Well, it appears that one year ago today I made this post about the set-ups I was riding at the start of 2025.* How did the rest of year play-out, and where am I at the start of 2026?
Over the course of 2025 I solidified the fact that bigger boards are now my "standard." I tried a few other smaller (and larger) set-ups during the summer and fall, but I always, always came back to that 8.75/14.5 Black Label deck. Always.
On Jan 7th, 2026 the only "performance" board I have set-up is an 8.75 Black Label, with two tweaks from last year. First, I went from forged hollow Indys (53.5mm tall) to standard Indys (55mm tall). I just like standard Indys more on a bigger board. The ratios just seem better. I also have a better pop on the standards, and a deeper turn. The slightly extra weight also seems to make the board feel way more "steady" when plowing through grinds. It's a good feeling. Last, I upgraded from Swiss 6 to Swiss Ceramic bearings. More on those in the future.
What has become of my trusty 8.25/14.38 deck? Well, I haven't given it away, yet. The 8.75 is a bit clunky for some things, and that makes me want to keep the 8.25 around for a bit still. But I find myself asking "why" more and more. I hardly ever ride it (not even assembled at the moment). And when I do, I am like, "What is this absurd little freestyle board I own?" At times it seems like I am trying to force myself to still "enjoy" that board, even though it seems like all real fun and enjoyment is only be found on the 8.75 these days. Hell, I was even writing about the 8.75 emerging as the board back in 2024. I should maybe listen to what I've been telling myself for over a year-and-half now.
I think it's just hard to let go of something that was "part" of me for so, so long. I rode that 8.25 for well over a decade, and now it seems to be just be something in the rear view mirror...and part of this is just tacit acknowledgement that I am getting older, and my skateboards/skateboarding changes with that. I mean, hell, the whole premise of this blog was to help document the "descent" into my Twilight Years of skateboarding, both good and bad. I guess I just didn't anticipate mere equipment changes to involve an existential letting-go. Well, here we are. It's funny. When I started writing this post, I had no intention of it "going" where it has. But, indeed, here we are. I suppose when I was kid, I had no real intention of "going" old, either. But here we are. Everything is a circle.
I really need to just find a kid who needs/wants a full set-up, and pass the 8.25 flame...it's time to let go.
*Pure chance that I made today's post on the 1-year anniversary of that other post---I had no intent of the doing that. Pure "coincidence," I guess.
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