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Surfskate Customs: 7 Powerful Reasons to Mod Your Setup and Find Your Own Personalised Ride
Surfskate customs aren’t to be shied away from. If you’ve been riding for a while and feel like you’ve hit a plateau, it might be time to consider customising your setup. While stock boards are excellent for beginners and those who just want a sled straight out of the box, tailoring your surfskate to your style and preferences can unlock new levels of performance and enjoyment. I’m Tez Plavenieks and in this article, I’ll share seven compelling reasons to personalise your surfskate and up your riding performance.
Table of Contents
1. Enhance Your Surfskate Performance with Carver CX Trucks
Carver CX trucks are renowned for their versatility and performance. Their reverse kingpin design offers a snappy, responsive feel, making them ideal for riders seeking a dynamic surfing experience on land. CX trucks are great for hybrid surfskating.
Carver CX + C2 6.5″ surf skate trucks (pair)
Original price was: £120.00.£110.00Current price is: £110.00.
Unlike the dual-axis C7 trucks, the CX provides a tighter, more controlled ride, perfect for sharp turns and quick manoeuvres. This design allows for radical carving and tight turns, enabling riders to replicate the quick response of a thruster surfboard. And they’re fully customisable by swapping out bushings.
2. Achieve Superior Grip with OJ Thunder Juice 75mm Wheels
When it comes to wheels, the OJ Thunder Juice 75mm 78a wheels are a game-changer for me. Their large diameter and soft durometer provide exceptional grip and a smooth ride, even on rough surfaces. As well as high roll speed and a flowing nature.
OJ Wheels Thunder Juice 75mm skateboard wheels
£44.95
These wheels offer unmatched momentum. And yet, they work great in skate parks as well! Delivering top speed, grip and flow. You may hear that big wheels aren’t for transition riding. But that’d be wrong. Thunder Juice wheels are super good in these scenarios, I can absolutely confirm!
3. Tailor Your Ride to Your Weight and Style
Stock bushings may not suit every rider’s weight or riding style. For instance, the standard 89a bushings on Carver CX trucks might feel too stiff for lighter riders.
By swapping them out for softer options, such as RipTide bushings available in various durometers, you can achieve a more responsive and comfortable ride. There’s no end to what you can achieve the feel you can end up with.
4. Improve Stability and Control
Customising your setup allows you to enhance stability and control, especially during high-speed rides or complex manoeuvres. Adjusting the tightness of your trucks or experimenting with different bushing combinations can significantly impact your board’s responsiveness and stability. For example, using harder bushings in the rear truck can provide more stability, while softer bushings in the front can enhance manoeuvrability.
Waterborne Skateboards TKP transition trucks per pair (150mm width)
£35.00
Likewise, as I’ve done, you could pair your front surfskate truck with a standard kingpin in the rear. This adds yet more stability and allows for more control when aiming for coping grinds, switch riding or even ollies. You lose only a degree of carving agility, which with technique you can overcome easily anyway.
5. Extend the Lifespan of Your Components
Regular maintenance and upgrades can prolong the life of your surfskate components. Replacing worn-out bushings, pivot cups, and wheels not only improves performance but also prevents potential damage to your board. For instance, upgrading to high-quality pivot cups can eliminate squeaking and enhance the overall feel of your ride.
Waterborne Skateboards black chrome high velocity bearings
£18.00
And don’t forget your bearings! Which also make a huge difference…
6. Adapt to Different Terrains and Conditions – consider your deck too.
Customising your setup enables you to adapt your surfskate to various terrains and conditions. Whether you’re cruising along streets, tackling pump tracks, or carving in skateparks, adjusting your trucks and wheels can optimise your performance.
For example, skateboard decks that aren’t necessarily designed with surfskating in mind can work well for things like bowl riding. Shorter wheelbase decks are often said to not hold much benefit for surfskating. When actually this isn’t true. I personally favour shorter decks, shorter wheelbases and high concaves you find with some modern egg-shaped decks. These can provide additional agility and whip. Also, with a standard kingpin truck on the rear (as mentioned above), shorter decks become more manageable for surfskating.
7. Personalise Your Aesthetic
Beyond performance, customising your surfskate allows you to express your personal style. From deck graphics to wheel colours, tailoring your board’s appearance can make it uniquely yours. This personal touch not only enhances your connection to your board but also makes your surfskate stand out.
Final Thoughts
Customising your surfskate setup is a rewarding process that can significantly enhance your riding experience. By focusing on key components like trucks (including truck configuration) wheels, deck types and bushings, you can achieve a ride that perfectly suits your style, preferences and most ridden terrain. Remember, the journey to the perfect setup involves experimentation and adjustments, but the payoff is a more enjoyable and personalised surfskating experience.
Ready to take your surfskating to the next level? Explore a wide range of customisation options in our online shop here. Or visit our sister website, surfskateboard.shop, and start building your ideal setup today.