Need advice

philjo · Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 15

New guy here with a board selection question.

I recently received $350 in Bass Pro Shop gift certificates for my 35 b-day and was searching their site for a new board. Luckily I have a store 30mins from me when Im ready to purchase.

Im looking at the O'brien Player and the Hyperlite Pulse...I honestly have know I idea which board is best for me. I like to think Im at a intermediate level, wake to wakes, surface and aerial 180s. Im currently riding a HO soul 5 board 140 that I started on 3-4 years ago. Im 5'10 and 175lbs..My boat is a Moomba Outback D-drive that doesnt give much of a wake to get any serious air, I do have a Monster tower, that helps some. So Im looking for a board with more pop and thats about all I know. Any advice you guys can give is appreciated, Im clueless with money burning a hole in my pocket!

Thanks

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 18, 2009 9:44 am Post subject:

Can you maybe trade the Bass Pro gift certificate for a Boardstop gift certificate? Very Happy

Either of those boards would probably serve you fine, its just a shame that the selection is so limited. Given the choice, I'd probably go with the Obrien if for no other reason than the bindings on that package look more comfortable. IMO, binding selection is much more important than board selection.

On a related note...have you tried adding some ballast to your Moomba to shape up the wake?

Hope this helps. Welcome to WB.com

philjo · Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 15

No ballast, we usually have 6-8 people with us and as long as everyone keeps their assigned seat it usually works out ok.

I noticed both have different types of rockers, the Obrien with a 3 stage and the Hyperlite with a adrupt continous. Which tells me absolutely nothing...Can ya shed some light??? Advantages/Dis.

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 19, 2009 9:20 am Post subject:

philjo, the rocker is the shape of the board. If you look at a wakeboard from the side you will see that it is curved...like a rocking chair leg.

A 3 stage rocker is shaped like this \__/ whereas a continuous rocker is shaped more like a "U". Generally speaking, the advanced/pro model boards have had 3 stage rockers whereas the beginner and intermediate boards have had continuous rockers. Also, when you see the size of a board's rocker displayed in inches, it indicates the amount of rise in the rocker. The shape and design of the rocker are all intended to give the board just the right amount of "pop" that a rider is looking for.

I also believe that rocker design is evolving every year. I'm sure all of the board companies are trying to tweak their own designs hence "abrupt continuous".

Its tough to judge what type of board is best for you until you've had a chance to ride and compare several shapes and sizes. If you don't have the luxury of demo'ing any boards, then you can only take a guess as to which board is right for you. I think that as long as you buy a reputable board that is the correct size range for your weight and a decent quality set of bindings you'll be happy. Like I said before, I've come to believe that binding selection is more important than board selection.

Also, I'm relatively new to this sport too, been riding for almost 3 years. Hopefully some of the more knowlegable folks will chime in.

Marshall · Posted: Apr 19, 2009 10:13 pm Post subject:

like dave says,too bad you can't exchange that for a boardstop certificate Sad

philjo · Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 15

Are one or both of these boards not worth having??? Or is boardstop just cheaper???

JeffreyCH · Posted: Apr 20, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject:

I don't know anything about the 2 boards you mentioned. I think the reason people are suggesting boardstop or any other online retailer is this: I went to Scheels at the beginning of last year to look at boards, after doing some research online I found out that they sold 05, 06 models at full retail. I imagine that Bass Pro is about the same, so why pay 300+ for something you can get online for probably half the price, or get newer gear for the same price. My .02

philjo · Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 15

Thats kinda what I was thinking, but wasnt sure if it was about the boards itself.
Yeah, it kinda sucks but hey...its free money and beggers cant be choosers. Online these two seemed to be the best they offer so it'll be one of the two.

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 20, 2009 3:00 pm Post subject:

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

It is not that we are cheaper... We are just better.. Smile

What size board are you getting? You do not need a 143 size board. What size are the boards at Bass Pro shop?

The real thing about the big box stores is that normally they get board shapes that are not sold to pro shop retailers. Once a shape is removed from a 'pro' shop board they normally end up in a big box store. So the shapes and technology are normally just old. They are new products but the shapes are just not sold at the pro shop level any longer. Check the bindings also. You are probably getting Vario or some very entry level bindings on those packages.

You can see the progression in all the board lines. A few years ago the State was a top level package board now that is the entry level package for a pro shop. The Omega was a mid to upper level package and that has worked its way all the way down the LF line and really will not be in the line in the coming seasons. The Pulse will not be in the HL pro shop line any longer also.

HL and Obien have been around for a long time. They are owned by the same company that owns LF and CWB.

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 20, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject:

philjo · Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 15

Flixmaster....Im 5'10 and 175lbs wet, My old board is a 140 and Im thinking I want to stay around a 138-140. The bindings on the O'brien are Logic and the Pulse has Spin bindings. Any idea which bindings are better???

Better yet....mail me a $350 gift certificate and I'll mail you my Bass Pro gift certificates. Laughing

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

I would stay in that size range. Just wanted to make sure that they were not selling Pulse 144 boards at Bass Pro shops..

Spin bindings are about as entry level as they get. Currently in the HL line the Sprint are the lowest bindings that we sell. Spins are a few years old and pro shops do not even order anything with those level bindings.

I do not carry Obrien so I am not sure what the Logic bindings are.

You can get some Pro shop level packages for $299.99 FREE shipping no tax. Or a PS3 package with Domain bindings for a little more.

If I had an itch to go camping or shooting some animals I would take you up on that gift cert but we really only spend time on the water. Smile

You think they will refund you for the cert? Or buy something then ask for cash back on the unused amount?

V8 Killer · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 207 City: Bridgeport

Sell the Bass Pro Shop GC on Ebay or Craiglist for $275-$300. I'm sure a lot of people would be happy to buy it for that.

Then get a real board from one of the vendors that supports this fine forum you are reading, or support your local Pro Shop if you prefer to pay more + taxes.

Just don't buy a crappy board and think about support the little guys in this recession. Smile

Best of luck,

Dusty

philjo · Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 15

Alright guys, last question....I think.

I just got off the phone with the store I'll be buying from hopefully this weekend..Heres what they have.

Hyperlite Pulse in a 139, which is the size Im looking for. The other is a Obrien Clutch in a 142..Heres where Im torn between the two...The Hyperlite has a adrupt continous rocker and the Obrien is a 3 stage rocker. Since my boat puts out a mellow wake at best, wouldnt a 3 stage rocker be best since it gives more pop???? Im looking for more air time as much as the next guy but I dont want to feel like im boarding on a surf board either.

Why does this have to be so difficult?????????? Confused

philjo · Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 15

Aight Den....Ive decided to go with the HL (Pulse 139). Picking it up today, maybe in the not so distant future I can replace the bindings.