back in 2002 when the "dogtown and the z-boys" documentary came out me and a buddy of mine were so hyped about it that we started emulating them for a while. It brought a whole new life into skateboarding for us and I actually think it helped developed how our style looked.
(Growing up in San Diego) I never saw or rode a board with the kicktail down (in the 70’s) and I have 50y experience. In 1980 i quit for 13years. Look at a 3/4 solid oak from Logan. These retro gats emulate them and earlier toe shreders with no kick (flat)& we typically wore no shoes. Game of SK8…….?
@@magicbox9371 well youre mistaken. im from sd ive seen neil blender himself they are designed to be upside down.. so to say.its so your feet can hug the board better for harder turns this guy screwed up. the board he bought is called a cork top on the site too. not cork bottom he didnt even need griptape had he had the board flipped the way it was designed
Same of smaller 30--27 inch downhill cruiser boards and I can even now in looking in 2022--2024 finding some with old style late 1970's tops where board is a no concave and flat nose out for sale. People are using boards for even doing old 1980's tricks after buying skinnier wheels in same diameters as before 60 mm on up like 80% of Dogtown boys in pool riding from 1978 Skateboard Kings movie where Dogtown pool people and seeing Z boys first doing freestyle on a short cruiser using again 60 mm skinner wheels but meet people in dessert for pipe riding.
FYI to anyone that gets one. His is upside down. At 1:01. He’s wrong. The concave and kicks should face down. The red side goes down and the cork goes up, no grip tape needed.
Can I *respectfully* ask what is the motivation behind the negative concave and kicks thing? Is it to be deliberately 'backwards', a kind of FU to modern board styles that facilitate tricks and grip? Or is it to actively encourage you to go barefoot and curl your feet to grip the ride? (I don't mean full 'gorilla grip' to nose and tail, I mean more bending them across the convex 'concave').
@@ChrisWarsop I believe that the negative concave is to help the board flex - and isn't a nose/tail like on a popsicle. Which kind of makes sense in my brain....
In Theory you put the grip on the wrong side. Polarizer is intended for the nose and tail to dip down, hence the cork side up so no grip would be needed. But i guess you can ride it however you want cause no rules.
You should put another one together upside down and do a comparison video. I wouldn’t have thought it did anything but it has a cool pump feel kind of like a camber snowboard would
Those boards are like straight up 60s style. I would love to see John really work at this most pure and hallowed form of skateboarding. Also, I was worried at first that Neil Blender wasn't going to be mentioned!
I remember taking a generic mini board and slapping narrow venture trucks on it with some small oj’s and it was such a blast carving that thing around. It tre flipped real nice too. I’m going to have to find another deck like it. Skateboarding is starting to look fun again.
Going skating after work and this video has got me pumped!! Loved the montage, song is fantastic. The narrow challenge on top of the sign was wild!! _KEEP KILLIN’ IT_
Shout out to NEIL BLENDER ! For creating the Heated Wheel companhy and what he did for skateboarding in the 80s and his street skating progression & his contribution in the creation of Alien Workshop back in the early days.
Great video, John-we’ve missed ya! I firmly believe that playing around with different shapes/styles of skateboard is both super fun and really good for your skating (especially as an intermediate/novice skater trying to unlock style/technique). Bravo!
Those are rad... I skate a 1977 Alva board with softer wheels and I can't stop riding it. I'm obsessed with it because of the feel it provides. I feel like I'm surfing. It's hard to go back to my regular boards. Have fun
Great video, John. Shame I missed out on the book for my newborn though, really wanted him to have it one day. I'll keep an eye out for when you release more.
My first board was a hand me down 1970's Amflex Board with Holland Tunnel Wheels, and all I had for pavement was our family farm market space, so I was dodging bushels of apples, and half bushel baskets. This board could easily make 3 ft diameter 180 degree turns. My second was a double Vision two tail so I went from no concave to all of it. tiny board to a massive one.
Just got back into skateboarding and subscribed to you. So happy you uploaded this and this topic especially, because I've been seeing this "trend" as well
Looks like a lot of fun. Blender is legit. Heated Wheel has more traditional boards too, popsicle and shaped. I picked up "The Ostrich" deck a few weeks ago and it rides great, sort of a 90s shape. I started riding on a board similar to the Polarizer in 78. I think that the surfskate scene has really done a lot to bring back this style.
@@Rot_Dog666 Thats cool! Start small and see where it takes you. Maybe make around 10-20 boards, create a page and start advertising with videos and friends.
@@andresarregui3417 I think he genuinely didn't know, but also riding it with the cork side down, gives enough nose and tail to actually do tricks, which he wanted to do. But yea, not riding it as a polarizer, just as a regular board be it very skinny.
@@nickpopovici4170 I see, makes sense, more worried about getting attention and followers that what he actually talks about. You can buy the same deck, cheaper, without the cork that is meant to work as grip (no shoes).
"Kickflipper discovers turning!" Now ride a pool on it like Greg Weaver. This is kinda cool. As skateboarding is hijacked by competition and moves into official skateparks, here's a rebel telling you to ride on the sidewalks! Didn't know anything about this trend, but last month I made a flat narrow deck with old Lazer trucks and OJ3 wheels. It looks like a lot of fun to ride if it ever stops raining....
Yes, I remember when in 2000's round/oval micro downhill freestyle boards came out using some of widest freestyle downhill trucks you can buy with wide wheels and when fat popsicle style used with wide downhill freestyle trucks and normal width for trick but big like downhill were a thing. Second often people attached/melted a piece of plastic board slider to wide popsicle boeard trucks for easier truck slides but sometimes used weird materials like hot glue, resin/epoxy glue, or brand shoe goo on trucks for a plastic like material for easier sliding on wide popsicle style. Now wide popsicles with similar wheels and trucks are SUV, all-around, or the filming boards as companies call these boards with most gatekeeping of companies, still forcing Filmer board and maintaining said image in marketing that all these SUV/all-around boards are only good one thing, only filming riders do tricks when a downhill cruiser and very big diameter 70+ mm wheels are what people would prefer to use maybe even some specialty drop board freeride downhill boards using big scooter or bigger speed rollerblade wheels.
Notwithstanding any cultural/social factors, it's a small longboard; what's the big deal? It's cool and all. There were "Penny" boards that are quite similar. Either way, keep sk8ing!!!!
Looks like a cool board to whip out to warm up on before actually skating always my thoughts of these or at the end of the sesh just always my thoughts on those little boards
I prefer 70s Z boys style cruisers and the plastic Penny boards, but its kinda cool that these 60s style cruiser decks exist now too. Set one up with clay wheels for even more historical authenticity!
1978 Skateboard Kings shows off these early trick/early generic all around boards very well and movie is found on RUclips by a guy who posted movie in late 2020. Also were wood kick flip penny boards in 1970's made for heavier riders/wilder tricks pool/skate areas, now might be called mini cruiser boards or similar.
Danm I miss living burbank but danm too bad now only billionaires can afford the la area lol but the fact that they have retro boards is just epic I love trying new things I shall check these out sooner or later. Right on man.
In the days before ramps and pools we did what is called sidewalk surfing. Skateboarding was invented later in pools, on ramps and full pipes. Watch Dog Town & Z boys before they show a pool. Walk the dog. Hang ten do a Bertelman spin or spacewalk…..find your soul…… leave your body in Arizona- Find the Bonzi Pipeline in your head
Always thought it was funny that you didn’t vibe with competitive skating. Considering half of you sessions (on RUclips atleast) are structured so much like a normal practice/ training.
back in 2002 when the "dogtown and the z-boys" documentary came out me and a buddy of mine were so hyped about it that we started emulating them for a while. It brought a whole new life into skateboarding for us and I actually think it helped developed how our style looked.
SAME lol
Same everyone dogged me for skating that way till they tried it
Bro I remember the time (2002-05 ish) you couldn’t find these anywhere! Only you ! Were making them
Dude you set the board up upside down. It's called a "cork top" for a reason. You even mentioned the "negative concave" in your intro!
Ironically by the “rules” since he mounted it upside-down it’s more of a polarizer 🙃
Don’t be a kook bra
(Growing up in San Diego) I never saw or rode a board with the kicktail down (in the 70’s) and I have 50y experience. In 1980 i quit for 13years. Look at a 3/4 solid oak from Logan. These retro gats emulate them and earlier toe shreders with no kick (flat)& we typically wore no shoes. Game of SK8…….?
@@magicbox9371 well youre mistaken. im from sd ive seen neil blender himself they are designed to be upside down.. so to say.its so your feet can hug the board better for harder turns this guy screwed up. the board he bought is called a cork top on the site too. not cork bottom he didnt even need griptape had he had the board flipped the way it was designed
@@rudyortiz472 I don’t know what you mean I am never mistaken! (I rode Home Ave. with Stacy)
Its so nice to see the surf skate and 60s style boards back in the mainstream. Now who is gonna be the first to be 86 rodney mullen.
Same of smaller 30--27 inch downhill cruiser boards and I can even now in looking in 2022--2024 finding some with old style late 1970's tops where board is a no concave and flat nose out for sale. People are using boards for even doing old 1980's tricks after buying skinnier wheels in same diameters as before 60 mm on up like 80% of Dogtown boys in pool riding from 1978 Skateboard Kings movie where Dogtown pool people and seeing Z boys first doing freestyle on a short cruiser using again 60 mm skinner wheels but meet people in dessert for pipe riding.
I ride old school Alva boards. Super soft wheels and do all the 360's, Christie's, wheelies, etc. I'm obsessed. The golden era of skating.
FYI to anyone that gets one. His is upside down.
At 1:01. He’s wrong. The concave and kicks should face down. The red side goes down and the cork goes up, no grip tape needed.
Yep
Can I *respectfully* ask what is the motivation behind the negative concave and kicks thing? Is it to be deliberately 'backwards', a kind of FU to modern board styles that facilitate tricks and grip? Or is it to actively encourage you to go barefoot and curl your feet to grip the ride? (I don't mean full 'gorilla grip' to nose and tail, I mean more bending them across the convex 'concave').
@@ChrisWarsop I believe that the negative concave is to help the board flex - and isn't a nose/tail like on a popsicle. Which kind of makes sense in my brain....
Looks like they're trying to appeal to a narrower audience
The perspective varies.
Nice1😂👏
That's Funny
I have the same skateboard but I use it without the griptape because I think the top is the one with the cork layer
In Theory you put the grip on the wrong side. Polarizer is intended for the nose and tail to dip down, hence the cork side up so no grip would be needed. But i guess you can ride it however you want cause no rules.
Most underrated comment here
11:32 Purest moment and John’s experience kicking in
Me thinking he was about to gap the stairs at 3:14 😂
sick, wanna medal
The cork is the grip. You were riding the deck upside down!
Fail
I love experimenting with different board shapes and wheel sizes. I have a giant 10.75 egg board!
You should put another one together upside down and do a comparison video. I wouldn’t have thought it did anything but it has a cool pump feel kind of like a camber snowboard would
Those boards are like straight up 60s style. I would love to see John really work at this most pure and hallowed form of skateboarding. Also, I was worried at first that Neil Blender wasn't going to be mentioned!
I remember taking a generic mini board and slapping narrow venture trucks on it with some small oj’s and it was such a blast carving that thing around. It tre flipped real nice too. I’m going to have to find another deck like it. Skateboarding is starting to look fun again.
"It's over!!" -Right on John, you and the Polarizer are a good combo.
Going skating after work and this video has got me pumped!! Loved the montage, song is fantastic. The narrow challenge on top of the sign was wild!! _KEEP KILLIN’ IT_
This song goes with the video so well
What’s the songs name?
Just got my Penny "Nickel" board the other day. This thing looks pretty fun.
Shout out to NEIL BLENDER !
For creating the Heated Wheel companhy and what he did for skateboarding in the 80s and his street skating progression & his contribution in the creation of Alien Workshop back in the early days.
Just bought and currently riding sure grips. 🎉 happy to see the creative uploads!
Great video, John-we’ve missed ya! I firmly believe that playing around with different shapes/styles of skateboard is both super fun and really good for your skating (especially as an intermediate/novice skater trying to unlock style/technique). Bravo!
Those are rad... I skate a 1977 Alva board with softer wheels and I can't stop riding it. I'm obsessed with it because of the feel it provides. I feel like I'm surfing. It's hard to go back to my regular boards. Have fun
When john doesn’t post-😭 when john posts-😁. Makes my whole day.
You looked like you had a blast on that board. Sending you some good spirits!! Stay blessed and keep having fun!
Love you John
because of the nostalgia, the simplicity and beauty of sidewalk surfing, gliding, turning, carving - the pure joy of raw roots skateboarding.
Great video, John. Shame I missed out on the book for my newborn though, really wanted him to have it one day. I'll keep an eye out for when you release more.
I missed you!!!!!!!!!!
3:10 song??? Please 🙏
Letting go- almost barely
@@ethanli8118 tnx
“A little scary” … gotcha. 😅
John you are the man !
I loved seeing your joy carving:)
My first board was a hand me down 1970's Amflex Board with Holland Tunnel Wheels, and all I had for pavement was our family farm market space, so I was dodging bushels of apples, and half bushel baskets. This board could easily make 3 ft diameter 180 degree turns. My second was a double Vision two tail so I went from no concave to all of it. tiny board to a massive one.
0:52 7/8th inch allen hardware call jamie thomas
Just got back into skateboarding and subscribed to you. So happy you uploaded this and this topic especially, because I've been seeing this "trend" as well
This was a great video. Really enjoyed this little deep dive into a different part of skating
Looks like a lot of fun. Blender is legit. Heated Wheel has more traditional boards too, popsicle and shaped. I picked up "The Ostrich" deck a few weeks ago and it rides great, sort of a 90s shape. I started riding on a board similar to the Polarizer in 78. I think that the surfskate scene has really done a lot to bring back this style.
I’m planning on starting a board company with shaped boards. Any recommendations?
Branding, you re competing against well established companies. Find a niche and hit it!
@@juanpablodo12345678 thing is, I’d be doing it just for fun and because I want to share my art with people
@@Rot_Dog666 Thats cool! Start small and see where it takes you. Maybe make around 10-20 boards, create a page and start advertising with videos and friends.
Animal Farm shape but 33in long w/ actual nose & kick!!!
@@AngelHernandez-sj4nk 👍
Think your actually supposed to ride these upside down, as in nose and tail pointing downwards, the opposite way to a normal board.
add to that that particular deck is called a "cork top". Im guessing hes looking for our comments and engagement...
@@andresarregui3417 I think he genuinely didn't know, but also riding it with the cork side down, gives enough nose and tail to actually do tricks, which he wanted to do. But yea, not riding it as a polarizer, just as a regular board be it very skinny.
@@nickpopovici4170 I see, makes sense, more worried about getting attention and followers that what he actually talks about. You can buy the same deck, cheaper, without the cork that is meant to work as grip (no shoes).
Bro...i wish i coukd skate that board like that. Looks like you had fun!!!
Where do you get your pants? They look so comfy!
Love your content!!!
"Kickflipper discovers turning!" Now ride a pool on it like Greg Weaver. This is kinda cool. As skateboarding is hijacked by competition and moves into official skateparks, here's a rebel telling you to ride on the sidewalks! Didn't know anything about this trend, but last month I made a flat narrow deck with old Lazer trucks and OJ3 wheels. It looks like a lot of fun to ride if it ever stops raining....
My favourite Blender clip was him and his mates (O & Lance) skating the ramps in the house in Ban This.
Nice Storror shirt! Love that channel also!
Such nostalgic lords of Dogtown vibes.
Old school is genuinely fun! Whether they are big and wide or short and narrow, it offers something different than the standard popsicles.
Yes, I remember when in 2000's round/oval micro downhill freestyle boards came out using some of widest freestyle downhill trucks you can buy with wide wheels and when fat popsicle style used with wide downhill freestyle trucks and normal width for trick but big like downhill were a thing. Second often people attached/melted a piece of plastic board slider to wide popsicle boeard trucks for easier truck slides but sometimes used weird materials like hot glue, resin/epoxy glue, or brand shoe goo on trucks for a plastic like material for easier sliding on wide popsicle style. Now wide popsicles with similar wheels and trucks are SUV, all-around, or the filming boards as companies call these boards with most gatekeeping of companies, still forcing Filmer board and maintaining said image in marketing that all these SUV/all-around boards are only good one thing, only filming riders do tricks when a downhill cruiser and very big diameter 70+ mm wheels are what people would prefer to use maybe even some specialty drop board freeride downhill boards using big scooter or bigger speed rollerblade wheels.
3:20 somg name?
Ooh. You also saw that STORROR t-shirt
Reminds me of thos professional quad figure skaters at the roller rink. I think they'd really like this skateboard
Love it! Such a good vibe video!
Upside down. You kooked it 😂
Notwithstanding any cultural/social factors, it's a small longboard; what's the big deal? It's cool and all. There were "Penny" boards that are quite similar.
Either way, keep sk8ing!!!!
Looks like a cool board to whip out to warm up on before actually skating always my thoughts of these or at the end of the sesh just always my thoughts on those little boards
Storror top is sick
You’re having way too much fun on that thing 😂
Cruzer nice 👌 old-school is back
I prefer 70s Z boys style cruisers and the plastic Penny boards, but its kinda cool that these 60s style cruiser decks exist now too. Set one up with clay wheels for even more historical authenticity!
1978 Skateboard Kings shows off these early trick/early generic all around boards very well and movie is found on RUclips by a guy who posted movie in late 2020. Also were wood kick flip penny boards in 1970's made for heavier riders/wilder tricks pool/skate areas, now might be called mini cruiser boards or similar.
You set it up upside down. Tail and nose dip on a Polarizer. Also it’s a cork top. Top. Cork. Geddit?
cork goes on top
He sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. Could sell ice to an Eskimo.
Always loved that clip?
I don’t buy this
Old School is the best its so peaceful.
I don’t know how people don’t fall off those boards tbh.
Let’s bring back 09’ skating size 8.0 I think it’s making a comeback
should we add old school/shaped boards into the new skate. game?
Love the Storror shirt it’s weird seeing my two interests intersect on your channel
Whats the song that starts 3:05
That's pretty sick a 360 flip on that board
John keep up the great work
That looks hella fun
that setup looks fun I WANT ONE
John is the canary of trends in skateboarding 💀
I always took it these were for girls who didnt want to really skate. Something to roll-on, hold, and look cute with.
What’s this song name called
Hope all is well John 🙏🏼
Father John is back. Hope all is well with You, Peachy and Little Peach.
My dad got me a similar old school board in like '00 when I asked for a real board. Orange Hot lips wheels and two narrow strips of grip
1:36 THAT DID'NT ROCK AT ALL LUACHNARF oh snap nice steeze
I would love it . I skate vintage anyways . The trucks are old skool like ace trucks .
11:40 nice one
looks sick asf
Why is the board not upside-down as you read the instructions?
Slap says you skated it upside down
Danm I miss living burbank but danm too bad now only billionaires can afford the la area lol but the fact that they have retro boards is just epic I love trying new things I shall check these out sooner or later. Right on man.
ive ridden a penny board into dusty riding in this style. Ima consider purchasing.
Any chance you're coming to the East Coast this summer?
cool shirt!!!
think about
participating in
the ysl pt.2 🙏🏽
i want to get one of these to cruise and one freestyle board to learn rodney mullen and andy andersons trick lol
wow it's like you got transported back to the 70's
In the days before ramps and pools we did what is called sidewalk surfing. Skateboarding was invented later in pools, on ramps and full pipes. Watch Dog Town & Z boys before they show a pool. Walk the dog. Hang ten do a Bertelman spin or spacewalk…..find your soul…… leave your body in Arizona- Find the Bonzi Pipeline in your head
Always thought it was funny that you didn’t vibe with competitive skating. Considering half of you sessions (on RUclips atleast) are structured so much like a normal practice/ training.
About time you posted 😅 just kidding John you know we love you ❤
why is no one talking about the storror shirt
This style of riding is pretty interesting to me but there’s not enough room for my size 13 feet on that
Looks so fun
If you watched any clip of Blender or Hewitt, you would know you set the polarizer up upside down.
Thats not old school thats an antique 😂. I have one they are pretty fun tho
Storror ❤
I could make board like that 🤔
Should've done it barefoot 😂
DOG TOWN Z BOYZ😂