The Rolling Tree Acedia longboard deck has garnered significant attention in the longboarding community, and for good reason. It’s praised for its high-quality construction, affordability, and unique design. In this in-depth review, we’ll dissect the Acedia, exploring its features, performance, and who it’s best suited for.
Rolling Tree Acedia: The Lowdown
The Acedia stands out as a versatile deck, equally capable for both freeride and downhill disciplines. Its distinctive concave, multiple mounting options, and durable construction make it a compelling choice for intermediate to advanced riders. From the moment you step on it, the Acedia is designed to feel comfortable and responsive.
Key Specifications:
- Length: 35 inches
- Width: 9.4 inches
- Wheelbase: Adjustable from 22 to 25 inches
- Concave: Features wheel flares, a “dong” W concave, rocker, and an hourglass shape.
- Weight: Lightweight at 4.25 lbs
- True Width: Approximately 9 inches over rear mounting holes and slightly less than 9 inches over front mounting holes.
Performance on the Road: Freeride and Downhill
The Rolling Tree Acedia is a standout performer, excelling in both freeride and downhill scenarios. The unique concave design provides exceptional foot lock-in, crucial for executing controlled slides and fast turns. The multiple wheelbase options allow riders to fine-tune their setup, optimizing the deck’s interaction with trucks and rider stance.
For downhill riding, the Acedia feels stable and planted, allowing for confident high-speed runs. The concave keeps your feet locked in, providing the leverage you need for aggressive maneuvers. When freeriding, the same locked-in feel facilitates smooth slides and predictable hook-ups. The deck’s responsiveness and control make it a joy to ride, whether you’re carving through turns or drifting through slides.
A Closer Look at the Concave
The Acedia’s concave is where the deck truly shines. The hourglass shape, with raised wheel flares and center, complemented by lower sections in between, provides an ideal balance of aggression and comfort.
The distinctive hourglass concave of the Rolling Tree Acedia, featuring wheel flares, a “dong” W concave, and rocker.
The Hourglass Concave
The wheel flares provide secure points for tucking, toesides, and initiating turns, while the lower sections allow riders to dig their heels in for hard carves. This combination creates a comfortable yet performance-oriented feel underfoot. The hourglass shape naturally guides foot placement, enhancing control and responsiveness.
The W Concave
The “dong” shaped W concave, located at the rear, is a key feature of the Acedia. Unlike some boards where the W concave extends to the front, the Acedia’s rear-only placement is strategically designed for comfort and performance. It provides excellent support for tucking and sliding without interfering with foot movement during cruising or pushing.
The W concave is aggressive enough to be felt underfoot but not so intrusive that it becomes uncomfortable. It allows for easy foot adjustments and doesn’t get in the way when you need to reposition or push. This thoughtful design is a hallmark of the Acedia.
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An Instagram post showcasing the unique concave of the Rolling Tree Acedia and its stability.
The Rear Concave: A Combination of Features
The rear of the Acedia uniquely combines the W concave, rocker, and wheel flares. While the rocker is subtle, the combination of these features creates a secure pocket for the back foot. This pocket provides a stable resting point when tucking and offers additional leverage during toesides and hard turns, enhancing overall control and confidence.
rolling tree acedia tuck
The rear concave of the Acedia, providing pockets for the foot and leverage when riding.
Aesthetic and Build Quality
The Acedia is not just a performance beast; it’s also a visually appealing deck. The carbon bottom sheet gives it a sleek and modern look. The simplicity of the design is complemented by the high-quality construction, showcasing attention to detail. The 2020 version with CNC cut wheel wells further enhances its visual appeal, making it a sought-after piece of equipment.
A close up of the carbon bottom sheet of the Acedia, showcasing its sleek and modern aesthetic.
The Rolling Tree Acedia deck, highlighting its carbon fiber bottom and overall design.
Versatility in Mounting Options
The Acedia’s numerous mounting options are another significant advantage. Riders can adjust the wheelbase to suit their personal preference and riding style, allowing for a customizable setup. This versatility is especially useful for riders who want to experiment with different truck positions and foot stop placements.
The ability to position your footstop higher up on the board allows you to stand more over your front truck, enhancing turning leverage and control. This level of customization makes the Acedia suitable for a wide range of riding styles.
Consistent Width and Control
The Acedia maintains a consistent width of approximately 9 inches across most mounting options. This consistent width provides a stable platform, giving you leverage and precise control over your trucks and wheels. This is crucial for ensuring accurate input, especially when using wide trucks and wheels.
A view of the Acedia deck’s width, which provides a stable and consistent standing platform.
Affordability and Value
The Acedia is priced at approximately $169, making it one of the more affordable high-performance decks on the market. The quality of construction, features, and performance capabilities make it a very worthwhile investment for both freeride and downhill enthusiasts. While it might not be the ideal deck for someone just starting out, its value proposition is exceptional for intermediate to advanced riders.
Optimal Truck Sizes
The Acedia pairs well with different truck sizes, depending on the riding style:
- 165mm trucks: Ideal for freeride setups, offering good maneuverability and stability.
- 140mm trucks: Best suited for downhill setups, providing precise control and a tighter turning radius, particularly when paired with larger downhill wheels.
Considerations and Potential Drawbacks
While the Acedia has many positives, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider:
The Aesthetic
The unique shape, particularly the nose, is not universally appealing and has been compared to a crocodile snout. However, it’s important to note that this is a matter of personal preference and does not impact performance. The design has been subtly updated in the 2019/2020 version, which many find more visually appealing.
rolling tree acedia old vs new
A side-by-side comparison of the old and new Rolling Tree Acedia designs, showcasing the changes to the nose shape.
Adjustments to Riding Style
The Acedia’s concave may require adjustments to your slide style, particularly for heelsides. The concave might not allow you to comfortably sit on your heels, which could require you to slightly lean towards the front. While there might be a small learning curve, it’s an opportunity to refine your technique and improve your overall riding.
Example of a sliding technique that may need adjusting when first using the Acedia.
The rear concave might encourage a wider stance. The pockets in the rear concave might influence your foot placement, potentially making your stance wider than what you’re used to. This can be a learning curve, but once adjusted, it can be an advantage for stability and control.
rolling tree acedia heelside slide
A demonstration of a heel side slide, showing how body positioning may need to adjust on the Acedia.
Setup Customization
The many mounting options and concave features can take time to figure out, as you may need to experiment to find the ideal setup. This can be a bit frustrating but ultimately rewarding, as you’ll find a setup that perfectly complements your style and allows you to maximize the deck’s features.
An example of how a foot position on the Acedia might be adjusted.
Torsional Flex and Road Feedback
While the carbon ply enhances stiffness, there is a slight torsional flex which is common in most boards. It is not a major issue, but it’s worth noting. Additionally, some riders might notice a bit more feedback from the road due to the stiff carbon bottom, which can translate to more vibration and harshness when hitting bumps. This effect lessens as you get accustomed to the deck.
Who Is the Acedia For?
The Acedia is a versatile deck that suits most riding styles, making it a great option for intermediate to advanced riders. While a complete beginner may find its top-mount design challenging for learning slides, the Acedia’s exceptional performance, adjustability, and value make it a compelling choice for anyone looking to take their riding to the next level.
Conclusion: A Top-Tier Longboard Deck
The Rolling Tree Acedia is an exceptional longboard deck that balances performance, quality, and value. Its unique concave, multiple mounting options, and durable construction make it a standout choice for both freeride and downhill disciplines. Although it may require some adjustments to your riding style, the Acedia’s overall performance and versatility make it a great addition to any rider’s quiver.
If you’re looking for a high-performance deck that can handle a variety of riding styles, the Rolling Tree Acedia is a top choice. With a solid 9/10 rating, this deck promises an enjoyable and rewarding riding experience.
