On Wakeboards

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

So I watched everybody hitting the kicker as I was leaving today, and it looked like fun.
That got me thinking about boards.
I'm thinking about getting a used wakeboard and boots.
If I decide to get one, what should I be looking for?
Is there anything that makes some wakeboards better with a kite?
Also, they seem cheaper than kiteboards; am I just looking at the wrong ones?

I would also like to try one out before I go buy one so if anyone wants to help out there let me know.[/url]

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

More rocker... wait, that's not good, is it? Rolling Eyes

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Rocker is going to be your biggest enemy... My wakeboard has rocker like a bannana, the boat pull is so hard when I ride it I know there is no way a kite would ever be able to pull me efficiently.

But most of the older wakeboards have lighter rocker... you still are riding something that essentially isn't meant for ktiing though and thus you probably aren't getting the most out of it.

You really just want an inexpensive board strong board that you can put boots on... Liquid Force makes some nice kiteboards that could easily be mistaken for wakeboards, except they have less rocker. Talk to Pepi or Tekko about a demo...

forrest · Thu May 15, 08 7:13 am

Stringy, get the flatest wakeboard you can find. On a good powered day, you'll be able to ride it but it will be hard to get upwind.

Another option is to find an Liquid Force Element 140 or a Mission 138 from the last two years. They usually go pretty cheap.

You can definitely hit the slider/kicker on your current board if you take your fins off.

Mixwell/Chanson might have something to add to this.

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

One of my biggest gripes about this sport is how expensive the boards are, and there's no reason for it that I can think of other than simple economies of scale. What board do you currently have right now, stringer? You could always just throw some boots on it.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu May 15, 08 8:25 am

Stringer, I don't know if you would be interested but In have a caution redline that needs to be repaired. (broke the core near the back foot). I can help you repair it and then you could screw some bindings into it and have at it.

the board is free, routing channels in the deck to epoxy hardwood stringers to repair it will cost you a six pack.

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

The slingshot wakeboards are dope as hell, I've seen a few guys riding them as their regular boards (inept). But rocker really is the biggest factor. I had the same dilema last year in getting a board becasue at the time I was wakeboarding more than kiting. I ended up getting a Liquid Force Team from evogear.com which i have used for kiting and was able to ride and stay upwind without difficulty. Some boards to look at would be the LQ team and shane pro model, also the hyperlite premier (http://www.evogear.com/outlet/wakeboards/hyperlite-premier-wakeboard-2006.aspx) which is actually a slider specific board (it has two rails that go across on the base). I then also got some Union bindings from XLkites.com, good things to say about those guys, great communication and the cheapest price i could find. But yea getting a new wakeboard from last year is acutally going to be cheaper than getting a used kiteboard from last year from what I've seen. Good luck with your search.

Sol-flyer · Thu May 15, 08 9:46 am

dosent anybody search craiglist???

I bought a wakeboard for 35.00....can't get much better than that?

I found the perfect wave board,....an old "surf style" directional hyperlite wakeboard.....must be early 90's??

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

Never had a chance to reply to the 'why kiteboards cost so much more than wakeboards' thread... but this hits the same topics..

Kiteboards cost so much more primarily due to the needs and wants of kiteboarders and the differences in use..

Wakeboards are stiff (unless you go SS, then it's still $800). It is much cheaper to make a board heavy and stiff.. which is fine for wake, as you are generally on smooth water riding a perfectly shaped wake.. all needs can be addressed by board and bottom shape... and wake, you ride for 15-30 min sessions.

Kiters ride in chop.. all the time.. as there is chop when it's windy.. meaning flex.. kiters also ride their boards for hours at a time.. so again.. flex... getting flex right costs mucho R&D time to get it right.. then once figured out.. it is always a compromise between cost and performance.. as the better materials cost much more.. even if the board looks the same on the outside.

LF kite makes a board similar to a wakeboard in both cost and property's.. it is heavy and doesn't flex.. it's called 'The Proof' and can be purchased brand new- 08 for $299.

Forrest is currently working on a project testing the viability of cutting down a Proof, from a 151 or 161, into a better slider size.. stay tuned and we'll let you know how it goes... if it works.. and holds up.. this will be the best option.. as they are $300 new.. or less than $200 on the used market and still have kite rocker.

If you are going to buy a wakeboard for kiting sliders in HR you will be very frustrated... in perfect Hatteras Slick, dead flat, no current conditions, it is very difficult, but possible to get back upwind on a wakeboard rocker...

In the Hood.. we have Hood current, Columbia current and chop.. not to mention the squirly wind present in the slider location.. from shore and wells island obstructions..

Need to have a kiteboard rocker to comfortably get back up wind.. otherwise.. you'll never make it back to the slider or kicker after the first hit.

Yesterday I was on a LF Concept kite board.. powered on a 10m Havoc in the channel, and still couldn't get upwind to the slider against the hood current.

If you buy a wakeboard.. make sure you have a plan for going downwind.. as that is where you'll end up...

Maybe a company like LF will come through with a smaller proof that will be the ultimate off the shelf new, cheap slider board for kite... but you'll have to stay tuned.. as we will not discuss or release on until after 08...

Vankiter · Since 24 Jun 2007 34 Posts Canvouver

I spent my first year on an old wakeboard. It was a mid-90s LF, from just before wakeboards shifted to wider, shorter boards w/ more rocker. Learned to get up, stay upwind, jumps, grabs. Got a kiteboard near the beginning of my 2nd season, didn't notice a big difference. Jumped on the old wakeboard last year and the main thing I noticed was that it was more squirrelly, probably since it just had a fin in the center of the tail rather than on one each edge. Anyway, let a friend borrow it and it was claimed by the river one day when the gusts jumped from 20 to 40+mph in about 30 seconds...so no more opportunity for comparison.