Predator Helmets

Product Updates II

Predator Designs — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:48:56 +0000

The Shiznit will be available in mid-march in two new colorways, matte black and burnt orange.

One of the new visor tints we will be releasing in early April. The color changes with light conditions which makes it hard to get an accurate photograph but its somewhere between silver mirror and blue chrome mirror.

Product Updates

Predator Designs — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:12:39 +0000

Here’s a sneek peek at what we’ve been working on, dubbed the “FR7″. Due out later this year.

Another shot of the FR7, our first 1/2 shell helmet geared for skateboarding.

The DH6. Now in Purple and gold.

The Shiznit-looks like a baseball hat and not a helmet. Can also be worn forward or backwards. Available in April 2012 in carbon, white, and two new colors, matte black and burnt orange.

New Team rider-Ross Porter

Predator Designs — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:53:35 +0000

We are excited to welcome Ross Porter to the Predator skateboard team as our first freerider. Ross hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has been honing his skills in the numerous infamous ditches ABQ has to offer. Ross has been known in the past to grind his chin off on occasion busting out huge stand up slides, which is why he currently always skates with his full-face DH6. Below freezing temps and a little blizzard? Sounds like perfect skating conditions. Location-somewhere outside of Santa Fe, NM. Photo: Dave Price

Custom Pin-striping

Predator Designs — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:46:06 +0000

Check out this custom paint job done by Tanner Leaser from Arlington, Texas. Lookin’ classy!

Downhill Skateboard Aerodynamics Study

Predator Designs — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:23:28 +0000

A few years back a major university in the UK did a study on the aerodynamics of downhill skateboarding. They used a combination of wind tunnel testing and computer models to study the effects of a few different types of helmets popular with skaters as well as tuck positions. It’s highly technical but we found the results very interesting. If you haven’t read the study its definitely worth reading over, the paper can be found here.

Lab rat and top UK downhiller Pete Connelly in the wind tunnel.

Predator 2012

Predator Designs — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:38:44 +0000

We have been hard at work the last few weeks nailing down a bunch of modifications and improvements to the DH6, which all added up will make one nice helmet for next year. One of the bigger modifications we made was the removal of 8mm of material from the shell and EPS liner above the eyes to help with visibility while tucking. After testing it out, visibility has been significantly improved, the section of helmet above your eyes is now barely visible when in the best of tucks.

Also in the works for next year will be a very-limited edition pure carbon fiber helmet for decreased weight and increased badass factor. These will be similar to the 4 carbon helmets that were made from the 1st run but with all the improvements since then. These will be limited to team riders and select shops. Retail price will be $475 USD.

Due to customer demand, we will be producing a helmet WITHOUT our signature racing stripe for next year. The 2012 matte black DH6 will be just matte black with a small Predator logo and no stripe. This helmet will also be the perfect blank canvas should you want a custom paint job done. Look for the 3rd generation DH6 to be landing in shops around the world in early April 2012.

Matt Kelly, the head honcho at Predator Designs, deep into the emails.

New fit-pads for next year will have a plush, moisture wicking material. Also, thicker size fit pads wil help with the fit on smaller size heads.

New fit pads along with a metal double-D ring, which will be standard on all future DH6 helmets. The padding for the EPS liner has been thinned out as much as possible and should accommodate a slightly larger head then previous helmets. A true XL size helmet is still in the works.

The chin-guard vent will be slightly larger than previous generation helmets and will have a thinner, less spongy and more breathable material covering the opening to reduce fogging.

Post-work entertainment. Dave got schooled by Matt this game. The locals put us both to shame.

No skating! wait…he’s riding a scooter. No razor scooters? I think we like it here.

New Colors

Predator Designs — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:22:30 +0000

The new colors are finally hitting the streets. If you haven’t had the chance to see them in person yet, here is a sneak peek.

Rasta graphic. This is the only model that has the racing stripe going all the way down to the chin. This might be changing for next year.

Bright orange, for high visibility.

Matte Black, for low visibility…hey its your call.

Light Blue

Carbon Fade. Notice the chinguard and back of the helmet are gloss black, slowly fading to the carbon graphic.

Not pictured are Red, Silver, Green and the standard gloss black and gloss white. In other news, Predator owner Matt Kelly and product designer Dave Price will be traveling to Asia to oversee certain modifications and changes to the DH6 for 2012. The next round of helmets will be reaching the States sometime in Feb 2012, so if you want one for the holidays, better get on it now!

Silverfishlongboarding Reviews a DH6

Predator Designs — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:22:54 +0000

If you longboard and own a computer, you probably are familiar with Silverfishlongboarding. They are the biggest longboard forum on the internet, and a few months back we set them a DH6 to review. After a few months of testing by the SilverFish crew, their highly detailed review is final up on the Silverfish home page, and we are stoked with what they think of it.

Check out the review here

End of the Season

Predator Designs — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:28:13 +0000

Maryhill Grom Squad Zion Miller and Quinn Duboius take a run at the Fall ’11 Maryhill Freeride. Isaac Guy photo credit.

The 2011 season is winding down, with only a few more big races coming up. The US Nationals held in San Dimas, CA will be the last big race in the States for this year, so if you’re in So-Cal next weekend, go and check it out.

The rest of the big races this year are international, with the 1st one being the Copa de los Andes, held in Tarma, Peru. After that is the fastest race in the world, the Malarrara Pro Teutonia World Championships, held from Nov 4-6 in Brazil. Predator Team Rider Douglas “Dalua” Silva has been the dominating force at Teutonia in the past years, will he be able to do it again?

We here at Predator have been really excited to watch the 2011 race season develop. In an economy where most markets are shrinking, longboarding is exploding faster than anyone thought possible a few years ago. We got to race in two Olympic venues this year with Jumbo-trons and live webcasts and if that was 2011, lets imagine 2012. Look for Predator team riders to be attending all the big races in 2012 as well as Predator having a bigger involvement with races in terms of sponsorship. We have some exciting things in the works for 2012, including some major improvements to the DH6 as well as some new helmet projects, so stay tuned!

Red Bull Big Drop South America

Predator Designs — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:16:58 +0000

Check out this video as Red Bull follows Diego Alemparte during the Big Drop event held last year in Chile. Its good to see Red Bull taking an interest again in downhill skateboarding. That shutdown area looks like the steepest part of the course, gnarly!