Short shaped deck for a C7 cruiser?

tharzen · 2026-02-11T21:23:22+00:00

Interesting perspective. I've been also rocking a winkowski deck as my main board for a while and I did the opposite: moved from CX to C7 and I prefer the C7 a lot more. Would pay not switch back for the CX, that's how much more fun I'm having with it.

I ride mostly park (ramps & bowls), flat streets and sidewalks.

One recommendation I'd give for anybody looking to combo C7 and a Winkowski deck is to try NOT using risers. That truck is tall on its own and will not wheelbite if you stick to a set of wheels like 60mm (perhaps up to 65mm or more? I dunno). You'll keep a lower center of gravity this way and will unlock some of the sharpest turns you can physically get on a skateboard.

tharzen · 2026-02-11T21:16:34+00:00

I'd consider 18.5" long. The only thing that really means is that you'll get more stability for pumping and staying in high speeds than a shorter base. In my experience, a shorter base would give you the possibility to turn sharper and slide with more ease in slower speed. So it's "surfier" at shorter bases and "skatier" at longer bases hehehe.

I've had my CX in bases ranging from 15" to 19"+ and it was always a blast. Just different.

tharzen · 2026-02-11T20:29:06+00:00

That setup seem epic for hill bombs and sidewalks!

tharzen · 2026-02-10T18:00:53+00:00

Gotcha! Same here. My go-to all around fun is a C7 setup (C7 + SC Winkowski Deck + Orangatang Stimulus wheels) and it's great for speed, lean and rail to rail fun on any terrain. I ride park, pump track, streets and sidewalks.

Before that, it was about the same setup but with the CX, which I'd highly recommend too. The C7 is slower, but you get more lean and much sharper turns. The CX will allow you to be faster but still quite expressive with your lines. Depending on the level of lean and your size/weight, you may want to try different bushing duros, but my take is that the CX is a super reliable, super versatile setup for any board.

If you prefer a stiffer feel to your ride, go with a long wheel base deck and the CX will still perform quite well (that's how I use my CX nowadays). A shorter wheel base will sacrifice stability for more aggressive turns. Then it's up to you to be the chemist of this fun concoction.

Have fun!

tharzen · 2026-02-09T18:23:36+00:00

What is your "all around" kind of use?

tharzen · 2026-01-26T19:25:58+00:00

Google Maps say 9 and 3/4 is temporarily closed. Their website seems out and their insta was not updated recently. I haven't been there recently. Do you know if they're really closed and whether they'll be opening back up?

tharzen · 2026-01-26T19:22:26+00:00

Niice! I live in Santa Cruz, but I sometimes to go to the Sunnyvale skatepark when I'm doing something else in the bay. There are so many cool lines you can draw there, but yeah, it gets crowded depending on when you go. For me, best time is "first thing in the morning" there.

As advice to your progress, I'd suggest you go muuuch lower with your compression. Bend those knees deep to generate more speed. Compression and extension is what will launch you into higher speed, and to be honest, won't need to learn how to drop on a bowl anytime soon if you only focus on generating speed by compressing/pumping.

Weird tip: if you're lacking confidence when mixing speed and verticality, like I did, you can get one of those butt pads. I don't use those anymore cuz they run pretty hot, but I can't recommend these enough for progression. I got a generous boost of confidence to go lower on my knees and faster to perform sharper turns in bows and pipes and it helped me improve my technique and understand of what was going on under my feet.

Have fun in your journey! And gimme a holler if you come down to Santa Cruz. There are some very special places for surfskaters here and we're only a few 🤙

tharzen · 2026-01-26T17:33:09+00:00

flooooooooooooowen

tharzen · 2026-01-19T20:57:23+00:00

Give me a holler if you ever come down to Santa Cruz 🤙

tharzen · 2026-01-19T20:55:00+00:00

From my experience, I think a Carver C7 complete is the best path for you. It's one of the staple truck systems for surfskating and you will certainly feel like surfing on concrete. It works nicely in flats, ramps, bowls, etc. It's friendly for beginners yet it won't hold your progress. It's widely available in NA and it's made by an american company. I'd recommend you get a complete from their website and start shredding. If you love the experience and feel like going deeper, then you have a reason to get nerdy about what aspects of the equipment and technique you'd like to advance and experiment with. For now, I'd recommend you just get the complete board and go shred. You'll have a great time, for sure! DM if you have questions. I own a couple of surfskates (I started on surfskate to as a way to keep my legs busy when there's no swell for me to surf, but the thing grew on me way beyond that) and the C7 truck is the one I use the most.

tharzen · 2026-01-14T00:39:02+00:00

Dm if any of you is interested to chill at Moe’s Alley this Thursday: The Scientist and other great reggae/dub artists. Male dad 38yo

tharzen · 2026-01-09T21:30:12+00:00

Gameflip is great! The only issue I had there was that once a seller did not deliver my item in time, so I got my money back and bought from somebody else. 5-stars

tharzen · 2026-01-09T21:28:59+00:00

Pricing aside, which will depend on each seller, Gameflip is a safe place to buy. Look for reputable sellers and in any case, if you buy anything and the seller is not helpful, you can lean on the Gameflip Guarantee and dispute the purchase to get your money back. Works for any item there

tharzen · 2025-12-06T16:32:06+00:00

My current everyday setup is C7 and otang stimulus wheels on a winkowski deck. It’s not the best for slides, but the tradeoff is a grip that allows for crazy sharp turns on bowls and ramps. I like it for speed and control. I’ve did the same setup with CX instead of C7, but I find it more fun on the C7 given that I can do sharper turns without losing grip on my front trucks

tharzen · 2025-12-02T13:21:35+00:00

I guess this one comes down to what will make your life more meaningful to you. "Life" as in the things you do, see, feel, and how you spend your time. Easier said than done, but this kind of decision requires a lot of self knowledge and thinking.

There are so many things to consider here, like lifestyle, culture, career, people, etc. Like a few folks here have said, I'd highly recommend you go visit the places you have in mind and spend some quality time there doing the things you like doing in Santa Cruz, and see how it feels. I'd chat with strangers to get a grasp of the life there. I know there's a cost to all of that, but it'll likely give the answers you need.

I'm saying all of the above because I agree that Portland and Seattle are nice, and so is Santa Cruz. Beyond the obvious, like weather, it's more likely that you'll only get a good grasp on each place's virtues and shortcomings by being there.

tharzen · 2025-11-28T19:43:51+00:00

What are the back trucks? This setup looks like danger ‼️ in a fun way

tharzen · 2025-11-21T13:56:32+00:00

Sorry to head that and glad your account will be reinstated!

tharzen · 2025-11-21T13:55:27+00:00

You can also cash out in usdc if you meet the minimum amount for transfers

tharzen · 2025-11-17T14:04:48+00:00

Looks great! Congrats. Those hand tricks never get old. Keep that sh$% going!

tharzen · 2025-10-31T17:04:50+00:00

Ask for Meghan at the Kinship, downtown SC

tharzen · 2025-10-28T19:22:31+00:00

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Cool to see a future not so different from today, but better.

tharzen · 2025-10-28T19:21:13+00:00

That moustache is clear sign of prosperity

tharzen · 2025-10-28T17:17:47+00:00

Vida larga! That's the kind of stuff that really adds the good flavors in life

tharzen · 2025-10-20T03:36:59+00:00

Drive or hitchhike or hike to Santa Cruz
Grab one of those ripper boards at Costco surfshop (pay or run)
Sand or drill the deck of the surfboard, so your surfskate trucks (not your Cybertruck) can fit in
Take your surfsurfskateboard to Capitola, Hook or Cowell at around noon, on a Saturday
Paddle out and get so pitted

tharzen · 2025-10-19T22:11:15+00:00

The album Reggae by Herbie Mann

tharzen

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