Prism Trotta Pro review (Cop Caller Series)

The Prism Cole Trotta is in my opinion, an era-defining board. Its template is reflective of what is needed in downhill skateboarding (mostly freeriding tbh) today. Find out more about the Cole Trotta Cop Caller board in my review below.

Specs

Length: 38.5″ 

Width: 9.75:” 

Wheelbases: 22.875-27″

Construction: 8 plies of Canadian maple, 1 ply high-density top veneer to reduce torsional flex

Shape: Single Kick w/ Taper

Concave: Mellow radial concave 

Interview with Cole Trotta

About Prism Skate co.

With arguably some of the best media and freeriders in the game, Prism needs no introduction.

But the short of it is that they are a skater run brand (with their CEO featuring in most videos), with good value for money decks, and incredible media; their catalog of Youtube videos gives an excellent account of who they are and what they do.  

It’s not uncommon to see beginner riders starting with a Prism board – they are great value for money after all and come from a brand with great marketing.

I’ve been a Prism fan since they dropped the Pilgrims video over 5 years ago (see video below). I’ve been closely following their media since, and been looking forward to whatever new gear they drop, or whoever joins their team … 

And it’s kinda hard not to be a fan. Their media is incredibly good and captures downhill skateboarding and freeriding in a way nobody else does. It’s like they have their own niche that no one can touch.

And I am incredibly stoked they reached out and were down to send me a board to review. Big thank you to Liam, Tom, and everyone at Prism for this opportunity.

Interview with Cole

What was your inspiration for this deck?

Cole: I designed this deck to essentially be a “do it all” board. I wanted to be able to slash around the city, bust out ollies, and hit top speeds all in one session. The shape paired with the mellow concave really takes me back to my roots, so I really wanted to relight that fire.

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What were some design goals you had in mind when putting together?

Cole: I wanted your average person to be able to pick up this board, and feel comfortable doing any type of skating… So I designed this board with that in mind. I was very adamant about making a perfect kicktail and I’m so beyond stoked how it turned out. I also wanted this board to feel as nimble as possible considering how long it is, so I set a goal to find the fine line between too narrow and too wide. Finally, its construction was very important to me as I wanted it to feel stable for high speeds and fast slides.

What’s your favorite feature about this board?

Cole: My favorite feature about my board is the routered rails. Not only does it provide that extra confidence boost going into big early grabs or grabbing rail on a slide, it also makes the board more lightweight.

What’s your setup?

Cole: Im currently riding the Trotta Pro equipped with 44 degree 9 inch Caliber 3 Raked trucks and 70mm Blood Orange Morgans. I ride a split bushing setup (85a barrel in front/ 87a barrel in back) on symmetrical base plates and Blood Orange grip.

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How do you recommend people set this board up?

Cole: I recommend people set this board up with their favorite colorways of both Caliber Trucks and Blood Orange Wheels!

Prism Cole Trotta Cop Caller Review

Summary

This is one of the best freeride decks I have skated. It’s comfortable, ergonomic, and has concave that enhances your riding experience but doesn’t get in your way.

I believe this board is good for all skill levels and will excel in all environments downhill skateboarding takes place. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, or whether you want to go from beginner or pro, or whether you want to skate slower or super fast hills, this board will serve you well. 

It allows for a lot of adjustability and accommodates riders of all experience. 

The comfortable concave guides your feet to where you should stand, but you aren’t restricted to one position. 

The multiple wheelbase options give you a lot of choice as to how you want to run the deck – maybe a longer wheelbase for faster roads and faster slides, or a shorter one for a nimbler turn and the ability to take tighter corners, or if you simply want the trucks to fit under your feet better. 

The concave is quite mellow and I recommend sharp, coarse grip to keep you locked in and on top of your board. With no rocker and no drop, the board avoids being boaty despite its size. 

The taper is very tasteful. It doesn’t negatively affect your riding experience – unless you use the furthermost mounting option on the front. But otherwise, it’s pretty good. I’m happy.

The board is solid. The construction is great and it can definitely take a hit or two. This board will last you for years. However, it is a little bit flexy, and there is more torsional flex than you’d expect from a standard maple single kick. I’m not sure how much that affected my riding experience because I did ride this board well nonetheless. But it is something to note.

Altogether, this board is worth its $176 price tag – though a bit on the expensive side given the construction and the price of other Prism boards. 

In my opinion, don’t hesitate if you’re thinking about getting one, it’s worth it.

Era-defining board

Not too wide, not crazy long, a ton of wheelbase options, and insanely comfortable and ergonomic.

I think this board is reflective of what this generation (and also generally what the industry) wants when it comes to a downhill deck. 

It shows that we’ve recognized we don’t need crazy aggressive concave to be locked in, or crazy long wheelbases to be stable at speed. A board that is stiff, comfortable, and accommodates a decent number of wheelbases is what we need for freeriding.

I might be reaching when I say era-defining, but it’s a board from the best/most popular skater of this generation, and it fits the general idea of what a good freeride deck is. It fits IMO.

Also after re-reading this, I’m 100% I’m projecting here. THIS is what I believe a big freeride deck should look like. It should be comfortable, but still functional, not getting in your way at all. So yeah, take the “era-defining” thing with a pinch of salt.

How is the concave?

The concave on this board is minimal. You get mellow radial with very slight wheel flares.

What results is a very comfortable feeling board, with concave that enhances your riding experience but doesn’t get in your way should you choose not to use it.

I’m also extremely stoked the concave under my heel isn’t too steep. 

Concave that is too steep is uncomfortable for me to stand on (cause of how it feels under my heel), and it makes my riding experience unpleasant. 

So top marks from me for comfortable concave under the heels.

Is the board too flat?

Some people can consider the board to be a bit too flat, or too mellow. 

I don’t find this to be an issue. The mellow concave hasn’t negatively affected my riding experience. It’s been great. Pushing around on this board has been good (it’s very comfortable) and my feet haven’t once gotten cramps or been uncomfortable.

One thing I’d say is. maybe use very sharp coarse griptape like Seismic Lokton or Dark Matter if you’re scared you’ll slip off, as this concave doesn’t “lock you in”.

But yeah, if you’re not a fan of very mellow concave (and being comfortable), just keep the above in mind. I don’t think mellow concave is bad, but I know some people don’t like it.

It’s easy to get lost on the board

Coming off the Freedive which had a micro drop at the back, I would sometimes get lost with where to place my back foot on the Trotta.

After skating it for a while, this is no longer an issue, but I can see it causing trouble for some. 

A concave implant or a layer of grip at the back should fix this should it be an issue for you. Either should give your foot a reference point as to where it should be.

Are the wheelbase options good?

The wheelbase options allow for a lot of adjustability as to how you can set the board up.

The narrower wheelbases suit a more nimble setup. 

A nimbler setup might be better suited for slashing driveways, a bit of city riding, taking tighter turns, and quicker slides.

The longer wheelbases suit a more stable setup. This would be better for riding fast open roads, fast freeride, and doing big stand-up slides.

The variety of wheelbase options allows this board to be used in a variety of environments comfortably.

But what you get is a very large and long board. However I do think we were always going to have a big board, we’re just lucky to have the smaller wheelbases to mess around on.

Is the kicktail functional?

The kicktail is a bit odd. It is quite steep, the steepest kicktail I have ever seen on a board.

Yes, it does work. And though the board is heavy you can still do an ollie. 

You can also use the kick to get up and down curbs etc.

I’ve found that the kick works best if your trucks are a certain height. With the low riding Valkyrie Voxters, the kick didn’t work too well. But with the Caliber IIIs with a 1/4inch riser to negate the flush-mounting, it did.

Is the construction good?

The construction of this board is good.

The board feels quite solid. It can take a bunch of impacts and will last a long time. 

It’s your standard durable and solid maple deck.

Is the board stiff?

The board is stiff, but it isn’t as torsionally stiff as I would like it to be.

It has a tiny bit more torsional flex than I would expect from a single kick maple board

Not sure how much this affected my riding experience as I still rode the board very well, but it is there.

Is it heavy?

The board is heavy but not that heavy. In comparison, my Landyachtz Cheese Grater 2.0 was heavier. They’re about the same size.

The weight makes a bit more of a challenge to ollie, but you don’t feel it when you’re riding down a hill.

The weight also makes it a bit harder to push around (and to get it to accelerate), but you quickly get used to this.

Is it boaty?

Not at all. You are on top of your trucks and on top of the board.

The board feels big, yes. But it is very under your feet if that makes sense. You’re not in the board, you’re on the board.

How deep are the wheel wells and flush-mounting?

The flush-mounting is slightly more than 1/8inch deep.

The wheels wells are equally deep but less steep as they progress towards the centerline of the board.

Is it worth the price?

I’d say yes. It is a bit expensive for what you get, but the deck will perform well and will last you a long time. Though I wish the construction featured a sheet or two of fiberglass for stiffness, or even carbon fiber (it could be inside the board as not to ruin the aesthetic).

It would be better if it was priced $20 cheaper, but over time that extra $20 isn’t a big deal.

What I didn’t like

My biggest qualm would have to be the torsional flex. I hope they come up with a different construction for it. But that said, didn’t negatively affect my riding experience … in fact, I may be convinced it allowed for more forgiving freeriding, but I can’t be certain.

I’ve also had some people complain about the lack of taper. But personally, no issue from me. I love that it has minimal taper – it adds to how nice the board is to look at but it doesn’t get in the way of your riding experience.

If you know me, you know how much I hate taper that messes with how you use the board.

Who is it the Prism Trotta pro right for?

I do think it might be a bit too wide for people with smaller feet. Something like the Landyachtz Freedive would be better suited.

Other than that, I think this board is great for all types of people looking to do freeriding and downhill. It would work well for beginners, pros, and everyone in between.

My Prism Trotta pro setups

Setup 1

• Wheelbase: 25inches
• Trucks:  Valkyrie Voxters
  • Hanger width: 160-170mm
  • Baseplate angles: 45/45
  • Front truck
    • 87a Barrel /87a Keg Venom HPF barrels
    • Flat washers
  • Back truck
    • 87a Barrel /87a Keg Venom HPF barrels
    • Flat washers
  • Riser: 1/4inch 
• Wheels: Various

Setup 2

• Wheelbase: 25inches
• Trucks:  Caliber trucks
  • Hanger width: 158mm or 180mm
  • Baseplate angles: 44/44
  • Front truck
    • 90a Barrel /93a Tall Barrel Venom HPF barrels
    • Flat washers RS/ Cupped washer BS
  • Back truck
    • 90a Barrel /93a Tall Barrel Venom HPF barrels
    • Cupped washers
  • Riser: 1/8inch 
• Wheels: Various

Have you enjoyed this review of the Prism Trotta pro?

And there you have it, the Cole Trotta review. I am in love with this board and I know y’all will love it too. I think it has helped me be more comfortable freeriding and skating faster. I hope y’all enjoyed this review and found it insightful.

Big thanks to Prism Skate co. for sending me this board to review. Caliber truck review up next!

Big thanks to all my patrons for the support – David, Squirrels Adventures, Mike, Jed, Mowgii, Jan, Josh, Jay, Jay, Bryan, @owencampbell777, @dkwan, Alex, Kasajja, Domnik, Reuben, @pablo.vega.andrade, Vlad, Asa, Helge, DeLacoste, Peder, Josh, Mike, Anthony, @issishreds, Greg, Jackson, Slipa, Louisa, Bill, Steve, Brain, John, Austin, @bomber_p_, Brian, Jeffrey, Jules, Henry, Austin, Philip, Oliver, and Justin. I couldn’t write articles like this without you guys’ support.