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Do Gullwing Sidewinders Work as Surfskate Trucks?
Gullwing Sidewinder longboard trucks have a unique design that enables deep lean. This raises the question, can they function as surfskate trucks? Here’s my experience and thoughts on how well Gullwing Sidewinder trucks work for surfskating.
Gullwing Sidewinders feature a distinctive double kingpin design, with two kingpins stacked on top of each other, each supported by bushings. This setup enables deep and smooth carving, as the double kingpin allows for extra rail-to-rail lean and tighter turning.
Unlike many surfskate setups, which typically have a more stable rear truck and a surfskate truck in the front, the Gullwing Sidewinders use the same truck on both the front and back.
Before testing, it’s important to clarify what I consider a surfskate truck. For me, a surfskate truck must excel in two areas: pumping and carving.
Pumping refers to the ability to generate speed by shifting your weight, while carving refers to making smooth, flowing turns.
A truck that can’t perform well in both areas doesn’t meet my definition of a true surfskate truck.
With this in mind, I installed the Gullwing Sidewinders on my Carver Greenroom and prepared for a test ride.
Right off the bat, I noticed how much lean the Sidewinders offer from side to side. The trucks certainly have that deep carving potential, but I was immediately concerned about wheelbite, which is when the wheels come into contact with the board during sharp turns. To counteract this, I decided to install risers before testing the trucks out.
Once everything was set up, I headed out to see how the Sidewinders performed. The first thing I tested was their ability to pump from a standstill.
Starting out, the Gullwing Sidewinders felt very similar to the Hamboard HST 200 trucks. They were difficult to get moving and required a lot of effort. Instead of responding to the up-and-down compression you’d expect from a good surfskate truck, these trucks needed more side-to-side motion from my hips. While I could get them to pump a little once I gained speed, it wasn’t the smooth, effortless pump you’d want in a surfskate setup. It required much more effort and felt awkward.
In short, the Sidewinders do pump, but not very well. It wasn’t an enjoyable experience, and the trucks felt tippy and unbalanced. The one-inch risers helped reduce the wheelbite, but they didn’t fix the fundamental issues with pumping.
After struggling with pumping, I moved on to testing the Sidewinders’ carving ability. Again, the results were underwhelming. The trucks did allow for carving, but the feeling was far from intuitive.
They were what I would describe as “divey,” meaning they leaned too hard and fast, making the ride feel unstable. It was difficult to lean into the turns and maintain a smooth flow. Instead of feeling in control, I felt like the trucks were tipping too much, creating an uncomfortable ride.
So, do Gullwing Sidewinders work as surfskate trucks? In my opinion, no. While they technically pump and carve, they do neither of these things well. The pump is awkward and requires too much effort, and the carve is too sharp and unstable. They lack the smoothness and control you’d expect from a proper surfskate truck.
That said, I could see these trucks being useful for someone transitioning from a longboard to surfskating. If you’re used to a longboard’s carving style and want to experience deeper leans, the Sidewinders could serve as a middle ground. However, if you’re serious about surfskating, I wouldn’t recommend these trucks. You’re better off starting with a legitimate surfskate truck like a Carver, which will provide a smoother, easier, and more enjoyable ride.
In conclusion, Gullwing Sidewinders might work for some, but for surfskating, they fall short in both pumping and carving. If you’re looking for a true surfskate experience, these aren’t the trucks for you.
I have Sidewinder IIs installed on a drop-through bamboo board. The flex and bounce seems to add to the pump-ability of the set up. It’s not great for low speeds, but once it gets moving it’s a fun and fast ride. I’ve also got some high quality wheels on it….left-overs from before I discovered the SS💜 wheels!
I myself am actually about to be getting a flexy bamboo drop through with considerable wheel cut-outs and putting on a set of Sidewinders. I’ve been skating for over 10 years and after experiencing dozens of different truck-wheel-board set-ups I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to try this combo. I’m looking forward to trying it, I get my board in 2 days and this summer is going to be really fun once I have the set-up.
Sidewinders with waterborne on the front, + sidewinders with double riser on rear= pure surf fun on longboards🤙😎
Sidewinders with waterborne on the front, + sidewinders with double riser on rear= super fun
These trucks are built for carving fast and only pumping once you’re going fast. These are not standstill surfskate trucks. Who wants to do that anyway? You have to be able to do one legged squats (pistols) to ride these trucks. It’ll take awhile to develop those unique stabilizer muscles, but once you do the experience is amazing. Carving at 15-20mph and the ability to squat into a turn and then stand up out of that turn into the next transition at high speed is what these trucks are designed for. You have to go fast! You also need to stay on flat terrain because these will develop speed wobbles once you hit 25-30mph. Don’t use these for downhill. You want to use these trucks on flat terrain with 5/8” spacer and 73mm soft wheels. Your board will be about 5” off the ground and that’s why it’s fun. You can lean for days and once you have the balance it’s akin to flying. So smooth, so fast and everyone will be impressed. You just have to set it up right and allow your body to get stronger. Start with smaller wheels and thinner risers until your legs get strong enough to balance and push on one leg. Learn to ride switch during this process while the board is low bc later you’ll wanna ride for an hour but it’ll only be possible if you can switch sides frequently. If you follow these instructions you’ll have a low impact cardio dream routine with 6 pack abs for life.