Aphid

senza wake · Backside 180 Joined: 07 Jun 2011 Posts: 597 City: SLC

These skates look sick. Does Virtue make their decks?
Also, do they have any type of grind base?
If not $350 seems a little steep

overstreet31 · Posted: May 13, 2014 11:09 am Post subject:

not sure about who constructs the decks but they do not have a grind base like a remote but are similar in construction to the water monsters decks. Killer shape! rides like a magic carpet

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10735 City: Jefferton

350 seems steep, but we'll see where things go. I'm just amazed at the direction of things. People totally scoffed at a bi-level cassette being 295 and now look where prices are. On that note, it's cool virtue is making a flat deck, and i would love to see remote come through with a good flat deck.

wakemitch · Posted: May 13, 2014 11:33 am Post subject:

I think I heard that Aphid is being made by virtue, but they are an independent company.
I haven't seen an aphid in person, but the construction of Virtues is great. The shape appears to be different from Virtue boards. More straight edges on Aphids, while Virtues are a little more rounded.
I have no idea about the difference in concave.

It looks like all the skate companies have their boards over $300 now.

overstreet31 · Posted: May 13, 2014 11:43 am Post subject:

Not the best pics but a few I grabbed when it came in the mail. Will try to get a couple of better ones with the 70D this week instead of the iphone pics.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10735 City: Jefferton

The last batch of watermonsters were 279.

jtexasglass · Posted: May 13, 2014 5:35 pm Post subject:

Aphid seems to have a piece on top of all the concave (which is brilliant by the way) that might cause for a little extra work and cost. It's different then the normal veneer. I could be dead wrong. All I've seen are the pics form overstreet. 350$ is a lot for a board but then again a lot of work goes into making them. Just my thoughts.

deepcove · Posted: May 14, 2014 12:24 am Post subject:

BryceBell · Posted: May 14, 2014 2:09 pm Post subject:

I might be wrong but isnt wm already doing the extra plys on top of the concave and their pricepoint was under $300

wakemitch · Posted: May 14, 2014 3:47 pm Post subject:

That's true about watermonsters. Hopefully we can still see sub $300 quality skates.
Obscura isn't making their wood concave this year. And those have been selling for $199 the last few years.

jtexasglass · Posted: May 14, 2014 4:36 pm Post subject:

senza wake · Backside 180 Joined: 07 Jun 2011 Posts: 597 City: SLC

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10735 City: Jefferton

I am totally guessing here, but I am thinking obscura just went with something more durable. Especially when you look at the kind of riding aaron did in his video last year, and even consider nick's concrete ledge...these boards probably hold up better under that kind of strain. I think the tao has kind of proven itself in that regard. Not to mention the market is proving that people are willing to pay a little bit more if the board is going to hold up.

I think that's where things get tricky, like justifying the price difference when there's no noticeable design enhancement compared to other decks. Aside from the concept that with the extra money, you're supporting certain people or a certain ideal.

it's all a cool flipside to design though...some people thought wood boards would never make it into a new era of design, or whatever. I like that people kept something they liked and found a way to make it better or still relevant.

DaleFish · Posted: May 15, 2014 2:07 am Post subject:

The LF/Obscura importer in South Africa is Selling Tao's at R6500, which is the equivalent to around $635, we are getting totally shafted, the average cost to bring a skate in yourself from the US is around $100, so if i buy a Tao online for say $369 and bring it in myself i still pay less. so hard to get more people into the sport in this country when its so expensive, but that will hopefully change soon.

jtexasglass · Posted: May 16, 2014 1:34 am Post subject:

jtexasglass · Posted: May 16, 2014 1:37 am Post subject:

RyanJames · Ollie Joined: 16 Jul 2013 Posts: 68 City: Tampa

Aphids r dope, totally worth the price. The shape is so sick and feels hella good under ur feet. Do yourself a favor and go get dat fa sho!