The Landyachtz Cheesegrater 2.0 has carved its way into the hearts of many longboarders. This review delves into its unique concave, versatile setup options, and diverse applications, even featuring insights from the board’s designer, Alex Hannigan.
Specs
- Length: 36.25 inches
- Width: 9.5 inches
- Wheelbase: 22.5-29 inches
- Construction: 9 plies of Canadian Maple (possibly with fiberglass)
- Concave Features: W, Microdrop, Rocker, Flush Mounting
- Price: $139 (USD)
Disclaimer: This review is unbiased, despite the author’s sponsorship with Landyachtz.
Interview with Alex Hannigan
Alex Hannigan, a Landyachtz team rider and the mastermind behind the Cheesegrater, shares his design goals and setup preferences.
How tall are you and how much do you weigh?
6 feet, 200 lbs.
Why did you want to make the Cheesegrater?
The Cheesegrater was born from a knee injury that sidelined me for a winter. Bored, I visited Landyachtz HQ and, with Nick Breton and Aaron Brown, turned my ideas into reality. The initial concept was a 2013 Wolf Shark with kicktails and straight rails. The name “Cheesegrater” came from a redrilled top-mounted board that I’d broken, resembling a grater. I held onto the name until I designed a board worthy of it. I found a 2013 Wolf Shark charge in 2016 and created my symmetrical cut, finally using the Cheesegrater name.
What do you like most about it?
Its versatility. I can ride gnarly downhill runs and then slash alleys without changing my setup. The concave guides your feet for stand-up slides, and the ample surface area grips well. It feels like summer snowboarding. Plus, it’s great for ollies.
How do you have your Cheesegrater setup?
I use Gen 5 45-degree baseplates with 87a and 85a Venom standard barrels, along with prototype 70mm freeride wheels similar to Hawgs Supremes.
How would you advise people to setup/ride their cheesegrater? Any ideal way to ride it?
The board is designed for stand-up slides and race-style riding. For racing, use a staggered wheelbase: the shortest option for the front truck and the longest for the back. Add a footstop and wide, gummy wheels. For freeriding, use the slickest wheels you can find, fresh grip tape, and comfy skate shoes for confident technical freeriding.
What changes can we expect in the 3.0 (future design goals)?
We’re exploring wheelbase changes and a return to a wider W, similar to the V1, but with a mellow concave profile. Other design features are also being considered.
Landyachtz Cheesegrater 2.0 In-Depth Review
Summary
The Cheesegrater 2.0 boasts a remarkable concave, blending usefulness with comfort. It feels natural whether you’re bombing hills or cruising around.
Landyachtz Cheesegrater 2.0
The numerous wheelbase options allow for extensive customization, but might leave some unused space. While the brick-like shape might not be the most aesthetically pleasing to some, it certainly grows on you. Overall, the Cheesegrater has become a favorite freeride deck, versatile enough for downhill as well.
The Concave: A Standout Feature
The concave is a highlight, subtle yet effective. The mounting options let you engage with the features as you see fit.
Landyachtz Cheesegrater 2.0 concave
By adjusting your trucks and footstop, you can choose how you interact with the microdrops and other features. For instance, the innermost wheelbase options might mean not using the microdrops at all. Alternatively, you could use the microdrop as a toe stop. This freedom makes the board adaptable to different riding styles and preferences.
Landyachtz Cheesegrater 2.0
However, this level of customization does require experimentation to find your ideal setup.
Mellow Rails
The rails are not too sharp, making it comfortable to place your heel on them. They also provide support for your back foot in a tuck.
Landyachtz downhill skateboard
This is a welcome change compared to other boards with uncomfortable rails.
The W Concave
The mellow W between the drops is useful as a reference point. Although it doesn’t directly help with toeside slides, it’s useful and doesn’t interfere with foot placement.
While some might not find it crucial, it serves as a useful general reference point. It’s subtle enough not to hinder your preferred foot placement.
Micro-drops
The mellow micro-drops offer a gradual transition, providing extra leverage in toeside turns.
While they don’t act as a full footstop, they work with the rails and W to keep your foot locked in.
Shape: Functional Design
The absence of taper is a key feature. The brick shape ensures consistent leverage over your trucks regardless of foot placement. This contrasts with tapered boards, where leverage can vary.
pantheon gaia
The consistent width eliminates the stress of choosing the right truck size, making setup much easier.
Drop Placement
The drops are spaced widely apart, a common feature in boards designed by taller riders. The drops are around 25-26 inches apart.
Shorter riders might not fully utilize the drops, while taller riders will find them perfectly spaced. Even if you don’t fully use the back drop, it provides a comfortable place to rest your heel when coming out of a tuck.
Mounting Options: Endless Customization
The numerous mounting options provide flexibility in foot placement, ensuring comfort and engagement with the deck’s features.
Landyachtz Cheesegrater toeside pre-drift
The longer wheelbases work best with symmetrical truck setups, while shorter wheelbases are better for split-angle setups. Once you find your perfect setup, the other options may become unused space, making some consider chopping the board.
Other Features
- Stiffness: The board is very stiff with minimal torsional flex.
- Weight: It’s a heavy board due to the maple construction. While noticeable when carrying it, the weight doesn’t noticeably impact the ride.
- Wheel Wells: The 1/4 inch deep wheel wells are needed due to the flush mounting, preventing wheelbite at higher speeds.
Performance
Downhill
For downhill, a 25-inch wheelbase with 150mm trucks and wide DH wheels is a good starting point. Although, wider trucks might be preferred.
Landyachtz Cheesegrater downhill setup
The drop at the back and the rail provide great support for toesides.
Freeride
For freeride, keep the wheelbase and switch to 165mm or 180mm trucks with narrower freeride wheels.
Landyachtz Cheesegrater downhill setup
The board feels stable, and your feet remain secure.
Truck and Wheel Recommendations
- Trucks: 150-165mm with wide DH wheels, 180mm with narrower freeride wheels.
- Wheels: Use wheels 74mm or shorter to avoid wheelbite. A 1/8th inch riser is also an option.
Drawbacks
- Griptape: The stock griptape is too fine for grippy wheels.
- Shape: The brick shape may not appeal to everyone aesthetically.
- Weight: The board’s heaviness is noticeable when pushing or carrying it.
Price and Availability
The $139 price tag is very reasonable for such a high-quality, versatile board. The Landyachtz Cheesegrater 2.0 is widely available in most longboard shops.
Landyachtz Cheesegrater price
Final Verdict
The Landyachtz Cheesegrater 2.0 is a top-tier freeride board with excellent versatility. Its standout concave, numerous setup options, and solid performance make it a worthy choice for any longboarder. If you’re considering buying it, this review strongly recommends it.
