what board??

deepee · Newbie Joined: 21 Feb 2012 Posts: 3

ok im looking for a first bored as hire ones your not aloud on kickers or nothing, been looking at the obrien decade 2011, the valhalla 2012

also im not sure if i should be looking at boards with 2 central fins, or one with 4 detachable corner fins..

TheHebrewHammer · Addict Joined: 03 Dec 2010 Posts: 526

If you're so new to wakeboarding that you can't really control which direction your board is going, get one with center fins. If you can carve and turn decently, get one with four corner fins or no fins or just buy one with center fins and take them off.

wtwdevil · Posted: Feb 22, 2012 4:31 pm Post subject:

Ive got a 2011 O'Brien Decade, I would definitely recommend the board, it comes with a .7" center fin and two outer molded fins but it has plenty of traction without the center.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Feb 23, 2012 6:06 am Post subject:

The advice given on center fins is sound, they will help you gain more traction. The other piece of info to know about center fins is that they are a crutch that cushion you from learning proper edging technique.

My advice is this:
If you know you're going to wakeboard for a while - do not use the center fin or use a very small one.

If you don't know if you like this "wakeboarding thing" use the center fin until you're convinced you want to do the sport long term.

I have never seen a board with only center fins that didn't have at least molded in fins in the 4 corners. I have no direct experience with the boards you're looking at so I can't recommend either. I did verify for you that both boards come with the corner fins, they just aren't removable which is totally fine. You could get either board and then refer to my decision chart above on whether or not you put in the center fin or leave it out. My vote is to leave it out or at leas go with a small center fin so you learn proper board control.

I might take one last effort to try to pitch my favorite brand of board - slingshot. If you haven't looked into them their boards flex which provides a nice feel to the ride and takes some of the harshness of of casing the second wake (think of it like a leafspring on a trailer).

TheHebrewHammer · Addict Joined: 03 Dec 2010 Posts: 526

As much as I love my Slingshots, I don't usually recommend them to beginners. They aren't the easiest boards to learn on.

deepee · Newbie Joined: 21 Feb 2012 Posts: 3

thanks guys, iv gone with a 2011 j-star artist board, moulded fins with 2 detachable centre fins and a 3 stage rocker Smile

i was recomended this board by a wakeboart tutor, and he talked me through why it was ok for begginers