Buying a board - things to consider

manacubus · Faceplant Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 33 City: Brisbane

Hey guys

I’ve been reading the forum and posting a few things for about a week now, trying to do some research before purchasing my first skate. Thought I'd share what I learnt for anyone else just getting into it.

Shoes or bare feet?
Firstly I wanted to know about shoes. This would influence whether I got a foam top or a grip-tape top. I found that basically everyone wears shoes, for good reason, in that it’s possible to land on a fin and slice your foot open.
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Grip-tape or foam?
Foam or grip-tape is a personal preference, but most people seem to think that grip tape offers a better feel, and is grippier than foam. Foam also tends to squeak underfoot. Also, coming from a skateboarding background, I really like the idea of grip (plus, I rode a gripped demo board and liked it). So, I knew I wanted a grip-tape top on my deck.
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Concave or flat?
Everyone loves concave boards. They apparently land better in the water and offer a better ride. Most people dismiss flat boards as a good option for beginners. Concave decks are, however, very expensive (here in Australia) compared to flat decks.
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Wood or foam-core?
If you choose wood, you essentially get a big skateboard deck. If you choose foam-core (like a wakeboard), you essentially get a smaller wakeboard without bindings. This one is interesting. There’s lots of people in each camp. Composites offer funky features (see the Hyperlite Gate’s moulded rails and kicktails), whereas wood is fairly bland by comparison. They obviously float and ride differently too.
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Brands
There were some very interesting posts on the commercialisation of wakeskating, and how the big companies (e.g. Liquid Force) are coming on board to make a quick buck, without knowing (or caring?) how to progress the sport. This argument speaks to me, and definitely influenced my purchase.
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Board size
A bigger board will assist in getting wake to wake, whereas a smaller board will help with technical tricks. You should also take into account your weight when considering board size. A heavier person is going to want a bigger board.
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So, after taking all of this on board, what did I buy? I went with the 2003 Cassette Linear Perspective 40 Grip. This is a really small (40 inch, or 101cm), grip-top, flat, wood board made by a quality company with an excellent reputation. Because it was last year’s model, I got a good price on it. Obviously, this is just my personal preference. Because everyone is different, you'll have to decide for yourself what is the right board for you.

Hope this helps others in their search for a skate.

Catalyst · Backside 180 Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 736 City: Kelowna

just a heads up for the foam board especially if they are compression molded they tend to be more durrable and they wont get water loged.

Dave Barousse · Faceplant Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 5

manacubus, great post!

These are all questions that come up so very often here. Now we can refer people to this topic when they don't search for what they are looking for before posting a question about it. Thanks!

For those looking for a new board and are not sure what to buy, also check out an article I wrote when I first lanched this site about how to choose a wakeskate that is right for you.

http://www.wakeskating.com/showarticle.php?a=3

Parky · Guest

manacubus, I think that was great but why in the brands thing do you gotta bring down LF? how do you know they dont care!? they have a bunch of sick skaters on there team (tim kovacich, colin harrington, silas thurman, steve schundals (sp?) joey white) like wtf .... quick duck my ass!!!!

rukusrider103 · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 961

steve schoenhals, thats my boy, wait till you see his part in relentless, it will blow your mind.

Catalyst · Backside 180 Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 736 City: Kelowna

he said that cause they coppied cassette design i guess and they never really tried to invent a new product they just slapped there name down on the blanks they had. I dont realyknow the whole story but that what i understnad basically happened. Hes not referring to the team just the product. I could care less cause i know id rather buy something else than a liquidforce when it comes to skates but whatever you get my idea.

manacubus · Faceplant Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 33 City: Brisbane

Sorry if I touched a nerve with some people regarding my comment about Liquid Force, perhaps I should have been more generic. That information comes directly from other (heated Wink

) discussions on this forum. If you don't agree with that, that's certainly up to you. And no, I'm not dissing their team of riders at all.

rukusrider103 · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 961

thats cool, steve sucks anyway, haha Laughing

see you at the tour steve when i lock you in the port-o-potty Smash

WWSA · Frontside 180 Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 283

Parky · Guest

WWSA, what?

wakebadass · Pop Shuvit Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 130 City: McHenry

LF may be just tryin to make a quick buck, but they are identical to the 03 cassette so its good for those LF only shops to have some type of a wakeskate there. i just bought a LF concave, not for the fact that i like LF (or dislike LF for that matter) but becuse my local shop stocks LF for the most part and i didnet wanna get a skate form a mailorder.

Parky · Guest

wakebadass, how do you know that there just making a quick buck... thats like saying billabong is just trying to make a quick buck on the wakboarding industry... the LF guys are probably more involed than some other companys out there... and they look the same but there made different

wakebadass · Pop Shuvit Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 130 City: McHenry

i dont know that LF is, personaly i think every company is tryin to make a buck, cuz if it wasent for the money i doubt any company would be makin boards. i was just sayin to the people sayin that they are that its not a bad thing at all, if anything its helpin matters, for wakeskating

endpro · Pop Shuvit Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 118 City: slc

lie, have you ever wakeskated its the funnest thing on the water

nick · Posted: May 29, 2004 12:58 pm Post subject:

endpro, wht?

endpro · Pop Shuvit Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 118 City: slc

i said all companies arnt tryin' to make a quick buck, why do you think thomas started cassette? cause he loves wakeskating. and its cool to see other people involved in this young sport

Parky · Guest

endpro, amen Twisted Evil

nick · Posted: Jul 02, 2004 7:39 pm Post subject:

endpro, my bad i thot u sed funniest thing on water... my bad Smash

Zack · Backside 180 Joined: 26 Sep 2004 Posts: 679 City: lhp

go for grip shoes and integrity

G-squadriderz · Posted: Oct 12, 2004 12:55 am Post subject:

Grip,Shoes(Dresdans or Byerlys),Concave,Integrity cuz i want to get one hecka bad