2 Big 2 Board?

big_t_113 · Newbie Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 9

I am 6'6" and 220 pounds. I ride a Liquid Force Search 143. When I tell people that I wakeboard they say "Aren't you too big for that". I am a beginner and the only tricks I can do are wake to wake jumps, 180's, and butterslides. It seemed like I had to work much harder than my friends did to learn these tricks and I still can't jump nearly as high as they do. I have been trying to convince my Dad to put a pole on our boat but he doesn't want to have to make a whole in it since it does not have an existing factory one. Does anyone else have this problem?, am I to big to wakeboard?, is the LF Search 143 a good board for me? I really love the sport but these questions constantly cross my mind.

phunkiest · Outlaw Joined: 02 Jun 2003 Posts: 132 City: Austin, TX

Man, it sounds like you are already doing better than many of the riders I know, and most of us ride behind boats with towers. Don't let anyone tell you you're too big to do something you love doing. I'm sure once you ride behind a boat with a pylon/tower your height will improve some, and if you have to work harder than your friends than it should be that much more sweet when you land new tricks. Point is, if you are having fun out there then f*&% what other people have to say about it.

MinnDizzyG · Posted: Jul 08, 2003 10:03 am Post subject:

Lucy · Outlaw Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 209

big t,

You are not too big to wakeboard! My husband is in your very spot - he's 6'3" & goes about 215. We had him on the very same board that you're on & he had such a hard time even staying up on it. About a month ago we bought him a new Hyperlite TFD 142 & already he's doing w2w, butterslides, surface 180s - he feels much more confident on this board. He didn't like the loose feeling of the Search.

Sounds like you're progressing & that's what matters (you can do as much as most of the people that I know). Technique is everything in this sport - if you've got that than you're way ahead of most people. Work on that & you'll be surprised at how fast you progress (big guy or not). Very Happy

MinnDizzyG · Posted: Jul 08, 2003 10:16 am Post subject:

big t 113 -

I forgot about the pole. I'm in the same situation - I co-own my boat with my Dad. He just doesn't want anything permanent sticking up out of the boat, so no tower. I did a little research and you can probably get something like a Big Air Pylons Universal pole - the only things they do are mount a baseplate on the deck and put loops on the gunwales for the cables. The pole can be put up or taken down in minutes.

Check out www.wakedesigns.com, www.skylonsports.com, and www.bigairpylons.com

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

Echos on the progress so far...not bad at all. Ok so you had an advantage in all kinds of popular sports that favored the big guys like baseball, basketball, and football and now you want to be a wakeboarder. Mr. Green

I think the only thing where height and size will matter in wakeboarding may be on inverts and spins. The more compact (smaller) the object, the faster it will rotate or spin so it may be more challenging for a big person to throw a double backroll but I do not think that would prevent you from going big or learning a bunch of inverts/spins.

wakeriderof87 · Posted: Jul 08, 2003 11:47 am Post subject:

there is a post in trick tips about who's the biggest guy doing inverts, there have been several ppl ur sized throwin inverts, so its possible. And also i rode the smaller version of that board last year and didn' tlike it at all

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

Big guy?

Check out this vid, with Jason Buffalow, 300lbs.+. The guy rips and is an awesome teacher!

danbrett · Posted: Jul 08, 2003 12:03 pm Post subject:

Don't let your hight stop you man, my dad is 6'7 so i got the giant genes, im in 9th grade 6'2 170 pds, and im not very good at wakeboarding yet since i've only riddin 3 times last summer and thats all, i don't no how much hight affects my riding yet, but i no even thought im tall i still snowboard and try my hardest to prgress, yes the short kids are pullin rodeos in the pipe and im not but its not stoppin me from tryin to keep up the skill level.
dan

Rocko · Posted: Jul 08, 2003 12:29 pm Post subject:

i say just keep you fat @$$ in the back of the boat for some weight. just kidding bro, you're not to big at all, i board with a guy that weighs more than you and he isn't 6'6". so that makes you more proportioned which means more athletic ability.

iowaboarder · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jun 2003 Posts: 238 City: Des Moines

tn_guy212000 · Soul Rider Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 268

im 6'0'' 205 and i can ride better than my friends who are like feathers (below 160)

Also my best friend is 6'4'' 260 lbs he rides

big_t_113 · Newbie Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 9

Hey guys thanks for all of the feedback. It really makes me feel better about my situation. Just more proof of how great the wakeboarding community is.

azwakin · Outlaw Joined: 30 Mar 2003 Posts: 160 City: oro valley, az

here is a link to some of buffalow's riding. http://www.wakepics.com/media.php?trick=Any&type=Any&limit=10&searchstr=buffalow&time=1057713134&search=search

blabelmooch is a big rider too who can rip. here is a link to some of his stuff. http://www.wakepics.com/media.php?trick=Any&type=Any&limit=10&searchstr=blabelmooch&time=1057713282&search=search

BillJ · Posted: Jul 08, 2003 5:21 pm Post subject:

I have a couple of friends that are in the 250# range and they board. They haven't gotten very good, but that's because they don't board often. But as everyone else here has said, no you're not too big. Learning inverts and getting huge air will be a lot more work than if you were a little 140# guy but that's about it.

Here are a couple of videos that have Jason Buffalow in them:

http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=6499

http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=5518

http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=5470

Face-Plant · Addict Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 703 City: Riverview

The bigger they are the harder they fall.

wakedude47 · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 159 City: discovery bay

Ha dude dont let them tell you your too big!! Im 5-6 and 245 lbs and have been riding for two years now and have a great time