Hi all. I am now going to be more actively promoting Close Up on the English speaking fingerboard websites, as well as one Chinese fingerboard forum. With Manu's departure from Close Up, I feel it is more appropriate for me to take over some of this role and I have Damien's blessing to do this. I would also like to stress that I am merely a Close Up team member and I do not have all the information regarding Close Up, namely customer service, release dates, prices, features or other new products.

As you may have been aware from the release dates of the Generation 1, 2, 3 and 4 Close Up boards, it was about the right time that the next generation of Close Up would be ready to be released.

There has been some delays with getting all of the things ready but Damien has sent me some of the first Close Up Generation 5 decks and I would like to share them with you now. He only sent a piece of precut tape and a mini sticker sheet with each deck. I believe the G4 trucks and metal core wheels will return alongside the G5 decks but I didn't receive any with the decks so I don't know. Also, Shoji and Zach Stahn have received the same packs so it will be cool to see what they can do with them.

Comparisons between Generation 4 and Generation 5 decks
G5s will now have two shapes - high concave and low concave versions, the high concave version being similar to the G4
Both G5 shape decks are 29mm, up from 27mm in the G4 decks. I think lots of people will love both of these shapes.
The length of the G5 decks are roughly the same as the G4s.
The wheelbases of G5s are the same as on the G4s. Remember that the actual wheelbase will depend on the type of trucks you use but I've compared them using Close Up G4 trucks on both.
They are still 5 ply.
The have no kingpin holes as Close Up trucks do not require them.

The standard top, bottom and side pictures (Close Up G4 complete also shown for comparison purposes)




Holes are countersunk to fit screws perfectly


Precut tape fits the decks perfectly


The Close Up G5 complete sets will also include new mini sticker sheets! There have always been mini sticker sheets with Close Up complete sets, ever since the G1, but now, the new sticker sheets will have smaller stickers that are better to stick onto the decks. They are high quality printed stickers that won't come off or scratch off in a few slides.



I hope you enjoyed this preview of some of the new things coming from Close Up. Please check out the Close Up webstore and blog.
Webstore: www.closeup-fingerskate.fr OR www.closeup.fr
Blog: www.closeup-fingerboards.com

Thank you all.

Xi Jin
Close Up team member

Nice!
I honestly really like how closeup just does there own thing, not following every other brand by making a 32mm deck and still offering griptape.

super Nice, i thought it was a closeup g5 graphic deck.

I didn't really understand this...

So which deck is the g5? Because in the first picture, the right deck is a china deck. Is that the new g5?

nitromelvin wrote:

super Nice, i thought it was a closeup g5 graphic deck.

The graphics are still being done. These are just the blank decks to show the shape of them.

I think I'm with Ray on this one. (not to offend Closeup or anything)

Like I guess I am trying to understand the format of this post. It is showing the new generation. But the new product that it is showing is a china deck that anyone can order from alibaba.

So is that not the shape or is it just there for..

forgiven. wrote:

Like I guess I am trying to understand the format of this post. It is showing the new generation. But the new product that it is showing is a china deck that anyone can order from alibaba.

So is that not the shape or is it just there for..

The blank decks are the low concave and high concave G5s.

I was trying to reply to the other post but FBHQ was playing up for me (and still is now) and I gave up and went to bed. Anyhow, link me to the decks you mean. I had a quick look but didn't see decks that were obviously like the ones I have. Close Up has used Chinese manufacturers for some of their products for years and has always stated this on the sheet that comes with Close Up boards. The mini stickers are made by Ritrama, I believe it's the same company that does the YW/Ytrucks stickers. I'm sure these decks are unique but if you've found evidence of this not being the case, then feel free to post. I don't think it's hugely important as it's only part of the complete package. Brand graphics and engravings have not been applied to these early G5 decks either. Bear in mind that Close Up have unique parts in their complete set being one of the first to offer an affordable complete featuring a wooden deck, silicone bushings and have supported the scene loads internationally. Flatface, No Comply, BRR and Fingersized all sell products made in China but do loads to support the scene.

I am mainly just wondering which deck of the 3 you showed is the new gen5.

Ray.. Did you read it?

No offence to close up or anything but they look horrible and they look like china decks :/

A little bit. But the blank decks are now the g5?

Well one of the blank decks. Is a china deck that every china company on eBay sells. So I guess I don't understand.

Is the deck circled in red the new gen5 is all I am really asking.



That is the universal china shape and it is a china made deck. I mean anyone can get custom shapes and stuff made in china but this is the shape anyone can order from alibaba.com. It's not unique.

Blank decks not looking good.

Well, this is the shape Close Up have been using since the G3. If you compare the G3, G4 and the G5 high concave, they all have the same length, kick lengths, wheelbases, dip dimensions and locations and are all 5-ply. The difference is that the G3 is 26mm, the G4 is 27mm and the G5 is 29mm.

Bear in mind these are just blank decks. There will be ones with coloured plies, brand graphics and engravings when ready. These will surely set them apart from the abundant Chinese decks. Mine are just "limited edition nude" versions, as Damien put it. Also, I meant that the past Close Up completes all had unique components in it - painted, branded, single axle trucks, silicone bushings, conical washers, printed metal core wheels/bearing wheels, high concave wooden wearable graphic decks, branded, precut griptape and foam tape.

Again, can you link me to a webpage with the Chinese decks you are referring to?

If it wasn't obvious in the original post, the two blank decks are the shapes of the Close Up G5s, a low concave version and a high concave version.

Sorry, I can't view the picture you posted. Photobucket is blocked in China.

I'm not sure why I would need to direct you to a link of china decks. People can spot a china company the first few seconds they see one.

And being the tape pre-cut again and looking to look a lot like china tape....

I mean I'm not complaining. I really don't care what close up is doing. Because I know they support the scene, but this move. Is kind of shady.

+1 forgiven

G5 are not China's !

I saw them in Paris, Damien would give me one, but all the kids jump on him, and he gave them all his stock.

The low shape G5 is really not a china deck, the craftmanship on it, with differents colors ply (not the one he send to XI), the perfectly drill holes, and pop of the deck is really unique.
Comparing this deck as china, is like comparing BW or flatface to it too.
Because Damien doesn't put graphique on the first series doesn't mean it's real closeup shape, he only do this that he can offert some deck and do some serigraphie tests.
Damien is one of the most devoted to fingerboard person I've met (and I've made more of the oldest french dudes ), he dedicate he's time to fingerboard since the last 15 years, doing so many underground work so he can offert affordable FB.
I don't think repackaging and selling china product is the way he saw FB business (and so many companies out there are doing it). He's proud of every product he show me, and tell me the difficulty he had producing them (and all the trip to china to see the manufacturer).

Before saying "china" cause of a picture of a blank deck, test it. It's a preview of a "soon to come" product. The final one will really be unique.
Damien would like to come with the first "really affordable and well distributed" fingerboard wooden deck, 29mm wide with bearing wheels (to bad Xi doesn't had some to show). And as you all know closeup ALWAYS here to support everyone.

So trust Damien to not sell his own manufactured products.

Edit
Here some picture of the decks he gave to a kid a the Paris contest (photo by Theom)

Looks awesome, and I really doubt that close up would use China decks, its just the fact that any wide deck with deep concave and high kicks will always look similar to a China deck.
I'd love to try a g5, I'm yet to get a set of g4 trucks I want Euans electric blue ones

how wide is the deepconcave one?

One think I like about close ups are the wheels I just love them.

Lol. sorry but to be honest I didn't read your post

Because I know it is a china deck. I will have a well constructed post with my proof in less than 2 hours.

^super props if you can pull it off.