Guest reviewer: Troy Sliter
When asked by the fine folks at Skate and Annoy to write a review of a freestyle deck I first wondered “Why me?” And then wondered “Who makes freestyle boards these days anyway?” I quickly realized that a freestyler from the eighties that still skates vert is the closest thing to a freestyler available.* That makes me perfect for the task.
The Outlook Freestyle board is 27″ long, 7.25″ wide, 5.5″ tail, 4.5″ nose, and a tiny 11.5″ wheelbase. To give you an idea of how long it’s been since I’ve freestyled I had to drill truck holes into my new Outlook deck because I only had the old Indy 101mm’s and non-center bearing 95 durometer wheels. I like how the edges of the deck are quite flat for rail tricks and there is a fine concave much like the old SC Ray Meyer decks that gives a good feel to such a skinny deck. But the tail is, let’s say, old school to an old-schooler. It protrudes straight out from the back truck pretty steep and is about 6 inches long. This makes caspers and 50-50’s quite awkward. It reminds me of the old inclined plane in eight grade science class or the old Salba Bevel tail. The nose is way shorter and less steep than the tail giving the board a very non-symmetrical feel. The wood seems decent and the flat black graphics with simple silver screen print are cool. (?? -ed)
Overall, I’d have to give Outlook Freestyle boards a six out of ten on the gnar-gnar scale. Although it is quite functional for many of the few freestylers out there (both of them) the Outlook Freestyle Stix Freestyle board seems to have merely brought back the freestyle board of the eighties rather than progress the functionality further to keep up with the times. If you’re looking to bust out some old Mutt maneuvers pick yourself up an Outlook Freestyle Stix Freestyle board, but don’t let the street skaters see you!
Reviewer: Troy Sliter
*Troy can be seen freestyling on the boardwalk and getting hassled by the man in the Santa Cruz video “Wheels of Fire.” He also appears as a juror in the Santa Cruz video “Streets on Fire” and has a vert section in “Reason for Living.” If you peek in his windows at night, you might catch him freestyling in his garage on his new Outlook Freestyle Stick.