Shaped Decks

If you've been following skateboarding recently, you'll know that shaped decks have made a comeback. The dominant popsicle shaped deck that has been around since probably the early 90's has some competition and I have first hand experience with one.

Since first finding out about Welcome Skateboards, I have been interested in the return of shaped skateboards. I watched videos of the Welcome team straight killing it with their own unique style and was amazed. I still rode a popsicle board until it became unridable and my friend hooked me up with a Welcome skateboard.

Through first seeing it, I thought it would be hard to ride. First of all it being a 9.5 incher (width) and I was used to riding 8.4, 8.5 boards, but once I got on it, it felt perfect. All the extra room on the board for my feet felt great. The squared out tail and small nose didn't actually affect my tricks that much at all. I kickflipped on it second try. That's about it for flip tricks. I can't really do nollie flips or tre flips these days anyways; too much effort.

Since starting skateboarding, I had a 7.5 inch, 7.75 inch, 8 inch, 8.25 inch, 8.38 inch, 8.4 inch, and 8.5 inch, and now this 9.5 inch. I have never regretted getting a bigger board size, and this shaped Welcome deck is of no exception. The shape may throw some people off, but it is essentially a normal board, just a bit bigger.

I thought it would be hard to skate one of these, but it is really easy. I could still do all my transition tricks in the bowl and mini at Bay. I think the change of pace from skating the same old thing is what does it for me. It just feels fun to ride. I highly recommend getting one. The only thing about this set up is that I am using the same trucks. Trucks should generally be about as wide as the board is. I have just been lazy about getting larger trucks mainly because I am happy with how these ride. Eventually I am sure I will get some larger ones, but these ain't broke so there's really no reason to fix them.

Anyways, go out and get a bigger board, you won't regret it!