Gear for Slide Arc-itecture
Boards and gear for street longboard stand up slides
Project Date: December 2001
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Gravity 46" Classic Carve
The board I used for Slide Arc-itecture is a 46" Classic Carve, made by Gravity boards. At 7.5 lbs, it feels pretty heavy when the slide starts, but will glide through it well.
Shorter practice board
In preparing the slide project I used a Gravity Jeff Budro 40" model as a practice board. This is a method I recommend throughout the site, using shorter boards to practice tricks ultimately designed for bigger boards. The Budro 40 is about 6 lbs. They have discontinued it, but currently Gravity offers a similar 40" pro model.
I use the short longboard more to practice slides and other tricks that I haven't perfected. It is very light and easy to throw into a slide. It's not surfy at all. It's a little small and light for the feel I was going for. I recommend the 40" size to anyone trying to work up to sliding a longboard.
Trucks and wheels
The trucks are stock, Tracker B-2s. Wheels are smaller and harder than stock, for an easier break into a slide and for a lower center of gravity. I used black Gravity 62mm Snaps, 97a duro. They are very high quality wheels. They have not worn out or developed flat spots after thousands of slides over the past year. Bearings are stock Abecs.
Traction paper and grip tape
I put grip paper on the whole board. Stock board had lots of tape, but some bare strips. I put the extra tape on in a strip up the middle, for complete coverage of the board.
Shoes
Gravis Index model, charcoal
I used street skateboarding shoes by Gravis for the shoot. I also used a pair of Axion Kareems to practice.
Pads
This wasn't a park project so a full set of pads was not needed. I like to have at least one pad on when I skate, even just sliding.
Triple Eight Helping Hands padded gloves
World Wide Sports Triple Eight glovesSmith padded gloves
Triple Eight elbow pads
Blades home page Search for Triple Eight pads here.I used gloves in the Slide Arc-itecture project, but only for protection. I didn't drag hands to slide, as many downhillers do. Therefore, I do not have plastic or sliding pads on my gloves.
I was practicing with both the Smith and Triple Eight gloves. For the shoot, I used one Triple Eight and one Smith, for the odd pair look.
