Strong Board

[BorderBoarder]

Hello everyone,

I am new to wakeboarder.com but have been a lurker for a long time. Awesome site. I apologize in advance for the long first post.

I know everyone is tired of which board to get posts but...I will be recieving my 3rd Ronix Viva 144 in the next few weeks from breaking them. The first one I bought was a 2010 that I broke in April this year, I liked the board alot coming from an '04 LF Substance. I recieved a 2011 Viva and the new shape is AWESOME, faster, smoother, better pop, better edging, the whole package, for me at least. I love this board but am afraid I am going to break another one.

Both boards broke in between my feet right in front of my rear foot while landing in the flats, one on a raley the other a tantrum. Both boards broke within the first 15 rides. I guess I land tail heavy but always thought that was how you are supposed to?? I have been wakeboarding for 15+ years so its not like I don't know what I am doing.

I am 6' tall 220-225 lbs and like fast smooth boards (never really loved the substance). The shop I am dealing with is really cool and I think they are going to allow me to do a trade on the warrantied board if I choose too. I don't want to be one of the contributors to putting a hurt on another wake company by sending warranty claims one after another. Also, I think Ronix is a great company and are doing awesome things for the sport.

My question is board recommendations, I am not against "flex/hybrid" boards but have never ridden one. The shop sells Ronix, LF, Hype, Byerly, and CWB. I have never been a fan on CWB. Obviously I need at least a 142 board but 144 would be a little better. They Byerly Conspiracy description reads good, not crazy about the graphics but that doesn't make it ride better/worse. Also the Ronix Phoenix project might be an option, thinking if its made to flex in tip/tail maybe it wont break as easy. Looking for a strong board for boat only riding.

I would like to try Slingshot Newton or Hooke or really Lyman Ltd ed, but they dont carry Slingshot . If someone wants to trade or work out a deal on a 142 Newton or Hooke for a new unused NIB Viva 144...

If you have board recommendations please tell me why you like the board and how it rides (fast, slow, edgy, loose, poppy, etc)

Thanks for listening

[savage3221]

I would definitely tell you to check out a flex board if you have a history of snapping boards. You aren't going to snap a flex board (just about) ever. I ride a SS Response, and love it for it's speed and freestyle ride on the water. But it launches me really nicely, and I have never come close to breaking it no matter what I do to it. There are all sorts of great flex boards out there. LF has a cool hybrid Flex/Stiff style, and CWB has a newly updated flex board that is Gabe Lucas' pro model coming out that is good (even though you said you don't really like CWB, I think their stiff boards are slow/heavy, but a flex is a bit different).

That's just my .02