Shaper's Presentation: The Whitetail FeralCat Park Surfer Skateboard (part 1)

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

I wasn't sure about this design as a concept. "A skateboard-inspired design needs a tapered tail for scooping!" said my internal voice. But then I tried it... The lesson is: Never doubt Sophie. She 100% knows what she is doing. This is going to be the first surfskate that I land rolling treflips on. It is so much fun. I just find myself grabbing it over any other choice recently.

[@whitetailskateboards]

@MarktheLandlockedSurfer To truly exceed the expectations of a selective, high-profile rider like you is ten times better than kind words, although they feel super good too. Since the Whaleshark fits you like Cinderella’s slipper, I wasn't sure that the FeralCat could ever be your choice over that Shark. I guess the fact that I test my ideas in real life by skating my prototypes and reshaping them until they feel exactly like what I had in mind beats any theory about shapes and design. The small size of my company allows me to be hands-on in the whole shaping process, and that’s an edge I wouldn’t trade for anything. I can’t wait to see those treflips, and I feel blessed that my FeralCat is taking part in this adventure. Thank you for beating the unbeaten paths of surfskating with us, Whitetailers. I can't wait to see the future of surfskating unfold under our feet!

[@concrete-waves]

Really cool to hear your thoughts about creating the shape. So much intention behind it 🔥

[@whitetailskateboards]

Thank you Billy, I am glad you liked it! Yes, I did put a lot of thought into it, as the idea of riding one of my dream decks and sharing it with the world is very motivating :D

[@75YBA]

Such an interesting well designed shape! Hope all is well Sophie!

[@whitetailskateboards]

Thank you, I’m stoked you like this new shape! I hope all is great on your end too !

[@AshbalGabriel]

Looks like an amazing board Sophie ! You rock 🤘🤩🤘

[@whitetailskateboards]

Thank you ! I'll be happy to let you try mine if we ever run into each other soon!

[@ValverdeLeov]

This looks great, it might be a good second board alongside the Whaleshark. Salut, Sophie!

[@whitetailskateboards]

Hey Leonardo, thanks for tuning in! It’s indeed an amazing complement to the Whaleshark! I couldn’t go without both of them :)

[@cosmicdevyt]

i LOVE where this board ended up but my only wish was if it came in different colorways. the other classic whitetail boards are just black and woodgrain which i love and i wish this were an option. i'm impatiently awaiting the video on what makes this board such a good surfskate board. it's seriously one of my future options for my eventual surfskate setup.

[@whitetailskateboards]

Thanks for your input! I hesitated a lot before choosing to add colour to this deck, and I did it because I've been asked by the community to do so. I like wood & black like the other Whitetail's too. I'll keep your comment in mind though :) If you want to see more of this board, Mark made a great review of it here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3TRY3l6prWHm7s

[@Quickrex]

I can see that you managed to cram a lot of attributes into the deck, probably making it a superb all round hybrid. I personally spend a lot of effort and money, to get the right board for my style of riding. I like traditional Popsicles, but as you mentioned they limits the extension of the wheelbase and doesn't feel right for carving and flow. Its here hybrids comes in, because they offer the best combinations for a more intuitive style of skating. I would think this board hits a lot of notes for someone starting and seasonally skater aswell. In my experience you cant go wrong buying a Hybrid deck, it is truly the best of all possible worlds. Would recommend a C5 truck and you are ready to hit the skatepark and you will thank Sofia later for saving your hard earned money. Almost forgot wheels. Dragons 🐉 are a good choice but sticky and on the slow, side of things. I would recommend OJ's elites 58mm 95a like surfing on silky-smooth none melted butter.

[@whitetailskateboards]

Hey Rex, it seems like you get the ideas behind this shape, thank you for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! You said it, it's an intuitive board, and from the feedback I got from the community, some advanced riders have been able to unlock tricks with it, which is also rewarding to know for the shaper :) I'll give a try to the OJ's you mentioned. I don't find the Dragons slow but I am always up for new things! Thanks again Rex!

[@duckchuck3833]

Hi - very interesting. Can you please elaborate on why it is a 'safe set up' ? Also, where is the best place to buy this deck, for international shipping (in asia)? Merci d avance!

[@whitetailskateboards]

Thanks for tuning in! There are several reasons why I feel safer on the FeralCat than on any other deck of its size. Let me highlight some of the key factors. First, its shape is designed to provide an optimal and well-balanced locked-in feeling at both feet. This is achieved through the width at the foot position, as well as the double rockers and concave features, which are not commonly found in most surfskate and old-school shapes. Furthermore, the FeralCat's small size, combined with wheelbase options of up to 17 inches with a rocker nose, is an impossible match without the Whitetail Remora. So it sets it apart from other brands. This configuration allows for the front foot to be securely locked in while still keeping the wheels in front of the foot. This design helps prevent jackknifing or tripping over when dropping in or exiting tricks, such as rail grinds. The front wheels make contact with the ground more quickly since they are positioned closer to the nose while the front foot remains secure behind. While it may be a bit challenging to explain without a demonstration, I hope the concept makes sense. Additionally, the weight distribution of the deck is well-balanced, which sets it apart from many surfskate and old-school shapes often designed out of nostalgia or aesthetics rather than functionality. If you need more details, don’t hesitate to contact me at [e-mail] There are 4 skateshops where you can get a Whitetail in Asia, you can check on the Store Locator on my website : jackalop.com/store-locator They don’t have the FeralCat in yet, but I ship Worldwide from my online store so I can ship it directly to you www.jackalop.com Thanks again for your question and don’t hesitate to contact me if you need anything!

[@mortheres]

Thanks for this inspiring video and welcome to the new Cat :). I have several questions about the FeralCat board: could it be a good fit for someone (like me) who is both a surfskate beginner and a skateboard beginner ? Which trucks and wheels size do you recommend for this deck ? My skateboard deck is a Cruzade Skateboards Origin 9''x 32.29'' (almost the same size as the FeralCat) but since I am a very tall guy (6.53 feet), I don't know if the FeralCat could be a good fit for me for both surfskate and skateboard (I usually ride the Carver Kai Kenny Dragon 34'' for surfskate). Maybe the wheel base options would help.

[@whitetailskateboards]

Thanks for tuning in and for taking the time to share your questions, it's a very interesting question! First, how do you like the two skates you mentioned, and what's the wheelbase on your Origin? The FeralCat has from 14 to 17 inches wheelbase, so that would be an inch shorter than your Carver, but you'd be at home with the double rocker. To be used as a hybrid, I bet the FeralCat could be an amazing fit for you if you like the two boards you mentioned. I am not sure it could completely replace your Carver Surfskate if you are taking advantage of its wider size and 18 inches wheelbase, but it might let your Cruzade collect dust, depending on how you setup your FeralCat :) My other smaller decks and popsicles have been collecting dust since I shaped the FeralCat, but I still use my 9.75 wide Sharks when I need a bigger board

[@mortheres]

@@whitetailskateboards Thanks a lot Sophie for your deep and clear answer. The wheelbase for the Origin popsicle is around 16,33'' (41.5 cm) and around 17,10'' (43,6 cm) axis to axis with ACE AF1 trucks. So the FeralCat's 17'' wheelbase would be just in the middle between the Origin and the Kai Kenny Dragon. I really like my Kai Kenny Dragon because of the larger deck and height of the CX trucks. It feels comfy and safe but sometimes a little bit "stiff" and hard to launch while pumping. I works great at the skateparks but since I am a beginner and not ready for bowl yet, I can't do so much at the skatepark with it. The Origin board feels great too. I have to re-adjust the feeling due to the smaller size but after a few minutes it goes well. I like the sensation of nimbleness due to the smaller deck but everytime I ride this board, I want to pump it like a surfskate and it's quite frustrating haha (surfskate forever :D). So that's why the FeralCat could be a great fit for me at the skateparks as I would be able to do tricks with this board. I don't plan to replace my Kai Kenny Dragon at all as I want to use it for my surfskate training on parkings and cruising with larger and softer wheels. I firmly believe that every boards have something to offer and learn from. Yes, my Origin deck may collects dust but maybe I would re-use it later for grinds (for example) when I will be a better rider. One last question for you Sophie: do you think that CX trucks with 65mm Surfskae Love wheels could be a good fit for the FeralCat ?

[@whitetailskateboards]

Thank you for the details, and I apologize for the delay. Based on your explanations, I now understand why the FeralCat caught your eye, and I can see how it would be a valuable addition to your quiver. At the park, I’ve often taken advantage of its versatility - it can be skated like a regular deck while also offering the benefits of pumping and delivering smooth, deep carves like a surfskate. I believe the FeralCat pairs well with Carver CX trucks. I've also tested it with Surfskate Love 65mm wheels, and it resulted in a very enjoyable and smooth ride. However, at times, the larger wheels felt a bit challenging for coping tricks as they tended to roll over instead of locking onto the coping. I switched to smaller Powell Peralta wheels, but I found myself occasionally missing the SSL wheels. The FeralCat is a compact and agile board, but its design provides a comfortable feel, almost like a larger deck - at least, that's been my experience with it. If you'd like to watch some videos I've created using the FeralCat on SSL wheels, please feel free to contact me on Messenger. I'd be happy to share them with you!

[@mortheres]

@@whitetailskateboardsThank you so much once again Sophie for your answer and no worry for the delay :)

[@user-gj1gd5pi1m]

what are the differences between FeralCat vs. TigerShark vs. WhaleShark? According to the spec sheets, FeralCat has a bit smaller, narrower shape, and less concave. what does it mean for skaters?

[@whitetailskateboards]

Hi! This is such a good question and I could talk about it for hours, but I’ll try to keep it concise :) The FeralCat can be seen as a hybrid, it is closer to a regular skateboard. The Sharks are bigger and belong to the surfskate realm. By being smaller with a little less concave, it’s more tricks oriented and nibble, super responsive and easy to manoeuvre. With a little less concave it’s easier to adjust the foot position while riding to prepare for a trick. The Sharks feel more locked in to help with surfskate moves. I wouldn’t trade my Sharks at the pump track, in big bowls and big transitions parks, but the FeralCat definitely took the place of my regular popsicle setups, who accumulate dust now. The FeralCat is complementary to the Sharks Series. I hope it helps, and don’t hesitate if I didn’t completely addressed your question, I’ll try my best to answer it