Carver quiver (Or other surf trainers)

pkovo, it doesn't really change any of our lives whether you get a Carver or not. We don't exist to provide you endless reels of compelling footage, or any for that matter. As MrJames says, anonymity is probably why most don't post vids of themselves, as well as the fact that most people aren't exhibitionists. We are taking time with responses to you and to all the previous posters, so that's a fair contribution right there. There's more than enough footage available online with simple searches on the Carver site and elsewhere for you to see what you're looking for.

How much do you need to see? Even in the fluff marketing clips, you still have plenty of footage of dudes ripping them to get a handle on what they can do. Like you say, seeing is believing. Getting that visual for a few seconds even gives you a notion that you've never seen this being done on any other skateboard/longboard. They are so much more than just similar to loose trucks. The litany of responses other than mine attest to that, and we mention that specifically.

There's no kool-aid to be drank when the reviews are unanimously positive. If you think you can get similar stoke from some $20 longboard you picked up around the way, then knock yourself out bro, enjoy that stick.

Hopefully for your own stoke, you'll get on a Carver. If not, our lives will go on.

 

Thanks, I watched this vid and several others (not put out by carver) through my lunch today. Also saw the trucks only are available cheaper than I initially thought, so I may change my tune and test the waters that way.

I wish someone near me had one, 5 min on it would probably answer all of my questions. Wit the upcoming swell prediction, I'll likely find myself in the vicinity of a shop selling them in the near future, so perhaps I'll get lucky and be able to test one.

Here's a question, how is it for your core? That sonds bizarre, but I'm serious. Does it feel like you get much of a core workout from it, specifically pumping on flat ground; or is it more taxing on your legs? When I skate around on my regular board, I don't feel like I work my core much at all, but my legs get a good burn.

Definitely not trying to rain on your parade. I'm genuinely interested, but a bit skeptical in nature. I'm not old enough to be their grandfather, but possibly their father. I'm no kid either....unfortunately

 

You're not going to spoon feed me, I'm not changing your life, and your life will go one whether I buy a Carver or not. Ok, I think I'm good with that.

Thank You

 

Its a work out. Way more so then your typical skateboard. As I said before, I'm older. With old age comes knee and back problems. Its def more of a workout on your core then just skating around. I'm in decent shape but I usually sweat my A** off after about 30 minutes on it. But I'm really hard on myself so results may vary.

I have not had mine very long but I can already tell the difference in my knees and core. I jog at least 5K - 3 times a week when I can't surf. If I do surf I simply cannot run for 2 days. My knees hurt too much. Since I've had the carver Its made a pretty big difference. the first couple days were tough on my knees but since then I've been running and carving and my legs have not felt this good in years.

Lastly, I'm Pretty excited about the swell developing. I haven't been able to surf since I got the carver as its been flat or I've had to work. I really feel its helped my form and strength - Genuinely curious how my knees handle some waves.

 

This is a really long thread. ClemsonSurf started it...

 

Thank you, this is extremely helpful, and good to hear. I am thinking this might be a good way to stay in shape and was thinking it would be lower impact.

If you have knee pain, I'm surprised you run. I won't run more than once a week now, and that used to be my go to for cardio. Now being older and heavier, the pounding bothers my lower legs (I'm heavy). Ended up with Tibia stress fractures a few years back from it, but I also tend to do too much too fast with stuff, so probably my foult. Thought they were shin splints I could power through, so just kept at it until it sidelined me.

Now I mainly bike, but having only evenings to exercise this time of year, biking for fitness is a little risky, even with lights. I tool around on a trials bike which I can do in one spot, and it's good exercise, but it's a high risk activity.

Hence, long story short, I'm looking at the Carver. I figure I cruise empty parking lots, basketball and tennis courts,parks etc at night. Same terrain I hit on my trials bike, but if I'm just "surf skating" rather than trying to ollie around, I should be able to keep myself in one piece. Reading through the thread, seems like that's what a lot of others are using these for.

Thanks

 

Anytime, just keeping the record books straight

 

Homemade cruiser: oak, cherry and walnut deck; independent trucks; sector 9 wheels.

 

My fingers are pretty solid. Middle one works really well.

Are the Carver decks stiffer or something? I guess maybe some longboard decks that flex might absorb wosome of your energy when pumping and work against you?

I prayed with Wayne for a bit, and then wouldn't you know it, shortly after Roy offered to shape me a 7' carver with a serrated hatchet fin on the front...so I may be all set!

 

I drop tabs of acid and swim in the bathtub with a glass plate to resemble surfing when its flat.last week waves were triple overhead,i had a 3 wave holddown in my tub,nearly died,look for it on surflines greatest wipeouts.what u see,and what I saw in my brain may be 2 different things

 

pkovo -

1) They are excellent for the core, not just legs. You'll be working both in several ways that's difficult to achieve with other activities. Best part is that (aside from falling, and that's up to you) it's a low/no-impact activity. Your orthopedic health and muscular/aerobic health all goes up very much and makes you more durable rather than breaking you down. Surfing + Carver riding on the reg = pretty damn good fitness.

2) Carver decks are heavier and stiffer, yes. You are correct that you'd not want flex in the deck much as it will absorb the force you're applying to it which you want converted forward on a linear plane in the end.

3) Most shops will have a demo board or two or at least let you get on one of the boards on the rack that's in the store. You'll have to find a shop that carries them but they're listed on the Carver site I believe. Once you get on one you probably will be intrigued and sold enough to buy it.

Your due diligence is appreciated and respected and I'm sure you've invested in other products that have had far less of a positive track record. Only thing we have to gain by giving you our honest input is having another Sweller get stoked on them. Guys are shooting pretty straight here with this.

 

Thanks emass, I appreciate it. I tend to research the $hit out of just about everything I buy. I'm probably just delaying the inevitable outcome... Buying one.

You sure you don't rep for Carver?

 

i have the same one but without the trackpad. i put some swiss bones on it and MAN it flies. even with loose trucks for carving it wont get the speed-wobbles now matter how fast you are bombing a hill. A+ cruiser.

i still have the big stock wheels which are great because it rolls right over rocks, but its REAL hard to get those wheels to break loose for slides. if i want to do some real sliding i gotta use my normal board because those globe wheels grip so damn hard.

i dont know much about carver but the ...lost boards are not that bad. they are definitely more cruisy and not the hill-bombers like the globes or arbors. my friend has a ...lost RNF style cruiser with the super-swallow tail. really intense tail rocker, and the the deck feels a little convex to me, which isnt particularly my style but maybe i am spoiled by how nice my globe board is.


the globe boards are nice because you can still skate aggressively with them if you want. i am not the best skater but i have plenty of friends who are and they love carving bowls with my globe. it has plenty of pop too, i can ollie just as high with it as a normal deck even though it is heavier.

 

im looking to get a little banana board, with more appropriate wheels for sliding, any recommendations? is Z-flex still the way to go for those kind of boards? ive seen the little plastic 70s style boards at my local skateshop but dont really know anyone who has put them to use.

 

You're welcome bro. What do board salesmen make - something like 5% of the gross sale? So that would give me a total of $12.50 in haggling with an unsure customer as much as we've gone back and forth so far, which is a fair amount. I'd probably have beelined a long time ago to the more willing and ready to buy customer lol, and that's even if I could be tracked back as the salesperson to a relative stranger on a message forum. Not too likely when you think about it!

 

Picked up a Carver yesterday after surfing. Got the Taylor Knox Pro. Took it for a 10 min test ride today. Here are my initial impressions for anyone thinking about one of these, but on the fence.

It seems relatively easy. It clicked in just a few minutes. I can tic-tac my skateboard, and pump a surfboard well, and I imagine that just translates over. I felt proficient on it almost immediately. I can't really get going from a dead stop well without one kick or a few tic tacs, but once rolling I can pump for speed rather easily.

It's a hoot on a small hill. I took a couple runs down one, and the tight radius turns make it really fun. Can slide the rear wheels easily, and feels very similar to breaking your fins free at the end of a cutback.

On a big hill, I think this thing would be nightmare. I get the feeling any real speed would be a bad thing. If I tried to go straight at any speed, I would probably be inviting the wobbles. However it seems pretty stable if you keep it "on rail"

Regular kicking feels weird. I'll probably get used to this, and won't be kicking much anyway, but it took me by surprise.

It's pretty heavy. If I could, or wanted to do any type of ollie tricks, this would be an issue. However I can't, and don't care to, so it doesn't matter to me.

So that's my unbiased initial impression after 10 minutes on it in case anyone cares. If you can pump a surfboard, and/or tic tac a skateboard, you'll likely get on one of these and be decent at it right off the bat. It seems like it will be fun.

I videoed the ride, and also a few runs on my regular skateboard for comparison. Watch8ing them, on flat ground the motion is very similar, but on the carver since the front end stays on the ground and you push all the way through the turn. It feels and looks more true to surfing, but at this point I can still generate more speed with the tic tac.

Sadly, the main thing I noticed watching the video is my arms look freakishly long and my left hand looks bizarre, just limp and hanging or flopping around. I imagine that's how I look when surf too, which is kind of a bummer.

 

^^^ lol I love it... especially the last part.. been there... try to make adjustments. It's good to see how you look so you can improve.