Attention all LF, and Obrien owners!

MackDaddyWake1 · Posted: Feb 11, 2003 3:46 pm Post subject: Attention all LF, and Obrien owners!

Heed this warning!
When finished riding your board, place it in a locked case that is well padded. Carry it with leather gloves only. Never set it in the boat without wrapping it with bubble wrap.
You will never be able to use the warantee.
The way LF boards hold up, I would be terrified.

Magellan · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 255 City: AZ

Ha!
Very funny. I have an 02 Subjekt. I was going to send it back due to some delaming. DAMN!
I guess I should have "heeded" the got absolute? signatures when I had the chance.

fropappy · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 434 City: Benton, AR

So far I've been pretty lucky. I used my 98 Squirt all through 98 and 99 before I ripped out an insert. I forgot to tighten it, so it ripped out on a massive faceplant. I bought a 99 Trip 32 and used it until 2002. It cracked when I was trying raleys, so I quit using it. I bought a used 2001 Trip 38 and still ride it. I'm not a very good rider, so my boards take a lot of abuse from knarly crashes. I can go pretty big, so they also take a lot of abuse when landing in the flats. If somebody buys LF, I'll probably keep using them. If not, I'll probably try Gator Boards and CWB at LSF this year.

Tigerblp · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 7:28 am Post subject:

I don't know why everyone seems to have such a problem with LF. I've had an LF diva with LF Exos for almost a year now, and I've never had any problem with either of them! I love my board and will swear by LF forever.

joe49er · Newbie Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 25 City: ***

Mack - Actually I would be more terrified if I had to ride a CWB board for the rest of my life - get real.

Preston Duke · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 150 City: Richmond, Va.

Mack, seriously...you're the one supporting a slalom ski company.

what has CWB done for wakeboarding?

BMontgomery · Criminal Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 55 City: Baytown,TX

I've never had a problem with either of my LF boards or bindings. It sucks about the company issues, but maybe we'll be able to find some good deals on LF!

jibn-it-all · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 248 City: apopka

yeah i will live and dye by y trip and ultras

Lindsay · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 9:56 am Post subject:

My friend had a pair of Super Sucs from 2000 where the finger holes ripped out (2001 and later have the nicer strap). He sent them back to LF w/$50 and they said they'd either fix or replace them. 2 weeks ago he got a brand new pair of Super Sucs in the mail.

Moral of the story, don't freak out just yet. The parent company may have closed the doors, but these are two strong brands within the industry and I wouldn't be surprised if they were bought by another company.

noname · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 3:43 pm Post subject:

Tony Finn and Jimmy Redmond will bring it back

Boardbrat · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 4:00 pm Post subject:

Funny you say this cuz i own an old LF and my friend a new one, both fell off the rack and got delaminated. My actually takes in water and gets heavy now.

Magellan · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 255 City: AZ

Who's still doing business? HO/Hyperlite slalom ski company, Connelly/CWB slalom ski company
Do the math a$$ bag

John Lucero · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 4:57 pm Post subject:

WHO'S THIS GUY CALLING AN A$$ BAG? I don't think Double Up has ever sold ski equiptment and they're still around... thanks to proper backing. O'Brien on the other hand......

u do the math JR. or in words your 5th grade mind can understand... butt juice

billm · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 476 City: TX

Hey everybodies got a good point here and its sad we are losing companies but Doubleup and blindside got lucky because they did go out of business at one time and got bought by an accessory company whi makes wet tech brand stuff..So it did and can happen to anycompany..Yes even a Ski company because Obrien did both..They were unlucky to have had investors who didnt know how to mange their money(EOS)..im sure one or both will find a way back soon..

HL/CWB makes good equipment so stop bagging on their stuff ..None of the current/future/ or old board companies are immune to problems the stuff all breaks down eventually..

Preston Duke · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 150 City: Richmond, Va.

Magellan,
I realize hyperlite is owned by HO.

but once again, I ask you...what has CWB done for wakeboarding?

it's beside the point...but either way, no need to spaz out just because you put down $600 for your new connelly gear.

LickerPig · Criminal Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 62 City: Orlando, FL

Preston Dud you should try riding something before you rank on it...who cares who makes it...how does it perform? I happened to have a trip and got the chance to ride the absolute and have to say it is the sickest board out there.

Make up your mind on your own...quit being a poser!

by the way, cwb does clinics with the pro tour and has one of the sickest coahes out there in Briscoe who does clinics all over the US promoting the sport!

Lindsay · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 6:00 pm Post subject:

From the message boards at the Liquid Force website:

Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 08:47 am
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guys,
Tony and I are working to keep LF alive. It's our love and our life. Thanks for all your support. Stay in touch. We'll let you know what's up.

Jimmy Redmon

Preston Duke · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 150 City: Richmond, Va.

Licker, how do you know I haven't ridden CWB's boards?

you hit the nail on the head about the poser part though- i can't deny that.

Ryan_m · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 653 City: glen ellyn

Preston, to answer you question... what about the platinum molds they are producing? looks to me like that is pretty good for wakeboarding. Or what about the concave on the top of there boards to help elimante swing weight?

Im not saying CWB is the most inovative company in the sport of wakeboarding. But if it werent for them, who would liquid force or hyperlite have to compete agianst. CWB helps to push other companies to develop newer and better boards, just like other companies help to push CWB to come up with more inovative boards.

Mike · Addict Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 536 City: Orlando

hahah, I sent mine Ultra;s in for repair and they fixed um just fine, so hah!

Chukee_R · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 8:15 pm Post subject:

I feel sorry for a bud of mine...he just got 2 LF boards for a steal and was telling me how much he really liked their customer service. Sh*t Happens I guess.

wallaced · Newbie Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 7

I decided this would be a better time than ever for me to join this discussion.

I have been reading these posts, and have obviously been feeling some emotion from the responses. To all of you that have been wishing us luck, and have been supportive... thank you very much. It's because of you, and others like you, that we continue to push forward. Jimmy, Tony, Gregg, Shane, Shawn, Emily, Scott, Melissa, Cody H, Cody R, Susan, Josh, Ray, Tino, Thomas, Froggy, Aaron, Jim, Myles, etc... we all love the sport of wakeboarding, and we all love Liquid Force. We are not going to let this die. There are too many good things that have come out of the minds that represent LF.

To those who's posts haven't been very positive, I hope you consider the following...Jimmy and Tony have been perhaps the most influential minds in our sport over the last 10 years. People argue over who did this first, and who did that first, but bottom line is Jimmy and Tony both have made a lot of changes to this sport. Just as Paul O'brien, Herb O'brien, Greg Nelson, Scott Byerly, Darrin Shapiro, Bill McCaffray, and others have done. Just as I wouldn't wish Hyperlite to go out of business, I'd hope you'd wish the same for us. We've all spent way too much time and put too much of our heart into this, to let it just die, and to let some of you say that it doesn't matter if we dissapear. I personally spent 3 months on an RV last summer to not only grow LF, but to grow our sport. Maybe I even tought some of you how to wakeboard. I'd like you to reconsider your thoughts. Yes... there are plenty of other companies that can pick up the slack, but do we really want that? Can't Gator and CWB, and Double Up, and Blindside do that without us being out of business? Maybe if they'd put the same amount of $$$, and time, and heart into the sport, as we have, they'd be at the top. Hyperlite didn't get to the top by waiting for companies to get into financial troubles. They got to the top by being smart, and coming out with good products. We've gotten close to the top by coming up with the most innovative product, and by spending money and time to promote the sport. Remember the Flite 69... Remember the Super Suction... Remember the Squirt... Remember the Trip... Remember the wood core...Remember the Cassette? I'm sure you do. How much have those products changed our industry! You will miss us if we're not around. Please respect that, and support us. If nothing else, respect the fact that Jimmy and Tony and myself are still in our office at 8:00PM, and we're not getting paid. We were all laid off yesterday, but we're still pushing forward. There were 130 people laid off yesterday by EOS, and we're fighting to give us all a chance to continue to make products for you to have fun on. I loved working with all 130 of the people that we worked with, and I want to continue to. I've had too much fun riding and working on the LF product, and Cassette product, to not fight for our future.

Please do not disrespect that, and please give us as much support as you can. We will need it. Our sport will need it.

I hope to see all of you this summer, as I'm promoting the new LF line, and happier than ever to be free from our past life.

Thanks for the support!

Don Wallace
LF Sales and Marketing since '97

LickerPig · Criminal Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 62 City: Orlando, FL

I support you! Keep it alive! However; I disagree with the poke you made at Gator, CWB, Double Up and Blindside. Isn't there existence growing the sport as well? They are obviously doing something right because they were operating today. I hope LF pulls it off and survives, but don't bash other people!

Mariognarly · Addict Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 853

Wallaced, if there is anything I or anyone here can do for LF or Obrien, just let us know....Im still going to but my pair of ultras this year, and prob an obrien board as well. LF is exactly what it claims to be...relentless innovation...its about heart and soul of the sport, nothing else, why would we ride if we didnt love the sport. When you put all the BS and detials aside...thats what it comes down to, and thats what this sport is all about. You got to live for the fight when its all that you've got. Best of luck to LF and Obrien, you got my support, 100%.

Preston Duke · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 150 City: Richmond, Va.

I know the board under my feet will always say liquid force and I know I will consider myself a liquid force rider until there is absolutly no chance for LF comming back...The amount of friends I have met through my affiliation with Liquid Force is incredible, and whether or not I get gear flow from LF doesn't matter-It's times like these when companies need the support, so keep riding and representing.

Just remember the word RELENTLESS and help pull LF out of this mess.

riverfreak · Posted: Feb 13, 2003 6:32 am Post subject:

people, people, people if Blindside and Double Up can stay in business, why do you doubt that LF is not going to remain strong.....Hyperlite and LF are the top 2 sellers of wakeboards.....all this panic is really ridiculous....I've ridden LF since 98, and I've never had a problem with a board or their bindings.....

Dees · Posted: Feb 13, 2003 8:22 am Post subject:

There is a buyer already lined up for Liquid Force. The deal would of gone through already but, the fine details weren't worked out yet. It just like with HL a couple months back... it will happen soon enough

jaysunn · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 91 City: ATX

I am confused, If LF is #2 in sales HOW could they go out of business. Was Tony Montanna (Scareface-j/k) running the comany or what. I don't know somthing just seems a little fishy to me.
It was all ENRON & Worlcom's fault!!!!!!!!!!!!1

BONEScns · Newbie Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 14 City: AUBURN

I'm with Preston, LF boards will always be under my feet and they have never givin me any trouble in the three years I have been riding them. It's thanks to stupid f!@##$# Companies like EOS that don't know how to manage money, other wise a top selling company like LF would stay in business. What LF and O'brien need are independant owners which keeps it more hands on.

Wakerideordie · Newbie Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Posts: 29 City: Northern CT

Hey PRESTON and Joe49er, even if you have ridden CWB stuff before, stop knocking their stuff. they make incredible boards. if they made crap, how come they didnt go outta business. and why would top rides be riding for em! hey i havent even ridden one before but i dont need to. i ride Hyperlite with a passion but id love to ryde a connelly some time. and big deal if they are a huge skiing company, that means theyre just excelling in 2 different aspects of water sports. more power too em

kim · Addict Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 588 City: Orlando

thank you wakerideordie i have a cwb board and its better than anything i've ever ridden in my opinion. but anyway i hope liquid frce and obrien bounce back it really sucks to see two top names and good manufacturers down. And a lot of good riders out of jobs.

Preston Duke · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 150 City: Richmond, Va.

Hey WAKEBOARDORDIE, the reason CWB hasn't gone out of bussiness is because they can depend on the sale of slalom skies and tubes to increase financial stability.

Liquid Force is a company that has depended on the support of riders, and only riders...LF was never a ski company who decided to make a bill off of wakeboarding.

wallaced · Newbie Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 7

Guys,

Thanks again for the support.

I want to clarify something that LickerPig took out of context. I was definitely not trying to bash any of the other companies. In fact, I was simply trying to challenge them. I even complimented Hyperlite. I'm not stupid. I know the importance of having all of the brands. I know that the wakeboard world would suck if it were only LF, or only Hyperlite. I'm friends with many of the people that work at those companies, and have worked with many of their riders. I hope they all are succesful. I want them to start, or to continue to innovate, too. That way, we'll all have to keep on our toes more, and we'll be able to develop better products, industry-wide.

I hope that you understand what I meant now. There definitely was no disrespect, or bashing, intended.

Thanks!

Don

laser145 · Posted: Feb 13, 2003 6:25 pm Post subject:

Good call Don,
You and your team have got tons of support. I love your products, hope it all gets worked out.
-Taylor

LickerPig · Criminal Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 62 City: Orlando, FL

Preston the Poser, I have a LF sticker you can put on your next board so you can think you are still representing. I think it is pretty funny that you say CWB is surviving because of slalom sales. If you had any knowledge of the industry you would realize that that is the quickest shrinking market in the watersports industry, but hey maybe LF should have come out with a slalom ski to survive.