Any LF or Obrien riders sign with new companies yet?

y2kp · Soul Rider Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 265 City: Austin, TX

Just curious to see if any of the riders have found new homes..

B-rad · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 10:34 am Post subject:

I have heard hyperlite has offers to Shane B and Shawn W. Shapiro doesn't have one from them and prob wont from what I hear.

Sean_Brinston · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 11:17 am Post subject:

I dont think that they would get offers that quick

B-rad · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 11:57 am Post subject:

Well considering a hyperlite rider and friend of Watson's was the source I tend to belive him. hmmm.... Let's think here, Shane's older brother is Parks. Parks rides for Hyperlite. Shane being the skilled boarder that he is might have some inside to getting on with hyperlite.... Those are also the 2 strongest male boarders on the LF team and both of which ride with the Hyperlite crew on a daily basis.

snowboardcorey · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 12:38 pm Post subject:

I have heard that EOS were not paying there reps at all this year, no commision, no travel expenses, nothing. I am assuming that riders got a similar deal, so they may have been looking for a new ride prior to Monday.

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

Do you guys really believe Hyperlite has the money to sign another rider?

Hyperlite has 2 riders w/ 6-figure salaries. They just signed Ruck. Where are they going to get the money, they were hurtin' financially just a little while ago?

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

I agree with Joe on this one.
Hyperlite already has a very strong, well paid team. It would take alot of dough to sign on more riders of that calibur. I just don't think HL has the money to spend like that?? Rolling Eyes

Sean OBrien · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 165 City: Orlando, FL

There is no way they can sign any more riders. Remember a few months ago they had to drop some riders because they could not afford them.

The pros that were on LF and O'Brien are going to be forced to sign with smaller companies. Since these companies do not have as much money the riders are not going to be paid as well. It's going to be interesting to see whay happens in the next few weeks.

Sean O'Brien

Sean_Brinston · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 2:00 pm Post subject:

I just realized how bad this could be for our sport.

B-rad-i wasnt ripping on ya man , i just thought that 2 days or whatever was really quick. to be getting offers.

koltman · Addict Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 902 City: Sydney/Orlando

I heard the Hyperlite was trying to sign watson a while back. but they couldn't.
But if more of the top riders sign with the smaller companies, it will improve the companies image, and development making it easier for them to make money, making the wakeboard market a little more equal.
I bet CWB are loving this, it just bumped up their stature among the wakeboard companys.

Sean OBrien · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 165 City: Orlando, FL

I personally don't think that it is going to be bad for our sport. It's going to broaden the market. Pros are going to be representing different companies. It will no longer be just Hyperlite, LF, O'Brien, and CWB. The smaller companies are going to be gaining much more recognition in this industry. They will be able to thrive due to the fact that they will no longer be overshadowed by the companies that, at one point, controlled wakeboarding.

The only people that might suffer from this is Hyperlite. They are now going to be forced to compete against a ton of other companies that will be on the rise.

Sean O'Brien

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

Coming from a CWB rep, on one hand it is good for us. On the other hand it sucks for the industry/sport in general. What do you think the X Games are going to think of a sport that can't support two of it's major players? Other sponsors like GM, Bud...These guys are going to second guess their involvement with the tour this year.
Yes, our phones are ringing off the hook, but long term is scary.

FacePlant2Blind · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 3:38 pm Post subject:

Watch, I bet GATOR BOARDS signs Shane, Shawn or both. There are some big bucks backing Gator. From what I know both Shane and Shawn are good buds with GB rider Wes Brisco & Gator himself. Ricky G and the Vandal are just the beginning

RUSSIAN · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 4:06 pm Post subject:

I could really give a rats a$$ what the x-games thinks about this situation, the over-commercialization of board sports rests soley on the x-games. In 5 years when the the consumtion machine that is america has directed it's wallet towards something else the X-games will die and we can have our waterway's/parks/mountains back Twisted Evil

WAKE SPANKER · Newbie Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 2

HYPERLITE SHOULD SIGN "MYG" HE MAKES THE PHATTEST BEATS OF ALL TIME

John Lucero · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 4:13 pm Post subject:

They should also sign "Y.M.P." Shocked

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

Have we forgotten that this is pretty much identical to what has happened with hyperlite and double up? guys, with the amount of innovation etc. liquid force has contributed to the sport, there is no way liquid force is just going to go down the drain. this kinda crap happens alllllll the time in idustries throughout the world. I am willing to bet you that within the next month liquid force will be bought and begin,once again, normal production. as sketchy as info is right now, the assumptions some of you people are making are completely illegit and meaningless. BTW, I doubt the pro riders had much of an idea what was going on...why would LF tell them months ahead of time? so they could get up right then and split-LF would have lost everything? i don't think so. the way i see it, this is a perfect opportunity for liquid force to expand. yeah, it's sketchy at this point, but E&O couldn't support them, so the hell with them anyway...

relentless......coincidence? i think not.

John Lucero · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 5:52 pm Post subject:

I don't know about "a perfect opportunity for liquid force to expand". even if they do come back ALL of there riders will have found new homes (possibly with the exception of Jim Leatherman and a couple other fillers) & sponsors will be gone . I hate to see this happen to Liquid, they were true inovaters of board designs. i suck at spelling!!!

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

I doubt riders like gregg necrasson will be so eager to leave- just give it time.

FacePlant2Blind · Posted: Feb 12, 2003 6:35 pm Post subject:

Your right about that. Riders like Necrasson are lucky to still be sponsored. Nobody is beating his door down. He'll prob. show his loyalty and stick around praying he still has a job Laughing

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

Im with preston on this one, people are making to big of a deal over this. Liquid force being such a big company right now, will deffinatly not die. They may go through a tough time and struggle a little bit this year, but i can garuntee you they will be around next year. As for riders, i do not know what will become of them and were they will go. Dont they still have contracts with liquid force and Obrien, that are valid right now? If so that means they wont be signing with any one, at least not away.

midwest · Newbie Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 6

they might have had a contract but unless they signed something that said they where willing to not get paid EO is in breach and the riders can do whatever they please to do.

midwest · Newbie Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 6

another thing, you can't have a contract with someone or something that doesn't exist. As of a week ago Liquid Force and Obrien are not operating businesses how could you have a binding agreement with a business that doesn't exist. It would be like having a contract with the Easter Bunny.

Da MOOSE · Posted: Feb 14, 2003 1:05 pm Post subject:

I think thay should give MOOSE a call : Very Happy

ohsix · Posted: Feb 14, 2003 1:07 pm Post subject:

STPHNSN23 · Guest

maybe lf's quality will be better under new ownership

quigglymaster · Posted: Feb 14, 2003 3:51 pm Post subject:

hopefully. hyperlite bounced back stronger.

codyk · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 83

Enron? What the hell is wrong with you. People can't just buuy Enron its cost is like billions of dollars, Liquid Force is not even close to that. Liquid Force is a big part of the sport and it wont just fade. Someone will buy it prolly before march. Others companys cant afford these riders, because they are such good riders the are going to require a pro-model. Hyperlite already has 6 different ones and really the cost of the rider and his board is outrageous.

chubby · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 487 City: NC

you guys are dumb as hell sep for preston lol

ENRON, whoever said that is mad dumb

And gregg necrasson def. could get a new sponsor for like anything. he has THE style and has been here forever

slaydit · Posted: Feb 15, 2003 9:01 pm Post subject:

Jay Swain signed on with HL ... he deserves it.

-jey