How To Put Mad Max Grip Spikes In Your Skateboard

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Whether it is your wheels on the road or your shoes on your board, grip is of the utmost importance in downhill skateboarding. Sliding when you do not mean to can have disastrous consequences. Here is one way to get some extra grip on your board.



We go to great lengths to keep our feet planted on the skateboard, from increasingly complex concave designs to regularly-replaced extra-coarse grip tape to special super-sticky shoe soles, there’s pretty much nothing we won’t do to prevent our feet from slipping.

Max Wippermann is somewhat notorious for his use of spikes that run through the bottom of his drop-deck and provide extra gripping power.

While I’ve never felt like I had a problem with my feet slipping on my board, I recently put super sticky Riders Fly brake soles on both of my skate shoes and was amazed by how much more comfortable and locked in I felt. When Zak Maytum and Justin Rouleau told me they’d had good results with the Wippermann spikes, I decided to give it a shot.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Your downhill skateboard.

2. A drill. I got my trusty 18v DeWalt for like $100 on Craigslist. The guy had me meet him in a sketchy parking lot but it all worked out ok.

3. A drill bit set.

4. Some sheet metal screws. I used #10, you might want to go bigger or smaller, it’s up to you. Try not to get distracted by all the Home Depot hotties when you go buy supplies.

5. Clear coat or spray paint to seal your board against water (optional)

STEP 1: Figure out where your feet go on your skateboard and decide where you want extra grip. You’ll probably want to go heavy on the back toe, as it’s the most likely to slip and cause a crash.

STEP 2: Drill your holes. Pick a drill bit that’s about as wide as the shaft of your sheet metal screws and drill where you want your spikes. Use a fast setting on the drill and go slowly through your board.

STEP 3 (optional): Paint the holes with some clear coat to seal your board and prevent water damage.

STEP 4: Put your spikes in from the bottom of the board.

STEP 5: Adjust how aggressively the spikes stick up from the grip by backing the screws out a little bit.

STEP 6: Perform radical maneuvers.

NOTE: Max created this post before heading on the road to NC. Check the Insta for #backwoodspunchmeat to follow along. – Les

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