Hi Fingerboard HQ. I'm looking to get my first real fingerboard setup. I don't have much experience, I used to use Tech Decks a few years back, and have decided to get back into it, and I'm overwhelmed by the sheer amount of different products on the market, so I would like some guidance.

What kind of deck shapes are easier to ride for a beginner? Deep or mellow concave, high or low kicks, wide or normal width?

As for trucks, I'll probably go with some FlatFace Dump Trucks, or Bollie trucks. I don't really have a lot to spend (would like to keep the whole setup under $100) on Ytrucks or BRRs. For wheels I was thinking about G4 or G6, and FBS for the tape, so my main issue is picking a deck.

Also, where do you buy Blosom decks? I love the way they look, but I can't seem to find a link on their website. Are they unavailable right now?

I think you have to have a special connection with Ross(the owner) to get a Blosom, because they're not out yet. I think you should go with a FlatFace G12 or G13 complete. It's $60. Or try a closeup G5. But it's all preference. For my first setup I had,
High kicks, low concave, 30mm wide, Broken Knuckle FB Deck
Broken Knuckle FB trucks
Broken Knuckle FB bearing wheels

I don't think you should try to get something really fancy like a Berlinwood complete, just keep it simple.

Hey man, great to hear you're starting out.

As a real beginner i would suggest you start out by getting a deck and sticking to rudimentary wide trucks and non - bearing wheels

At Fingersized you can choose from an array of amazingly priced high quality decks:
http://www.fingersized.com/category/decks

and then once you have found the perfect deck for you, you can complete the set up with some cost effective hard ware.
http://www.fingersized.com/product/wide-trucks-setup-kit

that way you can get an awesome Deck and have good trucks and wheels for a good price, and you've ordered it from the same company so you'll get it all at the same time, and have the ability to upgrade the trucks and wheels as you progress

As for Blosom Decks they are still in the making, Ross is close to a new batch, so just keep up to date on the Blosom website:
http://www.blosom.co.uk/

And remember, Blosom decks will be available on Fingersized before anyone else

I'd go fer the following:
Temple Deck - From Ryan M on here, $13
Fingersized truck setup kit - a couple of pounds from Fingersized.
If you want bearing wheels, go for No Comply, they're really cheap and last forever About $20 I think?
That setup would be about $40 shipped

I'd basically chime in and say what these guys have said - find a deck that you like, and go from there.

I think a good beginner deck should be medium kicks medium concave - then you can work out whether for your next deck you want wider or thinner, lower or higher kicks, and lower or higher concave. Then buy a fingersized setup kit - definitely the best bet for beginners, trucks, screws, non bearing wheels, and tape, all for £2.

The best idea is to read the unitefingerboarding 'new to fingerboarding' guide, it takes you through from tech deck to high end setup step by step as a little story.

http://www.unitefingerboarding.com/p/new-to-fingerboarding_13.html
http://www.fingersized.com

Hope thats some help

I agree with Danny, I think a Temple deck for 13 shipped, and you can choose what colour plies and dimension of the deck you want, and the fingersized starter kit is the best option for a beginner, because its so cheap, so then you'll have a deck, 29mm trucks, tape, and non-bearing wheels

pure, wides from lovedrug and bollies or no comply smoothies

You say you want to keep it under $100, that is pretty easy even with a professional setup.

Here is an example of my newest setup:



- Lovedrug Deck ~$13
- Substance Flaked Edition wheels ~$32
- Ytrucks ~$44

This gives you a total around $88, without shipping of the trucks and wheels.

Since you are a beginner, you should probably start out with something cheaper though. So i suggest you buy yourself a set of china wides instead of the Ytrucks and some wheels that are better suited for china trucks than the Flaked wheels.
I can recommend checking out http://nocomplyfingerboards.com for some good budget wheels that works great on china trucks.

As deck i will recommend you to buy a $13-15 deck from a "known" company.
Examples:
- Temple by RyanMarshment
- Pure by BrianC
- Zink by Daniel Marin
- Lovedrug by me.

I run a little webshop where i stock budget products like these check it out here:
Lovedrug Store

Get a Northwoods deck 25.00
Nocomply wheels from fingersized ,around 15 or 16
normal tuned wides from fingersized

Seriously get a Temple deck

i think the best budget decks are pure....they are looking really nice recently.

mid range, (money wise) cant go wrong with NCD

as to the best high end decks, theirs a few. preference is everything.

truck tuning kit from fingersized. then you have everything you need for like 18? bucks if you buy pure. BARGAIN.

then take it from their. bearing wheels? wide trucks? 32mm wide decks? an exquisite long lasting deck? pro trucks? better tape?

Temple and a FS Wide Trucks Setup Kit, and you're ready to go

Thanks for all the advice! Definitely gonna go with the Fingersized hardware kit, that's a great price.

What about Redemption decks? Their basic MC and MMC decks are $16, and they also have some more expensive ones with really nice looking bottom plies. Looking through the "Favourite decks" thread, I see a few people have them listed as their favorites.

Pure, Temple, Lovedrug

It's all good in the hood baby.

Also I have a Redemption MMC kicking around somewhere (I think my brother has it) and I liked it a lot as well.

Even if you wanted to spend less than $100 you could get a couple of decks, some wides and a cheap set of bearing wheels all for under $100.

Just keep trying out different decks till you find something you like.

I would recommend a wider deck, around 31-32 mm, with a deeper concave and medium to high kicks. This makes them easier to flip and easier to land.

As you start to improve, get a new deck that is mellower, so medium to mellow concave and medium-ish kicks, because they are more common, and for me, much better. It will take about an hour of using that new deck to get used it but you will be happy with it.

For example, I started off with a 4 corner HC mold complete (back then i had no clue about fingerboards), with HC meaning hardcore meaning the deck had deep concave and high kicks, this made it easier for me to learn. A few months after, I got a berlinwood classic shape, which is mellower and thinner, and after getting used to it, I preferred it a lot more.

Hope that helps

Ivo.VT wrote:

I would recommend a wider deck, around 31-32 mm, with a deeper concave and medium to high kicks. This makes them easier to flip and easier to land.

Actually it doesn't make it easier to flip, because the deck flips slower because the deck is wider.

BobSilver wrote:

Ivo.VT wrote:

I would recommend a wider deck, around 31-32 mm, with a deeper concave and medium to high kicks. This makes them easier to flip and easier to land.

Actually it doesn't make it easier to flip, because the deck flips slower because the deck is wider.

This x 100,000

I find most people who think that wider decks flip better have never tried and skinny decks... you have to really try hard not to flip them.

I think the problem is that they are easier to flip because it takes more effort than just a subtle hand movement... Most tricks barely require you to move your hands as much as most beginner think you need too.

Definately a Pure Or Temple.
Buy some wide trucks like from flatface or nocomply, or lovedrug store.
some wheels from nocomply
and some fbs or rip. I personally use 4c.

The Redemption MC i've had, I didn't like it.