Okay, so I got this idea bouncing around in my head for a bit. I’m a big Rays fan, you know? And their City Connect gear, man, it just looks cool. Different. Got that skater vibe kinda baked in already. So I thought, why not put it on a skateboard?
Getting Started
First thing, I needed the right deck. I looked around, didn’t see an official Rays City Connect one just sitting there, obviously. So, I figured I’d have to make the vibe happen myself. I ended up getting a decent blank deck. Nice piece of maple, standard size. Nothing too fancy, because the plan was to customize it big time.
Then came the design part. I spent some time looking at the City Connect jersey, the hat, all the details. The colors, that sort of neon-ish burst, the font. I wanted to capture that energy. I’m not a pro artist or anything, so I kept it relatively simple. Thought about using paint pens, maybe some custom decals.
Putting it Together
Alright, deck was ready for some art. I sketched out a rough idea first on paper. Decided to go with a base coat that matched one of the main colors. Let that dry real good. Then, I started layering. Used some stencils I cut out myself for the sharper bits, like mimicking the pattern or maybe the number style. It was kinda messy, not gonna lie. Paint got where I didn’t want it sometimes. Had to do some touch-ups. Patience was key, which isn’t always my strong suit, haha.
Once the paint job looked decent enough – like, recognizable as Rays City Connect inspired – I let it cure completely. Then a couple of clear coats to protect it. You gotta protect the artwork, right?
Next up, the hardware. I had some trucks lying around from an old board. Gave ’em a good clean. They weren’t anything special color-wise, just standard silver, but they’re solid. For wheels, I wanted something that popped. Found some bright, almost neon-yellow wheels. Felt like they fit the City Connect theme pretty well. Slapped some basic bearings in there. Nothing too speedy, just reliable.
Grip Tape and Finishing Up
Grip tape time. I just went with standard black grip. Didn’t want to distract too much from the deck art underneath. Applying it is always kinda tricky. You gotta smooth out the bubbles. I used a screwdriver handle, like usual, to rub along the edges before trimming. Made a decent cut, mostly clean.
Bolted the trucks onto the deck through the grip tape. Made sure everything was lined up straight. Popped the wheels onto the axles, tightened the nuts just right – not too tight, not too loose, gotta let ’em spin.
- Got the blank deck.
- Painted it with the City Connect vibe. Lots of trial and error.
- Let it dry, applied clear coat.
- Cleaned up some old trucks.
- Found some bright wheels that matched.
- Put bearings in wheels.
- Applied grip tape.
- Assembled everything: trucks, wheels.
And that was pretty much it. Stood back and looked at it. Yeah, it looked pretty sharp. The colors worked, the vibe was there. It felt good, you know? Taking an idea and just… making it happen. Took it for a quick roll down the driveway. Felt solid. Definitely a one-of-a-kind Rays board now. Pretty stoked with how it turned out.
