Skateboarding

[slip84]

So, as some of you know, I relocated from the southern US to the great city of Toronto a few months ago. Given the nature of the city, the easiest way for me to get around is on anything not motorized. The TTC is pretty horrible (for the most part), driving a car here is nonsense, and I don't want to get a bike stolen. So, I'm left with a few options, one of which is skateboarding about. I don't mind walking, but if I can shave a few minutes off my morning commute, that would be splendid.

Fortunately for me, the company I work for will throw money at anything fitness related, so I have that going for me. That said, I have some money to spend on a board, but I have very little knowledge of what I'm looking for. I popped into a shop over the weekend and ask lots of questions and got a few answers. My general situation is this:

• I'm a bit older now, so I'm not going to be doing a mess of tricks. This board is going to strictly be for getting from point A to point B. Sometimes, point C.
• My budget is pretty flexible. I don't have industrial Model M SSK board money here, but I have money.
• I don't need to go fast and I don't want to. I need stability and the ability to navigate around people here (no one seems to be in a hurry and love getting in your way).
• It'll be easier if I buy something local, so if you have inside knowledge of skateshops in the GTA, great! If not, I'll figure that bit out
• Finally, is this practical? I have read a bit about commuting on a skateboard and it seems like it is, but people write clickbait articles all the time to **** with people, so you know...

Anyway, all that said, I have looked at a few "old school" Powell Peralta boards paired with Independent trucks and 53mm wheels (I think - I might be wrong on that). But if I'm missing something obvious, I need it pointed out. If there are better options, that would be great to hear about too.

Also, I promise to post pictures of my busted head, knees, elbows, and any related medical bills if you help me pick something out.

[Halverson]

You damn punk old man!

[slip84]

Very helpful, Halverson. No pictures of my scars for you!

[Halverson]

I can't help you right now, only make fun of. Skateboards are fun, yeeee

[slip84]

Yeeeee.

[Sygaldry]

Longboard

This baby has served me well since my college days (been about 9 years now):

http://loadedboards.com/index.php/vanguard-complete.html

[YoungMichael88]

I love skateboards. I'm into regular decks tho. Not old school or long boards. My favourite companies were Birdhouse and Zero. I think most standard decks are all under $100. Trucks vary in price quite a bit. Get a nice set of bearings too. Makes a noticeable difference. I'm thinking of getting myself another complete this summer but the roads in my town are soooo incredibly ****ty that I might not even be able to use it for transport.

[Sygaldry]

the roads in my town are soooo incredibly ****ty that I might not even be able to use it for transport.

This is why longboards make more sense for commuting than regular decks 

I used to skateboard but then when I got to college I realized they really sucked for daily commute

[YoungMichael88]

the roads in my town are soooo incredibly ****ty that I might not even be able to use it for transport.

This is why longboards make more sense for commuting than regular decks 

I used to skateboard but then when I got to college I realized they really sucked for daily commute

Yup. But I wouldn't mind flipping a few tricks here and there too so no longboard for me.

[pesky brat]

Roller blades are dope, just sayin'... They're wheels on your feet man!

[YoungMichael88]

Roller blades are dope, just sayin'... They're wheels on your feet man!

Used to call them Fruit Booters when I was younger. The age old Skate/Blade rivalry.

EDIT: And then Razor scooters happened.....

[Sygaldry]

the roads in my town are soooo incredibly ****ty that I might not even be able to use it for transport.

This is why longboards make more sense for commuting than regular decks 

I used to skateboard but then when I got to college I realized they really sucked for daily commute

Yup. But I wouldn't mind flipping a few tricks here and there too so no longboard for me.

 

[slip84]

Roller blades are dope, just sayin'... They're wheels on your feet man!

I considered that, but I have wickedly bad knees. I'll find out pretty quickly if the skateboard is a bad idea or not, but I dislocated my knee back when I had rollerblades. The twisting and whatnot isn't ideal and it'll be minimized to a degree with a skateboard. At least, I hope. The rollerblade thing means constant twisting/torque on my knees, sadly.

[YoungMichael88]

the roads in my town are soooo incredibly ****ty that I might not even be able to use it for transport.

This is why longboards make more sense for commuting than regular decks 

I used to skateboard but then when I got to college I realized they really sucked for daily commute

Yup. But I wouldn't mind flipping a few tricks here and there too so no longboard for me.

 

That looks pretty fun! And much harder to flip tricks. I've got some thinking to do....

[Lain1911]

I still have a wet willy board. I heard they went out of business? World Industries right?

[Sygaldry]

the roads in my town are soooo incredibly ****ty that I might not even be able to use it for transport.

This is why longboards make more sense for commuting than regular decks 

I used to skateboard but then when I got to college I realized they really sucked for daily commute

Yup. But I wouldn't mind flipping a few tricks here and there too so no longboard for me.

 

That looks pretty fun! And much harder to flip tricks. I've got some thinking to do....

Flip tricks you say??

 

[Evo_Spec]

I'm with Sygaldry on this one, it would be dumb idea to get a skateboard for commuting reasons, you'd should DEFINITELY get a longboard.
If you really feel the need for a skateboard then get a curved longboard like Sygaldry posted.

Maybe I'm biased as I started on a longboard but that said I was skating around a new parking lot and my friend had a skateboard which I tried and I had a hard time riding that thing and always felt like I was gonna biff, it was so unstable on that thing.

[slip84]

Truth be told, I was looking at what is called a "cruiser." They're a bit longer and wider than a typical skateboard, but not as long as a longboard. I want to avoid the longboard mostly because there would, at least for me, be a lack of ability to lift the thing if I need to get over something. The other thing is that a cruiser would be shorter by a bit, which would allow for stowing it a bit easier at work.

[Halverson]

Check out landyachtz, they be my fav

[tp4tissue]

Skateboarding is slow and unsafe..

Why not get a bmx bike.. 

They're ultimately still pretty inefficient due to small wheel diameter, but they're MUCH safer, and can get to more places, and can go uphill.

"also "   BRAKES

[YoungMichael88]

Leaving your BMX chained to a bike post in Toronto all day is not wise. You can carry a skateboard on the TTC a lot easier too. In cabs easier, into your buddies apartment easier. And inefficiency is pretty good when you are trying to get more exercise in like me. I don't want to just coast wherever I go.

[ApocalypseMaow]

53mm wheels is gonna be rough holmes... If you're just straight pushing to work and home, get some oj hot juice!!!
I've used these my cruiser/filming board for a few years and they've been great!!!

The Powell re-issue desk are legit as well. I've been riding the Mike Vallely Elephant!!!

[slip84]

Thanks for the advice, ApocalypseMaow. I thought I might be wrong on the wheel size. The ones you pointed out look more similar to the ones that they had pointed out to me at the store. Though, honestly, they're all round and plasticky looking. Haha.

Hopefully I will have time this weekend to go back to a skateshop and start making some decisions.

tp4tissue, a bike would be lovely, but it creates a mess of problems for me. I would have to find a place to chain it up outside my building and hope every day it wasn't stolen (very heavy foot traffic area) and then I would have to rent a spot to lock it up at my apartment. I am NOT allowed to bring them into the building. Also, biking around the city here isn't particularly safe. At all. I'm discounting it solely as a means of travel for now.