Big board vs little board, when to transition

When to buy a modern downhill race deck
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0:00 - Intro
0:13 - Big board benefits
0:53 - Big board downsides
1:38 - Disclaimer!
2:12 - When to go for a narrow board
3:33 - Advice for smol riders
4:33 - Summary
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[@downhill254skate]

There are more details ofc when it comes to choosing between the two, but I think this general info should suffice for most people. For more info, check the comments or join some forums and discuss amongst your longboarding peers. I wanted to make this video more entertaining by including a friend, riding both boards during a session and giving our opinion towards the end. But I'm pretty broke off rn, but will be getting back on the horse soon. i have some promising ideas for videos so will update y'all soon on them.

[@bennyb.1742]

For me, the little board is a HUGE adjustment. Being pro 15+ years ago back in the days of Evos and Demonseeds ect., we had to put a lot of effort into those boards to make them handle. They understeered like pigs and really slid around like snowboards on their wide (170-180, even 205!) trucks. The adjustment to modern setups has been literal pain lol. The performance is just SO high compared to the old school. The lines they take and grip they have is simply unbelievable to me, but mistakes are brutally punished in comparison. It's like going from a big, fast sedan and jumping into an F1 car. It's awesome but kind of overwhelming too. My advice would be to definitely not jump onto one too soon if you're new. It's just like surfing! Sure you could start out on a tiny pro spec board, but it will probably be a big hinderance to you for a long time vs. getting really good on a chill setup and then switching.

[@pbskater3]

I'm coming from a similar background! I was into going really fast and racing 10-14 years ago and took a long break. Back then, my setup was considered as kind of crazy by a lot of people. I rode a chopped topmount w/ a 22" wheelbase. Still rode normal (180mm) trucks and wheels though. I think I'm a great candidate for one of these modern race setups now. 10 years ago the gear was good, I still went fast, but with today's stuff I can get that response I wanted without the negatives. I think once I get my feet under my board a bit more this summer I might go for it and get a modern little setup.

[@bennyb.1742]

@@pbskater3 you hit a good point! I fuck up in backsides a lot because the big old rigs needed huge lean angle on the toe side. On a little board, instinctively reaching really far away from the rail just makes me oversteer and die lol.

[@ThaneMonsters]

Understeer somes from rubbish trucks chattering and not dealing with the grip.

[@bennyb.1742]

@@ThaneMonsters they sure were! 176mm, sphericals in both pivots, 0 rake and 10mm titanium axles, actually the first billet DH trucks ever as far as I'm aware. Combine that with deeply dropped decks like Evos and wheels that honked like a goose and it was pretty hilarious compared to now.

[@prod.bronze]

feels like you are holding down this downhill niche on KZbin by yourself. Thank you for doing that, love your content.

[@codenamedav]

i agree that riding different setups is MIND EXPANDING!!!! i have a mini frog (9"wide / 25" wheelbase / 45/35 bear 180mm) and a drop through 10" wide / 29" wheelbase 50/40 155mm) and have been swapping purple kevin reimers and 69mm snakes back and forth between the two. every ride reveals different qualities and changes the way i attack the hill. loving the flow and the technical aspects of lonboarding!!!

[@tomcampbell343]

We all used to ride big boat boards for downhill for years and they were perfectly good. The small board is just the premium for aggressive dh

[@ThaneMonsters]

I feel like everyone got bricked on big setups non stop.

[@AroniDeliquint]

Ngl, I def have an easier time riding my smol boards. Mostly for dh ofcourse and not fr. Def feel like it's upgrade from the bigger boards esp with wider wheels. But bigger def still have their place

[@flurpoid]

I feel like the larger setups communicate their grip limits better than the slalom style setups I've used. Like if I'm gripping a tight turn, the larger wheelbase tends to provide more feedback when I approach that grip limit, and I can react accordingly.

[@ThaneMonsters]

@@flurpoid it's the same with small board your just have more grip so worst case you just go around the corner rather then getting shot out the back like the old days.

[@Illiterate_man]

This channel is so good

[@christophehardy2085]

Interesting.thjanks a lot

[@johnnylonergan929]

great to get the comparison because as a NEWB picking the next step is not always easy, hence inured from incorrect tool for the job atm

[@ThaneMonsters]

Good video

[@num_4881]

It's not just about board itself, it's more about about setup philosophy. You get board with big wheelbase for unstable symmetric trucks because bigger wheelbase equals bigger stability. If you ride stable trucks, you don't need that. Moreover you can load wheels more symmetrically when you turn and get more grip because of that (because of narrower hanger and wheelbase). If you setup chopped symmetric cast trucks with small wheelbase DH board, most likely you will catch nasty wobbles at good speed. The steering at lower speeds will be good though. Another thing is amount of lean. Longer wheelbase means more lean. Maybe you want that or maybe you don't. Solely up to the rider. My locals always talk about huge amounts of lean as something really good. I tend to disagree. I think amount of lean can be a good discussion topic. Could be just like a mouse sensitivity though, idk :) You can ride something like 27" and then 20" wheelbase with rogue precision trucks and test that out. P.S.: By "lean" I mean lean-to-turn ratio.

[@flurpoid]

I like a fair bit of lean because it can help load up the uphill rail during a slide without steering too much, but it can't be a floppy lean. Too much turn makes my style feel snappy and rushed.

[@num_4881]

@@flurpoid I totaly get what you talking about. But when people set up 45/15 valks with 25" base it seems a bit over the top ) It feels like I must go at least 40+ mph to slide that thing comfortably.

[@evantoon7859]

good video brother

[@artsbymus3mbi]

Personally I think the narrower/smaller setup would be comfortable for me because I am on the shorter side of height, I struggle with longer setups. You’re actually right!

[@dougdee173]

I want my mind to expand! so funny! ! Thank you for that. And agreed with narrow: big board feels great - small board feels great. I think you mentioned a really important aspect which is Foot size and board width. If you have an 8-9 US foot, an 8" deck can work really well. I have a size 12 US foot and realize I just need a wider deck; like 9.8 - 10". Thank you for being such an anchor in this sport's community! I wish we could ride sometime. (the ocean separates us!)

[@pbskater3]

Thanks for the explanation, Abuga. I think I've been convinced. I always wanted a responsive board that was still stable and slid smoothly. 10-15 years ago, this meant something else entirely, so I'm excited to see what modern stuff can do! Which of the precision you've ridden turn the least (like leany and stable Calibers)? I definitely prefer to be able to lean out some more than to have a truck that dives quick (like Paris). I was a huge fan of Randal 42s and Aera K3s on 46* back then.

[@AroniDeliquint]

You're going to enjoy valkyrie voxters then. The Mk3, were very leany and not crazy turny

[@anjinsanx44]

My long board is a pintail 34in. With 72mm but wheel Base or trucks r very very wide goes fast but i cant do Slides so can b dangerous Whiped out a few times

[@hofmann_25]

Great video idea. Wonder where you got the idea for this?.... You could go into a bit more depth on what the feel of the wheelbase does (which is the main difference in the sizes of boards you show) rather than the setups on these two boards.

[@AroniDeliquint]

Setup does play a part in the differences not just wb. A massive part in making either board rideable and enjoyable. But I think wheelbase is fairly straightforward. Responsive vs stability etc.

[@TheSilverblade41]

Or just send it on the big setup and keep up with the racey bois by getting that dialed in

[@eBoard3R]

🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼