No doubt its a big deal to have such a forgiving platform. Lots of options but its seriously a pleasure to watch the Sean and some of the other guys kill it with that norcal, no foot adjustment style. We should all be so lucky to have that sort of control, in the mean time you and I can be stoked on the fact that (imo) the deck tells you where your feet are at, so long as you tell it where you want to go next.
Hell yeah. That is one of the all time classic videos if you ask me. I don't think I ever had so much fun building features or riding them (as janky as they were haha). We have been thinking about it, its just hard to stay inside when summer is calling from the roads we have to dream about all winter. Who knows, gotta ride some place on rainy days.
Sounds like a reasonable recommendation. The thing to remember is that a lot of people don't really understand where we were coming from on the Apex. We just wanted a board that wouldnt break when we tricked the thing all day, every day. That's really whats special about the Apex series, they are total tanks vs freestyle. So. If you are looking to add some consistent flips and freestyle to your sliding etc I would say its one of the best options out there, and unique in its durability.
Hi Regan! Thanks for leaving us such an awesome comment. Longboarding is a huge part of our lives and it's really important to us that we can share such an awesome part of what we do on a daily basis with other people. Thank you for the support! Keep riding, and spread the stoke! -Lindsay
Dear original, you have been the most inspirational group of people to me. longboarding is now my favourite hobby and I have 5 boards including an apex 37 2011. I love riding and have enjoyed all your series, especially the Puerto Rico sessions. thank you for making awesome boards and videos!
Hey Frank, The board in this video is the Arbiter 36, which is probably more focused on speed and fast riding performance than what you would want. That said the Arbiter KT is a shorter version which actually might be a great fit, I would check that out since its got the slide, carve and tricks thing down and would fit you well. Another option for all around (including freestyle / tricks) would be the Apex 40 DiamondDrop, that would fit your height and weight well and is one of my favorites
Me too haha The important thing to understand is that skateboarding is what you make it. I don't expect anyone to tell me how to ride, and as a result we don't tell our team riders what to ride or how to ride. They ride how they want to ride, and as a result, you see different styles and cycles as the guys and girls try new things and keep pushing forward. I am stoked to see the high speed stuff, blended with ramps, blended with a little freestyle here and there, but thats just me haha
I could see that Adam, The Arbiter was designed to be a building block. There are a LOT of opinions on which severe concave works for which rider. That said (particularly for those just getting into it) a mellow cave that can be built upon via 3d is a lot more flexible. After all, you can always build up concave via any number of 3d building methods, you cant ever shave it off. That's the idea behind this deck, though we can all look forward to some steep-an-deep variations for spring time.
Hey Ben! When you're just starting out, you'll probably want to cruise and carve around. A great beginner board for that would be the Pintail 40. It will allow you to ride with a wider stance and it's easy to learn on! I suggest watching lots of videos to find what kind of riding style you're mostly interested in doing once you progress past just cruising around. -Lindsay
Thanks for the good word Rishab, The thing to remember is that both boards have different advantages when sliding. You are right that the Drop Freeride 41 has an easier slide initiation (being double dropped) but once you KNOW how to slide, the Arbiter gives you more control during your slide and more control over when and where you finish executing your slide. For advanced riders that additional control (in the Arbiter) is a big deal, for beginners I'd go Drop Freeride, intermediate, either.
Hey SC, awesome to hear it. That deck was in development for WAY too long so its good to see that the focus paid off. Plenty of new stuff in development right now, should be a really cool last half of 2013, thanks for the good word!
The inner wheel base mounting brackets are certainly a good option for smaller riders who are looking to get into DH / sliding / higher speed riding. I had my 10 year old cousins out on a small hill on the Arbiter today and was very impressed with how the board handled a smaller rider. If he has trouble turning the board, get some softer bushings and you should be set. Smaller wheel bases mean more control and that is a very good thing for smaller riders.
Hey OF, Stoked to hear that you are not just building boards but riding them as well! That is exactly where we started out : ) Sounds like you may be throwing some tricks into that whole bag. If thats the case the Apex is the freestyle abuse proof board we always wished we could build in the garage (but never had access to the technology). IF you are doing tricks and want a longer deck I really recommend checking it out. It's not out yet but you could also check the soon to Arbiter KT!
That is a pretty solid review, aside from the stickers portion which is clearly a blown opportunity on our part. Stoked you like the board Brian! Give us a call and the low down on your order, we will hook something up on the sticker front.
Hey Noah, You are a smaller rider for sure, but the great part about the Arbiter is the huge number of accessible wheel base options that you have. Loading soft bushings in a 50 degree truck and then riding those trucks loose on the inner most wheel base setting will give you more turn than you will see in most boards (though obviously boards with Original trucks will turn substantially tighter haha). Anyway, I think you would have a good time on the deck, but either way, have fun out there.
Hey Pryce, the deck you are checking out in this video (the Arbiter 36) is one good option. It will be more slanted toward bombing than it is toward carving for sure. Keep in mind that the Arbiter is a seriously killer option for advanced riders who understand how to generate stability on a topmount, but for beginners just learning sometimes a board with a drop can help out (Maven 35 or Drop Freeride 41). As far as serious carving, usually thats a totally different animal / board choice!
Arbittttteeeeerrrrrrrrr It sounds like you are building a really nice quiver there. Always good to have a feel for the prototypical board style for each genre. You certainly have that for carving in your Pintail and sliding / freeride in your Freeride. I would say the Arbiter is an excellent example of what a Topmount speedboard / downhill deck can do at a really reasonable price ($99 / deck with freeship worldwide). I would love to see you add a true topmount threat to that bunch.
We do! Check out Newton's Shred. Great selection of Original stuff and they also sponsor some of our favorite Original Europe team riders. Good shop to support, no doubt.
Hey Ryan! This is tough. A downhill deck that is stable for higher speeds usually means it will not be super responsive for carving purposes. If you're looking to hit high speeds, then definitely go with the Arbiter 36. It's great for sliding and higher speed riding, and if you're using a softer bushing and 50 degree truck, such as the Bear Grizzly 852, you'll still be able to get your carves in. -Lindsay
I think the first KT Arbiter is coming in at 36. So pretty close to the same length as the current Arbiter 36. Basically we made the tail into a kick as opposed to ADDING the kick on to the back where the existing tail ends. I would love to see a 39 inch version this fall, no idea whether thats in the cards but it has my vote.
Hey Austin! There's so many options! The Drop Freeride 41 has a ton of concave and a lower center of gravity which is great for sliding and higher speed riding. There's also the Arbiter 36 deck which is a top mount with rear concave which is a ton of fun for doing long standies! And then we have the Maven 35, which is great if you're looking to do some more technical freeriding. -Lindsay
I ride Caliber 44s and have in the past had Stims on my deck with no problems. That is one of the setups we check for clearance. You may need to change your bushings if you have a softer carving bushing in there but that has more to do with the Arbiter being a topmount than anything else. Getting used to setting up topmounts (bushings etc) takes a little fiddling and trial and error. The arbiter wheel wells are quite literally as deep as you can go without generating torsional flex : )
Heck yeah you are fine, Its actually a really excellent choice. When we say it's not for beginners we just mean that if you haven't ever ridden before it might not be the best choice. If you have experience under your belt or know you are going for DH specifically, it's one of the best options out there. The cost of a complete board will always depend on what components you put on it. The great thing is, as a beginner, you can always upgrade those later (they all wear out eventually).
That would be the Arbiter 36 as per the title, which happens to be one of my favorite downhill / fast freeride / technical soft sliding specific decks.
Hey Julius, Well first off you have three very popular boards there. The Switchblade is the most DH geared of the three. No kicks = no freestyle, its also the stiffest. Dervish Same is the most flexible of those three decks and is certainly a good option for carving. The Apex is *sort of* a cross between them (particularly the DiamondDrop). It has kicks for freestyle, noseguards which add more freestyle punch, it carves and its lowered for DH and cruising. Three good options ; )
Hi Thomas! Yes, you can definitely buy a board from the site. Shipping to Germany is $60 USD and takes about 5 business days to get to you with UPS. Make sure you skip the estimated shipping page which is for domestic users only, and you'll then be able to enter you billing and shipping info for your country. -Lindsay
If you are looking for stability my guess is you are relatively new to the DH game, stoked you are getting into it. Topmounts like the Arbiter 36 are a really excellent solution for DH. They have a ton of upside as far as control is concerned and when your weight and front foot are totally over the front truck, they have a great amount of stability too. That said you could also check out the Maven 35 which has a drop, and more initial stability and slide initiation as a beginner.
Right on Goo, I think we would get bored if we just did the same thing all the time. Looking back 10 years (at least from my perspective) I feel like we have changed pretty substantially every couple years, whether you consider those changes progression or not is all opinion, but consistent positive change is the goal for sure.
Excited on this end to see what you think of that deck Jake. It's a really solid board and was the first deck that I got comfortable #1 Hitting 40 on and #2 toe checking into corners. Really fun board with a solid upside as far as the kicks are concerned for tricking here and there. Post back once you get some time on that thing and have fun out there!
I'm not sure I totally have this one right, BUT I think what you are asking is do complete boards at the base price come with Wheels and Bearings. If that was the question the answer is yes : ) Basically we have stock wheels and bearings that are inexpensive, and then upgrades that are available if you want to put a little bit more into your setup to change the performance etc. Most sites (ours included) show the upgrade cost along with the component relative to whatever the stock setup is.
In short, the AV Rocker is geared more towards freestyle because it has taller kicks. The Double Concave has micro drops for sliding control so it's great for 50% freestyle and 50% freeriding. The Diamond Drop is dropped lower to the ground and has a deep kinky concave. This deck keeps you stable for higher speeds and you can push out your slides easily. Also, you can put nose guards on and of these boards to enhance them for freestyle performance! -Lindsay
I use my Arbiter KT for cruising around all of the time. The 9 ply maple will easily support a heavy rider. It's great for cruising and it has a kicktail which is nice if you need to ollie off a curb, or use it to carve around. -Lindsay
Hey! For your height and weight you may want to check out the Pintail 37 or the Derringer 28! The Pintail will be a bit easier to learn on because you'll be able to ride with a wider stance, and it's a bit more stable for cruising purposes. The Derringer is a fun cruising and carving board as well, and is smaller so you can be more aggressive with your carves. -Lindsay
Hey Louis, I rock a couple different decks, actually three or four at this point haha. I think as we experiment more with different downhill board designs, and I get the opportunity to enjoy them during the test process, my quiver gets bigger and bigger. If I had to choose two I would go with the Arbiter 36 for technical sliding or technical race courses. Thats usually what I am practicing on if I am sliding seriously. The Maven 35 is my other favorite for higher speed stuff.
Hey Noah, Well thats really a tricky one. You have to remember that what you see guys doing as far as sliding and downhill is actually pretty far from the surfyness you get in the water or on snow. Most of that has to do with the amount of lean that is good for a longboard skate vs that which is good for a surfboard / snowboard. My suggestion is to get two decks, since getting a surfy carver that also does well for slides is impossible (you will sacrifice some place). The Arbiter is more DH
I must admit, once I learned how to slide I wasn't scared to go faster or down some steeper hills. Being able to slide allows you to have much more control and you can start taking more risks! Good luck with learning! -Lindsay
Right on RD. I mean the Arbiter is a pretty awesome option for you from the sounds of things. While it is decidely more geared for downhill than it is for cruising, it does have a short wheelbase which keeps it nimble even at slower speeds. You could also let your trucks setup improve your carving / cruising capacity with softer bushings and a higher degree truck (maybe Caliber 50 degrees for instance?) See what you think!
Just picked up an Arbiter this past December, and its awesome. Perfect for Downhill/Fast Freeride, and for 100 bucks you can't beat it. I really like the way you guys are headed with your boards. I can't wait to see what you guys are working for the future! - Stoked Customer
Yeah man the Freerides are a really killer option and have got to be one of the best values for a drop-through 9ply any where ($79, $89, $99 / deck). They are sort of one of those boards that starts a quiver off right if you arent sure which direction you want to go and want something that does a little of everything. Stack an Arbiter in there with the Freeride of your choice and you have a really well rounded quiver build right off the bat.
Well, generally the Kicktail (thats what KT stands for : ) That being said to make room for the kicktail and to keep things working properly we made a bunch of other changes. First off the Kicktail takes up room on the Arbiter 36 KT meaning you have a shorter wheelbase, but we also drilled more wheelbase options (since we wanted adjustment for the lenght of the kick). We also increased the concave around your front foot, and depend it in the back. I'd go KT for slower speed, Arbiter for high
If you want a stable cruiser I would suggest checking out the Freeride series or dropped Freeride series. These decks are low to the ground which makes pushing super easy, and they are nice and stable. If you want more of a cruising and carving board, check out the Pintail series which is a bit more responsive and uses a spring loaded truck. -Lindsay
Sounds like a good fit. As far as cruising, some people prefer boards that are lower to the ground for cruising (drop through or drop deck) some others prefer decks that can carve harder and make tighter turns. While the Arbiter doesn't fit into those two categories specifically, it DOES do a good job going place to place, I think it fits what you are doing well with the primary focus on downhill.
I have 44s on my personal deck, I do a fair amount of practice at slow speeds on my more technical spins / combos etc and I still feel like the 44s are plenty nimble. There are people that disagree and really rock 50s all over, I just like the 44s personally... which brings us to the truth; it's personal preference more than anything else : )
The Apex 40 really comes into its own when you are doing things that would break any other board: huge kickers and ramps, big flip tricks, general freestyle abuse. It does great with sliding and can handle light DH (I usually swap out for anything over 35 or 40mph to a DH specific deck). The other two are true DH decks but don't bring any freestyle along. I like the Arbiter for technical softwheel sliding and high speed stand up stuff. For big hills, I go Maven just for the drop and lock
Those are footstops, basically they keep your foot from sliding off the board and give you a little "hook" to hang onto. Most people make them out of a washer and a hardware dropped through a truck bushing (which is what you see on the front of most of these decks).
Haha, thanks for the stoke Keen! Couple good options for starting out, one of them being the Arbiter for sure. Personally I like teaching people on the Arbiter KT a lot. I feel like the wheelbase options open up a lot of possibilities, particularly for beginners. I also start people out on the Drop Freeride 41 which has some great slide initiation and actually carves really well. If you are doing more tricks with those slides, the Apex would be good, or for more downhill specific the Maven.
The photo on the site shows black Bear Grizzly 852 trucks and purple Orangatang Stimulus wheels. I believe we'll have the Bear Trucks very soon. As for the Stims, Otang is back-ordered on them so it might be a few weeks before we'll have them available. -Lindsay
One of my favorite boards to be sure. Just learned to pop it of the tail for front side ollie 180s and switch backside ollie 180s. Hope you like it as much as I do. Post back and let us know what you think when you get it.
Thank you so much! I'm definitely buying an original board, but I'm gonna do more research on to which one I should buy. Just wanted to say that I've ridden your pintail 40 and it is by far the best longboard I've ever ridden. Thanks for creating amazing videos AND longboards.
Sounds like you are about to hit one of the most fun times you can have in longboarding. You are starting to slide but havent quite mastered it yet. Once it clicks, you are going to be going nuts and loving it (I know I was) haha I would really check out the Drop Freeride 41. It's low (great for cruising) has kicks (great for the city) and really in a huge way loosens up your slide initiation (which is what keeps a lot of intermediates from really nailing their slides).
Long story and it's Dutches story so we try to let him tell it. Basically we were all friends trying to work together which is not always easy. Substances can make that even trickier. We all really enjoyed our time together (I know I did) and everyone here at Original wishes Dutch the best of luck. I think he is riding for a company in Germany at the moment?
Right on Navi, thanks for the support! Hope you are digging those boards, those are a couple of my favorites! As far as a topmount is concerned, the Maven is topmounted, but you mean a shortwheel base option like the Arbiter am I right? My question to you about speed is; can you handle that on the Maven? The Maven is more stable (depending on your skill) than the Arbiter, if you CAN handle it on the Maven, you can handle it on the Arbiter withpractice. I have hit 45 on both, 55 on the Maven
Yeah man, the Arbiter is a performance fast freeride deck and would be one of our top options as far as holding out stand-up slides. That said if you are just learning to slide there are better options. Anything with a drop is a big plus, the lower the board the easier to initiate your slide and we make a few of the lowest options around. Check out the Drop Freeride 41, Maven 35 or Apex DiamondDrop. Also how tall and how heavy are you? Thats the other key to getting the right board.
Playing skateboards is fun. Really the board for you depends on what style of riding you plan to get into. As a bigger rider just getting into it I might take a look at something like the Drop Freeride 41 or Drop Freeride 44. Either of those would be good for a sliding focused all around type deck. If you wanted to go full DH I would really recommend the Arbtier 36 or Maven 35. For carving the Pintail 43 or Pintail 46 would fit your height and weight well.
Holy crap I love the arbitor I've had it for 3 months now and have felt so much support and stability on it. It's my first directional and i fell in love with it this thing shreds y'all should get it. Thanks original
Yep! The Arbiter 36 deck ships for free world wide (including Brazil), though you still have to pay taxes on the $99. Basically there are a lot of countries that have a hard time getting a hold of an Original deck, since we have done so much work upgrading our stuff lately we wanted to be sure the new stuff could get out there. Oh yeah, we are working hard on new distribution avenues to go along with that.
I recently ordered this board. I can swear on my life that this is an amazing deck, especially for the price. If anyone is debating on getting this, just buy it. You will not regret it. Good shipping time too. My only complaint is that I didnt get stickers haha
Hey JuBz, You have to pay whatever fees your government charges you on arrival. Most of the time this is ~20% for VAT etc (since we don't charge you sales tax, your government usually will) but sometimes it can be more depending on your country. It should be no more expensive than any other board you order and ship in to your country, but we cover only the costs to ship the board not the taxes or duties that may be charged on arrival. Hope that helps!
Not at all, the stuff we do here at Original has always been more focused on the blended aspects of riding. Most of the boards we make have kicktails (of some sort) and aside from the Arbiter I think you could argue that most of them are more centrist towards the all around aspects of riding than many of the boards you might put them up against. The Arbiter is a downhill board. The Apex is our do it all contribution and would be drastically better at carving and tricks to be sure.
No question. I am 5'11 which is substantially taller but I have both a lot more board / wheelbase left to use, and ample wheel base options to use that are narrower. Generally smaller riders will rock smaller wheelbases but my guess is that for you, as a blended DH / cruiser, you are going to be fine some place in the middle.
Heck yes it is. The Arbiter exists to get into the hands of people who might not be able to get a hold of it. We aren't the biggest company in the world by any stretch (although we do have our share of video views to be sure) so our distribution is not as extensive. We wanted riders to be able to see what our new stuff looks like as it has come a LONG way from where we started. Hope you like the decks!
GoPros are actually a pretty solid option and we make a lot of use of them in our videos as well. Our bigger cameras run like 5k to 10k just for the camera before you add the lenses. Maybe pick up one of the entry level-ish DSLR cameras from Cannon to hold you over, but you can do a lot with a GoPro. Better to work on your editing etc, or get some classes on exposure than to buy a super expensive camera thats easy to break : )
Best is always relative to what board is best for you (no matter what brand you choose to support), What sort of hills are you going to be riding? Will you have access to big / long / fast runs or just shorter stuff (or even parking garages). Anything else you like to do with your board? Carving, Tricks / Freestyle, bombing / downhill. Last but not least how tall and how heavy are you? Will try to help out.
A couple things here; #1. Many DHers actually like grip. #2. Depending on which Otangs you have they may not be grippy as hell (it has a lot to do with your mechanics while sliding). My suggestion is to first get a set of slide gloves and learn how to hands down slide (Coleman Slide). Putting a hand down makes breaking your wheels free easier (between now and the time you dial in your stand-up slide mechanics). It is also the easiest and safest way to slow down (even once you get good)
Hey Oscar, We don't do group discounts but we could combine shipping for you guys. On international orders than can potentially save a bunch of money, it just all depends on where you guys are located and how you guys want to do. Thanks for checking out the boards, which ones are you guys thinking about picking up?
Hey NBW, Its interesting to be in your position, and I certainly know it well growing up in New Jersey (not many big hills were accessible). Here's the thing. The Apex 37 DC is going to kill it for the flats and the slower speed sliding, and even do pretty well at up to 35 or 40 mph (ie. see bish in the HurlChuck video). BUT DH is really something different. My suggestion would be to go with the Apex 37 but maybe also take a look at something like the Arbiter. Quivers are a godo thing.
Given your tricks and slides focus I would really take a look at the Apex series. While you don't need the insane durability that the carbon fiber gives you (hence the price) for downhill, it certainly makes a huge difference in board life through freestyle. The Maestro is a drop through so adding a topmount to the quiver is also a positive imo. For your size I think I would look at the Apex 37 DoubleConcave (about to come out) or the Apex 40 DiamondDrop. Either comes in between 38 and 42in.
Arbiter KTs are very close to finished, the other two new bricks are close behind that with the fiberglass version dropping first. My guess is two weeks on the Arbiter 36 KT?
Sounds like the realm of the Freeride 38 to me. Basically the Freeride 41 and Freeride 38 were designed for sliding FRIST and cruising / carving SECOND but they do a great job of all three assuming you tune your trucks and bushings to what you are trying to do. I think the Freeride 38 would be a great fit for you at 5'2, maybe look at some Caliber 50 degrees on the truck side? Price is $79 for the deck, complete Freeride 38 with Calibers should be under $200 easily depending on wheels.
Stoked that you want to start riding! Is there a particular type of riding, or style of riding you've seen in a video that you're interested in doing? Also, what is your height and weight? Knowing this info can help us help you choose what boards would be best for you. -Lindsay
2:09 That guy was really lucky. His face plant was protected by his full face, and he had a great friend who didn't laugh and was genuinely concerned if he was alright. Good stuff
It's difficult to find a deck that's responsive enough for carving, as well as stable enough for higher speed downhill. I suggest going with the Arbiter 36 since it's a top mount directional deck. I like to use the Bear Grizzly 852 trucks which are a 52 degree angle which are responsive enough for carving, and when you want to ride at higher speeds you switch the hanger to make the baseplate 40 degrees for more stability. -Lindsay
Hey Mike! I haven't heard of a specific release date yet, but I'm guessing very soon.. I suggest if you don't do so already to follow Original's Facebook page since most updates usually go on there first about new boards. -Lindsay
Radial drops are dirty. In fact we have been doing a TON of development on the concept so I would hope we have something to make some waves in that arena by the end of the year. I can't say for sure, but its one of the hot topics over here thats getting a lot of attention in early development.
Hey Chris, Interesting insight really haha The thing about the Maven is that its awesome. In my opinion its way more awesome than the Arbiter but it is a little bit of a more unique concept. The concave is something that hasn't been done (by us or anyone else) and it works. BUT it looks different and sometimes people see that that negatively. We still built it, but we just tried to get it out there to see what people thought. Where as the Arbiter is familiar, does that make sense?
Wow i joust love Original and the reason why is because i feel cared about they reply to comments they give out tips and just care about there fans and thats why yesterday i went and bought the Original Freeride BEAST 38 8!! THANKS
I personally like Abec 11 Flashbacks, Abec 11 Classic Freerides, or the Volante Checkers. The Abec 11s are super buttery feeling and the Volante Checkers have a smaller contact patch which slide easier. -Lindsay
Hey Navi! I always stick with a 70mm wheel or smaller to avoid any wheebite with the Arbiter! Let us know what you think after you give it a whirl! Lindsay
BEST is a really tough word haha There are some people out there who will tell you their deck is the best in the world, and hell I might have said the same thing years ago. The thing is that the more you ride the more you realize there are lots of different types of riding, and lots of different personal preferences in each. The best board for me may not be the best board for you. That said, I think we have done a great job with the Arbiter 36 and the Maven 35. Check those out for sure.
Hi Frovibo! What type of riding are you interested in doing? Each deck and set up is designed for a certain style of riding, so once you tell us more about yourself we can help you narrow down all of the choices. -Lindsay
Sounds like a good fit to me. Lots of people like butterballs, I personally feel like they ride a little hard but the slide initiation is v.nice imo. As far as the Arbiter KT: Should be around the same price as the Arbiter (Maybe +10ish max?) Im not really sure, thats just what I have heard thus far, and yes, very similar to the Arbiter though the concave got boosted (particularly around the nose) and flows back straight through the kick.
Hi Allison! I started off doing hands down slides because when you're lower to the ground it is much easier to initiate a slide. When I was learning to slide it was easiest with a wheel that was pre-broken in for me. I personally liked the Orangatang Stimulus 83a wheels which aren't TOO hard, but they are already broken in for you and slide pretty easily. Check them out! -Lindsay
Well those are two really different boards. I would personally love to see you add an Arbiter to your quiver as I think that TopMounts like the Arbiter 36 offer a really different look at downhill performance and have some awesome upside as far as sliding is concerned (provided you already know how to initiate your slide). If you are still learning to initiate your slides I have a lot more luck teaching people on drop throughs like the Freeride 41 or double drops like the Drop Freeride 41.
No doubt its a big deal to have such a forgiving platform.
Lots of options but its seriously a pleasure to watch the Sean and some of the other guys kill it with that norcal, no foot adjustment style. We should all be so lucky to have that sort of control, in the mean time you and I can be stoked on the fact that (imo) the deck tells you where your feet are at, so long as you tell it where you want to go next.
Hell yeah.
That is one of the all time classic videos if you ask me.
I don't think I ever had so much fun building features or riding them (as janky as they were haha).
We have been thinking about it, its just hard to stay inside when summer is calling from the roads we have to dream about all winter. Who knows, gotta ride some place on rainy days.
Sounds like a reasonable recommendation.
The thing to remember is that a lot of people don't really understand where we were coming from on the Apex. We just wanted a board that wouldnt break when we tricked the thing all day, every day. That's really whats special about the Apex series, they are total tanks vs freestyle.
So. If you are looking to add some consistent flips and freestyle to your sliding etc I would say its one of the best options out there, and unique in its durability.
Hi Regan! Thanks for leaving us such an awesome comment. Longboarding is a huge part of our lives and it's really important to us that we can share such an awesome part of what we do on a daily basis with other people. Thank you for the support! Keep riding, and spread the stoke! -Lindsay
Stoked you like it Sam, thanks for taking the time to let us know.
Dear original, you have been the most inspirational group of people to me. longboarding is now my favourite hobby and I have 5 boards including an apex 37 2011. I love riding and have enjoyed all your series, especially the Puerto Rico sessions. thank you for making awesome boards and videos!
Hey Frank,
The board in this video is the Arbiter 36, which is probably more focused on speed and fast riding performance than what you would want. That said the Arbiter KT is a shorter version which actually might be a great fit, I would check that out since its got the slide, carve and tricks thing down and would fit you well.
Another option for all around (including freestyle / tricks) would be the Apex 40 DiamondDrop, that would fit your height and weight well and is one of my favorites
Me too haha
The important thing to understand is that skateboarding is what you make it.
I don't expect anyone to tell me how to ride, and as a result we don't tell our team riders what to ride or how to ride. They ride how they want to ride, and as a result, you see different styles and cycles as the guys and girls try new things and keep pushing forward. I am stoked to see the high speed stuff, blended with ramps, blended with a little freestyle here and there, but thats just me haha
I could see that Adam,
The Arbiter was designed to be a building block. There are a LOT of opinions on which severe concave works for which rider. That said (particularly for those just getting into it) a mellow cave that can be built upon via 3d is a lot more flexible. After all, you can always build up concave via any number of 3d building methods, you cant ever shave it off. That's the idea behind this deck, though we can all look forward to some steep-an-deep variations for spring time.
Hey Ben! When you're just starting out, you'll probably want to cruise and carve around. A great beginner board for that would be the Pintail 40. It will allow you to ride with a wider stance and it's easy to learn on! I suggest watching lots of videos to find what kind of riding style you're mostly interested in doing once you progress past just cruising around. -Lindsay
Thanks for the good word Rishab,
The thing to remember is that both boards have different advantages when sliding.
You are right that the Drop Freeride 41 has an easier slide initiation (being double dropped) but once you KNOW how to slide, the Arbiter gives you more control during your slide and more control over when and where you finish executing your slide. For advanced riders that additional control (in the Arbiter) is a big deal, for beginners I'd go Drop Freeride, intermediate, either.
Hey SC, awesome to hear it.
That deck was in development for WAY too long so its good to see that the focus paid off.
Plenty of new stuff in development right now, should be a really cool last half of 2013, thanks for the good word!
The inner wheel base mounting brackets are certainly a good option for smaller riders who are looking to get into DH / sliding / higher speed riding. I had my 10 year old cousins out on a small hill on the Arbiter today and was very impressed with how the board handled a smaller rider. If he has trouble turning the board, get some softer bushings and you should be set. Smaller wheel bases mean more control and that is a very good thing for smaller riders.
Hey OF,
Stoked to hear that you are not just building boards but riding them as well!
That is exactly where we started out : )
Sounds like you may be throwing some tricks into that whole bag. If thats the case the Apex is the freestyle abuse proof board we always wished we could build in the garage (but never had access to the technology). IF you are doing tricks and want a longer deck I really recommend checking it out.
It's not out yet but you could also check the soon to Arbiter KT!
That is a pretty solid review, aside from the stickers portion which is clearly a blown opportunity on our part.
Stoked you like the board Brian! Give us a call and the low down on your order, we will hook something up on the sticker front.
i liked all of those skate trip vids that where almost like documentaries. they not only showed skating but just all the fun they have.
Hey Noah,
You are a smaller rider for sure, but the great part about the Arbiter is the huge number of accessible wheel base options that you have. Loading soft bushings in a 50 degree truck and then riding those trucks loose on the inner most wheel base setting will give you more turn than you will see in most boards (though obviously boards with Original trucks will turn substantially tighter haha). Anyway, I think you would have a good time on the deck, but either way, have fun out there.
Hey Pryce, the deck you are checking out in this video (the Arbiter 36) is one good option. It will be more slanted toward bombing than it is toward carving for sure. Keep in mind that the Arbiter is a seriously killer option for advanced riders who understand how to generate stability on a topmount, but for beginners just learning sometimes a board with a drop can help out (Maven 35 or Drop Freeride 41). As far as serious carving, usually thats a totally different animal / board choice!
Arbittttteeeeerrrrrrrrr
It sounds like you are building a really nice quiver there.
Always good to have a feel for the prototypical board style for each genre. You certainly have that for carving in your Pintail and sliding / freeride in your Freeride. I would say the Arbiter is an excellent example of what a Topmount speedboard / downhill deck can do at a really reasonable price ($99 / deck with freeship worldwide). I would love to see you add a true topmount threat to that bunch.
We do!
Check out Newton's Shred. Great selection of Original stuff and they also sponsor some of our favorite Original Europe team riders. Good shop to support, no doubt.
Hey Ryan! This is tough. A downhill deck that is stable for higher speeds usually means it will not be super responsive for carving purposes. If you're looking to hit high speeds, then definitely go with the Arbiter 36. It's great for sliding and higher speed riding, and if you're using a softer bushing and 50 degree truck, such as the Bear Grizzly 852, you'll still be able to get your carves in. -Lindsay
I think the first KT Arbiter is coming in at 36. So pretty close to the same length as the current Arbiter 36. Basically we made the tail into a kick as opposed to ADDING the kick on to the back where the existing tail ends. I would love to see a 39 inch version this fall, no idea whether thats in the cards but it has my vote.
Hey Austin! There's so many options! The Drop Freeride 41 has a ton of concave and a lower center of gravity which is great for sliding and higher speed riding. There's also the Arbiter 36 deck which is a top mount with rear concave which is a ton of fun for doing long standies! And then we have the Maven 35, which is great if you're looking to do some more technical freeriding. -Lindsay
I ride Caliber 44s and have in the past had Stims on my deck with no problems.
That is one of the setups we check for clearance. You may need to change your bushings if you have a softer carving bushing in there but that has more to do with the Arbiter being a topmount than anything else. Getting used to setting up topmounts (bushings etc) takes a little fiddling and trial and error. The arbiter wheel wells are quite literally as deep as you can go without generating torsional flex : )
A good recipe with a good result.
Stoked you like it Anton.
Heck yeah you are fine,
Its actually a really excellent choice. When we say it's not for beginners we just mean that if you haven't ever ridden before it might not be the best choice. If you have experience under your belt or know you are going for DH specifically, it's one of the best options out there. The cost of a complete board will always depend on what components you put on it. The great thing is, as a beginner, you can always upgrade those later (they all wear out eventually).
That would be the Arbiter 36 as per the title, which happens to be one of my favorite downhill / fast freeride / technical soft sliding specific decks.
Hey Julius,
Well first off you have three very popular boards there.
The Switchblade is the most DH geared of the three. No kicks = no freestyle, its also the stiffest.
Dervish Same is the most flexible of those three decks and is certainly a good option for carving.
The Apex is *sort of* a cross between them (particularly the DiamondDrop). It has kicks for freestyle, noseguards which add more freestyle punch, it carves and its lowered for DH and cruising. Three good options ; )
Hi Thomas! Yes, you can definitely buy a board from the site. Shipping to Germany is $60 USD and takes about 5 business days to get to you with UPS. Make sure you skip the estimated shipping page which is for domestic users only, and you'll then be able to enter you billing and shipping info for your country. -Lindsay
If you are looking for stability my guess is you are relatively new to the DH game, stoked you are getting into it. Topmounts like the Arbiter 36 are a really excellent solution for DH. They have a ton of upside as far as control is concerned and when your weight and front foot are totally over the front truck, they have a great amount of stability too.
That said you could also check out the Maven 35 which has a drop, and more initial stability and slide initiation as a beginner.
Right on Goo,
I think we would get bored if we just did the same thing all the time.
Looking back 10 years (at least from my perspective) I feel like we have changed pretty substantially every couple years, whether you consider those changes progression or not is all opinion, but consistent positive change is the goal for sure.
Excited on this end to see what you think of that deck Jake. It's a really solid board and was the first deck that I got comfortable #1 Hitting 40 on and #2 toe checking into corners. Really fun board with a solid upside as far as the kicks are concerned for tricking here and there. Post back once you get some time on that thing and have fun out there!
I'm not sure I totally have this one right, BUT I think what you are asking is do complete boards at the base price come with Wheels and Bearings. If that was the question the answer is yes : )
Basically we have stock wheels and bearings that are inexpensive, and then upgrades that are available if you want to put a little bit more into your setup to change the performance etc. Most sites (ours included) show the upgrade cost along with the component relative to whatever the stock setup is.
In short, the AV Rocker is geared more towards freestyle because it has taller kicks. The Double Concave has micro drops for sliding control so it's great for 50% freestyle and 50% freeriding. The Diamond Drop is dropped lower to the ground and has a deep kinky concave. This deck keeps you stable for higher speeds and you can push out your slides easily. Also, you can put nose guards on and of these boards to enhance them for freestyle performance! -Lindsay
I use my Arbiter KT for cruising around all of the time. The 9 ply maple will easily support a heavy rider. It's great for cruising and it has a kicktail which is nice if you need to ollie off a curb, or use it to carve around. -Lindsay
Hey! For your height and weight you may want to check out the Pintail 37 or the Derringer 28! The Pintail will be a bit easier to learn on because you'll be able to ride with a wider stance, and it's a bit more stable for cruising purposes. The Derringer is a fun cruising and carving board as well, and is smaller so you can be more aggressive with your carves. -Lindsay
Hey Louis, I rock a couple different decks, actually three or four at this point haha.
I think as we experiment more with different downhill board designs, and I get the opportunity to enjoy them during the test process, my quiver gets bigger and bigger.
If I had to choose two I would go with the Arbiter 36 for technical sliding or technical race courses. Thats usually what I am practicing on if I am sliding seriously.
The Maven 35 is my other favorite for higher speed stuff.
Thanks for the support :) Enjoy the Beast!! Let us know what you think after you ride it, we love feedback! -Lindsay
Hey Noah,
Well thats really a tricky one. You have to remember that what you see guys doing as far as sliding and downhill is actually pretty far from the surfyness you get in the water or on snow. Most of that has to do with the amount of lean that is good for a longboard skate vs that which is good for a surfboard / snowboard. My suggestion is to get two decks, since getting a surfy carver that also does well for slides is impossible (you will sacrifice some place). The Arbiter is more DH
Hey Hey South A, stoke from the other hemisphere is always a good thing.
Thanks for the good word Maggy!
Hi Oscar! We recently started carry Volante Checker wheels which I've been using for freeriding and they've been working out really well! -Lindsay
I must admit, once I learned how to slide I wasn't scared to go faster or down some steeper hills. Being able to slide allows you to have much more control and you can start taking more risks! Good luck with learning! -Lindsay
Right on RD. I mean the Arbiter is a pretty awesome option for you from the sounds of things.
While it is decidely more geared for downhill than it is for cruising, it does have a short wheelbase which keeps it nimble even at slower speeds. You could also let your trucks setup improve your carving / cruising capacity with softer bushings and a higher degree truck (maybe Caliber 50 degrees for instance?) See what you think!
Just picked up an Arbiter this past December, and its awesome. Perfect for Downhill/Fast Freeride, and for 100 bucks you can't beat it. I really like the way you guys are headed with your boards. I can't wait to see what you guys are working for the future!
- Stoked Customer
Yeah man the Freerides are a really killer option and have got to be one of the best values for a drop-through 9ply any where ($79, $89, $99 / deck). They are sort of one of those boards that starts a quiver off right if you arent sure which direction you want to go and want something that does a little of everything. Stack an Arbiter in there with the Freeride of your choice and you have a really well rounded quiver build right off the bat.
In the past year or two Original has progressed as a company so much. I feel like this video exemplifies that beautifully.
Well, generally the Kicktail (thats what KT stands for : )
That being said to make room for the kicktail and to keep things working properly we made a bunch of other changes. First off the Kicktail takes up room on the Arbiter 36 KT meaning you have a shorter wheelbase, but we also drilled more wheelbase options (since we wanted adjustment for the lenght of the kick). We also increased the concave around your front foot, and depend it in the back. I'd go KT for slower speed, Arbiter for high
If you want a stable cruiser I would suggest checking out the Freeride series or dropped Freeride series. These decks are low to the ground which makes pushing super easy, and they are nice and stable. If you want more of a cruising and carving board, check out the Pintail series which is a bit more responsive and uses a spring loaded truck. -Lindsay
Sounds like a good fit. As far as cruising, some people prefer boards that are lower to the ground for cruising (drop through or drop deck) some others prefer decks that can carve harder and make tighter turns. While the Arbiter doesn't fit into those two categories specifically, it DOES do a good job going place to place, I think it fits what you are doing well with the primary focus on downhill.
I have 44s on my personal deck,
I do a fair amount of practice at slow speeds on my more technical spins / combos etc and I still feel like the 44s are plenty nimble. There are people that disagree and really rock 50s all over, I just like the 44s personally... which brings us to the truth; it's personal preference more than anything else : )
The Apex 40 really comes into its own when you are doing things that would break any other board: huge kickers and ramps, big flip tricks, general freestyle abuse. It does great with sliding and can handle light DH (I usually swap out for anything over 35 or 40mph to a DH specific deck).
The other two are true DH decks but don't bring any freestyle along.
I like the Arbiter for technical softwheel sliding and high speed stand up stuff. For big hills, I go Maven just for the drop and lock
Those are footstops, basically they keep your foot from sliding off the board and give you a little "hook" to hang onto. Most people make them out of a washer and a hardware dropped through a truck bushing (which is what you see on the front of most of these decks).
Haha, thanks for the stoke Keen!
Couple good options for starting out, one of them being the Arbiter for sure.
Personally I like teaching people on the Arbiter KT a lot. I feel like the wheelbase options open up a lot of possibilities, particularly for beginners. I also start people out on the Drop Freeride 41 which has some great slide initiation and actually carves really well. If you are doing more tricks with those slides, the Apex would be good, or for more downhill specific the Maven.
This varies depending on the size/weight of the package. But, ground shipping to VA usually ranges from $10-15
The photo on the site shows black Bear Grizzly 852 trucks and purple Orangatang Stimulus wheels. I believe we'll have the Bear Trucks very soon. As for the Stims, Otang is back-ordered on them so it might be a few weeks before we'll have them available. -Lindsay
One of my favorite boards to be sure. Just learned to pop it of the tail for front side ollie 180s and switch backside ollie 180s. Hope you like it as much as I do. Post back and let us know what you think when you get it.
Thank you so much! I'm definitely buying an original board, but I'm gonna do more research on to which one I should buy. Just wanted to say that I've ridden your pintail 40 and it is by far the best longboard I've ever ridden. Thanks for creating amazing videos AND longboards.
Sounds like you are about to hit one of the most fun times you can have in longboarding.
You are starting to slide but havent quite mastered it yet. Once it clicks, you are going to be going nuts and loving it (I know I was) haha
I would really check out the Drop Freeride 41.
It's low (great for cruising) has kicks (great for the city) and really in a huge way loosens up your slide initiation (which is what keeps a lot of intermediates from really nailing their slides).
Long story and it's Dutches story so we try to let him tell it.
Basically we were all friends trying to work together which is not always easy. Substances can make that even trickier. We all really enjoyed our time together (I know I did) and everyone here at Original wishes Dutch the best of luck. I think he is riding for a company in Germany at the moment?
Right on Navi, thanks for the support!
Hope you are digging those boards, those are a couple of my favorites!
As far as a topmount is concerned, the Maven is topmounted, but you mean a shortwheel base option like the Arbiter am I right? My question to you about speed is; can you handle that on the Maven? The Maven is more stable (depending on your skill) than the Arbiter, if you CAN handle it on the Maven, you can handle it on the Arbiter withpractice. I have hit 45 on both, 55 on the Maven
Totally agree. Going to get on it early this year!
Yeah man, the Arbiter is a performance fast freeride deck and would be one of our top options as far as holding out stand-up slides. That said if you are just learning to slide there are better options. Anything with a drop is a big plus, the lower the board the easier to initiate your slide and we make a few of the lowest options around.
Check out the Drop Freeride 41, Maven 35 or Apex DiamondDrop.
Also how tall and how heavy are you? Thats the other key to getting the right board.
Playing skateboards is fun.
Really the board for you depends on what style of riding you plan to get into.
As a bigger rider just getting into it I might take a look at something like the Drop Freeride 41 or Drop Freeride 44. Either of those would be good for a sliding focused all around type deck. If you wanted to go full DH I would really recommend the Arbtier 36 or Maven 35. For carving the Pintail 43 or Pintail 46 would fit your height and weight well.
Holy crap I love the arbitor I've had it for 3 months now and have felt so much support and stability on it. It's my first directional and i fell in love with it this thing shreds y'all should get it. Thanks original
Yep! The Arbiter 36 deck ships for free world wide (including Brazil), though you still have to pay taxes on the $99.
Basically there are a lot of countries that have a hard time getting a hold of an Original deck, since we have done so much work upgrading our stuff lately we wanted to be sure the new stuff could get out there. Oh yeah, we are working hard on new distribution avenues to go along with that.
I recently ordered this board. I can swear on my life that this is an amazing deck, especially for the price. If anyone is debating on getting this, just buy it. You will not regret it. Good shipping time too. My only complaint is that I didnt get stickers haha
Hey JuBz,
You have to pay whatever fees your government charges you on arrival.
Most of the time this is ~20% for VAT etc (since we don't charge you sales tax, your government usually will) but sometimes it can be more depending on your country. It should be no more expensive than any other board you order and ship in to your country, but we cover only the costs to ship the board not the taxes or duties that may be charged on arrival. Hope that helps!
Not at all, the stuff we do here at Original has always been more focused on the blended aspects of riding. Most of the boards we make have kicktails (of some sort) and aside from the Arbiter I think you could argue that most of them are more centrist towards the all around aspects of riding than many of the boards you might put them up against. The Arbiter is a downhill board. The Apex is our do it all contribution and would be drastically better at carving and tricks to be sure.
No question. I am 5'11 which is substantially taller but I have both a lot more board / wheelbase left to use, and ample wheel base options to use that are narrower. Generally smaller riders will rock smaller wheelbases but my guess is that for you, as a blended DH / cruiser, you are going to be fine some place in the middle.
Heck yes it is. The Arbiter exists to get into the hands of people who might not be able to get a hold of it. We aren't the biggest company in the world by any stretch (although we do have our share of video views to be sure) so our distribution is not as extensive. We wanted riders to be able to see what our new stuff looks like as it has come a LONG way from where we started. Hope you like the decks!
Original has really stepped up their game. Really nice job on these last few decks guys, nice job.
GoPros are actually a pretty solid option and we make a lot of use of them in our videos as well.
Our bigger cameras run like 5k to 10k just for the camera before you add the lenses. Maybe pick up one of the entry level-ish DSLR cameras from Cannon to hold you over, but you can do a lot with a GoPro. Better to work on your editing etc, or get some classes on exposure than to buy a super expensive camera thats easy to break : )
Arbiter just finished production and is set to be available tomorrow as soon as we are done with the inventory count. Shipping is still free!
Best is always relative to what board is best for you (no matter what brand you choose to support),
What sort of hills are you going to be riding? Will you have access to big / long / fast runs or just shorter stuff (or even parking garages). Anything else you like to do with your board? Carving, Tricks / Freestyle, bombing / downhill. Last but not least how tall and how heavy are you? Will try to help out.
A couple things here;
#1. Many DHers actually like grip.
#2. Depending on which Otangs you have they may not be grippy as hell (it has a lot to do with your mechanics while sliding).
My suggestion is to first get a set of slide gloves and learn how to hands down slide (Coleman Slide).
Putting a hand down makes breaking your wheels free easier (between now and the time you dial in your stand-up slide mechanics). It is also the easiest and safest way to slow down (even once you get good)
Hey Oscar,
We don't do group discounts but we could combine shipping for you guys.
On international orders than can potentially save a bunch of money, it just all depends on where you guys are located and how you guys want to do. Thanks for checking out the boards, which ones are you guys thinking about picking up?
Hey NBW,
Its interesting to be in your position, and I certainly know it well growing up in New Jersey (not many big hills were accessible). Here's the thing. The Apex 37 DC is going to kill it for the flats and the slower speed sliding, and even do pretty well at up to 35 or 40 mph (ie. see bish in the HurlChuck video). BUT DH is really something different.
My suggestion would be to go with the Apex 37 but maybe also take a look at something like the Arbiter.
Quivers are a godo thing.
Given your tricks and slides focus I would really take a look at the Apex series.
While you don't need the insane durability that the carbon fiber gives you (hence the price) for downhill, it certainly makes a huge difference in board life through freestyle. The Maestro is a drop through so adding a topmount to the quiver is also a positive imo. For your size I think I would look at the Apex 37 DoubleConcave (about to come out) or the Apex 40 DiamondDrop. Either comes in between 38 and 42in.
Arbiter KTs are very close to finished, the other two new bricks are close behind that with the fiberglass version dropping first. My guess is two weeks on the Arbiter 36 KT?
Sounds like the realm of the Freeride 38 to me.
Basically the Freeride 41 and Freeride 38 were designed for sliding FRIST and cruising / carving SECOND but they do a great job of all three assuming you tune your trucks and bushings to what you are trying to do. I think the Freeride 38 would be a great fit for you at 5'2, maybe look at some Caliber 50 degrees on the truck side? Price is $79 for the deck, complete Freeride 38 with Calibers should be under $200 easily depending on wheels.
Stoked that you want to start riding! Is there a particular type of riding, or style of riding you've seen in a video that you're interested in doing? Also, what is your height and weight? Knowing this info can help us help you choose what boards would be best for you. -Lindsay
The name of the longboard is called Arbiter 36 from Original Skateboards. -Lindsay
2:09
That guy was really lucky. His face plant was protected by his full face, and he had a great friend who didn't laugh and was genuinely concerned if he was alright. Good stuff
It's difficult to find a deck that's responsive enough for carving, as well as stable enough for higher speed downhill. I suggest going with the Arbiter 36 since it's a top mount directional deck. I like to use the Bear Grizzly 852 trucks which are a 52 degree angle which are responsive enough for carving, and when you want to ride at higher speeds you switch the hanger to make the baseplate 40 degrees for more stability. -Lindsay
Hey Mike! I haven't heard of a specific release date yet, but I'm guessing very soon.. I suggest if you don't do so already to follow Original's Facebook page since most updates usually go on there first about new boards. -Lindsay
Radial drops are dirty.
In fact we have been doing a TON of development on the concept so I would hope we have something to make some waves in that arena by the end of the year. I can't say for sure, but its one of the hot topics over here thats getting a lot of attention in early development.
Sounds like a pretty solid review to me.
Anything you would change about it John or is this stoke pure?
Stoked you are liking that thing.
Hey Chris,
Interesting insight really haha
The thing about the Maven is that its awesome.
In my opinion its way more awesome than the Arbiter but it is a little bit of a more unique concept.
The concave is something that hasn't been done (by us or anyone else) and it works. BUT it looks different and sometimes people see that that negatively. We still built it, but we just tried to get it out there to see what people thought. Where as the Arbiter is familiar, does that make sense?
Its so cool that you guys actually respond to people
Wow i joust love Original and the reason why is because i feel cared about they reply to comments they give out tips and just care about there fans and thats why yesterday i went and bought the Original Freeride BEAST 38 8!! THANKS
I personally like Abec 11 Flashbacks, Abec 11 Classic Freerides, or the Volante Checkers. The Abec 11s are super buttery feeling and the Volante Checkers have a smaller contact patch which slide easier. -Lindsay
2:12 = pain.. 4:00 = priceless lol one of my favorite vids by far from any brand. Original rocks.
Hey Navi! I always stick with a 70mm wheel or smaller to avoid any wheebite with the Arbiter! Let us know what you think after you give it a whirl! Lindsay
BEST is a really tough word haha
There are some people out there who will tell you their deck is the best in the world, and hell I might have said the same thing years ago. The thing is that the more you ride the more you realize there are lots of different types of riding, and lots of different personal preferences in each. The best board for me may not be the best board for you.
That said, I think we have done a great job with the Arbiter 36 and the Maven 35. Check those out for sure.
I just got the arbiter 36, it's a great deck!! simple, cheap and very good! thanks Original!!!!
Hi Frovibo! What type of riding are you interested in doing? Each deck and set up is designed for a certain style of riding, so once you tell us more about yourself we can help you narrow down all of the choices. -Lindsay
For just carving, cruising and getting place to place the Pintail 40 would absolutely work.
Sounds like a good fit to me.
Lots of people like butterballs, I personally feel like they ride a little hard but the slide initiation is v.nice imo.
As far as the Arbiter KT: Should be around the same price as the Arbiter (Maybe +10ish max?) Im not really sure, thats just what I have heard thus far, and yes, very similar to the Arbiter though the concave got boosted (particularly around the nose) and flows back straight through the kick.
Hi Allison! I started off doing hands down slides because when you're lower to the ground it is much easier to initiate a slide. When I was learning to slide it was easiest with a wheel that was pre-broken in for me. I personally liked the Orangatang Stimulus 83a wheels which aren't TOO hard, but they are already broken in for you and slide pretty easily. Check them out! -Lindsay
Well those are two really different boards.
I would personally love to see you add an Arbiter to your quiver as I think that TopMounts like the Arbiter 36 offer a really different look at downhill performance and have some awesome upside as far as sliding is concerned (provided you already know how to initiate your slide). If you are still learning to initiate your slides I have a lot more luck teaching people on drop throughs like the Freeride 41 or double drops like the Drop Freeride 41.