A Couple of Sessions with…The Sayshun Formula

Looking back to when I was still in school, I never did too well with Math. I used to be pretty good in science, but when it came to chemistry and physics, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around all the numbers and equations. To this day I still don’t know how I managed to get through those subjects, but I’m very very glad I did.

In hindsight, I was always more interested in the application part of science. I bring these things up because regardless of whether you love science or not, so much of it has to do with downhill skateboarding, most especially physics. Recalling those times just seemed apt when I came face-to-face with the Sayshun Formula.

Image taken from internet. This is the "Chalkboard" graphic on the older Formula

Its name alone is a nod to all those times many of us have spent or are still spending buried under science books. A quick round of research will point out that the Sayshun Formula is named such due to Nick Breton (Sayshun Team rider and board designer) also being a school teacher. Getting past the name, the Formula is a 38″x9.75″ topmount board with seven degrees of wedging on the nose. The board sports a pretty aggressive tub concave and has wheelbase options from 30″-30.75″.

I set it up with 44 degree Caliber trucks, slapped on some 70mm wheels and took it out to cruise and pull some slides on one of the spots in my neighborhood. As I quickly found out, saying my size 9.5 feet were sufficiently cradled by the concave is putting it rather lightly. The formula’s tub concave rises pretty high to lock your feet in at both the heel and toe sides, and the beefy rails give your feet a lot to dig into when it comes to throwing a slide. As the board was intended for high-speed freeriding and racing, the board is pretty stiff, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t lively when it comes to normal cruising and carving. The 7 degree wedge on the nose, on paper, transformed my truck setup into a 51-44 split, meaning in reality it made my front truck a tad more responsive while I still got relative stability out of the back. The extra bit of response made for some nice carves, yet didn’t become worrisome when it came to some light bombing.

The new Graphic. Spot the Skull

I also brought the board on a nice little skate session in The Fort, and down a couple of runs at Taktak. In both scenarios, the board fared pretty well. The wedging gives a more responsive feel when it comes to carving. The wedge creates a notch for your front foot when it comes to getting in a tuck, something I especially liked when it came to bombing a hill. I certainly felt locked in, with the wedge coupled with a bit of rocker and that tub concave. However, the wedging may not be for everyone, especially for those like myself who aren’t accustomed to split angle setups. It’s nothing that an angled riser can’t fix, giving you the benefit of the front pocket without the wedge.

For years, formulas have been used to be able to determine and explain things. This goes without saying that each formula has its own practical applications and can be tweaked for when it comes to desiring different outcomes. This one is no different. The Sayshun Formula will most definitely help any rider apply their skate skills and knowledge to neighborhood streets, mellow slopes, all the way to the craziest hills.

Though I’m glad to be done with school, I don’t have any reason to undermine the value of education. The good people who make all the boards we have the good fortune of riding had to be paying attention in science class. So study hard, skate harder but don’t forget to skate safe!

Three Song Tuesdays, Volume IV

Blame the rain. Can’t skate. My new helmet’s been acting as an oversized paperweight thanks to the weather we’ve been experiencing the past week or so. As much as I’d love to stay in and just laze around, a couple of sunny days would be nice. 

Here’s three for the rain, and the hope for sunny skies ahead. 

1. Death Cab For Cutie – “No Sunlight”

2. Coldplay – “Parachutes”

3. TV on The Radio – “Keep Your Heart”