November 18, 2008 Bustin Boards Releases The Strike

The crew at Bustin Boards has released their latest model, the Strike, which features traditional Bustin contours packed into an ultra low, drop-through design. Their first drop-through model, the 38-inch deck is designed for multi-discipline performance riding and is one of the most versatile boards on the market. The Strike is unique because of its forward-cambered, concave drop-through design which gives it the rebound of a more flexible board, but the stability of a lower-style setup. The most camber exists in the front third of the board, creating a sweet spot with strong rebound for the optimal kick, push and coast. The signature Bustin shape also offers the advantage of increased truck wedging in both the front and rear for fluid maneuverability and greater response to the rider. In addition, the Strike offers a small tail and nose for manuals which have been thoroughly tested to withstand rider wear and tear-- unlike some other similar attempts across the industry. Staying with their commitment to greener design, the 8-ply layup is made with 100% sustainably-harvested maple from North America.

Setups: Setups: According to Bustin, this board can be effectively set up for a variety of disciplines and will roll with the best on the market in most situations. The truck mount geometry was designed to complement most reverse hanger trucks, but if customizing for specific disciplines, Bustin recommends using custom baseplates from Randal Truck Co.(www.randal.com) Carving/Sliding: The natural wedging of the truck mounts on this shape (7 degrees in the rear and 13 degrees in the front) provides optimal maneuverability with standard reverse hanger trucks such as the Randal II, Crail DH, Paris 180 and others. The steeper geometry in the front truck means the board is steered in the front and stabilized in the rear. Using the standard 42 or 50 degree Randal baseplates in the front and rear will create an extremely maneuverable yet predictable ride. Downhill: Riders seeking a board geared for downhill should consider investing in a custom 30 degree base plate on the rear mount and a 42-50 degree base plate on the front mount. This will compensate for wheel wobble at high speeds, causing the front truck to steer and the rear truck to follow. If you’re looking for the most stability, you could further de-wedge the truck by using a 30-degree baseplate there as well. De-wedging increases stability and minimizes maneuverability.

Prototyping: This board is the culmination of years of brainstorming and has been designed in close collaboration with Bustin's NYC team and global network of riders. Their tight-knit group of riders were the first to be seen ripping the new board, formally known as "Diablo Prototype" and have worked with the crew at the Bustin shop to refine the shape over the past year. "We owe huge thanks to our team and local crew who we are blessed to ride and consult with about shapes," says Mike Dallas, Bustin's team manager. "They used and abused every prototype we created, offering more objective opinions of preferred functionality and durability. Since each rider has a completely different style, every prototype was individually tricked out with the rider's choice to ensure compatibility with most of the high-performance components in the industry." After dozens of prototypes were scrapped, the final Strike emerged as the perfect balance of design and performance. The new Strike is currently available for customization on the Bustin website and will be available in select shops starting in January 2009. For more information, pictures and video visit either www.bustinboards.com or www.bustinboardslongboards.com/blog.