Beauty Out of Babylon approach's skateboarding much the way a painter would approach his canvas. It is a serious matter that seriously doesn't matter at the end of the day which makes it a perfect stimulant mixed with pure enjoyment. This level of euphoric liberation can only be accomplished when the artist has tools that are deemed worthy and are able to accurately display his or her intentions with no blemishes. I have repeatedly, almost to the point of preaching, refereed to skateboarding as the art that it is and should be appreciated as, and being one of the arts, it is not exception to this rule of requiring quality implements in order to accurately express ones self in the desired fashion. Since this site is dedicated to the skateboarding community, I want to help shed on light on products that fit this bill and stand up to the abuse that our art requires from us and produces those clean lines sought after by all us.
    As in all things in life, it is a wise idea to start from the ground up when beginning a project so I began literally at the "ground" for my Product Reviews and bring to you the DVS Daewon 13 CT skate shoes. DVS has been in the game almost 20 years, since 1995, so they know what works and what doesn't when it comes to bringing you quality ripper slippers and this model is absolutely no exception. Its a low cut shoe that features perforated vinyl on high impact areas yet a light feel due to the minimalistic approach taken by designers in an effort to bring the rider optimum control and feel of their board no matter what situation you throw them through or off of. This shoe screams intelligent design and functionality is what forms the thread holding the panels together at the seams. There are 5 major things I look for in a skate shoe in no particular order:
1.Board Feel through the sole of the shoe it self. I need to be able to feel the board but also have enough cushion to where I feel confident to attempt gaps or stairs knowing that my feet won't pay as a result of a bail
2.Comfort of wearing the shoe not just during the sesh, but in between spots, to work, and on the go in every day life.
3.Durability is key to me because once I get a shoe broken in and used to it, I don't want it to be thrashed. I want the structural integrity of the shoe to remain intact in that "sweet spot" long enough for me to really enjoy it and get all the good out of it!
4.Tread Grip is huge to me especially when I am enjoying gravity and enjoying some inclines. When speed is a factor I want to basically be glued to the deck of my plank making a sticky and gummy sole a must for me when sliding or cornering roads.
5.Price is important but not a tell all end all. Like most if not all of you cash doesn't grow in the tree in my back yard so buying a new pair of kicks every week is not an option. I need a ride for my feet that won't break the bank.

    To test these factors and any others that came my way I wore my shoes for three weeks and put them through my rigors of my daily life and skateboarding life to see if they performed as good as they looked. I wore them every day to work at Eastern Skateboard Supply and skated them every time I stepped on a board. This skating was done at an indoor park and a concrete park, a college univeristy, and some downhill runs in a few different spots. I wanted to make sure that I had a shoe that would hold up to the SKATE EVERYTHING mentality embodied by this site and many of its viewers. I put this shoe through the testing ground that is my life and this is what I thought:

    Lets talk about about #1: Board Feel. Straight out of the box these shoes felt the board perfectly. There was no awkward in between stage where the rubber on the sole was still rigid and tough limiting perception of the feet on what was going on below them on that wooden thing. The DVS Daewon 13 CT's communicate beautifully to all makes and models of skateboards never leaving your commands improperly relayed. I felt a solid connection to any sled that I threw under these puppies which translated to confidence in all of the lines that were generated upstairs in mi cabeza. I was very pleased with the board feel delivered from day one with this model of DVS's.

    Factor #2 is comfort of daily wear both while skating and just livin' life. These shoes fit like a dream and hugged my feet reaffirming them that nothing could hurt them as long as they were inside their Daewon den. I am on my feet all day at work skating and walking to and fro throughout the warehouse performing daily task's assigned to me. I am never dormant for very long so I need a shoe that is going to keep up the support all day long and doesn't leave me high and dry complaining about sore feet at the end of the day. This shoe stood tall for a low cut model and took everything in stride literally. I've been walkin' on sunshine for the past 3 weeks and life has been nothing short of grand thanks my trusty kicks!

    Factor #3 is perhaps the hardest of the requirements that make a good shoe to be met. I tend to be very rough on all of my equipment and shoes tend to bear a frontal load in this all out assault. Far to often I find blown out side walls or busted laces left and right that may not ruin the current session, but bode to interrupt one in the future. Not having a shoe lace to replace a completely devastated one is not the way you want to close out your day at your local spot I promise you that. This shoe has been ridden on various options of grip coureness to ensure that what ever you may be riding out there, this shoe has seen a similar situation. It held up very well with 0 popped laces but countless popped ollies and retained plenty of the rubber around the toes which is subject to wear and tear during use. The sole as well as the side walls held in tact very nicely all the while providing excellent performance whenever and where ever demanded. You can tell that Daewon actually tested and skated this shoe before it was put into manufacturing. 

    Factor #4 comes into play much more when I am chasing that adrenaline rush associated with downhill skateboarding but also is a big factor when skating transition or parks as well. A shoe with no tread is susceptible to sliding around the deck of your sled and that to me is one of the worst situations imaginable while skateboarding. I love knowing that I am in total control no matter what and that my equipment will perform as I predict it to and as it is intended to do. The CT 13's did just that and made it so I never once had to think about them which left me to focus on nailing the critical section of the line I threw my self down. I always felt plenty of grip whether I was pushing, just riding or performing a maneuver.

    The last factor, Factor #5 is not necessarily a performance feature, it is a very important figure to keep in mind when looking for your next pair of digs. No buddy wants to give away a Benjamin one a set of shoes you intend to thrash the very next day but you also must consider the old proverb of, "You get what you pay for". The listing price on DVSshoes.com is at a cool $60.00 which puts these shoes in the affordable, yet still good quality range. You get what you pay for with these bad guys too so go cut the lawn, sell lemonade, wash the dog.... do what ever it takes to round up the dough to do your self the honor of picking up a pair of these skateboard shoes! And while you are in the mood to support a skater owned and skater operated company ( SO RAD!!!!!), double down and go down to your local shop and scoop your pair up and spread the shred support around!!! (EVEN RADDER!!!!)

SUMMARY:
I did not take it easy on these shoes by any means wearing them nearly non-stop for this 3 week trial period and they have been given the stamp saying the stand up to life and ask what more they can do for you. I absolutely love these shoes for all disciplines of skating and highly recommend them to anybody looking for a light weight, comfortable, low cut shoe that has a long life span in this self destructive habitat we have created for them.

RATINGS:
#1 Board Feel: 5/5
#2 Comfort: 4/5
#3 Durability: 4.5/5
#4 Tread Grip: 5/5
#5 Price: 4.5/5

I highly recommend the DVS Daewon CT 13 to everybody and anybody out there! I really enjoyed getting to skate and wear this shoe around and look forward to continuing to do so for a while to come!

A huge shout out and thank you goes to Ryan Langhore with DVS for hooking it up big time and supplying the test material in question. Thanks to all of y'all as well out there in cyber limbo for taking the time to tune in and check out the site and this amazing product. Support DVS and check out these and their other shoes in their expansive lineup and by doing so you will be an active member aiding and nurturing the skate community! JAH Bless y'all and shred on!!

    Here at Eastern Skateboard Supply there is a lot of really, really talented skaters, many of whom absolutely demolish anything you put in front of them. Robby Johns (@rabbit231) is one of these elite riders and he often can be seen poppin' clean flip tricks causally as he works his way around the receiving bay or when he indulges in a game of S.K.A.T.E. on the afternoon break. Every trick this guy does, he does with proper form along with a touch of unique style. This being said, I thought I would allow Robby to demonstrate a trick that many have done, but few have enjoyed as much as him: The Butt Bomb.
    You'll notice the text book technique displayed here from the warm up all the way to the final realization and awakening that a new sled is needed. With out further ado, I present to the world, the proper butt bomb performed by Robby Johns.

    Thanks for checking out the page and for all the support! I wish you all happy and safe shredding and make sure to gear up at your local shop! JAH Bless!

    I love this video. Plain and simple. I am a huge fan of the less is more approach to editing skate clips and this clip needs no editing. The rawest raw run I've seen in a while. S1 Helmets presents "Sam Hay and Ethan Galaif Dangle For Danger". Enjoy.

JAH Bless and make sure to support your local skate shops and skater owned companies!!

    The skateboarding community has taken a huge hit this past week with the loss of one of the legendary original Zephyr Team members, a man upon whose style and talents were a literal cornerstone of the house skateboarding is built upon. Jay Adams' visions of what was possible on a plank of wood attached to a set of four wheels and completely revolutionized the mindset of anyone who called them self a skateboarder forever. Represented in his mentality as a human being was the total freedom obtained when one truly submitted to the lifestyle encompassed by our passion. Some of the things he pulled off still are considered among the top tier tricks to have in ones bag close to 30 years later and are even tougher to accomplish with even half the grace Jay demonstrated. Pool riding was born from the inner workings of this mans cranium and free style was totally blown wide open leading to the eventual birth to varies disciplines  of skateboarding including street skating. Seeping out of Jay's seams was the attitude which still lives and breaths amongst true skateboarders in some form or fashion; the attitude of the pure pursuit of joy through means of uninhibited artistic release and expression only offered by skateboarding. This man got "it", which is something that words simply do not exist to explain or capture this state of mind.
    Just like many of us out there Jay Adams looked to escape his problems in reality by slipping into the meditation of motion and enjoying solace and solitude to simply express him self in a way that he saw fit. This release has no bearing on what others were interested in but was a necessary selfish indulgence that granted this man joy and relief from the rigors life placed upon him. I envy Jay's skateboarding ability but pity the tragedies that befell him as well in this life. I am so thankful that he was able to impact the lives of so many up until the time of his passing, but also the future generations that will now be able to rest under the shade of the skate tree planted by Mr. Adams. His life is a lesson to all of us that we should learn from, one that shows many things in this life will offer you happiness only to leave you unfulfilled and disappointed with the reality of the outcome, but skateboarding isn't one of those things.

    I would like to offer my deepest condolences to all the family and friends of Jay. His loss will be felt in this community for a while and his mark will forever be impressed upon skateboarding.

JAH Bless Jay Adams.

    I love all varieties of skate videos whether they be a quick line at a park or a 6 minute raw run down a crest road. It doesn't matter to me the category that the video would be classified under but rather the art that is being showcased by the moving images is what lights my stoke fire. I really want Simply Stoked on the Skating to be a fair and balanced mixture of all the ingredients that make skateboardin' stew so daggum good.
    That being said, I have had a long day today and frankly I am in the mood to kick up my feet and watch some quality skateboarding. I wanted to include you in on this private showing of a little diddy that will surely aid even the most tweeked out individual in relaxation. Its a solid set time coming in just under 17 minutes but worth every second of time invested. Without further ado, I present to you from Magenta Skateboards, SF Hill Street Blues 2.

I am particularly drawn to Carlos Young's style and approach he takes but all these dudes are the real deal.

JAH Bless y'all and remember, support skater owned companies like Magenta to help ensure the production of such quality skate products.

 

    If you are anything like my self you are a rat when it comes to any and all forms of skate media; seeking mental stimulation and escape from the reality that in actuality you can't always be skating. During these pursuits into the paradox previously discussed I for one find my self fascinated by the abilities of the artist in question to manipulate their skateboard to produce such beautiful results. This sets me up every single time for the inevitable question: What is that dude riding? I am always interested in knowing what product performs in that manner so that all the inspiration that has been gained can be better released and realized in my futuristic artistic approaches. Well my friends, as always, this new section is here for you, and will answer that inevitable question of what exactly is under that Pro's Toes????

    Since Beauty Out of Babylon supports ALL forms of skateboarding and encourages anyone who calls themselves a skateboarder to partake in all that is offered, it only seemed right to display a rider who showcases prowess no matter where his board takes him. His name is James Tracey and boy oh boy are y'all in for a treat with this one.....

All words from here on out are of Mr. Tracey himself

This first photo was for a fun divine shoot. Shot by Eric J. Martinez, who is always a blast to shoot w/. Just a simple ollie off a drop just outside downtown Albuquerque and he made it look epic. Everyone needs a shortboard in their quiver. Comet, Divine, and Paris trucks have got everything you could ever need!! ​​​​8.5 deck, Paris 169 street trucks, and Divine park rangers. Whatever bushings i had laying around.​

This is one of my favorite spots in Albuquerque, Ventura ditch. Popping out of a 50-50 on a Comet Marcus Bandy. I ride it backwards!! haha Photo: Jesse Littlebird​

I had to include a photo w/ my brother Sean Stratmeyer. Dude straight rips. He spent as much time teaching me tricks as I did teaching him growing up. The timing on this doubles ollie was spot on. We even accidentally high fived on the takeoff. The setup i was running was the Comet Ginko 8.25, Paris 149 streets, and Divine Scouts.  Photo: Denytraa Romero​

This one was shot by Garrett Goeckner. I like shooting w/ him because not only is it fun working w/ him, but he'll go all out skating too. We were just playing around w/ framing near the train station in downtown Santa Fe. Ended up w/ a nice looking front board. Setup: 2013 Comet Shred 38, Paris 180's, 82a Divine City Slashers.​

Same day, same spot, same setup, same photog. haha Photo: Garrett Goeckner​

but toeside predrifts are my favorite thing to do. Well next to steezy ass frontside grinds haha. Just cruising a fun hill on my Comet Farmer, Paris street 169s, and Divine 65mm 82a Road Rippers. I was playing around w/ DHing on street trucks. The result?? Loved it!! Photo: Garrett Goeckner

This cool little mountain run was paved a few months ago and is ridiculously fun!! We call it cliff jumper because I came hauling into the lefty above this corner the day we found it and slid off a 10 ft cliff. Luckily it was the smallest section. Could have sucked haha. Comet Farmer, Paris 180s, and and Divine 65mm 82a Road Rippers. Photo: Garrett Goeckner​

Just before contact on a BS 5-0. Photo: Denytraa Romero​

Blasting into territory that few have trekked to before and riding the sign. Thanks to Joe Lehm for the dry shirt after sending me into the pouring rain this day!! Photo: Zion Miller​

I almost forgot my favorite setup of all time!!
2014 Comet Shred 38, Paris 180s, 82a street slayers. You can do almost anything on this board!! Whether it's ripping around in a park, ditch, on a sidewalk, or ripping a hill. My favorite freeride setup. Ollie North at SLAP. Photo (Screenshot): Ross Druckrey​

I want to give a huge thanks and shoutout to all of my sponsors. Here are their instagram tags. Follow them!!
Comet Skateboards (@cometskateboards)
Paris Truck Co. (@paristruckco)
Divine Wheel Co. (@divinewheelco)
Timeship Racing (@timeshipracing)
Santa Fe Skate School (@timeshipskateschool)

Also follow all the photographers that shot these for me!!
Eric J. Martinez (@ericmartinez87)
Jesse Littlebird (@jesselittlebird)
Denytraa Romero (@known01tho)
Garrett Goeckner (@thegarrettgoeckner)
Zion Miller (@zion_bruce)
Ross Druckrey (@thebossducky)

And don't forget to follow me too!! (@deadbear13)

Beauty Out of Babylon again.... one more thing just to show that James actually pulls all of this off.

    I wanted this segment of the site to be dedicated to you, the viewer and everyday skater out there putting in the hours and truly living the lifestyle dedicated to pursuing happiness through scooterboarding. This is a community based website dedicated to showcasing the heart and soul that makes the skate community such a tight knit family. It is rare to find a scene like the one we are blessed to be a part of and the best way to continue to flourish as a community in this manner is to acknowledge those who are responsible for helping set this standard in an effort to encourage others to live similar lives and perpetuate this skateboarding family.
    This week Beauty out of Babylon is proud to present one of the most charismatic chaplains of concrete I have ever had the honor of shredding with, Albuquerque New Mexico's own Sebastian Jackson. Sebastian represents all of the most positive qualities that have sewn this community together. Dude is generous with his local knowledge of spots, friendly to all new brothers and sisters he encounters, and just throws off a really great aura. Beyond all of this, he knows how to tackle a hill.

    With all the good this guy is doing for his local scene and his overwhelming desire to push the community further and to bring people together to just skate and have fun, all the while looking to further advance his technical riding approach, Beauty out of Babylon applauds Sebastian Jackson in his efforts. Make sure to check out his facebook page and keep an eye on this guy. He has all the fundamentals down and is ready to start ragin' hard very soon.


If you have any pictures make sure to send them to me for your chance to be featured in our next That's Me Thursday segment! Send any pictures or short clips to jgdunn1025@gmail.com or like the official myspace page for Beauty Out of Babylon and upload them there. Thanks for tuning in as always and go check out your local skate shop or skate company and help further support this tight knit community that embraces all who embrace it. JAH Bless y'all!

    If you have visited this site and done more then look at the rad pictures and stunning videos, you have gained the appreciation that around here skateboarding is not considered an activity, its not a sport, its not even a hobby, and I do not even consider it a job in the traditional sense. Skateboarding to me is considered an alteration of ones mind and perception of what is possible with the world that surrounds you. Its a lifestyle under taken by those who get "it". Upon reviewing videos, articles, interviews, and first hand accounts by the founding members of our art I have become of the very, very strong opinion that skateboarding is under attack as we know it. As you read this I am sure many if not most of you are saying, How can skateboarding be under attack? It is way more popular then it ever has been and shows no signs of going away. You will find no argument from me against that point especially with the airing of the XGames multiple times a year now and the television of the Dew Tour's stops around the country, skateboarding is more so in the lime light then ever before. Where I am finding flaw in this system is the reasoning behind the skateboarding in settings like this and the ideology that it promotes. Lost is the feeling of comradeship gained by the time spent lurking at the spot  or competition where the session was going down or even the trip to that spot or event. All that seems to matter and where much of the attention is being directed is to who is pulling the biggest trick on the biggest feature or going the fastest down the local run. This stimulating group motivation is not where I am assigning blame I am actually stoked on that concept of artist inspiring and pushing fellow artists! The change that has occurred that concerns me is the mindset some skateboarders have when first deciding to undertake this lifestyle. No longer is this an activity that harbors the out casts and provides a safe outlet for them to feel secure and at home amongst other individuals experiencing the same day to day emotions and struggles. Skateboarding has begun to show signs of transformation from a release and an escape for the weary soul, to a way to sell the exact same weary soul in an attempt to artificially create what was already in perfect existence, happiness. When you think of the Tony Alva's, the Jason Lee's, and the Rodney Mullens's of yesterday and the reason's for their participating in skateboarding were pure and meaningful. They did it simply because it made them happy and it felt good.
    Today it has begun to feel that skateboarding is on the edge of being "cool" which is an idea that honestly scares me. I love that skateboarding is finally being recognized for the beautiful art that it is and that the artists who dedicate their lives are able to actually sustain a reasonable living doing what they are good at but I still get hung up on the grey area between the lines. I wonder when I see big mega-brands, who have never before expressed an interest in promoting skateboarding until they see potential $$$$$$ in it for them,  starting to infiltrate our culture circle and deprive our members of the essence of what we are doing. They are stealing souls with pay checks and deep pockets which has started a whole new mind set among the younger riders who are growing up with this as their sole perception of what skateboarding is and will be; completely missing the concept that they have in their hands to take this ride where ever they please. They are missing out on the freedom aspect that has saved so many lives in the past belonging to those who were willing to submit to the healing powers offered by this rejuvenating gift. Skateboarding now offers that fancy new car in the big house and the pretty girl to match that society has deemed so important to self happiness and self worth rather then highlighting the art and creative release that is and has been the driving force behind this pursuit of happiness. Steve Rocco, the founder of World Industries Skateboards as well as many other house hold names that now dominate the industry, was the first guy to stand up to the then non-skater controlled industry and say, Hey! This is OUR culture and OUR scene and the direction it goes in and those who get to decide that should and WILL be actual skateboarders, not those trying to profit off our art. I feel that all the progress he made in keeping this a "family" business is in threat by the very same non-skater investors who see the opportunity to turn a buck on our back. But we as a community, as a family, have the power to fight this vulture trying to steal OUR culture and keep this an in house activity unmolested by the radical views and ideas pushed by main stream corporate society.
   

    Skateboarding has always been a place of absolute escape from all of the problems and anxieties that would plague me growing up and still linger about today. Skateboarding means more to me then I can possibly put into words which is something I can say has never been very problematic in the past about nearly any other topic. There are not words powerful enough in the existence of any language or dialect that could even come close to adequately describing the passion  and uninhibited love I feel for skateboarding and the surrounding community. It has literally saved my life and I know many of you out there agree with these feelings to a tee and experience them daily just as I do. With that being said, Beauty Out of Babylon is on a mission to promote an "In House" approach to skateboarding and the surrounding industry that so many of us participate in or even make our living off of. I am not here to deny the popularity that has been attained or to discourage new members from joining the ranks of our sub-culture but rather to try and change the idea that this is something that will merely give to you without first being poured into. We are in a very unique position, which is seemingly offered quite often by skateboarding, in that we do literally control our own destiny. We can follow the path of so many pure endeavors of the past that have "souled out"  and lost their roots and heritage or we can choose to embrace them and bring them to the forefront as a manual on how to protect such a rare gift like skateboarding. If we strive to support one another by shopping at skater owned shops and supporting skater owned business's, we will be paying back into a community that has and will continue to look after us and support us as we try to roll our way through life. For your next skate related purchase I challenge you to research into the different brands that provide what ever it is you are looking to buy, and choose one that is clearly by skaters, for skaters. This simple and easy action will help ensure they are able to continue producing rad gear for you to skate and enjoy, but will also help ensure that the next individual who needs to experience skateboarding's love will get the same debt-free sanctuary from reality that you have had the blessing of experiencing your self.

JAH protect and GO SKATE!

    Glad to see you weren't tardy for the latest Shreducation course containing pertinent information regarding those silver things bolted onto your sled that hold your wheels. Science has looked into these modern marvels and has rendered them as "Skateboard Trucks". The meat and potatoes of this little blurb will be pertaining to the main differences between traditional king pin (TKP) trucks versus reversed kingpin (RKP) trucks often assigned the laymen name of "longboard trucks". There are many similarities and just as many variants between these two approaches looking to ensure the same end, a radical ride that won't soon be forgotten. As with most things in skateboarding, there is no right or wrong approach to how you choose your own personal set-up but I will provide general guidelines to adhere to until adventure comes boldly knocking at your door asking you to play around with new set ups.
    Let's start our "semignar" with discussing the traditional kingpin trucks. These trucks are what the general public thinks of when they picture a skateboard in their head. These trucks are rooted back to the most elementary designs in which the hanger is attached to the base plate with a kingpin sitting at nearly a 90 degree angle, or in other words, straight up from the board. This design has tons of functionality and tailors to many, if not all, disciplines of skateboarding.  This design is perfect for grinds due to the fact that the kingpin nut is hidden behind the hanger and is sheltered from abrasion that my strip kingpin threads leaving you in quite a pickle when you want to customize your ride. Also the angle of the base plate being low, it allows the board its self to ride lower to the ground versus the ride obtained when using RKP's (Base Plates will be discussed in detail in an upcoming Shreducation Semignar). I have found from personal experience that this lower ride allows for fatter ollies and more stability upon landing said ollies but extends to airs or gaps of any kind as well. These trucks also tend to be more responsive with a tighter turning radius which has proved very useful in my endeavors into transition skating where tight bowl corners require the ability to conform to the curvature. The downside to TKP's is that they tend to not be as stable when greater speeds are being reached due to that tighter turning radius and the susceptibility to succumbing to road variations and vibrations. This is not to say that TKP's are not being used by some of the top free-riders and downhillers in the scene right now with marvelous results, but as a general rule they are not favored for this route of riding. The companies whose TKP's I have personally ridden are Independent, Gullwing, and Venture with my clear favorite among those listed being Indy. I have heard nothing bad about the semi-newly released Caliber TKP however, and even received a recommendation straight from Big Dave Tannaci (@bigdave_hsf) himself in New Mexico.
   

    RKP's aka "longboarding trucks" (a term that must die! Skateboarding is skateboarding, there is no sanctions, just different approaches! but I digress...) are an option used by riders who have tasted the sweet nectar of speed and have fallen victim to the promises offered by her. These trucks are sealed together not by a kingpin standing straight up and down, but rather at angles, shooting the two kingpins out on opposite sides of the hangers looking away from each other, hence the name reverse kingpin trucks. This design has a high turning radius, offering a less responsive but much more stable performance. This higher radius can also reduce some of the slashiness of your turns and replaces them with more carvey dynamic. The stability provided often times is what is so desirable and really boasts the appeal factor. The design has been tested and proven true time and time again to handle bumps, cracks, wobbles, and other discrepancies found on your local blacktop bombs and not leave you scorpioned after a lost battle with the wobbles. The base plates found  hosting the RKP hangers comes in many variations of angles (be patient, I already promised you the Semignar  on this is coming) which causes in the ride height of the board to vary as well. The general rule of thumb here is that almost exclusively the board height will be higher than that found on a set up containing TKP's.  The advantage here are that you are allowed a larger wheel well and can clear larger wheels suited for faster riding. On some makes and models you will find that the king pin nut sticks its head up past the hanger a little and can get caught up or damaged when attempting grinds. This isn't always a huge issue but could be something to consider when picking out the particular model that suits you best.  A topic that only pertains to these types of trucks is the cast verses precision option. Simply put, cast trucks are just that; liquid metal is cast into base plate and hanger molds which are determined by various companies and manufacturers while precision trucks are "carved" out of a solid block of metal. The main difference the common rider may see in these two options is the couple of extra hundred bones they will ask for at the checkout counter but to those who know, this numerical value is well worth the performance optimization obtained with the choice to go precise. This optimization is really best felt by experienced riders looking to rid their ride of any jank, loose connections between various truck components, and obtaining the maximum stability to carry them down some of the hairiest runs out there. I would recommend going with cast trucks unless you have progressed to a level of skating where precision trucks prove to become necessary.  For RKP's I have had very good success riding Randal's, Calibers, as well as Gullwing's with Calibers probably topping that list but there are tons of other companies out there who make an incredible product that I just have not personally played with.
   

     Either of these options are going to offer you tons of pro's and con's depending on the end result you are trying to achieve. What really is going to matter here is personal preference and how adventurous you are feeling when trying new and different set ups. If you haven't read the first installment of this segment, I highly recommend that you go back and check out Shreducation: Bushings because this is another key to customization of your chariot. All of the attributes mentioned earlier are in direct harmony with the bushing setup being implemented at that given time. If you wanted to take some TKP's down your local 10% grade run, throw some hard barrels in that beech and charge or if you wanted to try your hand at RKP's in your neighbors pool while they are on vacation, put some softie cones in and rage those copings!!
    I am such a huge advocate of this art we indulge in because of the opportunities for uniqueness that if so constantly offers and I really hope that this has helped peak your interest a little to go out and see what the wonderful world of trucks has to offer! Remember, when experimenting its best to use local equipment bought from local shops in your area because they may be able to offer more specialized suggestions. Show them some love! JAH Bless and shred on!