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| OLD MAN ARMY / Curt Baker and Wrex Cook Pro Models (Product Review) |
| BLKPRJKT |
It's rather odd how the small independent companies, the guys who are struggling to get by, those are the dudes who actually will send products for our reviews. Of course there are kooks out there who send retarded gadgets and junk in, and they wonder why sometimes we don't review it at all. Then there are the guys who are just down for skateboarding, making quality gear, and seeking only to keep their deal going. Of all of the major companies, NHS is one of the only outfits that sent in any gear. But who fucking cares? We like the little guys, and we support the DIY spirit. The OMA guys have been sacrificing whatever they have to just to keep it going, and isn't that what makes any pursuit worthwhile?
The Old Man Army crew sent along 2 new decks last month for our sampling and torture-testing. First out of the gate, the semi-inaugural Wrex Cook Pro Model. Now, if you didn't know Wrex, and you only had this graphic to judge him by, you just might think he was a follower of the late Anton La'Vey. Red. Black. Dripping blood. Pentagrams. Riding this deck will surely get the mall security guard to follow you with one hand on his walkie and the other on his gun. That's a beautiful thing. Wrex is actually quite a sweetheart and one of the most dominating riders to ever emerge from AZ, and this deck is built perfectly for his no-bullshit needs. 32.75" X 8.25" with a 15" wheelbase, standard popsicle shape and a medium concave. Popsicle used to be a derogatory term, but it is pretty much the most functional and simplified approach. Wrex's deck had a superior snappy feel and didn't sog out under my 220 pounds of pain.
The second plank that arrived was the Curt Baker Pro Model. This deck intrigued me in a few different ways. First off, the graphic suggests that Curt stalled an invert so long, the surrounding flora literally made him a permanent part of the environment. Like, for all you Frodo and the ring nerds, the kingdom of the Ents had just inducted their newest member, a human skateboarder. But graphics aside (which are actually quite kickass), the deck is a solid piece of workmanship as well. It weighs in at 33" X 8.75" with again, a 15" wheelbase. The shape is a hybrid with a rounded square tail, and a tapered nose, straight rails, and a comfortable medium concave. This deck worked well in larger terrain situations, and had the same snappy response and solid feel as the Wrex deck. My other intriguing thought was that I felt like this deck needed a 15.5" wheelbase. I know, I know, who gives a shit right? What's a 1/2 inch anyways? Well the bottom line is, the 15 works just fine, and if it doesn't, pull out daddy's makita and knock yourself out. The shape is sick, don't sweat the holes.
Overall both decks performed great and are well worth the reasonable price they can be had for. If you're looking for non-corporate wood, OMA is a good place to start.
Check out the OLD MAN ARMY website here:
OLD MAN ARMY
-BLKPRJKT / PHOTOS MRZ |
| February 18th, 2009 06:47 |
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