In my head for quite some time I’ve thought I wanted an 8.5 with a smaller wheelbase. I can’t change the board dimensions, but I do have control over which trucks I skate. I put some old Ace 44s on a 8.5 Lazer deck. The board was shot, cracked and very old so I don’t know how accurate this test was. I started with slappies. They didn’t go so well except for front slappies felt great. After taking several tries to kickflip I went to the side of the school for flatground. It was a different experience to say the least. I could tell the wheelbase was smaller, but it didn’t equate to easier flip tricks. In fact I didn’t really land much of anything. I went up to the rock in the back and could barely frontside axle stall on it. I really thought I was going to like this setup. I was able to kickflip and fakie flip well, had a first try heelflip but then could not do another one. I think I was 0-20 on halfcab flips although I didn’t have the normal problem I do with them. Not close to treflips either which was the main reason I tried this setup. At the time I was optimistic about the setup, but as I write this and digest the session it makes me want to go back to a smaller board and low trucks. Argh.

(setup 8.5″ old null lazer deck, ace 44s with doh doh/venom bushings, old 51mm bones stf v1, new balance numeric 212 b/w/yellow size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 3/10 although i got tired quickly)

After dinner I bailed on going to a crowded Lafayette (thanks for the report Garrett) and just went to the school to skate flat. The side of the school is lit alright, but not great. I warmed up with a few slappies that didn’t feel so great. I got the kickflip and fakie flip prereq then went in on an 11 tricks 11 tries list.

Halfcab flip- took like 6 tries to land one, but then I got like 4 more
fakie bigflip – Didn’t get one in 11 tries, but I mixed in a few with the next trick and got one in a few tries that felt really good.
Heelflip – Didn’t come easy, but landed one or two
Front heel – didn’t get close
Backside flip – took a few tries for a dumb tic tacy one
fakie varial flip – almost got it first try, then couldn’t get close again
Treflip – The lighting and shadow really messed with me on this one. Came remotely close, but never committed with both feet.
nollie tre – not even close
nollie flip – not even close
switch flip – not even close
switch heel – there was a couple that stayed under me but I never got my feet on it

Ugh right? I mean I tried a few tricks I can’t do, but I am really sick of not landing treflips. I hucked some random flippers in between tries. Got a few switch front shoves, kind of close to pop shove under flip.

(setup 8.38 null plant life deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder 151 hollow light, 52mm bones stf 103a v1, all washers on the outside of the wheels, new balance numeric 212 b/w/yellow size 12, nikesb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 4/10)