the Arbor Fish
Comments (0) A friend of mine is taking off from Toronto for a while to get away from it all and do a mental reset, something I totally can relate to and support vociferously. Stops will include Japan and Australia (where summer is coming) so needless to say I am very jealous. But in his generosity (or maybe because he was drunk at the time?) he left me in charge of his longboard, an Arbor Fish.
Thus far I have thoroughly enjoyed the Arbor Fish. It is an absolutely solid longboard made out of Hawaiian Koa wood (which my research tells is acquired sustainably). As a result of its construction out of this wood (and I believe maple), it is very stable albeit a little heavy. (Though for compaison’s sake I weighed the Fish (7.0 lbs) and my Hammerhead (6.1 lbs) and the difference should be negligible.)
Pros:
- Not sure if it’s the wheels or the bearings but it is one smooth ride. You barely have to kick to get any momentum. I’m feeling that the Fish keeps momentum very well also because of the weight and sturdy construction.
- The Revenge Trucks compress much deeper than I expected and this allows you to make deeper carving turns as well as quick turns. When you get your groove on down a gradual slope it really looks and feels a lot like you are surfing the asphalt.
Cons:
- The Fish is really only a little heavier than my board but feels a lot heavier when you carry it for a while. Maybe I just need to work out! :$
- Not a real negative, maybe it just takes more getting used to but I am finding some difficulty controlling my speed going down hills with steeper pitches. The thing just wants to fly (wait maybe that’s not a con at all).
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time using this Fish, I think it’s a fantastic longboard. I knew about Arbor’s positive reputation as a snowboard manufacturer (I have a buddy who rides an Arbor Draft), yet the Fish still exceeded my expectations.
Koa was used by Hawaiians to make early surfboards. Cowabunga dudes!
Themocracy