Loaded Poke CX Surfskate
The Loaded Poke with CX trucks is a longboard that I got only after I had tried at least three other complete surfskate systems before it. The CX truck system itself is the one that I started with as a complete beginner at surfskating, and as I have progressed I think it definitely succeeds at being the hybrid cruiser/carver together with surfskating ability it is marketed as.
I originally bought the board in both its offered configurations (Loaded offer a surfskate CX and a Paris V3 165mm setup). The CX setup was originally supplied with the orange 80A Orangatang 4President wheels and had two stacked eighth inch original Carver risers (making a 1/4" rise) installed. One of my primary aims in buying this deck as distinct to the previous surfskate completes was to have a board that I could take to as many places as possible with me. And for that purpose weight was the number one consideration.
So my change of the recommended setup to the smaller diameter 76A Love Handles wheels reduces the weight appreciably in this case, and improves the ride feel further for me as I was able to remove one of the 1/8" risers from each of the front and back without danger of wheelbite.
The wheel change does not adversely affect performance (for me at least) although I had 4President blues which I tried out on it in the early stages, that do give more speed both when deep pumping and rolling. The smaller Love Handles wheels that I now prefer are a bit more nimble on the other hand and as mentioned weigh less so it's what I now ride on this deck. The slight reduction in wheel diameter also makes for a lower ride platform which I generally like.
Aesthetically speaking I also like the narrower wheels here, that line up better with the sides of the deck. Not as important a factor here, as on a pushing board I admit, but I think it makes a difference to me in the dynamics of carving confidently, and reducing the danger of footbite in my case. I generally place my front foot (goofy) over the back bolts of the front CX trucks at a 30-45 degree angle facing forwards and toeside pumps have not been an issue from this point of view.
The flexibility in back foot positioning is the real star for me on this board though. Its subtle back wheel wells don't interfere at all with any choice of stance that allows placing of my rear foot anywhere on the kicktail, or even forward of the back trucks. This range of positioning and overhang of the back foot being possible on both sides in this area gives tremendous power generation in pumps, carves and what I call 'follow throughs' (the board first seems to lag the body fling forwards and it accelerates in a direction to catch up to the rider's feet which have lightened the load through the body decompression movement).
During this, the back leg is also able to add some power to the board which accelerates it forwards to where the body has moved out. It was only recently during one of these back foot unloaded moments that gave me my first successful back foot slide kickout on this very board. I knew before it happened that I had been close but it was a huge moment for me.
What I have realised is that in all of these more explosive surfskating oriented movements, the upper body becomes increasingly important to synchronise with what the feet will need to do – and the stereotypical arm and upper body movements that give surfing its 'look' and 'flow' emerge out of necessity here even on concrete. If one wants to make the turns with momentum to spare for further propulsion then the entire body needs to become in tune with that motion that makes it possible. So using the CX definitely gives one the ability to make this kind of riding possible and satisfying.
My ongoing progression for surfskating is all being done on this board (although I do ride some of the other complete surfskates when the opportunity allows). The upper body movements are more challenging to commit fully to, without trusting the board to be there for you. And that trust comes from experience, and that comes with practice, and that in turn comes from having time available to do these awesome things.
So at present I am really trying to develop these upper body movements to enhance my flow. What is exciting to know, is that these skills in surfskating can flow into the key techniques of other board sports.
Coming back to the deck itself though; I would grade it as quite rigid with barely one centimeter of up/down movement with a 190lb load; and this despite having a laminated bamboo in fibreglass sandwich construction. The Poke decks I received, at least the one that I am using actively could very well have been purchased by the local retailer as B-grade stock from Loaded, due to some obvious cosmetic blemishes it had in the grip-tape which I was able to fix with some judicious massaging with the handle end of a screwdriver. (The presence of the local retailer price tag for just the deck discovered under the risers and the delivery of the board to me with the CX trucks reversed - ie. front and back trucks were attached at the wrong ends, made me think this even more. I was not harmed by this back to front assembly, but I check these things carefully when I first receive them and would urge everyone to do so for their own sake and safety).
The CX trucks don't have a novel mechanical means such as springs to dampen and assist truck motions; but rather depend on their angle and bushing setup to allow the front truck to behave in the surfskate like way they do. They are inherently loose but can be adjusted via the kingpin like traditional skate trucks. Both the back and front trucks on mine are set up such that the bottom edge of the first thread is barely visible - ie. the top of the kingpin is almost flush with the bolt with only a slight elevation of its dome palpable/visible.
Coming back to the exposed fibreglass sandwich construction, I found that when this Poke deck is carried by its edges in the palm of the hand, that small fibreglass splinters can pierce into the skin and cause annoying sharp pains later. I only realised what was happening when I was able to remove one of these splinters using magnification and fine tweezers from my hand. (Applying a good quality masking tape across the affected areas and pulling opposite to the likely direction of needle entry can also provide relief of irritation in sensitive skin).
My longer term solution to the problem was to paint the entire edge of the deck with several coats of a clear urethane varnish. Obviously this can be affected by edge impacts and so on, but my controlled surfskate usage of this deck does not involve popping/kicking/flipping, so such damage is unlikely and mercifully means that my hands are safe from the splinters now. I have found that it is a common issue on many decks (Loaded Icarus was another one I found with this issue) and I paint the edges of all the boards that have exposed fibreglass edges with the clear urethane varnish for this reason.
As for the overall performance of this Poke CX setup, it should be enough to say that it is almost always with me and wherever I go I am on the lookout for chances to do a few circuits of any interesting concrete I spot. The tight turn circles possible make for easy and confident steering when cruising and carving anywhere including around people. It's a real joy to ride in pretty much any situation I can imagine in urban settings (except downhill for me - trucks are way too loose).
One of the key features that make the Poke CX especially versatile in all these situations for me is the ability to readily commence pumping and get going from a standing start even when it is slightly uphill.
So I guess if the Loaded Poke CX was among them, and there was only one board that I could choose to keep out of all the others, then I think this would be very close to being it. But then again why would I settle with just one when I can have as many awesome boards as I care to obtain and maintain?
In summary I think the Loaded Poke CX is satisfying for both dedicated surfskate type drills and any cruising/carving whenever and wherever one is lucky enough to have some time riding it.
The next board that I plan to review (Loaded / Pantheon Trip collab) is sneaking in a presence at the top of the picture below.
