The Rise of Wedge Experimentation
Wedge risers used to be the domain of experienced longboarders and surfskaters. Not anymore. We're seeing a huge uptick in new builders experimenting with angled risers.
What's changing? Riders are discovering that small wedge angles (2–4 degrees) can dramatically change turn response without committing to a full truck change. Instead of buying new trucks, builders are printing wedged risers to fine-tune their setup.
Popular wedge angles:
- 2–3 degrees: Subtle lean adjustment. Almost imperceptible but adds responsiveness to cruiser setups.
- 4–5 degrees: The sweet spot for surfskates and carve-focused cruisers. Noticeable turn enhancement without feeling alien.
- 6+ degrees: Advanced riders using this for downhill or aggressive carving. Not for beginners.
The trend is clear: wedges are no longer niche. Builders who used to run flat risers are now experimenting with 3-degree wedges and reporting better turn feel.
Cutout Aesthetics Are Getting Bolder
Early custom risers had simple cutouts — maybe a circle or a square. Now? Builders are going wild with designs. We're seeing:
- Geometric patterns: Hexagons, triangles, and tessellating shapes that look clean and professional.
- Nature-inspired: Spider webs, leaf patterns, ripple effects. These look beautiful and reduce weight.
- Pop culture: Brand logos (respecting copyright, of course), gaming references, and band logos are common.
- Custom lettering: Riders adding names, initials, or custom text to their risers.
The engineering is the same — the cutouts serve the same structural purpose — but the aesthetic has evolved. Risers are becoming personalization tools.
Weight-Saving Designs
Beginners print solid risers. Experienced builders are now experimenting with hollow cores and strategic cutouts to reduce weight while maintaining strength.
We're seeing trends like:
- Honeycomb structures: Internal honeycomb patterns that keep strength but reduce material by 20–30%.
- Strategic cutouts: Builders removing material from high-stress areas only, leaving mounting zones solid.
- Thin wall designs: Reducing wall thickness from 3mm to 2mm while maintaining rigidity through better geometry.
This is advanced stuff — you need good CAD skills and understanding of stress distribution. But it's becoming a real trend among experienced makers.
Material Experimentation
PETG dominates for skateboard risers (and for good reason). But we're seeing adventurous builders try:
- TPU-reinforced designs: Printing a flexible inner layer with rigid outer walls. Complex but creates interesting feel.
- Carbon-filled PETG: Stiffer, lighter, and faster-printing than pure PETG. Popular with riders wanting performance gains.
- Multi-material: Printing the bolt holes with a flexible material to reduce stress concentrations. Ambitious and rare.
Most of these experiments are by advanced makers. But the trend is clear: material choice is becoming a design factor, not just a practical necessity.
Size Optimization
Riser sizes are standardizing. Most builders are printing outer dimensions that match standard truck baseplates — 7" x 3" or close to it. But we're seeing more experimentation with non-standard sizes:
- Wider risers: Extending the riser pad beyond the baseplate for extra foot platform. Popular with cruisers.
- Longer risers: Extending the pad to cover part of the deck. Interesting look but functionally unproven.
- Narrower risers: Minimalist approach focusing only on the truck mounting area. Lighter and cleaner.
Functional experimentation is happening. Not all of it works, but that's the nature of DIY culture.
Height Standardization with Design Variation
Most custom risers cluster around standard heights: 3mm, 6mm, 10mm. These are proven, tested, known to work. But we're seeing more variation within those standards:
- Front/rear height difference: Builders creating risers with different heights front vs. rear (6mm front, 8mm rear, for example). This changes weight distribution.
- Asymmetrical designs: Risers optimized for specific trucks or geometries.
- Curved designs: Instead of flat, some builders are experimenting with subtle curves that feel different during riding.
This is where design meets personal preference. No single approach is right; variation is the trend.
The Community Effect
The biggest trend? Community sharing. Builders upload designs, others load them, modify them, and upload variations. This iterative approach is accelerating design innovation. A design that works gets remixed, improved, and re-uploaded.
We're seeing design families emerge — someone creates a base design, and then 5–10 variations show up within days. This is how product design usually works in manufacturing. Now it's happening in the open with 3D printing.
What This Means for You
If you're designing custom risers, these trends suggest:
- Explore wedge angles: If you have a 3D printer, experimenting with 2–4 degree wedges is more accessible than buying new trucks.
- Design intentionally: Cutouts are cool, but ensure they don't compromise strength. Use the RISER 3D tools to validate your design.
- Iterate: Print one, test it, modify it, print again. The community approach of rapid iteration actually works.
- Share: Upload your designs. You'll get feedback, inspiration, and ideas from other builders.