Death are probably one of the most recognizable independent skate companies out there and I must say I’m proud that they come from the UK. Something tells me American Customs officers would have trouble dealing with Dan Cates dressed as 50 Cent and a naked Dibble.
In any case, this team board is a no nonsense length of maple. Straight rails with slightly raised nose and tail, slick black paint finish and a rather mellow concave sum this board up – No bells or whistles. When I started riding the board, I couldn’t quite understand how it measured up as a 7.75 but I’m guessing that was due to the length and wheelbase. If a board is slightly elongated, the width magically slims..? Anyway, I also noticed that this board’s nose and tail are virtually identical give or take a quarter of an inch. Some people enjoy their boards resembling double tails, but I must say it can get confusing at times so I focused on a spot of gum squashed into the grip to remember where the nose was. From there on out this board rode very nicely indeed. Suits you sir!
The Death team board has kept it’s pop, not chipped and been responsive to my every order. The only problem I did have with this board was the way the nose and tail were late starters after the bolt holes. For example, this is an advantage on slides, but a big disadvantage when you throw the board down and start tanking it, only to realize your foot has settled too far up the board and your balance goes out of the window. It’s not drastic, but something to think about.
There will only ever be one Death Squad and if these are the guns they use then the competition should be scared. Support your local scenes and support British skating.
7/10
Ralph Lloyd-Davis
13/07/2006
I recently got an email from Mark Baines explaining Sheffield’s premier skateshop, The Story Store’s initiative to promote skate videos from all over the place. The first instalment for the Story Film Makers Guild would be Kolma – a Finnish video hailing from Vaukaus, a small town in the Sevo area of southern Finland. I was pretty stoked by the idea and awaited to see what Kolma had to offer. I wouldn’t be disappointed.
I guess we are always looking towards the future and reporting the past here at Crossfire, so we are stoked to let you in on a forthcoming feature series that will start this week here in the Skate Zine.
Rumours are coming into Crossfire HQ via local skaters who report that Neanderthal Man turned up at Prissick Plaza on Sunday night and ate a kid in front of his two parents.
Damn! This year’s Wild in the Streets event went global with skaters coming together and shredding their neighbourhoods and city center all over the place.
Crossfire warned you about this German wunderkind a while back, remember? Check out Panorama a Berlin scene video that dropped a few years ago and watch what Willow can do. Well, the Flip squad spotted Willow and knew he was fit for the team, so it’s goodbye Alis and hello Flip.
A young Frenchman spent many a night dreaming about ‘Back to the Future‘ and why he couldn’t ollie properly ( He even admits a slight penchant for fruit-booting!), when lightning struck and the concept of a Magnetic board became a reality.
Official East Coast powerhouse,