Two pretty much “stock” setups that rip.
These are the two longboards I tend to ride the most, my Gravity Kalai and Gravity 42″ Spoon. Both are now discontinued models. What a shame. The longboarding world simply wasn’t smart enough to recognize how great these two decks were.
Both boards are laminates of bamboo and maple. Both kick ass. I have 2 other drop-through downhill boards, and the Kalai is simply a better board for carving. You can still get the Gravity Makai, which is the same deck except all maple (no bamboo). The Spoon, with its kicktail, is a fantastic all-around board. Long enough for great stability, it can take many different truck/wheel combinations. You can ride it anywhere. I think it’s a shame that more skaters don’t appreciate a longboard with a traditional skateboard shape and a functional kicktail.
The truth, I think, is that most skaters of longboards would be much better served by riding a board like the spoon – a traditional shape with a kicktail. Granted, you really can’t run some of the giant wheels available today on such a board without lots of riser pads, but you can easily run 65mm – 70mm wheels on them. For most skating that more than sufficient.
Can’t fight evolution. Gr8 lil article Bob. People might wanna know that, although the SpoonNose 42 is out, the SN45 is still in production. I dig em both & keep a SN45 in my car at all times. And I agree that a tail adds function that can’t be discounted.
Thank for the support and input, Brad. Yeah, I plan to get the SN45. Need to save up a few $$, though Kevin is usually really good to me on the orders. I’m thinking about weeding my quiver a bit, actually. I love all my boards, but I’m a bit heavy on the drop-through boards. I love them, but I really only ride the Kalai. Having the rest is sort of stupid. I have this badass speedboard, but the truth is I will probably never go that fast. That’s not my thing.