Joker Old English Deck 8.0

Didn’t know what to think when I got this board. The company is better known for their grind rails, but now they’ve got a line of decks. The Old English Deck is one of there street decks and though I usually don’t ride bigger than 7 ¾”, this board didn’t seem too hefty around the tail area. I generally give boards a two-week rule. If after two weeks the board still has the same snap, or at least something close to it, it’s worth the price of admission. A postcard in the wrapper promised that it was pressed with some kind of super glue that provided excellent pop. Actions would have to speak louder than words. So I threw on my grip tape totally 80’s dagger style to see if this stick was up to snuff and as I proceeded to slap on my trucks on I found a bit of a problem. The bolt pattern on the nose of the board took a little force to line up with my trucks. Might’ve been a fluke because the back truck went on without a hitch. Once my trucks were on I did the most logical thing one does when a new board is assembled, I carpet skated! This board felt great under my feet, nice deep concave, the tail and nose were a good size and for an eight-inch board the sides didn’t hang over my wheels too much like some wider boards tend to do. After a few minutes of carpet sessioning, I grew tired of my dog looking at me like a total idiot so it was off to the park to road test this beast. This board had great pop, was reasonably lightweight, and it didn’t chip when it shot into the “fence of death” that surrounds the park, which happened like 5 or 6 times. That was week one, still not spongy so I’m giving this board the benefit of the doubt that it’s not a total turd. I’d definitely ride another one.

Jokers also offers a line of pool decks for the gnar dogs and the grind rails they’re already known for. Check out their website: http://www.jokerskate.com for more info.