for pool skating i only ever use a salba deck, guy is the king of pool skating, throw on some dogtown wheels and the thing handles pools like a beast

Hi I’m 55 years old I’ve been riding since 1976 all styles of skate. A couple things, first you’re bearing problem, try swiss bones or the ceramic bearings I have had no need to upgrade from the Swiss bones you will never have a bearing blowout again trust me they’re worth the money. Next they do make half inch and three-quarter inch risers or you can just stack your risers it actually gives you the ability to turn much better you may wish to make your own risers out of wood sometimes I’ll do it out of old skateboards then I can glue to my exact height then shape. Next the cracking problem in your deck generally that’s caused from one or two things, seven ply and/or new growth wood that means a wide grain in the wood. Old growth wood is a real tight pattern you must look at the grain to check it. Try going to an eight ply I would avoid re-issues and go to high-quality deck companies when I was using re-issues they crack really easy mine were being made with a lower quality wood (not the old growth wood). There are some custom companies that will add a ply to your deck. And remember anytime you have the extra holes drilled that is where my boards always broken half at avoid extra drill holes.

Great video, and always fun finding out what others skate and why. I have a Black Label 'Auby Taylor' (9.25 i think) deck set up with 169s and 56mm 97a Slime Balls. I also have a similarly sized, Madness shaped deck that comes with wheel wells, which is a bonus. I tried 9.0 popsicles but feel far more comfortable on shaped decks too. I'm 60 and a late starter, and your videos are great for inspiration! Keep it up!

So glad I found your channel here, just what I had been looking for for ages it seems. Am where you were with the "regular" skateboard and just wanted to order a wider board for pool and transition (my body won't be able to handle streetskating at my age and lack of experience) and have been struggling to find legit info, esp.on trucks. Also have a strong snowboard background and thus love a longer wheelbase and wider plank under my size 12 feet, just feels way more familiar and secure :) Really appreciate your content, thanks!!

I totally agree bigger works better for me in transition anything over 6’ feet. Board looks so rad keep ripping and never stop!

Ha! I have 7 or 8 decks stuffed under a bed as it took months of trial and error to find the deck I really like. Given away a bunch of wheels. Settled on indy 169 almost right away though. Great vid.

The animation at the beginning is pure genius. Good stuff Maynard.

The wheelbase is what sticks you to your high carves. If you ain't tried Bones skatepark formula wheels, you'll love 'em. Good vid homeboy.

Exactly the vid I was looking for. Thanks for the explanation

For the bearings you might want to add spacer in the wheel between the two bearings, and when you go to put the wheels back on tighten the nut and stop when the wheels have no play. I know people say your wheels should have a little bit of movement but if you use speed washers it will be fine and your bearings should last much longer and it's not being exposed to as much torsion

Nice to see / read you are so passionate, I ride a 9.5 blacklabel with tailbone and rails as well and couldn't be happier. The cracks are not normal btw..

i just started bowl skating @ 46and can confirm the popsicle type board 8.25” with the 54mm’s really does feel like a toy. I’m 5’8” 195 lbs and also have the bigger board with bigger wheels and im a lot more stable on my 10” board with larger wheels. I skated a mini bowl to tonight with a new popsicle setup with 54 mm hard spitfire wheels. Def felt more unstable a couple of times my front foot crept over the bolts and that causes me to fall off forward a couple of times … anyway i now have 3 total setups lol but i’m hopeful the two 10” setups with the wider wheelbase and larger wheels i have on my two 10” will work better as i all am looking to do is whip around the bowl and surf skate. thanks for the video it’s very helpful. My setups Smaller to larger : Board #1 : 8.25 Powel popsicle toy machine indi trucks 8” aluminum trucks 54mm spitfire narrow cut. no riser not super stable but in a way it’s helping me gain balance because when i switch to the larger boards i feel like i’ve leveled up … so im def gonna keep using it. Board #2: blank 10” old school shovel shape stage two black indie trucks 9.125 swapped out hard bones bushings Wheels are 64mm G bones 97a (same as in video) 1/4” riser I added extra holes to extend the wheelbase by 3/4” Very stable ! Board #3 Largest 10 “ omen i looks bery similar to your Lucero deck and has wheel wells pre carved This has softer 64mm longboard cruiser wheels unknown hardness but i’d say they are on the softer side 1/4 riser pads extra holes for wider wheelbase THIS SETUP IS BY FAR THE MOST STABLE. Hope this post helps!

Nice video. Love seeing what other people ride. I ride between 8,75 & 9,25. Madness or Antihero. Indy hollows 169 with bones hard bushings. Spitfire 58 or 60mm. I only ride transition/pools/bowls. I would inspect those stress cracks well. Deck split on me two weeks ago. Started just like yours. I'm only 155lbs

Excellent review- 5-years now with shaped decks and there's no going back for me.

Super setup you have! My bowl board is very similar. 9.13 wide 32.8 long 15 wheelbase. Indy 169 trucks bones hard bushings. 64 mm 95a bones wheels. rails and tailskid. solid feel for bowls, pools, and bigger transition. Yeah bigger and heavier than my street and park boards but worth it.

Ha! Good video. I had a very similar experience a couple years back, when decided to start going to my local skate park around the age of 50. Started with a narrow pop shape, 14 .4 wheelbase, and 54mm wheels. Almost immediately realized I had the wrong board though, because I had done plenty of flat ground, and a bit of quarter pipe skating in the mid-80's. Love your setup! I'm riding 9.5" and 10" decks, with 60mm wheels currently, and I seem to do best with a wheelbase around 15.5. Sounds like your having a lot of fun in the bowl if your blowing out bearings like that! You might do well with an H-street Marty Grimes Park & Pool deck. Cheers.

I think Prodigal Suns or Jon Bishop's channel may be of help on bowl set ups. Me being 215lbs but much shorter I've found Khiro cushions that are 94 duro or higher are more rigid than even the Bones hardcore bushings. I know Indy makes 94A to 98A cushions but they are hard to find in the local shop. I would say give those a try to see how they feel or if they will last. Lastly Thanks for this super helpful and detailed review. I gotta look into those tailbones.

Black label decks are sick

really like your style

Sick setup man! You should look into getting 215's sized Indy trucks, they're super good for bowl/pool skating. The downside is that they're kind of heavy but you get used to it after a while. Also, they're super rare to find.

I’ve been looking for another John Lucero just like yours for years. Mine broke back in the late 90s. Besides the Christian Hosoi. It was my favorite deck. I wish black label would reproduce it. The concave was the best. Great video.

Also... Blockhead still makes good pool decks w wheel wells.

Great video. I love your set up. As an older, old-school skater, I’m having similar problems finding decks that will work for me. I wish I could just buy uncut blanks and make my own.

Just got the cross deck in yellow with a pink cross, with pink rails. Ace 99 trucks, and worn down 42mm wheels, super small and slick which I love. I want the tail block, I’m afraid of getting razor tail too quickly.

So funni, I was looking for a review on the Lucero deck, and you came up...I'm like wait, I this guy looks familiar....just skated with you @ Kennesaw and you showed me this deck... Whats up? : )

Hi... you can find this board right now at the black label web site for sale... and also maybe you should try soft risers so the board won't krack where the trucks are... maybe a 1/2 inch soft risers... i think that there are some in the oldskull skateboards web site right now.

Respect for the ALIS sticker!!!

Appreciate your vid..

Somthing a little different but the bustin yoface 34 deck has a 16.5" wheelbase and flared wheel wells..... I ride one with 64mm wheels on ace classics(52mm high) with no risers. No wheelbite at all. Good deck if you wanna run big wheels but still keep it low and stable. It's got a fiberglass core too so a lot stronger than traditional 7 ply decks

Great info. Thanks! Q: I’m 6’ (185lbs, 47.5yrs) wanting to get back into transition skating (concrete park but no pool nearby). I’m shopping for a new setup. I was going to get Dogtown K9 or OJ Hot Juice (wide, 78a, that I use for riding around my asphalt neighborhood). Are those too wide/soft for the park? I was trying to avoid sliding out, but you’re saying I should want to be able to? So get something a little harder? I’ve also left some replies beneath other comments. Basically, I want to recommend you look into Life Skateboards (customizable and strong decks) and Quantum bearings (made by skateboarding scientists-as funny as that sounds).

Ha... that comment about the tail guard. I have that same deck and know what you are talking about. There is enough concave in the tail that it is a little unstable when you set up for a drop in.

I’ve been looking at getting the Lucero Cross to use with my Carver CX trucks for a bow setup. I like that this has the 15.5 and 16” wheelbase since I am 5’10. My only concern is accidentally going to far on that nose and tipping over or putting in to much force in front of the truck and getting mad wheel bite with the CX. I would really appreciate your thoughts/opinions on this

You should try the Loaded Coyote, 17.5 wheelbase, 8.375 width, 30.75 long, big wheelflares (originally a Longboard), light but strong board 👍

did you try a flat concave board like the PP pig ? you might like the stability. Ive one nad love it.

I ride a thumbhead, same shape. 169ti, with the Indy super soft 78a bushings. My tightness is a fingernail under the first thread of the kingpin. 58mm ff og classic. I dislike the titaniums, and think I’m going to put the standards back on. Those big wheels you have give me ptsd, I see myself getting tossed.

Great video, thanks so much! I ride the same deck in a different color. Question: what kind of tail block/skid pad is that? Is there a specific brand/model? Thanks again. Cheers 🙏👍🏼

Have you tried Oust bearings? The ones they make specifically for street may theoretically handle that load better in the same way it's designed to handle the load of doing tricks like bluntslides. I personally don't know what design changes they've actually made though, just thought it may be the one brand you haven't gone for because they're a bit obscure

intro is so sick lol

Great video. What size risers and hardware?

RE: blown out bearings: have you tried using bearing spacers in the wheels?

Big old-school decks are the way forward and big wheels are the way forward.

Do you find the tail bones make it harder for the tail to lock in for the drop in ?

Might want to try half inch riser pads ( urethane ones not hard plastic) which would sort out the wheel bite and also allow for some cushioning to the deck to prevent the the cracks.

How did you make your wheel wells?

What´s the trucks hole pattern on the cross deck? Old school?

If you're after a 9"+ deck try heroin skateboards us British love a big board heroin do a lot of big deck the symmetrical one's.are the dogs dangly's I've the 9.5" symmetrical razor egg with ace Af1 66s Bronson G3 bearings in 58mm spitfire formula fours . Best set up I've had it feels super safe because of it grips when needed and the board being so wide it feels like ya can run around on it. Shred on people 🤙😊

Are you sure they're lighter? I don't think they are much lighter at all. I also don't think there is much if any real titanium in them.. At least that's what I've heard. IDK I like that label👍😁

You can find lucero’s online now

Try Swiss if you haven't

Do you have no griptape?

Why not 215s and go all the way?

I have a nice Lucero I’m going to sell. I’m going more old school. Let me know if you want it ….clear grip and white dip but different graphics,looks the exact same shape though.

Where can I get that white deck? I am just getting back to skating from when I was younger lol 😁 I love the wider decks and because of the 80s @ElderSkates btw im 43 😅 Im riding a 10 in board with 159 indies