I'm going to bump this thread. I have been very tempted to keep this thread updated but slacked off and posted to different threads. However, I've decided to keep this maintained so I will go back and post a bit of old news just to keep this up to date and will finish off with some newer news!
Where should I start...
Prototype plastic wide boardsThese are 29x100mm decks as opposed to the 25x96mm standard
Tech Decks.
Moar news: Noah is currently looking at sending some out for reviews.
Source:
http://techdeck.com/app/website/articles/news?id=The-Skitchin-Insider-Prototype-Preview-Wide-BoardNew Zazzle GearWell, there's a couple of new graphics and a greater range of products to have the graphics printed on. Here's one example I like, the
Tech Deck drip logo:
Source:
http://techdeck.com/app/website/articles/news?id=The-Skitchin-Insider-More-Zazzle-Gearhttp://www.zazzle.com/techdeckTech Deck Expert Sk8A picture of the 6 boards of the first mix.
I'm loving that Almost graphic and I'm pretty sure that's one that I definitely will buy. It's also nice to see an Enjoi graphic as they've just been signed up. Lots of people already have prototypes with the Real graphic.
What people already know is that it's offering a higher-end complete board. There's a wide wooden
deck, bearing wheels, 2 sheets of foam grip, extra bushings, stickers and a tool. Hopefully, this post will give you some more insight.
So you've seen a small picture of the packaging but what you haven't probably noticed is the right hand side of the packaging. Here's a larger picture of the box with the Almost board...
Yep, there's the option of High/Low concave and the option of Hard/Soft bearing wheels. I really love that they've done this as they're not just making endless graphics with the same exact board. I'd probably like the low concave and soft wheels but I want to own and try them all. I'm not sure if the first mix is only high concave boards but I will be wanting to grab both. Also noticable from the first image is that the wheels won't just be white ones, it seems like there will be coloured ones. The shape of the wheels look to be pretty standard and similar to others in the market.
Also interesting is that there are new bushings (plus an extra set in the pack) and for the first time, there are washers on the bushings on
Tech Deck trucks. As you can see, the Independent branding is back although I still think it's hard to make them look like the real life counterparts. One other thing I've noticed is that they've shifted to full rectangular baseplates. I like this move a lot, I didn't like the shape of the old bases and pretty much all skateboard/fingerboard bases are fully rectangular.
If you were curious as to what the back of the packaging looked like, it's your lucky day!
There's lots of information to be picked up from this image. Most importantly, the decks are 30x101mm. I think this would suit the majority of experienced fingerboarders although the wheelbase would also have to be suitable.
Other features for the trucks apart from Indy branding, rectangular bases and new bushings and washers can also be seen. The trucks still appear to be double axle, judging by the picture. I mean,
Tech Deck have to plan for future sales anyway and broken trucks have usually allowed them for continued purchases. The interesting thing is that there is an "ajustable kingpin". I'm not entirely sure how will work but it will certainly be interesting. One thing I am very relieved about with these trucks is that the wheels are actually removable which is how all fingerboards and skateboards should be. I was disappointed with the various (Wood) Competition Series trucks but am glad they've not used those for this board. Is that all? No! You blind fuckers. That's right, these trucks have actual pivot cups too! Yay for smoother pivoting. If you didn't know, older TD trucks just had a hole that went through the baseplate. Well, I hope they're included and it's not just a picture.
The above is what I typed when I first found out about the boards. I have now obtained one of these directly from
Tech Deck so expect a review from me in a couple of weeks. An important piece of news I can add to this is that they may already be sold in some places in the US and will be sold elsewhere by February. The price will be $15. Also, the low concave decks are still being developed, a guess at their release would be fall '12.
Display cases coming backDisplay cases are coming back but in new colours too! I still need to get me 1 or 2 of these. As before, they are designed to hold about 15 standard
Tech Decks and also come with one to start with. I believe the red and grey ones are new colours and black display cases will also return.
New Starter setsThese are already out but here's the new starter sets:
I like how the compartments hold the decks a bit more securely than the original ones. I think other companies should make more and better obstacle/box hybrids. I love my Coffin Curb 2 but there should be more products like these.
New 45mm Tech Decks / Training Facility (Target exclusive)45mm boards are coming back! The previous Training Facility was based on a World Industries park. This new one will be based on a Zero/Mystery park. Looks like they're gonna be Target exclusive again.
These are the 2 Ultimate sets. These 2 sets will make the entire park. I'm not sure if there will be the smaller sets with 2 ramps and 1 board though but there probably will be.
and the backs of the boxes!
Yeah, these are already out now at Target.
Tech Deck community closedYep, the once-great
Tech Deck forum closed last month but it was outdated and inactive as well as full of immature users with no sense of forum etiquette.
Tony Hawk big ramps releasedYep, you may have seen prototypes or other pictures before but these are finally out. They're larger ramps than older
Tech Deck ramps and make for a nice cheaper alternative but more suitably sized for most fingerboards. They also have some improved detail to the ramps but they are still plastic.
Tech Deck Santa Cruz Screaming Foot boardCurrently no release date but these look awesome.
Source: Oldschoolpunk on
Tech Deck forums the week it closed
Tech Deck Sticky Trick Tape (with standard boards)You might have seen Thom with one of these in a video as Euan had one. These will release in the US later in the year but some international markets may already have it. The name is so original haha, you can pretty much guess what this does. The tape sticks the board to your fingers so it would probably be really good for vert. I can only just about do legit nollie flips with the tape because it's so sticky. Also, I end up doing a lot of random late flips as the board unsticks from my fingers when I least expect it. You also get a piece of griptape to stick on when you're bored of the sticky trick tape and it becomes just a standard
Tech Deck. Well, I'll show you the packaging...
The back also has a QR code. I wonder what this is for.
Source: Me hahaha. Noah sent me one although I have no idea why the tool is missing.
2012 Tech Deck Starter Set previewTech Deck also sent me one of these new Starter Sets boxes. It's a nice little obstacle and container although it's only designed to hold standard
Tech Decks. What's interesting is the slots on the side of the box, apparently they will slot with
Tech Deck ramps.
Those are also really nice high quality
Tech Deck stickers. I'm not sure where you would be able to get these normally but it would be nice if you could get more.
Prototype plastic 26mm medium concave deck & new foam tapeI know just before Spin Master took over
Tech Deck, Generation 11
Tech Decks included an extra
deck with different contours. I wonder if this was proposed to be an extra
deck or a new shape for
Tech Decks. Either way, the
deck is an amazing shape being 26mm and medium concave. It seems really close to my preference for a skinny
deck and it's a shame that it's not wood or else it would be perfect. It's also interesting as the
deck has a texture that is molded in unlike all other
Tech Decks that have been released. Noah tells me this product is unlikely to make it to market which is a shame because I love this shape. I wonder if they would sell me the mold because I like this shape that much.
As for the tape, it was stuck on the Wood Competition Series G2 board that I got from
Tech Deck. This is unlike any other
Tech Deck tape I have seen before though. The tape is actually pretty amazing and I decided to apply it on the prototype
deck. It's about 1mm thick and porous (unlike other TD tapes). It feels a bit like worn in old Riptape but maybe a little weaker. In any case, this would be a really awesome tape if they do start producing them and including them with boards.
New Tech Deck longboards, Fall 2012
I randomly found these on YouTube. The video is only about a month old. What is amazing about these longboards is the trucks that come with them. They are Independent branded trucks but these are the first ever
Tech Deck Independent fingerboard trucks I have seen that actually look like their skateboard counterparts. They look really nicely polished, they have the Indy logo sticking out of the baseplate, the hangers look really sweet and they look like they could fit BR/Y edition wheels, they have bushings and conical washers, they have pivot cups and they are an extra wide width of about 31-32mm. I think these would be really popular and many people would buy them for their looks, performance and suitability for extra wide decks, especially considering the alternative being €50 BRTs.
The other cool thing with these are the wheels. Unlike previous TD longboard wheels, these ones are soft.
Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU9o1RfKTNgI think this just about brings us up to date on
Tech Deck news. Post any other news relating to
Tech Deck if I have missed anything. Feel free to continue discussing TD stuff. ^_^
instead of having to hear it second-hand ;D 
