Spot on though IMO

@Theo Bridgeman I've been really thinking about your suggestions and looked further into it, wanting to better understand the reasons behind it (just me probably, I'm like that). Anyway just got myself a new board - Globe G0 Reverb 8.5" complete as the extra width makes sense. It came with 99a wheels which I've swapped over for the 95a Slime Balls I'd mentioned as it seemed best staying with those for a while longer. Took it to the park today, first time in 3 or 4 weeks I think - just miserable weather! Despite the obvious rusty skating I felt very comfortable on the new deck immediately due to the extra width; I'll definitely benefit from this, so thanks again. Also tried the old 8.00" board with the new 99a wheels, and would you believe it they felt fine! I'd convinced myself I needed to upgrade incrementally, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Anyway I'll keep things as they are for now to see how everything goes. Manuals have improved a little bit too. Cheers 👏👍

Thanks Theo, just followed your directions and made myself a carpet board today 😀, so feeling quite pleased with myself. On the other hand it was quite fiddly and slow for me to do, unlike in your video as you raced through it very quickly, so took me a while but I learned quite a lot in the process. By the end of it I could only manage a short try out - manuals, ollies and shuv-its, which I think I'll probably be focusing on for now. Anyway very pleased with the overall result and think it will be very beneficial, so thanks again. Am looking forward to practising more with it and expect to be able to take some videos too.

Yay, sunny day for the first time in ages, so went to the park. Very interested to try out the new board set-up and really liked it, very smooth and the wheels weren't a problem at all, actually great. On the other hand I was very clunky as it's been so long, so just did some basic stuff which went okay. Looking forward to the next one.

I haven't been there yet but I hope to get there before too long as it's consistently rated very highly here in Sydney, so for now I want to skate at Mona Vale.

@Theo Bridgeman FYI I actually prefer surf skating tbh, I pretty much started with an OBfive and really enjoy it, so fluid and everything. Also wider so my balance is better, wish I'd realised that before getting the skateboard as I would have taken your advice 😀, but heavier so I thought I'd get the skateboard to learn tricks and better control. Anyway I try and use both. Will swap the wheels and bearings on the board - thanks! Great name btw, my nephew in England is called Theo 😊

@Theo Bridgeman Took your advice and swapped the parts on my board but I've only been able to do some very basic skating in my garage due to the constant RAIN! Still, the board does feel better, smoother and the wheels do seem really good so I can't wait to try it out at the park, whenever that might be!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQFGponc340

I've got several as I wanted to try them out: Etnies Windrow X Santa Cruz - Nice and very comfortable from the get go, good grip Vans Skate Old Skool - Very tough shoes but require a lot of wearing in, good for Ollies I think Cariuma Vallely Pro Gum - Exceedingly comfortable and great grip, but quite soft and I don't think as long lasting as the others

@Ian Powell Actually my decision for all these shoes was decided when they were on sale, definitely helps IMO. Skateboard shops seem to have sales regularly, so worth watching out for.