Would be nice to see some pics of what you have. The original Warptail was solid oak - I have an early version of the Warptail 2 which is a laminate construction. Must admit I'd love to own an early Z-Flex!
It doesn’t have a Stacy Peralta sticker on the top (I grip-taped it, it is just wood underneath, no branding):
Clearly a G&S though! The odd thing is it is so tiny, it measures about 24.75”. Looking at old Skateboard! magazines on line I can find reference to a a 25” Warptail in an ad, so it may well be. It is not well drilled, whilst the holes are in-line and parallel it is offset at the back about 5mm to one side. It may well have been a reject. I paid very little for it, about £25-30 IIRC, which is nothing compared to what a NOS Warptail deck would usually make (add a zero at least!). It’s a cute little display board though, not that I have anywhere to put it (I have the Taper Pro and RMI pictured at the front of the thread on show).
The solid wood decks weighed a ton, the ply/laminate could be made lighter/stronger (and cheaper I guess)
I had an Oak Logan Earth Ski and it was awful. No flex so it made pumping etc. harder and Carving is not much fun on a solid deck - the flex in the deck really makes a difference.
I agree. I had a little yellow fibreglass Pacer deck which had a lot of spring to it. I’d have preferred it to be longer (it was about 24” IIRC), but I much preferred it to friend’s wood decks. My ideal deck would have been a 27-29” G&S Fibreflex. That lined up with what I wanted to do, which was just hacking around streets, parks and any irresponsible downhill within reach (there were no pools or pipes nearby, and I very much doubt I’d have had the skills had there been). That little Pacer ended up with ACS 580s and 70mm green Kryptonics. It really shifted!
The last deck design I remember appearing was the ‘rocker’, kind of a curved ply deck with wheel-wells and I guess the precursor of the modern double-kick boards. It was barely different front end to back. A friend had one and I really liked it. Heavier and totally rigid compared to my little fibreglass board, but the shape opened up so many possibilities.
The evolution of skateboard design is fascinating. I totally understand why new decks look as they do, that is a way more logical design, but I really don’t understand the tiny rock-hard wheels. On the flat they seem so noisy, rattly and slow compared to say 70mm Kryps or whatever of my era.
