Orangatang Balut Inspiration
As we collectively began to dabble in new directions in sliding, we found inside ourselves want of a new and different wheel. Our existing lineup of freeride wheels (the Durian, Stimulus, and Free of fat) maintained a conservative balance of traction and driftability that is intended for downhill freeriding. The present emphasis is on the capability to grip and hold a line through corners at speed. The slide facet of these wheels is dependant on shaving off speed (in the pragmatic fashion) as well as to begin exploring progressive freeriding.
The Balut will be the result of our want to investigate the other end of the grip-slip spectrum: a freestyle slide wheel that enables for extended drifts and quicker, more numerous rotations with minimal speed loss. This can be a starting point in a new direction for us, and we’re excited to determine where it requires us.
Baluts will probably be available worldwide on Thursday, February 2nd at $54 per set (MSRP).
Specs
Diameter: 72.5 mm
Contact patch: 35 mm
Width: 44 mm
Durometers: 80a, 83a, 86a
Weight: 4.7 oz (per wheel)
Bearing seat: centerset
Design
The Baluts are centerset and symmetrical, enabling maximum flexibility when rotating and flipping to advertise even wear on all four wheels. By using a larger spoked core and removing significant amounts of urethane between your bearing seat and outer side of the core, i was able to reduce the overall wheel weight for increased agility in slides and freestyle tricks alike.
The core used in the Balut is relatively wide in comparison to the wheel. Along with a stiff and rounded lip profile, the core provides a lot of rigid support for the contact patch and facilitates smooth slides having a predictable release and hookup.
Urethane
Inside the development process, we quickly pointed out that the early protos of this shape lent themselves to unreasonably long standup slides and thus demanded a urethane that can withstand the inevitable abuse and was right for this kind of (narrow) shape. The form was dialed several months ago, but we’ve been holding off about the release to locate this magic thane. And thus the Euphorethane formula was created, offering exceptional durability and flatspot resistance while still retaining a smooth, predictable drift and reliable (albeit nominal) speed control.
Balut Longboard WheelsWheel Rotation
Good rotation habits can help even out wear patterns and dramatically extend living of one's wheels. Bear in mind, though, that wheel rotation could possibly get a bit confusing, especially since wear patterns often vary from rider to rider.
The best suggestion to keep in mind is always to swap your most worn wheel with your least worn wheel, swap another two wheels, and flip when appropriate.
Beyond that basic principle, here are a few suggestions and info tidbits that we’ve found useful in our sideways smile sessions:
Uphill wheels (in your heelside rail for heelside/frontside slides and on your toeside rail for toeside/backside slides) have a tendency to cone (faster wear inside lip), while downhill wheels often reverse cone (faster wear externally lip).
On the board using a centered stance (snowboard style) most of the rider’s weight is typically within the front truck, so expect the leading wheels to use faster than the rear wheels. Over a board having a rear stance (e.g. ridden with all the back foot mostly on the kicktail) there's usually far more weight applied to the trunk truck, therefore the rear wheels often wear faster compared to front wheels.
On the directional setup (ridden mostly in a single orientation) we generally recommend rotating your wheels diagonally (front left with rear right, front right with rear left). On a symmetrical setup (ridden equally in both orientations) we generally rotate wheels for a passing fancy hanger (front left with front right, rear left with rear right).
Best Longboarding WheelsA symmetrical centerset shape also enables you to flip each wheel to counteract coning. If you rotate your wheels, check to see if many wheels are starting to cone and flip them as required. Make sure to think about the wheels’ new positions on the board along with your personal riding habits (should you choose more heelside slides than toesides, you may expect your heelside wheels to cone as well as your toeside wheels to reverse cone).