A couple of months ago, Loaded Longboards sent me this killer setup. Well, actually mine is a little different. I stole this image from Mile High Skates, where you can purchase this fine beast.
Loaded has been making some of the most innovative boards around for a couple of years now. Having the Adams on their crew hasn't hurt either. The Dervish is the most recent addition to their line.
Like all their boards, the Dervish is built from Bamboo and Epoxy/Glass. Its a totally environmentally friendly board. The Bamboo/Glass construction gives it a really snappy flex. Not bouncy at all -- but responsive.
The board is 41.5" long, 8.5" wide, with a 33" wheelbase. You can see it compared to a couple of other boards here.
As you can see, the trucks actually mount on the top of the board, dropping through. This lowers the board, making it more stable while carving and ripping your favorite hill, sidewalk, or parking lot. With the cutaway nose and tail, you can run pretty much any size wheel you want and have not worry at all about wheel bite.
My board came with the new 10" Gullwing Charger trucks. They are great trucks. I'd recommend either them or a standard Randal-II 180mm truck. I set this up with 72mm Pink Powerballs and Biltin Bearings.
The first thing you'd notice if you picked up my setup is how light it is. Even with big wheels, the sucker is light. That's because the board itself if really light.
Like their other boards, the Dervish comes in a couple of different flexes. A softer flex (Flex 2) for you lightweights, and a harder flex (Flex 1) for big tubs like me.
If you've ridden any of Loaded's other boards, like the Vanguard, you will find the Dervish is very different. It has less camber, straight rails, and is just a little more predictable in any riding situation. However, like the Vanguard, the Dervish is bi-directional. You can ride it either way -- both sides are exactly symetrical.
A huge and special thanks to Loaded Boards for continuing to support Bob's Trick Tips, longboarding, and innovative thinking.
Here is a rad video of the Adams riding the Dervish. These guys are just the worlds absolute masters of this kind of riding. Makes you want to buy a Dervish. Well -- do it!
