Hamboards has re-engineered every component of their patented Hamboards Surf Training (HST) surf skate trucks.
The HST is a heavy-duty spring-loaded truck different from other swivel trucks out there. It offers very high stability when standing on a deck (including very large Hamboards decks) while allowing for deep gouging rail-to-rail carving.
The HST 2.0 is a fully adjustable truck system that expands the capabilities of the original HST trucks. The HST 2.0 system allows you to interchange three baseplates with different pivot axis angles, three different hanger widths (axles), and two different springs.
The HST 2.0 is about the pivot axis and the hanger length. It gives you the opportunity to customize your ride without having to buy an entire truck set. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced rider, the HST 2.0 can provide the precise riding experience you want.
See also: Hamboards surf skate review
Modding your existing Hamboards
If you have a Hamboards with the original HST trucks, you can customize it the way you want.
By default, the standard Hamboards ride uses a 40° pivot axis and 200mm hanger in the front and rear trucks. It’s like having a twin fin setup on your surfboard.
While this is the best default combination to simulate surfing on land, you can radically change your ride simply by swapping a few parts in the rear truck.
Like for your surfboard fins, you now have a few different options for the rear. The 20º pivot axis turns half as much as the 40º, and the 0º doesn’t turn at all. The narrower hanger (160mm) is the most stable
Swapping the rear baseplate for pump
The lower the pivot axis angle in the back, the more pumpable your board will be. Forward motion is generated by the difference in the rotation between the front and rear trucks. The greater the difference, the more pumpable the board.
Swapping the rear hanger for stability
Unlike what you might expect, shorter hangers are more stable than longer ones. If you want a more stable board, get a 180mm or 160mm hanger (vs a 200mm one) for your rear truck.
Configuring the HST 2.0 for surf training
The primary goal of the HST 2.0 System is to create a progressive surf training system. Here are a few options for optimizing your Hamboards for surf training:
- Swapping the rear truck for an HST ZR0 (0°) baseplate with a 160mm hanger will make your board feel like a stable traditional longboard surfboard with an old-school D-fin. This makes it easier to master your pop-up and gain a comfortable and stable stance.
- Swapping the rear truck for an HST 20 (20°) baseplate with a 180mm hanger will make your board feel like you’ve swapped out your D- fin for a more versatile Hatchet Fin. Once you’ve perfected your pop-up, you can practice staying low (knees bent) and begin to carve on the deck, using the full length of the board. Mastering this setup helps you get out of the white water and start riding an open-face wave.
- The stock rear HST 40° baseplate with a 200mm hanger gives you an open-face wave-riding feel. You can work on mastering the rail-to-rail experience, moving up and down the face of the wave, and improving your cut-back.
Check out the riding difference between the different rear truck options (starting at 2:10 in the video):
Read more about the Hamboards HST 2.0 truck system here on their site