Slalom

Where cone dodgers can get their tech on!
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  • Premium Member

    Marek

    Yeah thats great thanks. So I guess he has designed them to potentially run on the kick of a slalom board with no wedging. Just hard to get my head around running rear with positive wedging rather than dewedge. I tried running it with the king pin basically vertical and kept falling off as the board just would not turn. I think I'll try setting it at a similar king pin angle to my splitfire and work from there. Did I see a pic of yours with red khiros back there did that work for you?
  • Arran Pratt

    Hey Mark...love the icon!...sums up what slaom is to alot of guys..tinkering around with truck and deck geometry..angles, technique and way way too much 'middle age' disposable income...on a side note who has put lock tight on their Radikals?? to secure kingpins ect..just heard a few stories about Radikal equipment failure in the heat of the moment..

  • Premium Member

    Marek

    Yeah I just googled the pic but Fitz gave me the idea when he said somewhere "the cones get narrower at the top" classic slalom comment! I'm having fun trying different thing so far but I know I'll just get sick of adjusting the wedging at some point and just learn to ride it how it is! Now all I need is a race or at least a session to ride all my disposable income downhill.

  • Premium Member

    Marek

    It looked like boomers axle just jumped a thread or two and the axle was hanging on at a angle. Looked tricky to repair if the hanger was stripped. Pump station is not the course you want an axle failure!

  • Premium Member

    nathan

    arron this might horrify the tinkering community out there but for the last two years i have been running my front radikal where the kingpin constantly loosens out of the base plate. So i have a little routine of after every run i pick up my board and with my fingers twist the kingpin back into the baseplate (only finger tight) there is plenty of thread on it so im not too worried about it coming out(wouldnt that be interesting), shadow had the same issue and i know he locktites his in,

  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    I had no issues with my K/P when I owned a Rad.
    I used a 7mm socket with 1/4" sq drive to 1/4" hex bit and a 1/4" spanner no longer than about 3".
    Grease up the king pin and crank it up tight.
    Don't use a big spanner otherwise you can over torque it and might strip a thread.


  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    gotta use grease or never seize otherwise stainless on stainless threads can lockup with just the tiniest bit of moisture when cranked up.

  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    Ha!
    I'll take your rad's, post sledgie Judge.
  • Boomerdog

    radikal now all fixed with a helicoil..no probs..like the man said ,pump station was the last place i want the truck to shit it's self...the most interesting speed wobble i have had in 35 years of skating...was one of those 'farking ell!.'moments..lol :)
  • Elliot O

    Any tips on how to get some Tracker kingpins out?
    I've bashed them on the ground and used a hammer with no success.
    Any secret recipe?

  • Premium Member

    Marek

    You might just have a sticky one as i've tapped one out with a hammer recently. Put something under the baseplate so the kingpin can come out. Fitz or the Bear or someone will be along directly to explain about the judicious use of heat/cold/secret handshake to get the bugger out.

  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    Mareks got it in one.
    Keep trying Elliot.
  • Jezza

    try spraying a little WD-40 in there. Rinse with a solvent afterwards if your going to glue a new kingpin in though

    if it still wont budge heat the mofo up with a paint stripper / oven, alum expands more than steel when heated (apparently)

  • Premium Member

    DA BEAR

    Elliot,
    I made an old baseplate into a jig/arbour/press base for getting kpins out,
    I'll get snaps up in the next few days, once you see it,
    its easy to replicate and use.
  • Elliot O

    Thanks guys, I'll try the WD40 tomorrow!
    I knew someone must have had a unique device that makes everything easy so I'd love to have a look DA BEAR! Thanks.
  • Elliot O

    WD40 worked well, thanks.
    Also do you measure the kingpin including the head or from the base of the head?
    Because mine varies from 2.25' to 2.5' with those.
    I can't find too much on Google.

  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    measurement is taken from the shaft length without head.
  • Elliot O

    Ahhhh thanks Fitz!
    All i could find on Google was something about car kingpins and the suspension layout....

  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    Kingpin is just a name coined by the skate industry for a Hex Head Bolt.

  • Premium Member

    nathan

    Fitz said "measurement is taken from the shaft length without head"

    Am i the only one who giggled at this?

    "my shaft is so big - Steven Hawking has a theory about it"
    "my shaft is so big - it wont return Spielburgs phone calls"
    "my shaft is so big - its already fucking somebody tommorrow"
    "my shaft is so big - it has its own shaft and even that is bigger than yours"
  • Elliot O

    Finally got my new wedges, kingpins and bushings in and it pumps!
    I was very amazed when I went for a run to the beach and back.
    Thanks for your help everyone.

  • Premium Member

    DA BEAR

    Hi all,
    Lookin at new wheels for next season, I'm wondering has anyone used the,
    Orangatang InHeat 75mm yellow 86a, for slalom wheels? (or for anything at all)
    any feedback would be appreciated.

  • Premium Member

    Marek

    This looks different and fun. The street slalom course I mean. Could be a good alternative to full on skater cross or park slalom.(taken from ISSA site - here for pics http://www.slalomskateboarder.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7441 ).

    "At the Cathlamet Downhill Corral just a couple weekends ago, Skip Marcotte blew minds with his "Mystery Slalom" course --- it kept a lot of us wondering, and none disappointed.

    The course begins off a starting ramp that shoots you UP the hill, to do a kickturn on another ramp, just to get around the first cone. Then after a couple mellow cones, squeeze by the sidewalk and zip across the street through a 3-cone stinger and up ON to the sidewalk on the other side! After a line of cones on the sidewalk, down the transition to street, and up onto the sidewalk of the next block! A few turns later, a jump off the curb, a couple tight cones, then over and off a specially-built 6"-8"? JUMP -- few more cones, then JUMP again, before a couple offsets to the finish line.

    Everyone was stoked, spectators and skaters alike. The spills weren't as numerous as you might predict, it wasn't really a "death race" - it was just cool to see the adjustments to speed that a 3-D course and landing small airs threw into the game.

    Lot of guys were rocking kicktail GS-sized poolboards or longboards with Randals, and I wish I'd just set up with an Indy-Bennett type board instead of my boutique Radikals which seemed way too delicate for the jumps.

    Skip deserves huge applause for opening up wide the definition on the "format" of slalom and I hope there are more courses set up this creatively in the future!

    Not to mention Judy Edmonson's / Addison's planning of the weekend event as a whole, with a mix of events that appealed to a much larger crowd: TS, slide comp, Push race, street-slalom, finishing off with a technical DH race through downtown. "

  • Premium Member

    PC

    That sounds rad Mark.

    might have to scope out somewhere to set one up if I can.

     


  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    Lux would destroy any such comp put on like that. Even if we handy capped him with 55mm 98a wheels, crap bearings and a fence paling for a deck. I feel sad now just thinking about it! Ha!

    Lets do it though. Some variety like this always sparks fresh interest and crosses over into skaters from different backgrounds.


  • Premium Member

    PC

    I agree Fitz. Luxford rips everything.


  • Premium Member

    James

    Sutherland/loftus cycle track has very recently been resurfaced. It has a 600m downhill section with an uphill runout at the end.

    There are toilets, plenty of parking, and shops nearby. For those without cars it is a 5 minute skate from the station.

    I reckon it would be an awesome spot for a race. The cyclists get it closed off occasionally for their races, so I assume we could do the same.

    If there is interest, I will contact the council and see what we have to do
    to get the track to ourselves for a day....
  • Bozac

    any church sessions on the horizon? took the board for a wiggle to the pub yesterday and now i am keen for a skate. got some weird looks and plenty of questions about the board from the older guys haha

  • Premium Member

    Marek

    James could we just turn up for a slalom session without closing it off or is it too busy for that?

     

    Bozac I'm keen for any session in the next couple of weeks Sun the 30th or Sunday the 6th? Either at Sutherland if suitable or the traditional Allawah track? Have cones will travel. If we get enough takers maybee borrow the timer?

  • Bozac

    30th sounds good weather permitting, I don't mind where we skate. I'm keen to see your new trucks in action as well Mark. Catch up soon and hopefully get a crew to come out (Bugs, Fitz, Robbo etc) the more the merrier. Plus i might need a hand collecting all the cones i spray everywhere....

  • ASRA Admin

    Bugs

    30th I'll be at Gabe's slope style. 6th is better for me.
    Never skated the Sutherland track, but others have...i imagine it would be a bit dangerous with bikes using it. Belingarra is another option.

  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    The cycle track is open to public at all times, even while the cyclists have it booked on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, certain weekend days also.

    The proviso is that non cyclists or slow cyclists use the outside of the lane so the fast guys can hold the inside (this would switch sides as there are left and right hand turns). Although its not always upheld like that. Once the cyclist show up they're often quite rude and ask you to leave as the emporer has arrived.

    Its best to just check their website for events schedules and avoid any clash esp for ride days when there would more than 3-4 of us riding.

     

    I think the cycle track is best.

    I've skated Belingarra many times in the past and although it has supreme surface it can be extremely hot and offers no shade. I've also been asked to leave (even though I sweet talked my way out of it and was able to stay) by Senior Netball management as the council have prohibited skating there.

    I haven't seen the new surface at Sutho yet. I'll have to go have a look tonight!

  • Bozac

    yeah i forgot about gabe's event so maybe we should try and make it the 6th. It's my birthday the day before so I might not be in great shape though. while I'm posting what is everyone's impressions of the pavel roadster? thinking about splashing out on a nice deck soon, i had a quick ride on robbo's in melb and it felt nice but haven't gotten too much feedback from other guys

  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    Number 1 most popular slalom deck in Australia!

    Very good to ride once you have the setup dialed in right. Can even be used for Pumpstation GS. I'm riding one there in the pic on my page.

    Highly recomended. Give Ado a call, he may have some left.


  • Premium Member

    Marek

    Ok so everyone else happy to lock in a session on Sunday the 6th Feb at 1pm?

    Location to be advised? Sutherland sounds fine so long as we can find a spot with some uphill run out and we can see whats coming. Maybe James can comment and Fitz can check it out.

  • Bozac

    shit i just checked and my missus has some birthday things planned for the weekend down the coast on that weekend. I will check it out and get back to you later tonight. thanks for that fitz, I will give ado a buzz now he has one left in stock

  • Premium Member

    PC

    Sorry, can't make it for the 6th. Daughters birthday weekend.

    Hope you get a good crew along for it.

     

    I've just scoped out a new venue for slalom near Gorokan.

    Gated lead in road & carpark at a sports field, unused on sundays in summer.

    The layout has some interesting possibilities for a hybrid/ 3D course.

    Boyd & I will try to get a sunday slalom date sorted out for late feb or early march hopefully.

    Going to set up a course this weekend for a test ride if I can find the time & a few crew.

    If anyones up for it let me know & I'll message you some details.

    We want to keep the location low key so we don't blow it out before we get a

    chance to use it for some sessions.


  • Premium Member

    Marek

    Hmm Ok. At the risk of trying to suit everybody (impossible) How about the Sunday the 13th of Feb?
  • Bozac

    I'm in for the 6th now, as long as it is a midday session. I'm looking to sell a set of rts/x trackers and an old pps jason mitchell if anyone is looking for a starter setup for a mate

  • Premium Member

    Marek

    Ok Stick with the Sunday 6th of Feb, Sunday 1pm. Me, Boz, maybe Bugs, Fitz? maybee James? Thats a crew. I'll bring cones. Location still TBC.

     

    PC i'm up the coast for one of your sessions soon for sure. Just not this weekend. I'm off to Adelaide, and was going to hookup with SAs best (and only) slalomer JudgeK, but, he's quit!


  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    Can't wait till it cools down later this arvo.

    The red part of the track is most popular with cyclist. The Rawson Ave straight is totally flat then as it curls around anti c/w you've got that big gradual decent sweeper.

    I've skated that slalom which was long and easy but the surface has always been average.

    I reckon the best little part is the green extension track. Not as popular with cyclists and the best part is it's a loop rd which means less walking back up the hill. The finish line would be starting to go up hill again making it easy to come to a rest.

  • Col

    Im in!!

  • Premium Member

    James

    It's rad with the new surface hey Fitz?

    No worries about runout, I have never made it to the top of the uphill at the bottom.

    Most of the time it isn't very busy at all, especially the bottom section.

    6th of feb sounds good to me. I'll be there

  • Premium Member

    Marek

    I put the 6th feb up as an event just so it doesn't get lost in the sites and sessions forum. Although I guess the event page is getting pretty crowded now too.

  • Premium Member

    haggy

    hmmm - that track is gonna be so rad with the resurfaced bottom section...
  • Bozac

    Is there enough room to run head to head on it? If we make it part of chc it would be rad

  • ASRA Admin

    Bugs

    Head-to-head only works if the road is straight, cos a bend in the road makes one of the courses longer than the other. Don't know if there's a long enough straight section - we'd need a minimum of around 100 metres.

  • Premium Member

    James

    There would be 300m of straight easy I reckon. They have marked the distance in 100m intervals on the track. I'll go have another look this arvo.

  • Premium Member

    Fitz

    agreed, If we went through the right channels in council we could have the place to ourself for a CHC provided we had correct ASRA sanctioning and insurance.

    Theres more than enough length of straight with surface that make Stromlo feel like a dirt track. Seriously its that good.


  • Premium Member

    haggy

    bringing chc back to sydney!  great idea.  let's do it.  fitz, i'll call you and when we'll get it sussed.