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Surf-Rodz is a boarding and design company based out of Connecticut. Their products are truly high-end, fully customizable machines. I’d say they are the Lamborghini of the industry, making other company’s products look like toys. The scenario is like this; it’s like driving a super smooth sports car and then hopping into a piece of junk stick shift pickup truck. You’d much rather stick with the high performance vehicle, because once you feel that unique, incredible, fun ride, you don’t want to go back to the weak boring "other" ride.

They separate themselves from others in a quiet way because the group is very small. However, they are on the rise. Some of their boards are made out of wood harvested from organic sustainable-forestry farms. This particular wood, pro-teak, is offered exclusively to the company. No other skateboarding manufacturer has rights to use the exotic product for making skateboards or any board for that matter. Before the board production, the company has been an interior design/construction team, only producing skateboards and snowboards on the side.

As a true collective team, Surf-Rodz is now looking for ways to collaborate with other skating companies to take products further so everyone can benefit more. The newest longboard creation offered by the group is called the Thresher. The board represents what change is truly about.

The Thresher allows people to lock in their feet on the clear grip system and rip through turns at full speed. The deck can be transformed into a sliding set-up with the proper components.

If you enjoy high speeds with steady cruise-control turns, try using a tighter group of components with some large grippy wheels. Equal foot room is symmetrically offered at both ends of the board, allowing the rider to push and carve in either direction. Trucks are mounted on plates that are bolted through the board, rather than having the trucks bolted through the deck itself; this adds to an ultra quick turn-on-a-dime feature. Angled plates are being produced so riders can further customize the feel of the ride.

Look for big things from this group soon; I believe small operations like these may change the entire industry from a grassroots perspective, sort of how skateboarding started and grew before I was even born. Maybe I’ll get a chance to see an evolution that is greatly needed in a currently stagnant industry.

Peter Weinrauch is a guest writer for About.com, and has offered his expertise on several aspects of skateboarding. If you have any comments, questions or concerns, feel free to contact him.

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