Changes to Hyperlite Skates

kento911 · Kickflip Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 3657 City: Phoenix

Here is a copy of a letter Im sending to Hyperlite about their skates,

Hello my name is Kent Kingsford, I have been a loyal customer of yours since 1999, I have always been drawn to your products for their superior durability, warranty, and most of all the industry leading design of you products. Within the last few years, I have become involved in wakeskating and so naturally I purchased a Gate when it came out, and I really feel the design is awesome, however there are some things I would like to bring to your attention. Consider them Items of constructive criticism, or better yet suggestions toward marketability, and rideability. First of all I feel the gate, as well as your other skates are somewhat narrow at the tip and tail. Perhaps you might investigate making the tip and tail wider, maybe 11.5 inches, with an increase in waist width to an even 16 inches, it would make them easier to ride and more "poppy". Secondly your boards really shine while riding in the water, they are in fact the perfect balance of tracking and slideability (with the fins removed naturally) I feel they out perform all of your competitors in the water, however I feel the average pound density of the foam you use for a core is too low. Im guessing it's roughly a 4 to 6 pound density foam this makes the board feel too light and doesn't make for the ideal rotational feel on shuvits and simillar tricks. I think that a possible alternative would be an increase in average pound density of the core to give the board a weight closer to that of a flat wood skate. this would give the skate a nice wood feel and still keep it lighter than your competitors wooden concave boards. These are just some issues I felt could help further improve the boards, whether or not you decide to test my suggestions or not I would like to know what you think of my ideas, or ideally how they worked. Either way I sincerely appreciate your time, and eagerly await your response.

Now since I know EVERYBODY has an opinion about this subject why don't you guys tell me what you think Question

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

I think it was right on, as I have the same complaints about their decks. It will be interesting to see if you get a reply. Keep us updated.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

You'd be surprised what they'd do (and what they've done) to have "industry leading designs." With that said, I still wouldn't buy a hyperlite. They can change the look but they can't change the heart behind the product.

JankyZep · Frontside 180 Joined: 30 May 2004 Posts: 414

What is wrong with their "heart"? What makes Kampus, Cassette, Butter, Integrity, and other company's "hearts" better?

Hyperlite5127 · Posted: Jul 14, 2004 10:57 am Post subject:

SOME ONE DOESNT HAVE shizzle TO DO OBVIOUSLY

Grouch · Kickflip Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 3146 City: The OC

Rider owned, Rider operated.

Not some money hungry conglomerate that cares more about the $$$ than the consumer.

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

JankyZep, you have no clue do you?

livewirelp · Pop Shuvit Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 123

you all really like the fight "the man" don't you?

Grouch · Kickflip Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 3146 City: The OC

Kill Whitey! Twisted Evil

logan · Frontside 180 Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

Even thoughI ride a hyperlite skate I will never buy another so I voted no. Partly because they suck ass and even if they made a thousand changes I've already been steered away. Also like they said the heart of the company isn't there for the consumer. They make products for all the wrong reasons, sales, cool colors, and what rider's name from our dream team is gonna look best on here. So they can charge 250 for it and its a POS. If they wanna charge that much make it work. The gate is not a skate I would consider riding. It's a design that looks like hyperlites competitors have steered away from, or is there some sort of patent for that kicktail? And if there is no patent and this skate is gettin all that hype why arent the competitors makin em? Because it could be a crap skate and other companies arent sale sharks like hyperlite. Im even steerin away from wakeboards and bindings from hyperlite now, although they do have some nice stuff for that line.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

It's not about fighting the man, it's not about an anti-establishment image, and it's not even about fighting for the underdog. All I know is that if you knew what they would go through to be "ground breaking " (at someone elses expense, mind you) then you'd want to vomit. It's disgusting. And normally I'm not vocal about hyperlite because for awhile, i just didn't care. But I heard something that was really disappointing and that basically matched their track record from day one. So basically I'm saying something now because it's ridiculous to hear people say that hyperlite is one of the most progressive and forward thinking companies in the industry.

livewirelp · Pop Shuvit Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 123

"They make products for all the wrong reasons, sales"

Um... yeah... Here's the thing about products: they are meant to be sold and to make money. Admittedly, it's not that clear cut and there is a spectrum of corporate altruism. But to label Hyperlite as some evil capitalist machine is wrong, or at the very least, naive. just my .02

livewirelp · Pop Shuvit Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 123

electricsnow, I'll agree with that. I think your reasons for disliking are legitimate. I haven't heard what you are talking about, but if I did, I may also change my tune. However, I do think that a lot of other people get into this feeding frenzy when it comes to bashing hyperlite.

danny sollaccio · Faceplant Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 29 City: orlando

Sales should not be the reason they make the boards. Making money off the products is deffinitely a big perk but as cheesy as is sounds true satisfaction should come from seeing growth and progression in this sport, it being as young as it is.

offkilter23 · Pop Shuvit Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 221 City: venice

i have rode just about everyhyperlite wakeskate and i really dont appreciate their decks espesially those catalists boards......im sure some people love hyperlite decks and the feel of the ridges on the board but i hate the ridges more than anything. the board is molded in the front and back almost as if they thought that they were going to make a wakeboard and then they decided to slap some foam on.... god! i dont even wanna talk about the foam

danny sollaccio · Faceplant Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 29 City: orlando

the foam is such a pain

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

livewirelp, I know what you mean. Sometimes these arguments can be a bit irrational. And I'm not trying to say that I'm perfect either, but you know, I just understand where you're coming from.

kento911 · Kickflip Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 3657 City: Phoenix

first off the letter was written to hyperlite so if I want to get any chance of a response I had to kiss a little ass, secondly if you got some info on why hyperlite is the evil empire, share it but don't lay this I heard somethin bad but I'm not gonna tell you shizzle on me, and finally I have dealt personally with Hyperlite and people that work at hyperlite and they are definately all about the customer, Ill give you an example, I got a tfd and it came with the wrong fins so I called hyperlite, and they sent me out the right ones free of charge, and they didn't ask for my old ones back, on the other hand my friend got a Gator, and the same thing happened and they told him it would be 40 dollars plus shipping and that he would have to ship his old fins back, at his expense also, and the same thing with Kampus, when my cousin bought a K-39 it didn't even come with fins(he's a beginner) and they totally blew him off, thank god Kit at buywake hooked it up, but Im sure you'll tell me Buywake is evil now too

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

Kento911, earn the trust of interesting people and you'll learn more than you ever could from any magazine. I'm not going to blab on here because I don't want to betray anyone's trust, but to be honest, I don't have anything to gain by creating lies. Take it for what it's worth; if you want to shy your head away from what's really going on, then so be it.

And I don't appreciate you trying to put words in my mouth either. I never uttered a word about buywake, and somehow a wakeboard shop hooking a kid up is evil in my book. Okaaaayyyy...In fact, I'll go one step further and say they're hotter than hot because of their dvs/buywake wakeskating shoe. So hot right now...

kento911 · Kickflip Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 3657 City: Phoenix

look my opinion is definately not based on what I read in WB(s)M, I have based it on personal expeirience, don't assume you know who I know, all Im saying is that every company in the industry is tring to make money, and they are all cutting a corner somewhere to gain a competitive edge, tell you what pm me what horrible atrocities hyperlite is committing, I got sources just like you do, and Ill see whats up confidentially, no names, if your right I'll publically, but discreetly(with respect for your secret info) start a forum about what a douche bag I've been, because with out any evidence its just baseless bashing

BTW im not calling you a liar, Im just saying if you can't repeat it you shouldn't have brought it up on a public forum, and truthfully I don't mind you disliking hyperlite, it's all the pre pubescent chumps on this site that annoy me