Review: Longboard footstop Riptide Slab

Review: Everything that you should know about longboarding footstops and the all new Riptide Slab

The footstop main point is to provide support in length but also on the side, to prevent the foot from moving out of its position. Some are adjustable, or even reversible, to suit a maximum of different postures and riders. For my own experience, I hand crafted in the past a few footstops in various shapes and materials to try finding the ideal solution for my riding style.

When an aftermarket manufacturer develops footstops, there are rarely more than two or three different shapes. Apart from the beautiful metal made models from Scythe Gear, only the Riptide brand has developed several different models to meet all expectations.

Here is a complete review of the all new Riptide Sport Slab Footstop designed in colaboration with French champion and Fastest stand up toe slide Guiness world record older Amroise Trauet.

Le Slab is higher (H = 30 mm x L = 70 mm) to compare with the other shapes from Riptide. It only have 1 single face of use versus the variable faces of uses from the In and out models.

The shape of the Slab is curvy, which allows it to hook the edge of your shoe and to adapt to various angles of support. Like all Riptides footstops, it has vertical fins for optimum grip. The softer coumpond presents a certain adaptation of shape and a less firm hooking to compare with some similare models from other brands made from metal or harder materials. This also allows the foot to come out easily from the top in the event of a fall.

As you can notice, it is not adjustable in "length", having only a single circular mounting hole. It is therefore necessary that one of the mounting holes from the front truck match to your ideal fixing position, or otherwiase you would need to drill a new hole in your deck at the place of your choice.

As for my own use, the top toe side front truck mounting hole went perfect to me.

The Slab footstop comes sold with a long lenght bolt with nut, and 3 riser delrin discs with various depth that you can use singely or topped so you can adjust the toestop heights. When not using riser, the stopper will stay in a fixed position. However, whens adding riser(s), the toe stop can twist freely.

Tip: If you want to use risers but wish to avoid the footstop from twisting, just apply some griptape on both faced of the risers. The friction between the risers discs would lock the stopper in a fix position.

To try the Slab in different configurations, I mounted one on my downhill board, raised by 9 mm and non-pivoting, and one on my slalom board, raised by 8 mm and free to pivot. In practice, it turns out to be very well designed, the shape match to various scenarios (wedging of the toe or lateral wedging of the foot), the height adjustment can be useful depending on whether the board has a drop or not. At first glance, I admit that the malleable aspect of the material, feeling almost "sticky", confused me a little: once wedged, it becomes harder to adjust the position of the foot. It took me a few tries to find the gesture that allows me to feel at the good place right away. After that, it doesn't move!

In an obliquely position, it provides very high support and the assurance that your foot will not move forward. It will remain stable during your most engaged front turns / slides. In backside turns / slides, the foot can always pivot slightly on the heel if necessary, to then get back to its initial position.

I really appreciated the Mini In & Out footsop shape from Riptide Sports as it is compact and offer various setting possibilities. Here with the Slab, we have a very simple shape but with a maximum of efficiency.

The Slab is rather shaped for downhill and practices who need the highest supports, once placed at the perfect place on your deck, it will carry out its mission in an unfailing way. On the slalom board, the forces on the front foot are even higher, since this foot literally drives the entire pendulum swing of the rider. The supports on the footstop are more important and permanent, both forwards and laterally. The footstop is almost essential in this discipline and the Slab is perfectly adapted to it, its rotating aspect allowing it to always remain in optimal contact with the foot.

All in all, it's hard not to be seduced by this very useful little thing that is the Riptide Slab. I like: Its already very effective initial height; its well-known heigth extension system; and its versatile shape. We can add that although protruding, it presents little risk of injuring the rider given its material, and that its price also remains affordable. As from my own style of freeriding, I would regret the almost too "grippy" aspect of the coumpond, I would be curiopus to try it in an harder duro such as the other Riptides stoppers are made of. However I think it's more a question of personal point of view and I am sure that this Slab footstop will fit the need of most downhill, freeride, and slalom longboarders.