Yes. Yes it can.

Writing this newsletter every week is a fun challenge - but rarely too tricky because I know what I'm talking about and there's little pressure on the outcome.

This week however...

This is a big one, and I'm nervous.

Longboards, as they've been sold in the decades since their inception, will soon be old hat.

When the kicktail was invented and the legends started to ollie, there was no looking back to flat tails.

That is the level of seismic shift we are talking about today - and it costs no more than a standard cast truck.

Here's the overview:

Aside from a few niche use cases - dancing and freestyle for example - there is simply no longer much reason to ride a symmetrical truck setup underneath a longboard.

A split angle setup is simply more fun - and easier to ride - no matter your experience level.

Just cruising around town? Truly enable pedestrian-slalom mode with the extra agility of a split angle setup.

Want to pump your way to work? You won't need to put your foot down for miles at a time.

Yearning for turning down a smooth descent? The extra lean makes it feel better than ever.

Keen (or not so keen) on higher speeds? The extra stability will put your mind at ease and allow you to drop that hill you've had your eye on.

In that regard, still please do not skate faster than you can comfortably brake! Luckily, that will be easier, too...

The Sabre Standard Split Angle Truckset includes all you need to get going including a choice of rear bushings, risers and longer bolts - these things do lean very nicely.

I know it's somewhat hard to believe, and I was certainly reluctant too. But we've had prototypes under our feet for over a year now and I'm not going back.

My skateboard and my cruiser are naturally keeping their TKPs, but otherwise... well. Anyone want to buy a secondhand front truck, or ten?

This is the real heavy stuff - the Forged Precision 150mm version! Such liveliness I never thought I'd feel in a longboard - and yet so stable at the same time...

As I mention in the video, there are two serious options for a proper split angle setup right now, Bear and Sabre.

Split angle trucksets can all be seen here - widths from 130mm to 180mm available, brand dependent.

If you already own a Lush complete (or any complete with Sabre longboard trucks) there is no need to buy a whole new set of trucks!

There is an "Upgrade Kit" available on the Lush website that offers everything you need to switch your setup into a split angle one, for only £40.

Of course, if you've got bushings, bolts and risers aplenty, you'd only need the Sabre 28° baseplate itself.

There is also a "Precision Upgrade Kit" for a bit more that includes Forged Precision hangers into the mix.

One local (hi Tim) snagged this kit last week when we accidentally put them live too early, and has already been back to grab another for his brother. I've never heard so many superlatives in the shop. So pumped.

We'll be slowly switching over the directional Lush completes to split angle versions over the coming weeks.

As soon as other truck brands have caught on, we'll be stocking everything we can.

In the meantime, give us a call if you have any questions. We're super happy to chat it over.

And that's it. The most important newsletter of my life all wrapped up.

Next week may seem a bit flat in comparison, apologies in advance.

With love,
Matt @ Vandem

Not forgetting Bear Trucks!
Advantages: Hanger widths down to 130mm available.
Disadvantages: What bushings do they come with? We don't know. Our supplier doesn't know. Does Bear know?
We throw in a couple orange Sabre cones to soften that front truck up - the rest is going to have to be up to you for now.