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is there a secret to riding with Flatkick?

7K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  jojotherider 
#1 · (Edited)
Hey folks,

I've got a 2011 Capita Ultrafear 155. This is my not-much-new-snow/park board. I've only ridden it about 4 days and I've got mixed feelings on it. I like the poppiness of it and I like the dampening system. But I'm struggling with straighlining and carving.

Straightlining - There are those spots where I need to gather up a bunch of speed to clear a flat/uphill section. Whenever I get the board flat, it feels super unstable and like I'm going to catch an edge. Is that just something that happens with flatkick (or flatcambered boards in general)?

Carving - feels like I can't get onto the toeside very well. switching to the heelside and carving seems ok, its just that transition doesn't seem to happen. instead of a nice clean carve, i get a windshield wiper turn when I go toeside.

Some other info:
-I've been riding a Gnu Riders Choice 157 for the past 3 years - could straightline/carve no problem
-My other board is a Nitro Team Gullwing 159 which I can also straightline/carve with no problem.
-Bindings are Burton Trustoms. Basically a frankenbinding with Triad baseplates and Custom Highbacks (broke the Triad highbacks). I tried the board with my Rome Targas and the ride was terrible. Will definitely stick with the Burtons.

I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions.

-joel
 
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#5 ·
yeah, i'm used to trying to initiate the turns at the contact points. Why is it different on flat camber? when I got the Gnu with Revers camber, turn initiation was the same. from what it sounds like you guys are describing, i would have to steer from the middle as well since the main contact is in the middle.

Also, could you guys talk more about what you mean when you say ride it like a skateboard? Its not really translating that well for me. I haven't really ridden a skateboard that much in 20 years (and that was a surprising revelation just now :| ). I have ridden a longboard a couple times in the past few years, but nothing that really stood out as far as technique.
 
#7 ·
That's exactly it.

On a skateboard your center of gravity is in the middle and you're initiating turns from underfoot. Since the contact points at the ends are raised up, your main contact points are the flat part of the board which are also underfoot. Someone smarter will probably have some tech explanation about something I missed/kinda got wrong, but you have the right idea.
 
#9 ·
It totally makes sense that it seems weird, but it's kinda not weird. Flat Kick is an alternative camber that's kind of the opposite of banana.

Like banana is rockered in the middle and then goes flat/reeeeeeal mellow camber outside the bindings. Flat Kick is the oppostite it's flat between the bindings and then rockers up slightly afterward. So while they're both not cambered, a different approach is needed. I have a BTX board and I steer primarily underfoot more but outside the feet when I need some oomph in the turns.
 
#12 ·
It's just a matter of experience with any board while flat-basing to keep yourself from catching an edge. If it feels like it's starting to want to pivot just put light pressure on an edge to keep it straight.

If you're really hauling ass you should be keeping light pressure on an edge anyways. Nothing worse than having a tiny bump shift your board out from under you and making you scorpion onto your face.
 
#18 ·
So to close up on this thread. It was the stance I had on the board. Its a twin board, but I had an off centered stance. front binding was 2nd bolt in from the front and the rear was on the outermost bolts. I moved the rear binding forward and voila! board was riding really good yesterday. I was able to straightline into some jumps for more speed and I felt comfortable landing on it also. good times!

and as nolefan2011 predicted, i do love this board now. :D
 
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