RC
12-05-2007, 06:26 PM
In Advance- This is my first review. Sorry for the really large pictures.
Intro- Real skateboards are part of DLX distribution in San Francisco along with Krooked Skateboards, Anti Hero Skateboards, Spitfire Wheels and Thunder Trucks. All of their decks are standard 7-ply decks, which I believe, use resin epoxy glue (correct me if I am wrong). Their pro team consists of riders such as Dennis Busenitz, Peter Ramondetta, Nick Dompierre, Ernie Torres, and JT Aultz. The board I am reviewing is part of Real's Southside Series, which features special graphics from Francisco Rivera. The board itself is Peter Ramondetta's signature model which is 8.02 inches wide and 31.75 inches long.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/ramondetta.jpg
Graphic- As mentioned before, all the graphics in the Southside Series are by Francisco Rivera. The design on this particular board was rather dark, even Gothic if you will. The bottom of this deck was covered with skulls, coffins, spiders, and more skulls. The color scheme was mostly different shades of black and gray. These kinds of designs aren't really my kind of style, but they were very nice designs. I thought the graphic was very artistic and creative. Real has a great variety of graphics to choose from. Surly they have one to fit your style.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/CIMG2630.jpg
Shape/Concave- This particular board had a pretty mellow concave, not too steep nor too flat. I thought it felt very nice because it did not feel like I was standing on flat ground and it did not feel like I was standing in a bowl. This board was just right. When I first bought the board the nose and the tail were of even width, if any thing the tail may have been a little wider than the nose (at least that is how it ended up). The nose on this deck was noticeably longer than the tail (nothing too out of the ordinary there). Besides the tail being slightly wider than the nose, this deck had a pretty ordinary shape. A great thing about this deck is that it kept its shape as long as I had had it.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/CIMG2629.jpg
Pop- The pop on this board was incredible. Through out the 2 2/3 months I skated this board the pop never drastically decreased, even after razor tail. This board was nice and stiff with a little flex. Real skateboards also offers a new board construction called Rebound Construction which is featured in this particular series. Real claims this construction offers a "quick, snappy light ride." Rebound construction decks have a slight bow between the nose and tail. They also adjust ply thickness which increases strength and response. This construction allows the tail to flex which supposedly gives you a quicker pop. All I have to say is that it really works and is not a gimmick.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/CIMG2631.jpg
Durability- The last deck that I owned snapped after two weeks. The deck before that lasted about a month and a half. I was very happy with this deck because it lasted almost three months. I ended up retiring this board, never getting the chance to snap it. That being said, this board was very strong, no pressure cracks, or anything like that. However towards the end of this board's life it started to chip. I would not blame the chipping on the board itself, I think the chipping came with age, just as any other board.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/CIMG2628.jpg
Overall- I would give this deck a perfect 10/10. It was absolutely great. I am definitely sticking with this company. Their boards are simply amazing. I have already started skating my second Real deck, which, as strange as it sounds, is better than my last. Real is a great company and I suggest everybody should try one before they stop skating. Something I didn't get to mention earlier was that Real skateboards come with a 90 day warranty and is 100% guaranteed against manufacturers defects.
Thank you for reading this review, and thank you bobbyganoosh for the format.
Intro- Real skateboards are part of DLX distribution in San Francisco along with Krooked Skateboards, Anti Hero Skateboards, Spitfire Wheels and Thunder Trucks. All of their decks are standard 7-ply decks, which I believe, use resin epoxy glue (correct me if I am wrong). Their pro team consists of riders such as Dennis Busenitz, Peter Ramondetta, Nick Dompierre, Ernie Torres, and JT Aultz. The board I am reviewing is part of Real's Southside Series, which features special graphics from Francisco Rivera. The board itself is Peter Ramondetta's signature model which is 8.02 inches wide and 31.75 inches long.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/ramondetta.jpg
Graphic- As mentioned before, all the graphics in the Southside Series are by Francisco Rivera. The design on this particular board was rather dark, even Gothic if you will. The bottom of this deck was covered with skulls, coffins, spiders, and more skulls. The color scheme was mostly different shades of black and gray. These kinds of designs aren't really my kind of style, but they were very nice designs. I thought the graphic was very artistic and creative. Real has a great variety of graphics to choose from. Surly they have one to fit your style.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/CIMG2630.jpg
Shape/Concave- This particular board had a pretty mellow concave, not too steep nor too flat. I thought it felt very nice because it did not feel like I was standing on flat ground and it did not feel like I was standing in a bowl. This board was just right. When I first bought the board the nose and the tail were of even width, if any thing the tail may have been a little wider than the nose (at least that is how it ended up). The nose on this deck was noticeably longer than the tail (nothing too out of the ordinary there). Besides the tail being slightly wider than the nose, this deck had a pretty ordinary shape. A great thing about this deck is that it kept its shape as long as I had had it.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/CIMG2629.jpg
Pop- The pop on this board was incredible. Through out the 2 2/3 months I skated this board the pop never drastically decreased, even after razor tail. This board was nice and stiff with a little flex. Real skateboards also offers a new board construction called Rebound Construction which is featured in this particular series. Real claims this construction offers a "quick, snappy light ride." Rebound construction decks have a slight bow between the nose and tail. They also adjust ply thickness which increases strength and response. This construction allows the tail to flex which supposedly gives you a quicker pop. All I have to say is that it really works and is not a gimmick.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/CIMG2631.jpg
Durability- The last deck that I owned snapped after two weeks. The deck before that lasted about a month and a half. I was very happy with this deck because it lasted almost three months. I ended up retiring this board, never getting the chance to snap it. That being said, this board was very strong, no pressure cracks, or anything like that. However towards the end of this board's life it started to chip. I would not blame the chipping on the board itself, I think the chipping came with age, just as any other board.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/daviddawei/CIMG2628.jpg
Overall- I would give this deck a perfect 10/10. It was absolutely great. I am definitely sticking with this company. Their boards are simply amazing. I have already started skating my second Real deck, which, as strange as it sounds, is better than my last. Real is a great company and I suggest everybody should try one before they stop skating. Something I didn't get to mention earlier was that Real skateboards come with a 90 day warranty and is 100% guaranteed against manufacturers defects.
Thank you for reading this review, and thank you bobbyganoosh for the format.