ISSA - International Slalom Skateboarding Association

JG, I would be very interested in hearing your opinion regarding TS parallel slalom set-ups, techniques, wheels (on a good surface) etc. I have been practicing 25 cones set at 5.5 center/center riding a Roe BR with a Seismic in front and a TTC. I have tried numerous wheels and pumping techniques. So far I have achieved the best results by pumping side to side to gain speed then pumping forward once at speed. I can't seem to get that killer "Twitch" move that you and Vlad do so well. Choosing the right combo of wheels seems to be the biggest factor it this style of racing. A harder wheel is not always the fastest. With Cambria 82's all around, I averaged 10.371. With Cambria 82a in front and 86a back, I averaged 10.101. With green 62mm stradas all around, I averaged 10.086 and with a 88 strada in front and a 86 Cambria in back I averaged 9.956. (30'push to the first cone and 15' to the finish line after final cone)Tonight I will be testing LaCosta 90's and Abec 88/92's. Look forward to reading your opinions.

Parallel practice reminds me of doing wind sprints during high school football practice.

Tway, John will probably tell you something like "get some bennets and a narrow FibreFlex" or some other foolishness for Tight parallel. Do not believe him. Run your BR and your Seismic TTC combo and leave the bennets on the mantle. John sometimes gets stuck in the 70's. (though in all fairness he is a test pilot for the new G.E.T trucks). I would run 92 orange stradas all round if the surface was super and 92 /88 stradas in its good to fair. BTW John will still cream all of us on this type of course even if he was riding bennets. TK

see tway I told you the little G&S warptail with the bennets would be a good thing for that.....

I agree with TK though...JG will cream all of out asses...combined in some regards.

(ur13)

JG will be here tonight so I got out the old Fibreflex 24" with Bennett Pros. I look forward to seeing what times <i>that 70's guy</i> will post. I imagine a 7.999 is within his grasp. UR13, if you're around, come and join the fun.
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IMHO I do think that some attempt should be made to optimize your deck trucks and wheels for a particular course.

In a tight straight course there is really no need for a wider truck since traction is no nearly as important as maintaining a tight line close to the cones.

In Tight straight cones with limited push acceleration is really important and a quick twitch truck like a Bennet or Midtrack is will to get the deck going when time is mounting so quickly in the early gates.
Stability isn't an issue with a straight course that is relatively flat either. Decks should also be narrower as well as the wheels used. Stradas would be a better choice than a wider wheel. The New Cambrias also would be a good choice. As the surface improves (ie more traction- smoother) a harder wheel like a wheel made for racing quad roller skates would also be a good choice. Boards for tight slalom under 6.5 feet should be narrower and shorter.

JG, thanks for the info. Much to my amazement, I posted some of my fastest times last night riding your old S-Camber set up with Mids. I was running 92 Stingers in front and 86 Cambrias in back. I was nearly .2 faster than all previous attempts on many different boards and set-ups.

The only problem with the S-Camber is it needs re-gripped. Footing can be a problem with 10 year old tape.

Don't be surprised the S-Camber with Tracker mids gives you the best times. I knew that all along.

The twitch is important. I've found that you either have it or you don't... Sometimes people,as they get older, simply lose their fast twitch muscles. And that will affect you ability to rocket through the cones. On good boards, you have to punch them to get 'em going.

I think if you do put in the practice time- you will improve your time and even get some "fast twitch" out of it. In Karate most people have to learn to develop their speed. IMHO some people who you would never expect to be fast- are in fact fast- because they have developed some quick response. Some of getting fast is just training properly and not over training. As for the S-camber being the quickest deck -I found that the Jani Soderhall Model S- Camber is the fastest thing through gates less than 6 feet on center- particularly amazing is the traction on what most would consider "unmakeable" offsets. The deck you have is for lighter riders- you would probably pick up a few tenths on a stiffer s-camber. In order to make the S-camber perform to its maximum it must be ridden by a Swede.

My friend Gilmour is right.. You CAN get faster with age. I don't know when the axe will fall, but sometime in one's 40's the end to increasing speed must arrive...

Awaiting my turn,

--PD

When running a short TS course that is tight- acceleration is the most important thing..... not top end speed. So a short wheelbase board with about 3 inch hangers will give you the quickest time through the first 5 cones.

A hard wheel in front is absolutely necessary. You won't be needing much traction from the front wheels for a TS straight slalom with 5.5 foot on center cones so ramp up the front hardness- but be careful not to make the rear wheel duros too high or you will slide out when trying to gather speed in the first few cones. Figure about 5-8 duro points spread front to rear.

Also if the surface is not perfect, be careful not to go too hard in durometer....or its like trying to run steel wheels over cobblestone...slow.

5.5 feet on center is pretty tight for a USA race... we had to extend it for Boston. I'll be interested in seeing how many people make it.

Gentlemen...Clean your bearings.