the thread really should be first board but i need opinions <BR> <BR>i wanna get a first board, preferably grip tape, but should i just by some crap board to make sure i like it? my friends wakeboard or surf and i've done both but no wakeskating, i used to skateboard and was decent... <BR> <BR>should i drop more cash for an integrity ? but then i may not enjoy it as much, or should i just get a crap board and see how i like it (i may spend more than i would if i jsut bought one board though!) <BR> <BR>thanks, maybe i can butter up my mom to split costs but i'll figure something out

There are lots of grreat skates to choose from. <BR>check some out at; <BR><a href="http://www.strictlyskates.com" target="_blank">www.strictlyskates.com</a>

do you think thats smart for me though? to invest $250 in a skate and more for shoes when i've never evend one it before? <BR> <BR>i dunno what to do... i'm gonna have a lot more time at the lake this summer because my sis is going to college so no vacations except an 8 day trip to the lake really.. and maybe some lax camps but i dunno to focus on wakeboarding or not... sheez!

You could start out with a cheaper flat deck or something. But just know that a few of the companies out there really don't give their lower end boards the time and attention they deserve. These boards really aren't constructed that well, and they may be more trouble than they're worth. That's just something to think about. I wish it wasn't that way, because right now, a flat deck is a super affordable way for someone to decide if they like wakeskating or not, but it may also ruin their experience if they have some <font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font> board that falls apart on their family trip or something. <BR> <BR>250.00 can be a big commitment if you're not ready. You could check out ebay to see if there's a cheap board that you wouldnt' mind dropping the $$ on to test out the waters. Otherwise, if you do buy a high end skate, there will be a re-sale value that will vary, depending on demand at various seasons, etc. <BR> <BR>I do feel like mentioning that oak makes a very nice wood concave (PBT base) and you don't have to spend 250.00 on it. Sattelytes are a tad more expensive (I'm not sure why) but I rode one and again, it's a super solid deck. Just know that you can buy a wood board from one of these two companies at a reasonable price and you don't have to worry about them falling apart. <BR> <BR>Finally, just know that an integrity is going to feel different than a wood board. They're lighter, less dense boards. Some people like that, others think they're too light. One other factor is that if you like the idea of shaping your own rails, you can do that on an integrity. I'm not sure on the oak weights any more becuase i haven't held one since expo, but sattelytes have a nice weight to them, the ride nicely...and personally, i don't want to have to deal with any rail shaping. but one thing is that with all three of those boards, you're definitely going to get something solid that will lastfor a while. <BR> <BR>Anyway, I'm pretty sure sattelyte sold out of their first batch of boards, but the oaks just shipped: <a href="http://www.boardstop.com/index.php?cPath=22_149&amp;osCsid=jak4fvr2abpop5ss 5jq5qfn3f2" target="_blank">http://www.boardstop.com/index.php?cPath=22_149&amp;osCsid=jak4fvr2abpop5ss 5jq5qfn3f2</a>

thanks, i keep looking at ebay but seem to only find low quality foam boards <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":-(" BORDER=0> <BR> <BR>i'll check out oaks