New hydroslide

crispy92 · Newbie Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 12

im getting a new hydroslide cosmic ocean w/ bindings. for roughly $100. is there anything wrong with this board for a beginner who probably wont get to serious about wakeboarding.

Ive heard that they are so called Cheapo boards. Just wondering what makes them cheap and if they are really all that bad

wake223 · Newbie Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 29

As they say, you get what you pay for. This goes doubly so for wakeboards (at least in my experience).

My first board was a Hydroslide Black Widow ($150). This is a good board to learn on, and the bindings don't hold you in too tight (good for a beginner, in my opinion). I take this one along for the kids and anybody else that's never been on a wakeboard before because the binding are damn near universal size.

I got bored with that board quickly and bought an Obrien Diesel that had lace up bindings. This was a FAR better board, more responsive etc. It was TOO agressive with the molded in fins though. Try doing a butterslide on that thing and you end up on your face. I take this one along for my buddy to use.

This year I bought a Ronix One with Murray bindings (about $300, I got a really good deal). This board absolutely rocks compared to the other two. I don't let anybody else use this board. It is MY board. Very Happy

So to answer your question, if you just want to get a wakeboard to play on, get a cheap board. There isn't any reason not to. If you find that you really like wakeboarding, you'll probably be getting a second board soon, which is good because your friends can ride on your cheap board. Laughing

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I also started with the Hydroslide Black Widow. I rode it for about 3 months and was ready for something better. If you are going to want to do anything more than just carve, ollie and little hops off the wake, get something better. Most of the jumping and other tricks you will need more board control and support in the bindings to provide overall control and prevent injuries. It is all going to be dependent on how far you are going to go.

crispy92 · Newbie Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 12

so this is good as long as im not going for tricks, and for hanging with friends. cool.

thanks

BTW, this is the board. http://cgi.ebay.com/HYDROSLIDE-COSMIC-OCEAN-WAKEBOARD-W-BINDINGS-NEW_W0QQitemZ130238665417QQihZ003QQcategoryZ47363QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

crispy92, yeah, they are halfway decent boards just to cruise around on and stuff like that. Be very careful if you start to jump or put any stress on it. I've seen many of them snapped in half.

SilverMustang35 · Posted: Aug 06, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

I started on an 04 byerly with 04 zeus bindings...not the best to start on...then this year bought a black widow and moved out of the widow within 2 weeks...it was a good board, but I think since I got as far as I did with the byerly I advanced out of the black widow already..Good to confirm my bases on, then I moved to a C-Dub Pure with Hinge bindings...awesome stuff...The bindings on the black widow were very weak and didnt have good support and the velcro wore out fast (my buddy still uses it to learn on) but we took the 04 Zeus Bindings and put it on the Black Widow and the board feels different and more "real". The response is better and you don't pop out of the bindings every time you get up...If they are the velcro chaser bindings, may want to change em out and it is a pretty good board...

prior40 · Addict Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 579 City: Palo Alto

crispy92, I think that you'll be fine to just carve around on, and if you're just going to be going a few times a year it will be the board for you. If you are looking to go more often though, I'd look into a package deal from one of the more reputable brands like Hyperlite, Liquid Force or CWB.