As you’d expect from someone born on transition, Paul skates a sizeable set-up and his plank of choice is a standard popsicle shaped 8.5” Ravenous deck with medium concave and an equally round nose and tail. The natural woodstain bottom ply features Ravenous Skateboards’ trademark angry canine reflecting the ‘Beneath The Underdog’ status of Martin Kennelley’s Sheffield-based board brand.
Moving onto the undercarriage hardware, Paul’s set-up features a set of Raw ACE 44 Hi trucks, which are based on truck shapes popularized throughout the 1980s and ideal for those unafraid to embrace a bit of wobble. The narrow gradient from pivot cup to hanger allows sharp responsiveness from the ACE 44 Hi skate truck as weight is easily distributed from the toe and heel edges of the board.
Loose trucks save lives after all, but rather than run the risk of losing a kingpin nut – swapping out the standard rubbers for a pack of Bones Hardcore Bushings, (as seen here), is a good choice. The bushings are available in soft (blue), medium (yellow) and hard (black) densities and a firm favourite of Paul’s thanks to the minimal break in period and ability tighten/loosen a set of trucks more precisely by removing the need for conventional truck washers.
Sizing for all skateboard truck brands differs, but the ACE 44 Hi hanger measures up at 8.5” which is ideal for a board of equal width but also works nicely alongside any deck ranging from 8.25” to 8.75”.
101a 56mm Spitfire Formula Four Wheels complement the truck’s slim hanger allowing for a secure lock in to any surface you might wish to grind. These 101 Durometer Formula Four are the harder option of Spitfire Wheels premium wheel range. Although retailing at a slightly higher price point than a standard set of Spitfires, the wheel’s lifespan attests to the price difference, and chucking in a set of Spitfire Cheapshot bearings allows for a quality wheel configuration without breaking the bank.
