Longboard Decks

New Alternative Longboard Decks for 2019: Lombardi PRO, La Barou and La Barouquette

Three New Alternative Longboards Decks for 2019

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With a fresh take on longboarding, Alternative Longboards 2019 lineup features three new pro-models including Lombardi PRO by a two-time Red Bull No Paws Down winner Patrick L. Lombardi and two trendy speedboards, La Barou and La Barouquette designed together with their French team rider Lillian Barou specifically for narrow trucks.

Improved construction and sidewall protection

All decks now include an improved construction featuring more responsive flex and a new sidewalls integration to make the decks last longer.

Until this year, Alternative only used the sidewalls protection on their dancing decks but this year almost all of their downhill decks have it as well. The only two decks that are an exception are La Barou and La Barouquette.

Other than that, the new changes include higher kicktails for better pop, slightly stronger concave and the new graphics made by a polish artist Tomasz Leśniak.

Finally a pro model deck by Patrick L. Lombardi

In July 2018, Alternative Longboards welcomed to their team one of the best riders in the world, a two-time Red Bull No Paws Down champion Patrick L. Lombardi and developed a longboard deck according to his specifications.

Related: Alternative Longboard’s Patrick L. Lombardi wins Red Bull No Paws Down 2018

Unfortunately, in September last year, Patrick had a bad accident and had to undertake surgery which set him off the 2019 season. He is expected to recover and get back on his board only after this year’s season. In the meantime, his deck will have to be promoted by other Alternative team riders.

Lombardi PRO deck features

The Lombardi PRO longboard deck for downhill and freeride features a wider platform to accommodate riders with bigger feet sizes. It measures 25cm (9.84”) in width and 93.4cm (36.77”) in length, including the kicktail and a slightly upward curved nose. Next to the Fantail, one of Alternative’s most popular decks, it is the most versatile deck in the line up right now.

The Lombardi PRO deck boasts a symmetrical stiff platform and a features 8 mm (0.31”) micro drop, 2 mm (0.07”) rocker and a mild 12.23 mm (0.48”) concave.

The price for the Lombardi PRO decks is 190,00 Euros via Alternative Longboards website.

La Barou & La Barouquette for narrow trucks

Recently many downhill skateboarders started skating on narrow trucks and a shorter wheelbase. Alternative team rider from France Lillian Barou is one of them. Following the rising trend, Alternative released two new additional longboard decks built according to Lillian’s specifications; La Barouquette and La Barou.

Both decks feature a beautiful wooden finish which makes them stand out in Alternative’s 2019 lineup. The La Barou and La Barouquette both have an 8 mm (0.31″) rocker, 12 mm (0.47″) radial concave and measure 22.77 cm (8.89″) in width while offering adjustable wheelbase ranging from 50.85 cm – 60.2 cm (20.02″ – 23.7″).

The biggest difference between the decks is that La Barou has a fully functional kicktail and measures 91 cm (35.83″) in length while the La Barouquette features a fishtail design and is 77.47 cm (30.5″) long.

The price for both is 190,00 Euros.

Check out all Alternative Longboards 2019 decks via their official website.

Icone Attacks Longboard Deck

Icone attacks with the new Icone Attacks!

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Icone Longboards introduced their new Icone Attacks longboard, a downhill and freeride deck, adapted to fit the needs of riders with smaller feet, which is also easy to stow when traveling thanks to its compact size.

Mostly downhill decks are designed for bigger sized feet, the main reason for it is probably that men outnumber women in the sport of downhill skateboarding. Being a skater with smaller feet, I learned how to deal with wide boards over the years. But as my riding got better and faster, I wanted to know what it feels like to have a narrower shape under my feet.

So of course, the first thing I tried was to cut the sides of one of my old decks to make it narrower. The result was a true eye-opener. I felt a lot more comfortable doing fast changes between toeside and heelside slides on technical roads which helped me improve my skills a lot.

Seeing me so happy made Icone Longboards consider properly designing a deck that fits the needs of downhill longboarders with smaller feet.

Anna Pixner and I are in fact two riders on the Icone team that belong to the group of female small-footed skaters. Anna also travels to attend races all around the globe, that is why she wanted a board that is as compact as possible to make traveling easier.

The result is the new Icone Attacks, a compact full shape deck that is 83.5cm/32.9″ long, 23cm/9.05″ wide and weighs 1.5 kg. As you can see from the specs, this board is lighter, narrower and shorter than most other downhill longboards.

Furthermore, the board offers 0.8cm/0.3″ rocker and wheel wells with a comfortable, mellow concave that is not limiting or annoying. The wheelbase options range from 62 – 65cm / 24.4 – 25.6″ and ensure a direct riding behavior with lots of turn.

Of course, you can rely on the usual Icone quality with their unique, entirely built-in 3D core construction that provides extreme torsional stiffness despite the compact size of the board.

I have been testing the Icone Attacks for several months now. In that time it has accompanied me on skate travels, where it proved to be super handy on the go, as well as long-lasting and functional on rough pavement conditions.

The narrow shape helped me improve my freeriding skills since my foot position is exactly how I need it, and also on technical race tracks the board has not let me down for it is as stable and precise as one can only wish for.

To learn more about the Icone Attacks longboard deck, visit www.icone.at.

Lyde Begue's IXO SK-08 pro model deck

The new IXO longboard deck for Lyde Begue is just stunning

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Lyde Begue, a French downhill skateboarder ranked 8th in last year’s IDF women’s skateboard ranking, recently joined the IXO team.

IXO is a Spanish manufacturer specialized in carbon fiber products, mainly high-end car parts for brands like Spano GTA, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, and Bentley as well as military aircraft parts, but they also list a few high-end downhill skateboards with an average price of 1300 €.

The IXO recently parted ways with Emily Pross when she announced KebbeK Skateboards as her new sponsor, but have soon after welcomed a new female longboarder.

Lyde and IXO made the announcement via social media, presenting her new pro model longboard deck, the IXO SK 08.

We’re very happy of having Lyde on board, she’s a very talented skater but also a fantastic, smiling and kind person.  ~Pedro Sanchez, IXO

Lyde’s pro model deck is personalized according to her wishes and riding style. At IXO they also took into consideration her weight, that is why the IXO SK 08 is expected to be a bit heavier.

The board’s construction consists of 100% carbon fiber surrounding a Nomex honeycomb core, vacuum compacted and cured in an oven.

Roadside the deck is finished off with a special metallic chameleon tint that shows off the carbon fabric underneath, protected by eight layers of high gloss nano-ceramic varnish on both sides and polished twice to reach the high IXO product standard.

For now, the price or release date is not known, so be sure to keep an eye on Lyde during the next racing season.

Photo credits: Lyde Begue and IXO

Alkemist Longboard deck collection 2017

Alkemist Longboard 2017

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Alkemist Longboard recently presented their latest collection which now includes four decks; three previous models upgraded according to their riders’ feedback and one completely new deck. All of them feature colourful eye-catching graphics done by the French artist Mikael Moune.

Alkemist Longboards 2017 Collection

Both top and bottom graphics are sublimated on a high quality foil to ensure that they will stay there for a very very long time. Most people will put the grip tape over it, but the top layer graphic is a really nice feature.

Although it’s fairly young, the French brand Alkemist Longboard is gaining recognition quickly, especially on the European scene.

Their well designed high-performance decks and a team of very skilled and active riders like Clement Blondeau, Sylvain Mostel, Alice Bonnet des Tuves and Tiki Tarz,  helped them with getting noticed in the crowded longboard market. Well deserved, that’s for sure.

Since the launch of its initial collection, Alkemist has been busy gathering their riders’ feedback with the aim to improve the initial designs and to launch their second version this year. The new board collection is promised to be lighter, stronger and more efficient.

Let’s check out the boards…

New: Alkemist Alkatraz 37″ Longboard deck

Alkemist Alkatraz 37″ Longboard deck

The newest addition to the Alkemist Longboard collection is a top-mount deck dubbed Alkatraz, created in collaboration with Alkemist rider Tiki Tarz, which features a symmetrical platform with double kick-tails.

The Alkatraz is built with versatility in mind and it’s meant to take your skateboarding to a whole new level. The deck is 94 cm long and 23.9 cm wide, and compatible with both new and old-school truck mounts, while providing with 51.3 cm wheelbase.

The construction of the Alkatraz doesn’t differentiate from the other Alkemist boards, but that’s a good thing because it only means that you’ll be enjoying the same high quality.

The wooden core sandwiched between two layers of fibreglass combines Birch and Ash wood which makes the board both lightweight and strong.

As described by Alkemist Longboard, the Alkatraz can handle a lot…

With a comfortable concave, wheel flairs and kick tails you can do anything with this board. From boardercross events and slide jams to the mountains, you can roll in bowls and skate parks or just down the street to pick up your groceries. ~ Alkemist Longboard

Symmetrical platform, double kick-tails, medium concave, flared wheel wells and a comfortable size make the Alkatraz a great choice for smashing pretty much any terrain.

However, nothing is the best for everything, so it’s fair to mention that the Alkatraz wouldn’t be the best choice for beginners looking to get into downhill due to its shorter wheelbase which makes the board very responsive, especially at higher speeds.

But no worries, Alkemist Longboard has got you covered with three more decks built specifically for downhill and freeride; Sweet Smoke, Ghost Knight and Valkyrie.

Let’s check out those as well…

Alkemist Sweet Smoke v2

Built primarily for freeride, the Sweet Smoke by Alkemist features a simple radial concave, a kick-tail and large wheel wells to accommodate bigger wheels with the addition of multiple wheelbase options.

The Sweet Smoke is a directional top-mount. It measures 91.3 cm in length, 24.5 cm in width and provides a 56,2 cm to 61,6 cm wheelbase. Depending on your favourite wheelbase option and setup, this board can deliver on fast downhill runs and dominate on various slide jams.

The Sweet Smoke is composed of a wooden core sandwiched between two layers of fibreglass ensuring that the deck is both lightweight and strong.

Alkemist Ghost Knight v2

The Ghost Knight blurs the line between downhill and freeride. It’s a directional dropped top-mount deck built for speed and designed in collaboration with the Alkemist team rider Sylvain Mostel. However, with having a smaller but functional kick-tail it doesn’t rule out your everyday shenanigans.

Micro drops in the front and back lower the centre of gravity resulting in a more stable ride at higher speeds. The board also features a W concave which is more defined in the back compared to the front. Combined with the micro drops it creates comfortable pockets that keep rider’s feet safely locked-in when performing high speed manoeuvres.

The Ghost Knight longboard deck measures 93 cm (36,6″) in length and 24 cm (9,4″) in width. Multiple wheelbase options range from 60,7 cm to 63,7 cm which make it possible to adjust the responsiveness to your needs and preferences.

Composed of a dual wooden core sandwiched between two layers of fibreglass the Ghost Knight, like Alkemist’s other boards, is lightweight and strong.

Alkemist Valkyrie v2

Last but not the least, Alkemist has got the downhill enthusiasts covered as well with the upgraded Valkyrie, a directional top-mount deck built for high-speed skateboarding.

Valkyrie’s directional top-mount platform fused with a W concave in the back and progressive concave in the front makes it a great choice for those who are looking for the best ratio of comfort, control and responsiveness.

The Valkyrie longboard deck is 90.5 cm (35.6″) long and 25 cm (9.8″) wide. It has an adjustable wheelbase which ranges from 64.2 cm (25.2″) to 68.7 cm (27.04″) allowing you to adapt it to your preferred style of riding.

Like the other Alkemist decks, the Valkyrie also has a dual wooden core consisting of Birch and Ash wood, which provides the right mixture of strength and lightweight. The wooden core lies between between two layers of triaxial fibreglass.

Price and where to buy

All Alkemist longboard decks come with the same price tag and are currently available via their website for 178,99 Euros (deck only).

To make it easier for their buyers, Alkemist also offers completes with the setup including AHMYO wheels and Caliber trucks. The price for a complete is 288,99 Euros.

For more info about Alkemist Longboard visit alklongboard.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Do you already shred an Alkemist board?
Share your experience via the comments below. Thank you!

Edoardo Barbi - LUCA longboards - Mono 39

Edoardo Barbi feat. the MONO 39 by LUCA longboards

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Due to a right ankle fracture and several complications Edoardo Barbi (@edoardo_barbi) couldn’t skate for about 3 months.

“It was as if I didn’t have a foot on the deck, so weird!” he said, but finally he seems to be back full of stoke and energy for the season.

Edoardo is sponsored by Luca longboards, a Polish company that produces high quality decks and in the video, he’s riding the new LUCA MONO 39″ deck which he helped developing and testing.

LUCA Mono 39 specifications

The Mono will soon be available via www.lucalongboards.com. Until then, here’s a cool 3D preview and the basic board specifications…

LUCA longboards - Mono 39 3D preview

Length: 99 cm / 39”
Width: 25 cm /9.84”
Wheelbase: 65.4cm – 71.4 cm / 25.7″ – 28.11″
Concave: 1.25 cm / 0.49”

LUCA longboards - Mono 39

Follow LUCA longboards on Facebook or Instagram.

Rolkaz Collective - Hemp Skateboards

Rolkaz Collective launches sustainable Hemp Skateboards

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Skateboard and longboard decks are typically made out of maple wood that takes 40 to 60 years to mature so it can become a desk we love and shread. Considering how many decks are made per year, there is no denying that the skateboard industry is one of the largest causes of maple deforestation.

In the past, the one of the answers to this problem was incorporating bamboo wood in the deck construction, as it grows faster and more abundantly compared to maple.

Although it’s true that bamboo decks are more sustainable, but if you ever stepped on one, you know that they are more flexible and not really DH appropriate.

Rolkaz Collective - Hemp Skateboards

The development of more sustainable skate decks continues and currently hemp is the new big deal. It is one of the strongest natural fibres, it’s recyclable and it holds numerous options of its application.

Some longboard brands like Holesome and Clutch already incorporate hemp laminates into their longboard decks, Gravity Skateboards use an eco-friendly hemp replacement for fibreglass and Arbor Collective use hemp in some of their textile products. These are only some longboard brands that follow the hemp glory and try to make skateboarding more sustainable.

Rolkaz Collective - Hemp Skateboards

So far, I haven’t seen a 100%  hemp longboard, but there are some smaller cruising and skateboard decks emerging on the market.

One of these are hemp skateboards by Rolkaz Collective currently campaigning on Kickstarter with two cruising decks made from 100 % eco-friendly materials.

Hemp Skateboards by Rolkaz Collective

Rolkaz Collective was created to raise awareness that more sustainable materials and responsible processes can result in a unique and fun skateboard for daily street nomads.

Their two decks are made from a combination of hemp and flax seed glued together with a high performance plant based resin. All of the three components are locally grown and processed in Europe.

Rolkaz Collective - Drifter skateboard

Drifter is a 28 inch all-round cruiser deck for city shenanigans, skateparks and daily commuters. With a mellow concave and a kicktails it can offer a pleasant pop and an enjoyable ride.

Rolkaz Collective - Mala skateboard

The Drifter’s mini sister is the Mala. This mini cruiser features a shorter wheelbase that is also suitable for kids.

Both decks come in four colourways; purple, lime, blue and raw. As mentioned above, they are currently available only on  Kickstarter as a complete, which includes Paris Street Trucks and 60 mm 78a stoneground wheels.

Fore more information about hemp skateboards by Rolkaz Collective visit their Kickstarter campaign or head to their Facebook page.

UPDATE, January 14th, 2018: Rolkaz Collective’s Kickstarter campaign failed. Only 2,332 USD was pledged of  25,000 USD goal.

King Lui Boards - the 2017 Guardian longboard deck

The Guardian – a new deck by King Lui Boards

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So far we’ve seen some hints regarding the new 2017 Guardian aka the Wächter longboard deck by King Lui Boards. We decided to talk to Fabian Anders, one of the three guys behind the brand, to bring you the latest news about their first ever drop through deck.

The Guardian - first drop through longboard model from King Lui Boards
Fabian Anders showing off a prototype of the 2017 Guardian longboard deck

King Lui Boards is a relatively young brand located in Wertach, Allgäu Germany. Currently, they have 7 different board models in their lineup, but also two boards in the making. One of these is the 2017 Guardian.

The new 2017 Guardian board model

The Guardian is the third re-design of their first ever longboard deck, released back in 2015.

The idea for a new drop through model emerged when the crew took a tour around Germany back in 2016. While skating with old and new friends, they got inspired and decided to add a more versatile deck to their existing lineup.

This freeride and big mountain inspired longboard deck is made from ash wood with two layers of fiberglass and a dash of poplar. All together it weighs 1.6 kg.

King Lui Boards - the 2017 Guardian longboard deck
Concave picture of the Guardian 2017 prototype by King Lui Boards

The Guardian features a twin tip shape with a total length of 95 cm and a width of 23.5 cm. The dimensions of the board determine the wheelbase at 65 cm.  In addition, King Lui also spiced it up with a 1.6 cm concave, double kicktails and a double micro drop.

King Lui Boards - the 2017 Guardian longboard deck
The final look of the 2017 Guardian longboard deck by King Lui Boards

Although, the King Lui Boards crew is currently on a skate trip, Fabian took the time to send me a pic of their first final Guardian deck made for 2017. With a nice wooden grain finish, the deck will be available on the market in about one to two weeks.

For the latest news about their current lineup visit the King Lui Boards Facebook page or check out to their website.

Lillian Barou enjoying Switzerland on his Wrobel Alternative longboard

Alternative Longboards Wrobel with Lillian Barou

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Last summer Lillian Barou, Ben Pellet and Brian Scott Adkins travelled around Switzerland in search of new skate spots. They came across this epic run and couldn’t refrain themselves from filming it.

This is a 9 a.m. run, not long after we woke up. It was only my 2nd run on the spot, but as you can see it’s very long so I couldn’t really memorise the track. So I sent it as I can: shredding, chilling, tucking and having fun. Lillian Barou

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZDHRKmGt44″]

Lillian skates the Wrobel deck that is part of the current Alternative Longboards lineup. It features a classic directional shape, radial concave and a stiff flex. The length of the board is 90 cm with a width of 24.5 cm. Its design also provides multiple wheelbase options raging from 66 to 72 cm.

Alternative Wrobel: 1 Top graphic | 2 Fiberglass | 3 Carbon fiber| 4 Veneer | 5 Core | 6 Down graphic

Despite the simple design the Wrobel still performs great in different disciplines and riding styles. Its priced at 189 euro and available for purchase via Alternative Longboards website.

Stay tuned for the Alternative Longboards 2017 deck collection overview.

ROCKET Domination, top view, concave and the micro-drop in the front. Photo by Mihael Zadravec

ROCKET Domination, Dominic Schenk’s pro model longboard deck review

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You know we love uploading expert reviews for you, and this longboard couldn’t be the exception.

Daniel Iseli from Switzerland started building longboards around seven years ago. He officially introduced ROCKET Longboards in December 2013 with a collection of four models, which soon grew into a full blown lineup of nine premium quality decks presented at ISPO 2016.

ROCKET Domination, Dominic Schenk’s pro-model longboard deck was released in late summer 2014. Since then the deck undergone a series of upgrades, until its final and current version.

"The evolution of the Domination". Photo by Dominic Schenk
“The evolution of the Domination”. Photo by Dominic Schenk

In-house designed pneumatic presses, CNC-machined moulds, top materials, development and extensive testing with some of the Europe’s best riders… Daniel got it all covered very well and now distributes the boards around the world with confidence.

If you are interested to learn more about ROCKET Longboards see this article published in Concrete Wave Magazine, Fall 2016. For now, let’s check out the board and its features…

ROCKET Domination
Dominic Schenk’s pro model longboard deck

ROCKET Longboards Domination longboard deck. Photo by Mihael Zadravec
ROCKET Longboards Domination longboard deck. Photo by Mihael Zadravec

The Domination longboard deck was developed together with team rider Dominic Schenk for IDF racing season 2014, which didn’t turn out to be a huge success.

However, Dominic placed second at the Red Bull No Paws Down World Championship in 2015, and took the Domination on the podium. With so many eyeballs looking at his direction, it was hard not to notice “the rocket” Dominic was “flying”.

Six months later and after two years of development and testing, the Domination longboard deck is now one of the best choices when buying a highly functional and quality board for downhill or freeride.

Shape, look and feel

Before I go into more detail, let me say that the photos I made hardly justify the beauty of this deck.

The Domination features a directional shape with a simple outline which narrows towards the center of the deck and kind of reminds us of a rocket. It looks simple and “evergreen”.

The glossy bottom side with the artwork really stands out and it gives the board a special look and feel. It feels as if it would be glass, but of course, it’s not. It’s a thin layer of PBT with the graphic sublimated on it.

The graphic was done by Chris Bögle a.k.a. Killerartworx and it features a pirate lady with a skeleton head and a hat, sitting on a [treasure] chest while playing a guitar.

ROCKET Domination, graphic by Chris Bögle a.k.a. Killerartworx. Photo by Mihael Zadravec
ROCKET Domination, graphic by Chris Bögle a.k.a. Killerartworx. Photo by Mihael Zadravec

While the graphic apparently doesn’t have any deeper meaning, it’s nicely done and it’s interesting. As if it would be reminding us that life is not forever and we should skate more.

Composition and materials

The Domination deck features six layers of SFI-certified maple sandwitched between three layers of carbon fiber sheets to provide a solid and stiff platform for high speed skateboarding and slides. It weighs 2,05 kg.

As already mentioned, the bottom side is additionally covered with PBT for extra protection, graphic application and glossy finish. The top side of the board features an extra sleek look as you can see the texture of the black carbon fibres sheet.

ROCKET Domination longboard deck - 6 ply SFI-certified maple and top carbon fibre sheet. Photo by Mihael Zadravec
ROCKET Domination, 6 ply SFI-certified maple and top carbon fibre sheet. Photo by Mihael Zadravec

Dimensions, wheelbase and truck mount

The ROCKET Domination is a directional top-mount longboard deck. It is 91cm long (35.82 inch) and 25 cm (9.84 inch) wide. Wheelbase options range from 56 cm (22 inches) to 68.5 cm (27 inches), which allows personalisation depending on your stance width preference.

Platform and concave

Too many concave features might be a turn off for riders who are concerned about a platform narrating their stance. The Domination shouldn’t fall into this category. When I stepped on it for the first time, I was surprised to find out how comfortable and well designed the platform is.

A combination of centered W-concave with a 0.39″ micro-drop in the front and flarred wheel wells creates a comfortable pocket which will prevent your front foot from slipping off.

The micro-drop in the front is compensated with a slight rocker in the back which ends where the truck mount starts and it doesn’t affect the angle of a truck hanger. In the front, this is taken care of by a CNC-machined flush mount. The combination of the W-concave and a continuous 0.59″ concave, provides a locked-in feeling of the back foot when in tucking position.

ROCKET Domination - Top / Concave, kick-tail and micro-drop, back side view. Photo by Mihael Zadravec
ROCKET Domination, back side view. Photo by Mihael Zadravec

The flarred wheel wells are much bigger in the front, while in the back they are minimal and you can hardly feel them when standing across the platform.

The deck also features a minimal 3D kick tail for added fun and trickery.

Price and where to buy

At the time of writing this article, the recommended price for ROCKET Domination is 219 EUR (outside of Switzerland). This puts it in the upper middle price range. In case if you decide to get one, you will find it available via Sickboards for 218,95 EUR or via The Cave longboard store, which opens soon.

If you’re ordering from Switzerland, you can find the Domination in your local shop or order from ROCKET Longboards website in case if they don’t sell it.

To stay on track with ROCKET Longboards follow it via Facebook or Instagram.

There you have it! To wrap up this review, here’s a rad video Dominic Schenk made just for this occasion. Thank you for reading through!

Watch the video
Dominic Schenk feat. ROCKET Domination

Follow Dominic Schenk via Facebook or Instagram.

Georg Mekisch, Graveyard Longboards team rider

Graveyard Longboards Full Collection Overview

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If you’re looking to buy a new longboard or just discovering new longboard brands, you should know about Graveyard Longboards from Germany. These guys have that good, literally homegrown stuff, definitely worth checking out.

In this article, you will learn about Graveyard and the people behind it, plus,  I will describe in more details each one of the seven longboard decks they currently offer.

Here’s a list of the decks and a shortcut link to jump straight to its section:

If you already own a Graveyard longboard, you are welcome to share your own opinion with the rest of us via the comments bellow. This way you will also help someone to choose which longboard to buy. The same goes for any questions you might have, which I will gladly answer.

Meet Graveyard Longboards

Christian Weiss and Christoph Schmalz from Northern Germany started Graveyard Longboards in 2014 and it took them around 1 year to perfect and launch the initial 3 deck lineup in 2015.

In the beginning of 2016 they launched the upgraded collection of 7 longboard decks built for freeride and downhill.

Christian and Christoph live together and share a room while the rest of the flat is a workspace where they spend many hours handcrafting the boards. When the weather is nice, they take their stuff outside, open up a beer and do the final scrubbing. It doesn’t get more real than this.

Chris Chros sanding the boards. Photo by Graveyard Longboards.
Chris Chros sanding the boards. Photo by Graveyard Longboards.

No complaints have been heard up until this day. I’m quite sure that you can expect nothing but the best support from them. In case if you got an impression that these guys are relaxed… It’s true, but when it comes to Graveyard and their products, they are serious about it and mean nothing but good business.

Graveyard decks are available in multiple longboard stores run by skaters, which also confirms that their decks are good as well as popular in the community, even though it all started just 2 years ago.

Graveyard Longboards Team Riders

Graveyard Longboards crew. Photo by Markus Knoblechner.
Graveyard Longboards crew. Photo by Markus Knoblechner.

Graveyard has a big family of team riders; Janto Just, Dana Akatuna, Dominic Rico Gomez, Daniel Krug, Robert Ganscshow, Arno Tien, Patrick Bartel and Dani Haller all rip on their Graveyard longboards and give input for the further development.

Recently Graveyard also welcomed a very dear friend of mine from Italy, Andrea Skizzo Moreni.
Here’s a cool clip which features his addition to the team…

[facebook url=”https://www.facebook.com/graveyardlongboards/videos/1097801316924116/”]
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Let’s check out the decks

OK, so here they are, Graveyard Longboards, each one of them described and explained. If you want to know more or would like to add some info yourself, leave a comment below.

Graveyard Vindicta 84 & Vindicta 88

Graveyard Vindicta 84 & Vindicta 88

Graveyard Vindicta is a symetrical top-mount deck wich makes a great choice for both downhill and freeride. It comes in two length versions. As the name suggests, the Vindicta 38 is 38 cm long and it offers a wheelbase options from 60 cm to 66 cm, while the Vindicta 88 is it’s longer version, being 88 cm long with a wheelbase range from 64 cm to 70 cm. Flared wheel wells will allow for bigger wheels as well, up to 75 mm or even more with the help of some risers. The platform is 24.5 cm in width at its widest point and thanks to the 8mm pockets it will provide a solid foot lock for huge standies. In case if you don’t feel that’s enough, you’ll be happy to know that this deck’s platform has a microdrop as well. I find that especially useful when freeriding as it provides even more support and stability. Graveyard Vindicta is priced at 209,90 Euros.

Graveyard Medicus

Graveyard Medicus Longboard Deck

Graveyard Medicus is a directional top-mount deck, great for downhill and freeride, measuring 94.5 cm in length and 25 cm in width with the wheelbase range from 61.5 cm to 67,5 cm.  The platform has a radial 18 mm concave and 9 mm centered rocker. The Medicus comes in with a fully functional kick tail, as well as with lightly flared wheel wells to accommodate bigger wheels and provide a solid foot lock while freeriding or railing corners. This deck is priced at 189,90 Euros.

Graveyard Pestilentia

Graveyard Pestilentia Longboard Deck

Graveyard Pestilentia is the smallest board in the Graveyard’s lineup and is most suitable for younger riders or girls. Since it has a fully functional kick-tail, it can be easily taken to the streets, skatepark or bowls / pools. The Pestilentia is 91 cm long, including the kick-tail and is 24,7 cm wide. It offers a wheelbase range from 55 cm to 61 cm. Its directional top-mount platform features a radial 18mm concave and no rocker. The deck is priced at 164,90 Euros.

Graveyard Scriptum

Graveyard Scriptum Longboard Deck

Graveyard Scriptum is what its creators, Chris & Chris call “the racemachine”. The Scriptum features 15 mm concave, one of the biggest out there. In combination with the 10 mm rocker, its platform provides with maximum stability and extreme foot lock and responsiveness . There’s no kick tail for goofing around, but then again, this board is meant for serious racing and high speeds. The Scriptum is 88 cm long and 24.3 cm wide and also has flared wheel wells which create nice pockets to keep you on the board even when performing the gnarliest slides. You can set it up with a wheelbase ranging from 62,5 cm to 68,5 cm. The Graveyard Scriptum is priced at 189,90 Euros.

Graveyard Sepulcretum

Graveyard Sepulcretum Longboard Deck

Graveyard Sepulcretum is another freeride deck from Graveyard’s collection. It’s platform is basically the same as Scriptum’s with and addition of a fully functional kick tail. This board will take you places… Any places. It’s 97 cm long (including the kick tail) and 24,7 cm wide, with the wheelbase options raging from 62,5 cm to 68,5 cm. The Sepulcretum deck is priced at 199,90 Euros.

Graveyard Anthrophopagus

Graveyard Anthrophopagus Longboard Deck

Graveyard Anthrophopagus, a deck with the most complicated name in the Graveyard’s lineup also features the most mellow rocker of 5mm. It’s a top-mount directional deck made to be simple and to provide a comfortable ride to those who are not fans of the flared wheel wells. Its purpose is to shred fast downhill. The Anthrophopagus is 93 cm long and 24.8 cm wide at its widest point (front). It offers the most wheelbase options, raging from 65,5 cm to 74,5 cm. It’s priced at 184,95 Euros.

There you have it! The complete Graveyard Longboards collection. Be sure to follow them via Facebook for the latest media and product releases.

Where to buy Graveyard longboard decks

Graveyard doesn’t offer direct purchase via their website, but you can find your favourite dealer on it. Knowing Chris & Chris, I can recommend their products with a confidence – you will love the quality and the mentality backing up their products, that’s for sure.

www.graveyard-longboards.de

Nymphaea longboard deck by Root Longboards

The Root Nymphaea – Lilian Gutsch signature longboard deck for smaller feet and shorter stance

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The good people from Root Longboards are happy to announce a new addition to their longboard decks lineup for 2016. Showed off for the first time at ISPO 2016, one of them is Lilian Gutsch’s signature deck, which finally got baptized and now listens to the sound of Nymphaea.

 

Lilian about the Nymphaea deck

I talked with Lilian to get her insight on the board and to find out what is the idea behind the Nymphaea. Here’s what she shared with us:

Lilian Gutsch
Lilian Gutsch (@lilian.gutsch)

“I’m short, have small feet, and smaller stands than most guys have, but I’m not the only one out there with that measurements. Giving those the chance to ride a more suitable board is the main idea of the Nymphaea.

Having a narrow board, gives me the chance to put more pressure on the edges, without having to change my feet position all the time. I was forced to do that with my former bigger board and honestly don’t really appreciate it at higher speeds.

Furthermore the shorter wheelbase means – standing closer to the trucks – which leads to more control. The Nymphaea is obviously narrower and shorter than most boards available on the market, but even though I’m female, I want to emphasize that it’s not especially made for girls, but also for juniors and everyone who enjoys it.”

~ Lilian Gutsch

Well, that sounds great. So far, Root Longboards teased the industry with some pictures of the Nymphaea, but we are happy to have found out a little bit more about it and super stoked to share with you more info about the board’s specification.

ROOT Nymphaea longboard deck specs

The Root Nymphaea is a 82cm long and 22cm wide top-mount deck, offering the wheelbase options from 58,5 to 62,5cm. It has a similar 4 mm drop like the Root Satyr, a smooth concave at around 12 mm and a mini-kick. For now, these are Lilly’s developing notes.

At the time of writing this post, the price for the Nymphaea is not known yet, but when released, we’ll update this page and let you know. The deck will be available for purchase soon at the Root’s online store.

Lilian will be out in a few weeks to test the Nymphaea to the max and will keep us updated with a little review. Subscribe here and we will let you know when it’s released.

You can also follow Lilians’s trip on Instagram @lilian.gutsch to get a preview.
Stay tuned and get teased!

Hackbrett Wasser collection - a long history of a beautiful longboard

The Wasser by Hackbrett Longboards – a deck made for soul riding

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It’s a rare fact that a board is overhauled more then once or twice. As a matter of fact, I talked with the guys from Hackbrett Longboards about their longboard deck Wasser 5.0. The owner of Hackbrett who also shapes the boards, Hartmut “Hack” Olpp redesigned the Wasser for the forth time since its first release. As he says, “For me, the Wasser is by far the board with the highest amount of flow in our lineup”.

And yes. If you take a closer look at this 1.3 meters long monster longboard, you will probably feel the stoke. Hack itself calls the Wasser longboard deck “A board with a big portion of soul riding”, which it surely is. This unique and kind of a special board hardly fits any category and it should probably have one on it’s own.

I caught up with Matt Elver, a shaper at Hackbrett who is also on their team since 2010. He shared with me a really special insight on the “Wasser” history. Read through to find out more.

The Hackbrett Wasser collection - a long history of a beautiful longboard
The Hackbrett Wasser collection – a long history of a beautiful longboard

Matt’s insight into a history of the Wasser

For the reference, see the above photo.

That yellow thing on far left on the photo above was built sometime around 2005. The scuffs on the bottom are from it bottoming out whilst carving and cruising! Concave, no nose or tail –  the “Hacksurfer” 🙂 Not technically a Wasser but a predecessor that spawned the feel and ideals that gave birth to the Wasser as we know it today. Soul surfing!

The Gun was the first WNT (Wiegt Nix Technologie) from Hackbrett build in 2007, with hollow chambers milled into the deck. As you can see on the IGSA stickers, the whole thing weighed less than 4kg, with 130cm length and fat 200mm Crails!

The 200mm Anarchy Crails were Hacks “pro model” truck. He was 5th in the IGSA rankings in 2005. In 2007, he brought the Gun to the World championships when the IGSA rules said that no board could be longer than 120cm.

They changed the rules to allow him to ride the Gun, and the IGSA still allows boards up to 130cm. The IDF changed it back. I might have to see what I can do about that next year though.

It was the first board to have the concave that was later used in many other shapes, the Anarchy for one. The current Semmel also uses the exact same concave. We don’t sell tons of them, but those that ride it all agree that the board has a lot of soul.

The next 2 boards on the photo above are the same and produced in 2008. Wasser 1.0 I think! The painted one belonged to Horstl (Horst Prem, one of Austria’s first sponsored skateboarder, artist and creative mind from Salzburg). I never met him, but just heard crazy stories. He made this too: Skatemountain – so you maybe get the idea of Horstl!

Definitely a funny part of the Hacbkrett and Wasser history, though. The painted board was his and was actually lost for a few years, then found again under the miniramp at the old workshop in Lagerhausstrasse in Freiburg. Now it hangs on our skate history wall. The board itself had the wave graphic, the outline was updated from the Gun to have little wingers on the tail. Concave only, still no nose or tail.

The Hackbrett Wasser in action

The Wasser 2010 also had the wave graphic, seen here as a complete. Probably the 2.0, looking back, but it was called the Wasser 2010 at the time. Many of our teamriders rode this thing for their first introductions to downhill and freeriding – Alfred, Luke and Flu if not more. Dudes who went on to have incredible board feel. The update from the older version was the form, which was the first Wasser to have a kicktail and nose. It’s a slight spoon nose, really nice feeling and balanced for nose manuals. Luke rode this board the most and was widely considered the best/most flowy “dancer” in Germany. I have asked him for some pics of him with it, and will also see if he has any words to go with them, he is a really integral part of the boards development and history. The board is as a complete in the picture because it still gets ridden, 5 years old. Hackbretts last forever baby! Flu learned standup sliding on that exact board, even switch toes, and had his first taste of 80kmh on it too.

The Wasser 2011 is the next one. New construction, new concave, new graphic. Now with some camber and deeper concave plus an upgraded outline. This one had a logo milled in, but you can’t really see it. We did that for a few years before the new logo came. That logo you can see, we put on afterwards with a sticker.

The Wasser 4.0 was the first one with the diagonal Hackbrett burnt graphic that they all get today. Seen here in maple, its pretty rare, we didn’t make many with maple at all. Its not available anymore. The wheelwells were upgraded to fit the new technology and processes that we developed, and the construction was changed to allow the use of each different topsheet that we use today – maple, bamboo, nut, tepa.

The Wasser 5.0 is the one one I used at KnK at this years Cult Wheels Single Surviver Race. Just a few little but important chances where made. So Hack put the flex arrangement a little bit further to the back of the Wasser. Also he put the highest point of the camber a little bit backwards. Another change has been made of the back foot, as Hack broaden the outline for 1cm. He also added some pockets both feet and angeld the truck mounting +/- 3°, because a long wheelbase can handle steep wheel angles.

As you can see, a whole lot of thought went into it! And actually each development, and each Hackbrett shape had a whole thought process equally as long. Thats one of the reasons that we are building better boards than anyone else in the world 🙂 The construction was also updated to our new “KLK” (Koffer’s Leichtbau Kern). It rips. WNT (Wiegt Nix Technologie) variation is also available.

Hackbrett Wasser 5.0 specs

  • Length: 130 cm
  • Width: 26 cm
  • Wheelbase: 91,4 cm
  • Truck mount: Old school / top-mount
  • Concave: Hybrid-High
  • Length axis features: camber, nosekick, tailkick
  • Features: Wheel wells, pockets, gaspedale, truck mounting +3°/-3°, KLK core (Koffer’s Leichtbau Kern)

The Wasser is basically a longboard for thoroughgoing carving and with the truckmounting (+3°/-3°) the board feels really alive. No matter what terrain you are hitting, the Wasser is getting it done for you. Have a look at the official Hackbrett Wasser edit while the team is enjoying the board to their fullest.

The Wasser 5.0 video feature

For more information about Hackbrett and their boards, visit https://hackbrett.info/

Lush Machine 3D Longboard

Lush Longboards – Rise of the Machine 3D featuring Jooz Hughes

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It seems like ages since Lush Longboards released the first version of the Lush Machine, one of the most popular decks in their collection. The almighty Machine was built to make you skate everything from grinding ledges, trashing the city, freeride and bomb hills. You name it. With the Machine, sky is the limit.

Jooz Hughes squeezing the steeze out of his squatty © Jooz Hughes
Jooz Hughes squeezing the steeze out of his squatty on a new Lush Machine 3D © Jooz Hughes

Since the first Machine prototype was introduced in 2011, we’ve seen two versions of this board.

Lush Machine models 2012, 2013 and 2015

Just in time for Santa to drive by and pick it up for you, Machine’ third release was introduced in late November this year, upgraded with some ass whooping 3D concave and slick graphics done by Jethro Haynes. Ladies and gents, we give you the Lush Machine 3D!

Lush Machine 3D Longboard deck

8ply wooden core built of Canadian Maple makes the Machine 3D stiff and strong. It will take everything you might throw at it and it will endure all your shenanigans for ages. The adjustable wheelbase option (front and back) is still there offering a range from 62cm to 64cm (24.54″ – 25.3″) so you can tune in your setup perfectly. The deck is 97.7 cm (38.5″) long and 25 cm (10″) wide.

While the previous versions of the Machine featured dual TKP/RKP wheel wells, with the Machine 3D release these are dropped out thanks to its three dimensional concave and flared wheel wells which allow for a solid foot lock as well. There’s enough clearance to fit both truck types and various wheel sizes.

Lush Machine 3D Longboard deck

Machine 3D features a much more subtle shape than its predecessor as the 3d concave gives you the feel from the rail of the board rather than the shape of the deck. This appears to be much more of a classic shape than Lush has done in the past.

Big fat fully functional kick tail measures from 164mm to 173mm (6.45″ – 6.82″), depending on your preferred wheelbase option. It will make popping an Ollie a breeze.

Lush Machine 3D Longboard complete

The Machine 3D is also fairly priced at around 140 €. You can grab it over at Titus Shop ( free shipping ) and while you’re there, snatch a set of Sabre’s as well. The two fit each other perfectly 🙂

150

Buy Lush Machine 3DGet your Machine 3D from Lush Longboards
Lush Machine 3D
170,00 €

150

Sabre FP 190mm 38°Forged Precision 190mm 38° longboard trucks
Sabre FP 190mm 38°
170,00 €

Double checked and approved by Jooz Hughes

Lush Machine 3D is a favourite choice of uber chilled team rider Jooz Hughes (@jooz_vandem_hughes). You might have had some runs with him already at some of the Europe’s events. He’s that dude always bombing hills in his signature baggy sweat pants steezin’ the f*** out of them. Recently he’s been over at Gnarlicante, skating and filming with Pablo Quiles taking the Machine 3D to the edge and over it, just to double check that it’s ready for the release. He totally approves it. Check out the video.

The machine 3D is my dream shape , we have been playing around with different shapes of the same mold for a long time. I am really interested in how just changing the outline of the board can effect the way it handles and rides . I believe now with a longer tail than the chopper 3D and shorter nose improves the weight distribution on the deck , this makes it feel more balanced during sliding and for ollies. And also when you skate in switch everybody knows. The construction is spot on and the price range is perfect for all skill levels. The graphics for 2016 are a really nicely done, these decks look much more sleek and simple with more natural colours . All in all I love this deck and is my go to board. ~ Jooz Hughes

Love for skateboarding, tireless deck development and unselfish support of the communities, events and skaters, made Lush Longboards become one of the most beloved brands in Europe.

Check out their website at www.lushlongboards.com>.

Abou’s mind-boggling footwork throughout the Paris on Majutsu’s Bùto

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Today’s feature is a promo video for Majutsu’s dancing board, Bùto, filmed by their team riders Achel Massin (film & edit) and Aboubakry Seck (skating) in Paris two weeks ago. Definitely worth watching, especially if you’re into longboard dancing.

Majutsu Longboards from France is a newcomer to the scene with their cruising, freeride and dancing boards. Built with a combination of bamboo, fiberglass and carbon, Majutsu boards are lightweight and strong while providing a responsive flex. The Bùto is Majutsu’s latest addition to their not so impressive collection and takes them to completely another level.

Majutsu La Bùto © Majutsu Longboard
Majutsu Bùto © Majutsu Longboard
Majutsu La Bùto materials © Majutsu Longboard
Majutsu Bùto materials © Majutsu Longboard
Majutsu La Bùto © <a href="https://www.facebook.com/majutsulongboard" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Majutsu Longboard</a>
Majutsu Bùto © Majutsu Longboard

Thoughtfully shaped and beautifully curved longboard dancing deck weights in at only 1.75 kg. The Bùto’s 1200 mm by 230 – 250 mm symmetrical platform feels very comfortable and has kicks on both ends. It comes pre-gripped with a laser cut grip tape for captivating look while featuring two different courseness. Extra course grip tape on the kicktails assure you won’t slip off while performing manuals as well as on the sides to hold your feet on board while sliding. The middle part is covered with a standard grip tape to allow unobstructed foot movement. The Majutsu Bùto has adjustable wheelbase range from 83 – 87 centimeters.

Compared to other brands, it’s a fairly priced dancing board with a 199 € price tag.

For more, see their website (in French) or follow them on Facebook.