Dragon Plate: “The Most Interesting Ideas Come From Play”

After the new lightweight Magic Skate Goods plate, Brunny Hardcore’s Dragon plate was highly anticipated.… Der Beitrag Dragon Plate: “The Most Interesting Ideas Come From Play” erschien zuerst auf Dogdays Magazine.

Dec 11, 2024 - 11:00

Dragon Plate: “The Most Interesting Ideas Come From Play”

After the new lightweight Magic Skate Goods plate, Brunny Hardcore’s Dragon plate was highly anticipated. Now that it’s available, we wanted to learn more about it. So we sent a few questions to Crooks and Garry—the masterminds behind the Australian brand—because we’re sure you’re just as curious as we are about the new locking system that doesn’t require bars!

What prompted you to design your own plate?

The idea for the plate came early on, back when Garry was deep into the development of our P.O. Blocks 3056 slide blocks. If you take a close look at the top of the slide blocks, you’ll see the notches shaped like two mirrored “B”s, designed for a plate locking system. From the beginning of Brunny, we knew a plate was on the horizon. We took the time to test and develop something that truly met the demands of aggressive skaters.

Walk us through the developing phase. How long did it take from the idea to being ready for the market?

If you were at Quad Cup 2022 in Santa Ana, California, you might’ve caught a glimpse of our very first prototype at our booth—a 3D-printed version of what would eventually become the Dragon Plate. Brunny Hardcore was still in its early days, and we chose to focus on trucks before investing in plates. We spent over 18 months refining the 3D design, exploring different concepts until we finalized the plate in April 2024. From there, we started manufacturing the XL Dragon Plate and entered the testing phase, experimenting with various materials to achieve the perfect balance of strength and weight. By September 2024 we were ready to introduce the Dragon Plate to the world.

When developing the Dragon plate, what was the biggest challenge?

We faced a few hurdles along the way. One of the biggest was selecting the right sizes. As a two-person, skater-run company, we knew we had to focus our resources, and aimed to develop and refine three plate sizes. It was a big decision—we made sure these sizes worked for as many skaters as possible. We are keen to explore the possibility to expand this range in the future. Another challenge was designing the plate to deliver top-tier performance and functionality. We wanted the Dragon plate to be incredibly lightweight, sit close to the ground for better control, and feature a wider wheelbase to accommodate larger wheels while reducing the risk of wheel bite. After a lot of testing and refinement, we achieved a design that balances strength, durability, and usability. On top of that, we developed a unique locking system that integrates perfectly with our P.O. and Pro Blocks, all without the need for a mounting bar. Every decision we made was focused on enhancing the skater’s experience and pushing what tricks are possible with aggressive skating gear.

What are the stand out features of the plate? The biggest plus seems to be the new locking system as you no longer need the
bars.

The Dragon plate brings a lot to the table, but the standout feature is its innovative locking system—no more mounting bars. This design makes the setup lighter, more stable, and eliminates a lot of the issues skaters have dealt with for years. It’s a breakthrough that’s been a long time coming for us at Brunny Hardcore.

What really sets the Dragon Plate apart is that it’s the first plate on the market purpose-built for street and park skating. It’s made from an ultra-light yet incredibly strong material, and its reactive design allows for greater precision and control. The wider wheelbase reduces wheel bite and allows for larger wheels, adding speed and comfort, while the low ride height boosts stability and responsiveness. We also solved one of the most common issues with grind setups by designing shorter kingpins (52mm) and finer cushions (10/13mm). This not only makes the plate lighter but ensures you’ll never hit the kingpin nut during grinds. On top of that, the toe stop locks in place with an Allen key (provided in the kit) so you no longer have to be constantly checking your setup.

Let’s talk about the compatibility of trucks. It probably works best with your Labrys and the Chuffed Core trucks. What other trucks will work well with them?

The Dragon plate was designed with our Labrys trucks in mind, ensuring the best possible fit and performance. It’s also fully compatible with our Chuffed Core trucks, which were created with the same level of precision and care. Both options provide optimal stability and functionality when paired with the Dragon plate. It’s also compatible with Magic Lowrider trucks and other narrow trucks, such as Sunlite narrow trucks. However, we strongly advise against using trucks that require modifications to fit or don’t align properly with the plate’s design. For the best experience, we recommend sticking with trucks that have been proven to work seamlessly with the Dragon plate.

You’ve been developing hardware for roller skates since 2021. What was the impetus for starting Brunny in the first place?

Brunny Hardcore started organically—through skating, experimenting and having fun. The most interesting ideas come from play, when you’re out there trying new things. We began to notice what worked, what didn’t, and where the gear could be improved. We saw a gap in the market for high-quality, skater-designed hardware that truly met the demands of street and park skating. Instead of just modifying what already existed, we decided to create something new from the ground up. That’s how Brunny Hardcore came to life. From the first P.O. Blocks to the Dragon Plate, everything we’ve made has been about building gear by skaters, for skaters—innovating while staying true to the grassroots community and spirit of skating.

How do you see the skate hardware market evolving in the future?

We see a bright future for roller skating and its hardware. The sport has been growing steadily over the last few years, and with that evolution comes more opportunities for innovation and new ideas. For the market to evolve, we believe the community needs to continue expanding—more skaters, more events, and more visibility worldwide will drive progress. As skaters ourselves, we’re excited to contribute to that growth by continuing to develop hardware that rise to the demands of the sport. Whether it’s plates, trucks, or other products, we’re always looking to push boundaries and bring new ideas to the table. The future of roller skate hardware is about supporting the community with gear that helps skaters progress and enjoy the sport to its fullest.

Where do you see the most opportunity for growth in the roller skating market in the coming years?

The biggest opportunity for growth in roller skating is in supporting the skaters who are driving the sport forward. As a skater-owned and operated company, Brunny Hardcore is all about creating high-quality gear that’s designed by skaters, for skaters. We’re passionate about making products that meet the demands of the sport, and we see a lot of potential for pushing innovation even further in the coming years.

Events and competitions are key to growing the community, and that’s why we’re proud to sponsor events like the Moomba Festival Street Competition in Melbourne, the Milano Quad Fest in Italy, and many more across Australia and internationally. These events bring skaters together, showcase talent, and inspire the next generation. By continuing to support the scene and offering gear that skaters can trust, we hope to build a stronger and more connected roller-skating community. Roller skating is evolving fast, and we’re excited to be a part of it—both through the products we create and the events we support.

Skaters were able to pre-order the Dragon plate through the Brunny webshop. Is it a limited product or will you be restocking them?

The Dragon plate is no longer a pre-order—it’s here and ready to ship! However, stock is very limited at the moment, so if you order before December 17, we’ll make sure it ships out in time to (ideally) arrive before Christmas. For those who miss out, don’t worry! We’ll have a much larger restock available in January, with plates reaching skate shops worldwide by late January to early February. We’re stoked to see the Dragon plate in stores globally, making it more accessible to skaters everywhere.