What would you do in my situation?

FlipsidE · Outlaw Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 143 City: Greenville, SC

Now, here's the deal. Today, I just learned that there might be something fairly seriously wrong with my back. Herniated disk as some of you may have already read.

Now, here's the question. I currently have an 03 LF Evo 142 with 03 Hyperlite Byerly bindings on it. This board has not been used at all yet. I got it in a package deal and the ski shop owners have been nice enough to let me trade up for value of the boots. I already have this board, and even though I'm sure the owner of the ski shop (guy I've known for a long time) wouldn't mind at all helping me out in returning the board and bindings if he found out about my back, I'd really rather not do that to him. I've found out over the years that sometimes it's worth paying an extra few bucks or go through a few hardships to get your foot in the door.

Now, I've pretty much already promised him that I'm going to be trading in this unridden board that I bought from him for an 03 Belmont Bio 141. Once again, I'd feel bad about having to go back on this promise, but I'm sure he'd understand.

Now, keep in mind that I've already traded in a VERY old board (5+ years old) toward my current board, so that money and board I'll never get back. Store credit at best.

Through a special circumstance and deal (including my trade in), I'm going to be able to get the 03 Belmont Bio 141 with 03 Byerly bindings for a total of $560 rather than the usual $740. Now, that's almost a $200 savings.

So, here comes the question. What would you do in my situation...put yourself in my shoes. You got a chance to save almost $200 on a board that you desperately want. But, there's a chance you won't get to ride it until Sept...or possibly not this season at all. If I am right. If this is just a herniated disk, then usually just rest and keeping off of it will heal it in 6 to 8 weeks. That being the case, I could be able to be on the water for 6 to 8 weeks before it just gets too cold. So, I could get some use out of it.

Would you go ahead and take this GREAT deal on a GREAT board and hope that you'd be able to ride as early as a couple of weeks from now but possibly only very late in the season? Or would you pass up on the great deal and just wait it out til next year.

When I found out that I might have a hearniated disk, my hear just dropped. It felt like all my hopes for the summer just went away. I almost want the board just as a reminder. Just as something to look forward to after my back heals...something to motivate my mind to heal faster...and to motivate me to stay off my feet. But, at the same time, it's $540.

What would u do in this situation?

Thanks

FlipsidE

wakebordchick · Posted: Jun 23, 2003 6:23 pm Post subject:

hey.. i just started wakeboarding this week.. so my reply might not mean to much.. but.. i would get the board for something to look forward to.. that is if i had the money to buy it... but.. thats just wat i'd do...

hc_zer0skater · Posted: Jun 23, 2003 6:33 pm Post subject:

Go ahead and get it. If you cant ride it this season, ride it next season.

gusthecat · Outlaw Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 183

This is coming from someone that has chronic back problems, so I know what you're going through. Your recovery time is mostly dependent on you & how much you tax your back over the next couple of months. You will have really good days & days that make you think that you're never going to get better. And to be real, it's not ever going to be 100% again, you'll have to learn to manage it - this is possible. Keeping yourself in shape with low impact exercise & lots of stretching will go a long way once you're recovered. (This allows your body to be a lot more forgiving when you do higher impact things, such as wakeboarding.)

As far as the board goes, it just depends on how much that money means to you now (& possibly in the next few weeks/months). Look, the way that I've always looked at that kind of situation is that the item would have to be nearly free for me to consider buying it, because what if you don't get to use it anytime soon? Good deals come along all the time, & if your back heals up before the end of this season then you're looking at closeout sale time & there are a lot of online vendors that give good pricing at that time of year. It's a gamble either way so you just need to decide how badly you need that money vs. how badly you need that board.

To me, the board is a minor issue at best. Take care of yourself & get better, back injuries are nothing to screw around with.

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

here are a few things i could think of. its all off the top of my head. hope this helps.

why to buy: $540 is an awesome price. that means 270 for each the of the two. both are top of the line pieces of equipment and they will certainly last you a few years if your last board did. if this is the best deal you can find buy them now. you will probably save lots of gas money from not riding (depending on whether you pay to go on the boat or just pay to ride). this money that you have saved alone may pay for your setup.

why not to buy: its $540 out of your pocket that you wont be using for an unknown amount of time. for this price you can buy a PS2 AND wakeboarding unleashed and have money left over. when your injured, all you will be able to think about is riding your board. by the time you are healthy there will be new models of the boards. the belont will have a new shape that is different than its current shape. this means that the board will be "outdated" and shops may sell it for $270 or less because its not the latest and greatest. the byerly binding may be changing as well even though it was just redesigned.

FlipsidE · Outlaw Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 143 City: Greenville, SC

All great points, and I really do appreciate the input. But, here's another kink to put into the wheel. I've learned, over the past few years, that sometimes it's better to spend a little more money with a local vendor than to buy cheap from an online place. Sometimes it's just better to put up with a few inconveniences so that u can be on the good side of a local vendor. Ya know, the "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" saying.

The guy who owns this ski shop has always been VERY good to me. I even demoed a slalom ski once (years ago) that I accidentally scratched fairly badly, and he didn't force me to buy it. Even though I had checkbook in hand and current slalom ski ready to trade in, he told me to just keep my current slalom ski if that's what I liked.

I'd really like to do right by him. I've already put this one board on two different credit cards, so it wouldn't be easy to give it back now. Plus, the best i could get for my old board is still store credit and nothing else. Plus, who's to say that he'll even have a Belmont left when the time comes later this season when I want to get a closeout board...if that's what I decide to do.

Sad

FlipsidE

hundel · Criminal Joined: 25 Apr 2003 Posts: 93

I'm right there with you on supporting your local vendor. The price may not drop that much on the Belmont/Byerly setup, so there's no telling whether it'd be that much cheaper to wait. Just don't let that fancy board push you into riding before you're healed!

Dees · Posted: Jun 24, 2003 11:52 am Post subject:

id see if he had a daughter that wanted to hook up

BobbyB · Posted: Jun 24, 2003 12:20 pm Post subject:

I would so right by your local guy. And it seems like he has taken care of you before.

byerly2003 · Criminal Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 82 City: Nashville

Okay I think I might be miss reading your post. You said " I currently have an 03 LF Evo 142 with 03 Hyperlite Byerly bindings on it"

And that you were going to trade it for a 03 Belmont Bio 141 with 03 Byerly bindings for a total of $560 rather than the usual $740 Now, that's almost a $200 savings.

If you already have 03 Hyperlite Byerly binding on your 03 Evo, why get new bindings? It just doesnt seem like a deal at all to me. The Belmont BIO is only about $70 dollars more than the liquid force. So basically he is taking your board and $560 and giving you the same bindings and a new board.

If I was you and didnt want the liquid force any more, I would sell it as a new board on ebay for around $250 and keep your bindings, then you would just need to add $150 of your own money to buy a new Hyperlite Belmont BIO 141 and you already have the 03 Byerly bindings.

gusthecat · Outlaw Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 183

gryffin · Criminal Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 89 City: SoCal

I would say buy the board. It gives you incentive to get better, and its a great deal.

WakeJunkie · Newbie Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 22 City: Switzerland

I agree that it's a good thing to support your local dealer, but if I get everything right, I wonder for how much time he will stay in business given that he seems to take everything on himself (scratched skis, etc). Anyway, that's another problem.

It seems to me that you already made up your mind and you try to get enough favorable "votes" to support your decision to make that deal. Like somebody wrote, if you don't need the money, then do it for the peace of your mind.

But - I had back problems, too, after an incident during a soccer game. I suffered badly for over a year before getting surgery, which put me out of any sports for another while. I was lucky, because I was able to play soccer again (which I have stopped in the meantime however) and do other sports. Others I know of had 7 surgeries and it's still not OK. I don't wish you anything like that, but what if it should get worse ?

There will be other boards and bindings around once you're again able to ride. Maybe even better ones. In the meantime, you may keep that money on your bank account and gain some interests on it. A wakeboard in your room that is not used just takes space. OK, it's good for your mind, too. I keep mine in my sleeping room as well... Smile

.

Just one more word about your back problems: I started wakeboarding last year and often suffered from my back after a session. I know it's never going to be like before, but sometimes it was so bad, I couldn't get out of my bed the day after Sad

. This year, after having suffered again after my first set, I finally decided to go to the gym, as my docter told me for years, to follow some muscle training, especially for my back.

It takes me about 45 minutes, 2 to 3 times a week and guess what: since I started with it about 4 or 5 weeks ago, I don't have any more back problems, even when I ride 4 days in a row. Can't tell you how happy I am about this and this is probably my best advice out of this lengthy posting Smile

: go to the gym to strenghten all your muscles, especially your back. But pay attention to where you go, there should be educated staff or a doctor on site to control your body position while doing the exercises.

Good luck !

FlipsidE · Outlaw Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 143 City: Greenville, SC

FlipsidE · Outlaw Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 143 City: Greenville, SC