Have boards really changed in the last 6 years?

Wakeboarder3780 · Last edited by Wakeboarder3780 on Jun 11, 2009 9:11 am; edited 1 time in total

This is a spur of another topic I posted where I found out I was crazy and was riding far too small of boards. Someone had mentioned that I really should pick up a new board what with all the "great improvements".

This really struck me funny as I felt like wakeboard shapes stayed the same for years at a time and they just put a different picture on it each year.

Do you think there have been a lot of noticeable changes? It's easy to read up on the companies sites and think they are making big changes, but honestly is there a difference you can see (in your riding) or feel (because the rest is just marketing)? If so I'd love to know about it!

dr.fowler · Criminal Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 55 City: Riverton

I'll be the first to agree that there have been some huge changes. I was riding on a 2002 HL Super Squirt that had huge fins and these weird pockets on the bottom, it was heavy, it had no bottom molding at all, etc. etc. My last board was a 2005 CWB Prodigy, which was a billion times better, had molded fins, it was a lot lighter, it had a better rocker, etc. I now have a 2008 LF Witness that I expect will be even better. I would be willing to bet that the cheap, entry level boards from Hydroslide or something would even be better today than my Super Squirt was in the day.

b33nine · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 311 City: Salem-ish

I don't know, I rode my super squirt last year and I still really liked it. There wasn't a trick I couldn't do on that board that I can now do with my 2008 Shane.

There's certainly cool new things like the molded fins and such but those have been around for a long time by now. Probably the biggest update in boards since 2000 or so is the flex boards. Maybe a bit in weight and stuff and lots of fine tuning but I really doubt anything that's going to be a difference maker in your riding.

I'd still ride the squirt on occasion if I had brought it with me when I moved. Those were super fun boards.

FlyZone CR · Posted: Jun 11, 2009 10:20 am Post subject:

In the end a wakeboard is a wakeboard. I think you'll experience the biggest difference in the high-end boards. However, they're still just wakeboards, just like 15 years ago...

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

The biggest difference, IMO, is the introduction of spine technology. Boards like the Watson, Shane, and Marius (possibly others) land so much softer than the old boards did.

They have also introduced things like variable edges (dull in the middle, sharp on the edges) and progressive rockers. These are all small changes, but are nice to have. Bindings have changed a ton though. Much more stable and comfortable.

sambo · Criminal Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 94

I still love my 2002 Trip 138!

holdsworth · Posted: Jun 11, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject:

b33nine, anyone could hop on an old board and do any trick the same way, but each board has different features and upgrades than another.

The things that Wakebrad mentioned change a lot in a board that a rider has to adapt to. From a 2008 Ronix One to the 2009 Ronix Bill was a huge change. I was getting inconsistent pop and going low on most of my tricks because I wasn't used to the hybrid rocker design and the board was, of course, shaped differently. I talked to a few guys at Performance and they told me to change a couple of small things and sure enough I was taking everything big again with no problems. Once I snapped that I got an 09 PBV2 and again, I changed a few things to adapt to it's features and characteristics and I'm doing tricks a lot smoother and taking them huge compared to when I first started on the board.

b33nine · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 311 City: Salem-ish

holdsworth, I was just trying to illustrate the idea that I don't believe the new boards are THAT much more amazing than the old ones. Certainly there are improvements, but I don't honestly think there is anything that is actually game-changing as it relates to the boards.

The boats these days probably play a bigger role than the boards do as it relates to the progression of the sport.

That said, bindings have come a LONG ways. I can't even imagine using the old LF grey foam suction bindings compared to my plush CT shanes... Those things are just incredibly comfortable.

kmagnuss · Posted: Jun 11, 2009 1:06 pm Post subject:

I agree. I feel the peak of wakeboard features really happened around 2002 or so. Everything since is just little tweaks.

Bindings though have improved vastly since then.

Nauty · Addict Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 827 City: Lake Dallas

Like Brad said, the spine is probably the biggest advancement in boards over the last few years. It may not be that big of a deal to some, but if you have bad knees the difference is night and day.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 11, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject:

I actually do have sub-par knees and would like to take care of them as much as possible. Do most boards these days have the spine we're talking about? Is it a specific type of spine that is best?

If I can sell that LF trip i just bought (134 - lol) I'll be getting a newer board that is actually my size.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Wakeboarder3780, definitely specific boards. I haven't looked into whats out there for a few seasons but I do know the LF Watson, Shane, and CWB Marius are all soft landing. The Marius I found to be the softest of them all.

Someone else can probably elaborate on the newer models that are nice and soft.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 7:19 am Post subject:

I think i also heard that the LF Lyman was softer as well. From the description i heard of the Lyman it sounded like it would be a good fit for me. Gotta love not being able to demo.

cvach · Criminal Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 51 City: Royal Oak

i actually just received my new 08 ronix one. Ive been riding an 01 cwb absolute for 7 years, so ill let u know how different it feels.

holdsworth · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 10:06 am Post subject:

cvach, I hope you don't land front foot heavy that often...

ky1e · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 2693

holdsworth, i rode the one when it came out in 07. It had a reputation of breaking and as a board breaker i was pretty worried because i got the board before hearing the reputation. I rode that thing hard on the cable for 6 months and the only thing I broke were fins. I probably went through 20 fins on that stupid thing but it was an awesome board for boat and cable. I don't know too many people that land front foot heavy, most people land with more weight towards their backfoot. Depending on the trick is how i try and distribute my weight on landing though.

holdsworth · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 11:29 am Post subject:

ilubronix, when I come down on hoochie's and sometimes on heel roll to blind or tantrum to blind, I land a little bit heavy on the front foot, but nothing close to catching edge. Anytime I was a little forward, down I went. Great board, but slow up front. They fixed that for '09 though.

msimpson · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject:

Technology is important............but when it comes down to it, it's the Indian and not the arrow!!

ronix_brendo · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 11:46 pm Post subject:

they have definaltly change a great deal but not enuf to make someone a better rider i dont think. i mean i noticed a huge difference wen i got my ronix one from my masterline carve, way bigger pop, harder edging but like i think a better board jus gives you more chance of progressing quicker with the higher pop softer landings etc

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 14, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

Yeah I ended up getting a slightly used 08 lyman. Looking forward to giving it a shot when it comes in the mail. HHI Dave found me a great deal on ebay that I couldn't turn down. Now I need to list that super small trip i bought on ebay, lol

Wakeplant · Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 16 City: Winston-Salem