We hear this question a lot, and when we found this video on Youtube, with the questions and answers, thought we should post it up.

Video is by Dustin Hampton. The skater in the blue is Pete Eubank. Both Dustin and Pete are skating on Paris 180 trucks. The bushings in their trucks are standard Paris bushings but double barrel. That is, a barrel at the top and bottom (replacing the top cone with a barrel). This is what gives the truck extra stability, you are removing the lean you get from the cone and replacing it with more urethane that will be stable when compressed at speeds in a corner and on the straight in a tuck.

Other bushings that can be used are Venom Downhill or Eliminators, either in green or pink formula. If you are going to pimp out your trucks for downhill, it is best to replace the kingpin with a 3 inch grade 8 kingpin. This will give you the extra kingpin to fit on big barrel bushings and washers.

Remember: If you are going to do downhill, you MUST wear a helmet and protective clothing. Only dummies crash without a helmet. You can do serious speeds, and in a normal hill bomb you will be travelling at least 50km/h. You would not jump out of a moving car at those speeds without protection, dont speed skateboard without protection. This aint no kids play at the skatepark.

There is a debate about whether an airborne helmet is as safe to use as a motorbike helmet for skateboard racing and longboarding activities. An airborne helmet is one that has been designed for paragliding and hanggliding and should comply to the standard EN966.

Hopkin Racing does not recommend which type of helmet should be worn, we are outlining the case for both, it is the user that must determine which helmet is best. To our knowledge there has been no independent testing of helmets for downhill speedboarding.

European Standard EN966: Is the specification for helmets for airborne sports. Helmets are tested for shock absorption, specifically against kerbstone impact (simulates being dragged against rocks). Other tests performed are penetration and the strap strength tests. There is a requirement for field of vision, low weight, to be put on and taken off easily, be usable with glasses and not significantly interfere with the ability of the user to receive acoustic ambient information.

Skate Use: The debate is whether an airborne helmet is as safe to use as a motorbike helmet for skateboard racing and longboarding activities. There are pros and cons in both arguments. No doubt the motorbike helmet is rated safer at higher speeds and big impacts. However a motorbike helmet restricts vision and hearing, and is also large, heavy and cumbersome at high speeds. In certain conditions, such as high winds, a motorbike helmet could contribute to a skateboard crash. Also during a crash a heavier helmet will be harder to control and more likely to strike the ground harder.

The airborne sports helmets are designed to improve on the negatives of a motorbike helmet. There is a wider field of vision, this is important during racing and freeriding to check where other skaters are, to check on traffic and pedestrians. The helmet allows sounds to be heard, allowing the skater to hear wind speed and other skaters, warnings and dangers.

Hopkin Racing has started carrying the Charly range of paragliding helmets. We are only selling the No Limit series. We are not selling any long tail helmets, there is increasing concern of fixed long tail helmets increase the danger in a crash.
We will also be adding a Dot rated motorcycle style helmet to our range in the future, to give our customers all options.
Please read our terms and conditions regarding use of equipment and liability.