidate foot placement on the board or comming off.

One thing to be careful of is long shoe laces that they do not "wrap" around the foot block when making an exit!

I use one occaisionally and I like it for reference. I think they are really good for push starts on TS courses.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: adam trahan on 2002-09-17 09:07 ]</font>

Great design, i want to make a foot block, what do u guys use? ( i dont have snow in here so i cant use any snowbaord stuff)

leo

I make a toe block from 3 layers of 1/4 marine ply, scraps form deck making.

Tim

I tried to copy Gary Fluit's design. Using Ground Wire terminals, and thick wire bent to the proper shape, for a foot stop. The front two screws holding the truck are used to hold the terminals.

I really like the foot stop idea. It's completely stopped the front foot from moving around. And in addition to that, it aids in slow/hard pumping, when I can actually push against it to pump the board.

Here is a picture of Gary Fluitt's toe stop on his Bottle Rocket that Dan Hughes is describing.
<img src="http://roeslalom.com/images/fluitttoestop.jpg">
Very functional, light-weight, easy to adjust, and has the added bonus of protecting you when skating in lightning storms!
Later
G-

Oh man, that thing looks scary, so scary.
Why don´t we just use snowboard bindings? I don´t know, I still do not like the idea, keep it simple, grip tape for everyone. It is just my personal opinion, I do not want to offend anyone: there should not be anything else on the top of a skateboard than black griptape and maybe some stickers....

No offense taken from me Chris but skateboarding is just not safe, it just isn't. As far as that goes, crossing the street isn't either. We can minimize risk by making sure our equipment is safe and that the surface we ride on is too. We can make it less hazardous but the safety level is a personal choice unless it is forced on us.

Foot blocks are personal choices. If you are using a foot block, there are two points to remember.

1. Stepping off the deck in a forward motion is restricted. Pay careful attention when making an exit in that direction.

2. Shoe laces need to be secured to prevent fouling in the block.

This is all that I can think of in the way of caveats for foot blocks. They are used and will be experimented with until they are outlawed. I truly believe in the future of skateboard slalom, decks will have more footblock or sculptured surfaces to increase knowledge of "reference" to the board.

Chris, I understand your point and I also understand why people use them.

Gareth, thanks for posting the picture. I think it looks like a cool design. I personally like the pivoting block design ala Atilla.

Best Regards to you all.

On 2003-03-06 03:27, Chris Eggers wrote:
Oh man, that thing looks scary, so scary.
Why don´t we just use snowboard bindings? I don´t know, I still do not like the idea, keep it simple, grip tape for everyone. It is just my personal opinion, I do not want to offend anyone: there should not be anything else on the top of a skateboard than black griptape and maybe some stickers....

Yes yes it is just my personal opinion, I do not want to outlaw footblocks or laugh at people who use them I just don´t like it. I stood on Attila´s board and fell right off. I am a mongo pusher too, so maybe that is the reason I cannot deal with them.

Chris-
I am a mongo pusher as well. It takes some getting used to, but a footblock has its definate advantages. Note: I still have not installed one on any of my decks yet - but plan to soon. I have ridden Michael Dong's Bullet with a very functional foot black made from a... well I will let Michael tell you what he is using!

There is definately an advantage to knowing exactly where your front foot is on the board, plus the added leverage you get from actually pushing against something mounted solid to the deck. Kind of like riding a bike with standard pedals and then using pedals that hold your shoes in! Hey - now there's an idea, step-in bindings!!
Cheers!
Gareth

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Gareth Roe on 2003-03-12 13:27 ]</font>

Adam I recently started using foot blocks on my boards,nothing fancy some L-wedges I bought at the hardware store. I really am able to pump my board alot harder and I know that my front foot is secure and is not going to slip. As far as you know are foot blocks legal in contest. Eddy TEXAS OUTLAW.

Eddy,

People have been using foot blocks for years and I've never heard anybody complain about; competitors or organizers.

Maybe when somebody starts using "binding like" things on their boards and prove that it really helps, people might start to worry and the discussion will be up. But for now all the models that people have come up with so far are accepted as far as I can tell.

Hey there.

Jani answers this one well.

Have fun with the footblock but be careful to make sure your laces are tucked. Remember that you are riding with a footblock when the time comes to bail, they can inhibit a forward exit.

But back to your original question, Jani nailed it.

Thanks for the response guys,and I will make sure those laces on my VANS are tied securely. Eddy Texas Outlaw.

I quite liked reading this topic, heres an idea. In the past i used to turn two of my front trucks bolts upside down so i could get extra purchase on the deck for big ollies, it works but wrecked your shoes. Anyway the other day i noticed when you do push it through cones yes your front foot does inch forwards. I just turned my bolts around and my foot was as snug as a bug, no movement and easy to run off the deck.

As a post note, i do remember a German company back in the early eighties who made ollie blocks, kind of a rubber wedge thing that fitted over the front truck bolts, ollie hammer or something like that.