Tag Archives: independent truck bolts

New Skateboard – Death Dan Cates Killer Clown II

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Who remembers the Killer Clown panic that went round a few years back at Halloween time? When there were all these stories of people getting attacked by creepy weirdos dressed as clowns? Kids were scared silly about it and it was all just urban japes and bants created by the internet.

Anyway, I decided I need a new cruiser board to replace my Santa Cruz Street Creep re-issue. The main reason being, that the Street Creep is worth a few quid and it should be up on the wall as a decoration. Or DECK-oration, haha!! Sorry.

I also really miss the big, old shaped decks of yore, and thought that this would be a good shape to aid in my goal of getting better at slappy tricks.

I’d had my eyes on the Death Dan Cates deck for a while, and finally decided to go for it. Regular readers will know I’m a bit of a Death Skateboard fanboy, and this Cates deck looked perfect – great shape and graphic. Dan Cates is a talented skater who I’ve watched many video parts of. Plus it was within my meagre budget, so I bought it from Native Skate Store online.

The wheels are Powell Peralta Dragons 56mm and 93A, which I got from a contact in a Facebook group for a very good price. The only problem was the trucks: i re-purposed the Indy trucks I had on the Street Creep, but they’re actually not wide enough – wider trucks will be sourced asap.

So far, the whole set up rides amazing: the deck has a really nice concave and overall feel, plus the wheels are unbelievably smooth. I’ve just rolled around the carpark so far, but hope to take a trip to a pump track soon. And maybe do some more old school 80’s street skating…

As usual, here are the specs for posterity:

  • Death Skateboards Dan Cates Killer Clown II 9.375″ (free griptape)
  • Independent trucks (to be replaced)
  • Powell Peralta Dragon wheels 56mm 93A
  • Independent bolts
  • ABEC 5 Bearings

Check out Death Skateboards here.

Check out Native Skate Store here.

New Skateboard – Death OG Black Skull

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I decided I needed to ride a big nine incher. Age isn’t on my side anymore, and I mostly skate curbs anyway, so I figured I’d follow the lead of some of my skate buddies and go for a considerably wider deck. Should help with slappies and that.

Last time out I was riding a Death Benson 8.5″ wide. This time, I’ve gone up to a 9″ wide deck, though I’ve had this OG Black Skull graphic several times before in smaller sizes.

Wider deck meant wider trucks, and luckily I found a pair of Independent Mid 159 Stage II for a decent price, along with Indy bolts.

I could’ve left it here, but rather than recycle old gear I got some new wheels: Welcome Orbs Spectres in white. They’re 52mm and 99A, I’d been riding 53mm 95A previously.

Independent GP-S bearings finish off the full purchase: my first complete skateboard in a while.

The weather has, of course, been terrible recently so I’ve not had chance to skate this set-up yet. I’m looking forward to it – those curbs are reaching out to me with their seductive, siren-like call. So here’s another post to commemorate yet another skateboard I’ve owned for posterity. It won’t be in this pristine condition for long…

Full specs, if only for my own future reference:

  • Death Skateboards OG Black Skull 9″ (with free griptaoe)
  • Independent Mid 159 Stage II Trucks
  • Welcome Orbs Spectres 52mm 99A
  • Independent GP-S Bearings
  • Independent 1″ bolts

I bought all of the above items from Native Skate Store, who provide an excellent service.

Check out Death Skateboards here.

And check out Independent Trucks here.

New Skateboard 2024 – Death Blinky

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Yes, it’s new skateboard time! Though with the disgusting weather we’re having – and more set to continue – skate time this summer looks limited…

Anyway, let’s crack on, ‘cos these blog posts are really only for me – no one else reads them. I just like to document different decks and set-ups for the sake of posterity.

No surprises, I bought a new Death Skateboards deck again. This time it’s a pro rider model, for Sam ‘Blinky’ Hutchinson. It’s 8.25″ wide, great shape and concave, with a weird graphic that I kinda like.

Deck
Full set up

My previous Indy trucks have been carried over to this model, together with Independent truck bolts.

New wheels though: I went for a slightly softer durometer and got some Santa Cruz Slime Balls “Snot Rockets” – 95a, 53mm.

All bought from good ol’ reliable Native Skate Store (with free grip applied), but otherwise built by me.

I also bought some yellow Pig Wheels rails, which need to be fitted on still.

Top
Bottom

First sesh has proven this to be an excellent set up – I even learned a new trick: blunt to 5050 stalls on a curb. A small curb, but who cares? I’ll move to bigger curbs in the future.

Stoked!

Stats for anyone interested (probably just me):

  • Death Skateboards ‘Blinky’ 8.25″ deck (with free griptape)
  • Independent Trucks 144 Mid Stage II
  • Santa Cruz Slime Balls “Snot Rockets” 53mm 95a
  • Independent Trucks GP-S bearings
  • Independent Trucks allen bolts 1″

The Death Skateboards website is here.

The Native Skate Store website is here.

Slime Balls
Snot Rockets