Wakeboard Bindings for 12 Yr Old, for Liquidforce Trip 133 ?

[wakeboardersdad]

Hi There:

Just bought a Liquid Force Trip 133 for my 12 year old son. He snowboards, but is new to wakeboarding. I would appreciate your specific recommendations as to a binding that would be suitable. He is 5 feet tall and weighs 90 lbs.

I am also curious about a couple of issues:

1) What construction and features should we be looking for?

2) What specific make and model of bindings would you recommend? I know that are lots, but what is tried and true, for a 12 year old? What are the wakeboard instructors recommending for their students?

3) An now a non-wakeboarding parents questions; sorry if it sounds ingnorant. Is it important that the bindings come off easily (or not) in a fall? In snowboarding, you do not want the bindings to release, as you would risk only one foot releasing, which would then risk injury to the other foot/leg. What are you looking for in bindings?

The reason that I ask, is that I have looked at the Liquid Force SuperSuction bindings and have heard folks say that they are very difficult to put on and take off, even with lubricant.

4) Another newbie quesiont: How adjustable should the binding be, to obtain a good fit? I note that some of the more expensive bindings are fairly adjustable. What adjustments do I need? I suppose that some degree of adjustability would be useful, for a growing boy's feet.

5) How useful are the binding size guidelines. I had thought that I would need a medium for my son's size mens 7 feet, based upon the Liquid Force size chart. Is that the right size? Should we buy larger? Smaller?

6) What type and quality of binding do we need? I would wish the binding to be safe and not impede his learning + last for atleast a couple of years. I mean that the binding should physically last, cover some foot growth and be suitable for his skill growth over afew seasons.

7) How much do we need to spend (based upon new, retail pricing? Our point of view is that we will spend a sufficient amount to be safe and to ensure (not impede) learning. However, we will not buy "more" binding than he needs for his current and say one skill level up. I have seen to many parents equipment that is top notch, that their children simply cannot handle. It's a waste and is sometimes dangerous.

Sorry for the 20 questions. Thanks for your help.

Julian

[WhirlyBird5]

Assuming you will bebuying from a board shop they will let you try on the bindings, which I HIGHLY recommend along with DEMOING. This will let your son decide what bindings he likes best. I would say that bindings honestly don't have a skill level range, only the boards do, so you won't have to worry about that. Well, mybe beginner bindings aren't mean't for pros and andvanced bindings are good for all skill levels. And yes, the bindings should be very easy to get into, since he is just a kid and may get frustrated if the are hard ot get into, and should release farily easily on hard falls.

[WhirlyBird5]

Re-reading your post, assuming you will be buying online, a medium or large will do fine either way, spend as much as you are willing, they should be fairly adjustable, and I would recommend looking into Hyperlite, CWB, and maybe Liquid Force (don't really care for them but know lots of people that do). Good luck.

[CWBoarder691]

I think the CWB Mobe would probably be a good choice there nice bindings and not that expensive. i used them for my first bindings and they were great. What size are his feet?

[WhirlyBird5]

[CWBoarder691]

then i would go wit mediums because my sister wears a 7 in mens and i wear a 10 1/2 and we both use those bindings comfortably