Long-Time Skateboarder Reviews the YOW Meraki Surfskate

[@T-Minl]

The fact that you can kick flip and Ollie that high with the meraki is impressive. That added weight makes it a lot harder. I absolutely love my meraki and now I have two new goals with it.

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

No lie. I never thought I’d be doing ollies and kickflips on mine when I first got it due to the weight. I’m genuinely surprised at how my body has adapted to the weight over a few months of riding it. It’s definitely heavier and my regular skateboard it feels feather-light and easy to flip. Ollies and kickflips also feel more fun to me on a regular skateboard. But again, I think you adapt. Regular skateboards are definitely better for doing these kinds of tricks. The trade off is getting the fun flow, speed, and versatility that the Meraki offers.

[@T-Minl]

@@TheSurfskateboarder , it's the difference of bouncing a teeter totter off the ground and then trying to do the same thing but with someone sitting on the other side. When you do both forms of skating it makes you appreciate the differences between the two even more. Keep ripping I've been loving the content and keep bridging the gap between the two.

[@Digiphex]

I like my YOW Meraki better than my Carver when not cruising for long distances. It is easier to pump, turn and do tricks in small spaces and inside my 2 car garage on a rainy day.

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

So interesting. Do you have an S5? I hear this a lot. I find it way easier to cruise my Meraki S5 for longer distances than I can on my Carver CX with yellow 90a riptide bushings. I’m in the process of experimenting with firmer Carver CX bushings to see if that gives me more forward momentum

[@stageiiwappie950]

cool skating, and beautiful landscapes over there. cant wait to get into surf skate

[@nateross14]

I love the Meraki, it's my go to. For those more into carve cruising and LD riding, I can't recommend enough trying 85-90 mm wheels with the Meraki. They ride and roll so much better than 70's and are game changers for a certain type of rider. Hopefully larger wheels will catch on and we'll eventually see a market for some 85-90mm Surfskate love wheels!

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

I couldn’t agree more👊. Right tool for the job and I’m all for it. I have 80-100 mm wheels if I know I’m just rolling and not doing skateboard tricks and it’s a dream 🤘🏼

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

Do you have a favorite big wheel? Brand/durometer/name etc?

[@nateross14]

@@TheSurfskateboarder I really like Cal7 90mm wheels, they claim a 78a duro. I'm sure there are much better wheels out there, but I haven't tried any other ones. Got these and they were just fine for the riding I do. They are heavy, heavy wheels for sure but the weight feels nice maintaining more forward momentum. For kicks and grins, it would be cool to see you do some kick flips and other tricks with 90's. Might be kinda hard with the tail being so high off the ground. Not sure if you're up for that much suffering tho, haha.

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

@@nateross14 I’m in the process of exploring possibilities with wheels actually! I might try to kickflips 90mms. But I’d be more interested in seeing what else is possible. I literally got myself a set of ultra wide 75 mm Abec 11 centrax wheels so I can try to do massive grippy carves in ditches that would otherwise be impossible or really hard on smaller wheels. Right tool for the job kinda thing! Tons to be explored with bigger wheels 🤟🏼

[@audijlj]

Can such a diameter not cause "wheelbite"? I have a soulboardiy with meraki trucks and would like to test such big wheels.

[@eBoard3R]

*Ooo, a small distance cruiser* 🤟🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽🤟🏽

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

Yep! In LDP 10 miles is nothing. In skateboard land anything over a quarter miles is far 😂

[@championthewonderhorse9733]

Try any of that on the pavements and roads in England and you would give up after 50 yards and 1 minute...

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

I’ve heard those streets are rough. What wheels do you ride? Maybe some 78a caguamas could handle the chunky.

[@JPPBOX]

Great review - what wheels are you rocking for the LDP?

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

70mm SurfSkateLove! I think the 70mm are a nice size for the combo distance and skatepark riding. But if I really want to do just distance, I throw my beefy 85mm orangutan caguama wheels. They are not very nibble and they’re heavy, so they feel less “surfskate-ish”. But they carry speed so nice.

[@LucElferink]

Do you get wheelbite with the 70mm wheels?

[@janu2997]

I broke the bolt on the backtruck that connects the truck to the board and it snapped in a way that the bottom part of the bolt with the scree pattern is stuck solidly in there rendering my surfskate useless. Does anyone know a way to get it out of there without destroying the trucks?

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

Are you talking about one of the four mounting bolts that mount the truck to the board? Or the larger kingpin that holds the hanger and bushings to the baseplate?

[@janu2997]

@@TheSurfskateboarder The kingpin that holds the baseplate. I guess it got too loose and I didn't notice then I bumped up a small curb and was left riding on front wheels.

[@janu2997]

@@TheSurfskateboarder The kingpin

[@janu2997]

@@TheSurfskateboarder My comment has disappeared twice now for no reason so I hope this one goes through, It's the kingpin just snapped somehow

[@alexenz2412]

Nice video like always! Do a kickflip!-)

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

Thanks! I’ll do lots of kickflips 🎉🎉

[@LaggerSVK]

I find Carver CX a lot better for cruising and YOW Meraki for bowl and the whole surfskating is more closer to surf than with carver. I think YOW is too loose to generate a good. For higher speed pump the carver wins for me.

[@TheSurfskateboarder]

What bushings are you rocking on your carver? I’ve been on the yellow 90a and riptides and mine doesn’t feel nearly as fast as my Meraki.