Need Help Choosing a Board

[Lethal_TX]

I want to purchase an '08 closeout board soon and would like some opinions. Right now we just have a beginner/intermediate board that I believe is 143cm and am looking for an upgrade. The main people that will be using the board is me and my brother. I am 6'2'' 185lbs and my brother is about 5'11'' 145lbs. I narrowed it down to the Lyman, Watson, Witness, and Recoil. What board and size would you recommend? Say if there is a choice between 139&143 or 138&142 which would work best for us or would there be much of a difference?

Also wanted advice on bindings. I'm thinking open toed since we have different show sizes - I'm a 12/13 and my bro is a 10 or 11. I was thinking about the Transit or Watson OT.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Scotchy]

I personally think the Lyman board is a little narrow.. not to say that it's not a great board, but I think the Watson or the Recoil would be a great board for everyone using it, beginner to advanced. I used to ride a Watson now ride a Recoil and I love them both. As far as the bindings, they usually come in L, XL, etc., with the sizes ranging about 2-3 sizes in a shoe. For instance, I think XL bindings are for like 11-13 feet. Both Watson and Transit bindings are great as well.

It seems like with what you have picked out, just narrow it down on what board strikes you the most, because you're going to have a great board that will suit your needs out of all of those options... same goes to the bindings.

[RC]

if your gonna use open toe you might not wanna go with slingshot cause you'll have to use the converter thing.

i have the watson and love it. never ridden the witness or the lyman but ive heard good things.

[jcush313]

i think you will love the lyman! its an awesome board! and with closed to bindings you would be good with most xl's. i think they are rated from 11-13, or 10-13. good luck on youre search!

[Cary K.]

This is a hard deal to pass up: http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=80190

[jcush313]

thats a very good deal!!

[Zach2orJack]

If you like closed toe bindings then get the 08 Watson's. Get them to fit you and he won't have much problem wearing them. That is about the difference between my foot and my friend's who had them and I didn't feel like they were way too big for me. That's just my experience but I love closed toe because they let you get on your heelside edge faster and easier IMO. That is unless you get the Recoil, then get SS bindings. I don't think the difference is enough to bother him too much. I just bought a Recoil.

[Medina]

I should buy the Liquid Force Watson for sure! I think its a very good board for either beginners as intermidiates

[Lethal_TX]

Thanks for the replies. If I got a 12-13 boot do you think someone with a smaller foot (11 or 10.5) could still use them? I am afraid if I buy the 11-12 then it will be too small or uncomfortable for me since I usually wear 13 shoes, but the bindings we have now I think are for 8-12 and I can use them. I guess I could just switch out and use our old bindings that came with our current board for the people with smaller feet, they are pretty crappy though.

Also if anyone knows of any good '08 closeout deals going on now please post them or pm me. I thought I found a good place, but they don't offer free shipping on closeouts and that kind of killed the deal for me since that was an extra $60. I'm looking to spend no more than $400 total for the bindings and board, preferably around $350.

[Medina]

Hello! I wear on shoe's 10.5, but my Kai bindings are 12-13 since i like the extra space for my toe's. So its poosible to take 13, and someone with 11 to ride it. Its just what you prefer most, some like to have there toe's at the end, some want space, its all about personal preference!

[Lethal_TX]

Any thoughts on these? I might just get a board now and get bindings later since I won't need them for another 2 months or so and the bindings add a lot to the shipping. They don't seem to that have of great deals on them either.

All price are for new boards and include shipping in the price.
'08 Era 142 board - $190
'08 Recoil 142, '08 Lyman 139 or 143, or '08 Watson 142 - $235
'08 Witness 140 - $219
'08 Frontier/Oxford Package - $287

[Lethal_TX]

Add another to the list, lol. Just saw the '08 Gonzalez by Gator and I really like it. Its only $144 + shipping and could also get the '08 Gonzalez bindings for $135.

[Ryan H]

XL bindings are going to be big on a 10 or 11 size foot, at least from my experience anyway. I wear a 10 ish, and I don't come close to fitting in XL. Just wanted to mention, bc it can make a big difference in your riding. i know most people's (at least mine) wallets are hurting these days, but I just thought i'd share.

But on your question, my vote goes with the flexx

[Zach2orJack]

Bindings are supposed to be tight but not too tight. I used a friend's board a lot this year and he had 12-13 bindings and I wear an 11 in nikes etc. I think if your brother wears socks with them then he will be fine if they are only a size bigger than normal. If you go open toe it really won't matter but I prefer closed toe.

The Era, Witness and Frontier are all beginner-intermediate boards which they are probably just an older model with a new name. The Watson, Lyman, Recoil and Gonz are all int-adv boards by description. There are people on here that can tell you a lot more than I can.

I would say go with the Recoil with PB Floyd bindings but you will like any of the boards you listed. Keep watching boardersbestbuy dot com and they may have something come up that you want.

[STANG KILLA SS]

i would HIGHLY suggest looking into the 08 LF shane

[jcush313]

i rode the era this year and loved it. its got great speed and alot of pop! you wil dig it! and an awesome price for sure!