The Pavlovian dogs are at it again and Hyperlite is ringing the bell. The lack of any opinion outside the conservative, secured, mainstream obvious hyperlite choices just is too much to handle anymore. I mean give me a frickin break.......the LandLock as the best wake surfboard????????? Byerly as the #2 wakeskater????? I know, I know........its all a matter of personal opinion but that just proves my point even further. In this sport of indivduality and uniqueness the lack of diversity among the masses is a total drag. UHGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!! All you facial mullet (goat-t) wearing, west-coast chopper ridin geeks, toting your iron-cross t-shirts that you think make you look cool better watch out............I think Hyperlite is gonna ring the bell a few more times in '05 so you better cash in your deposit cans of Milwaukee's Best and save up for their next "rovlutionary" product.

I agree. Byerly may be the grandfather of the sport, but he is definatley not the 2nd best wskater out there. <BR> <BR>Premier...board of the year....trash. <BR>Very dissappointing to say the least. <BR>I think it should be called "Most Popular Stuff of 2004" or "Best Advertisers of 2004". <BR>Harris didnt even make the list(again), thats a travesty. <BR>Soven didnt get most improved?

woo woo woo broo... I agree w/ you on the whole "Hyper-gimick" thing. But don't be busting on me... I got a long goat &amp; will be riding a chop'a (maybe not WCC) when I get the funding, but I am all for inividualism...damn I am the poster boy for it.... People need to get out there and try some other brands.... instead of the landlock, try shoreline boards, or inland, or trickboardz, or phase 5. Instead of Parks, Harf, &amp; Murray always in the top 10 favorite riders, look to some others, what about Ryan Wolfe, Jeff Weatherall, Keith Lideburg, Cathy Williams, Ricky G, or Vandall (Harris that is)!?!?!?!?!? Look what people like this have done for the sport too. <BR> <BR>::Quietly stepping off my soap box waiting for the shots::

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>what about Ryan Wolfe, Jeff Weatherall, Keith Lideburg, Cathy Williams, Ricky G, or Vandall (Harris that is)!?!?!?!?!?<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR> <BR>what were you thinking? they don't ride hyperlite, for cryin' out loud! <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/wink.gif" border=0>

Well, Ricky G rode for Hyperlite, so he's kinda cool...right?<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/blush.gif" border=0>

I was suprised to not see any CWB products make the list. The Zues bindings and Absolute are great products. <BR>

Don't forget about Watkins and Sanders, and the other Aussie riders. <BR> <BR>jjakober

You guys sound like you need some Kleenex to wipe those tears with. j/k <BR> <BR>The whole thing was voted by the people. More people ride Hyperlite than any other brand, so of course you'll see more Hyperlite products and riders. If it does come down to advertising and "gimicks" (innovation), then more power to them. It just means someone at Hyperlite is doing their job and its working. <BR> <BR>I'm not saying that people like Randall and others shouldn't be up there. All I'm saying is its a majority thing and the majority ride Hyperlite.

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>I was suprised to not see any CWB products make the list. The Zues bindings and Absolute are great products.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR> <BR>welcome to wakeworld. <BR> <BR>i agree, the zeus and the absolute are great! i'm as surprised as you are.

People like the riders that get in front of the camara the most. Unfortunately, in some regards, those are usually the riders that already have the big names. The riders choice awards are sooo subjective and diverse that, for me anyway, it was extremely difficult to make any choices. There are soo many riders out there killing it with tons of fresh moves and style. I still put some of the Hyperlite riders at the top of the list of people that I love to watch, but for sure Lidberg, Adkinson, Chris Williams, Harf.... there are too many that go on my list. As for boards... Don't get me started. Take anyone of these pro's that stomp, put them on any board and they'll still stomp. Go for it: pick a board by its graphics and adapt your riding around it. It wont make you better or worse. Call me a pessimist, but I'm a bit of a board whore myself and one thing I've found is that no board makes me better than I really am.

I looked at the rest of the "winning" stuff........and it gave me diarreha. <BR> <BR>No CWB stuff on the list is just plain wrong. Or Gator for that matter.

I have a hard time knocking on Hyperlite when they're producing and marketing a product that sells and for carrying a stable of riders that are CONSISTENTLY atop the rankings. I have no beef with other companies products or riders but why don't they (LF,CWB,etc.) crawl out of the shadows and promote their products and riders so that the people know who they are and know why we should by their stuff. Harris kicks major tail, so let's get a fire under Gator Boards to get up and do something about it...and geez, get some graphics that don't suck. I have no sympathy for people who are riding the "other" brands when HL is doing it's homework and giving us all innovation and "color" in the industry.

More people pitching the hate.... <BR> <BR>E.J.

is "color" a reference to the 05 premier? its just beautiful.<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/triangle_down.gif" border=0> (i am gonna use this from now on to denote sarcasm)

"I think it should be called "Most Popular Stuff of 2004" or "Best Advertisers of 2004". " <BR> <BR>That's exactly what it's all about. People voted for names they KNOW, and nothing more. Most of the voters probably don't know any names outside the top ten PWT list.

J-Rod, you are so cool.<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/triangle_down.gif" border=0> <BR>j/k. you tha man. im just trying it out. <BR> <BR>you are right about the familiarity issue though.

I agree with you guys and even though I ride Hyperlite products I chose O'brien products and riders like Rusty and Adkison just because O'brien is so underated and people dont like them because Parks isnt riding it. I think its just like people going thorugh fads in music, remember when Michael Jackson was cool and now its all about Fitty Cent.

they should make a 'most core' list for you guys who like to complain. haha <BR> <BR>i did not vote cause personally i don't care. i ride a 4 year old board design, and don't care a hoot about any pros other than the small handfull that I know personally.

You cant blame consumers. (even though i like to) <BR> <BR>It just sucks when you go to a shop and there is nothing but HL stuff. I applaud HL for their marketing. Fortunately for me, I have had the opportunity to ride alot of boards. And personally, I dont think HL is all that great. They are heavy and expensive. <BR> <BR>They can afford to "try something new" or "gimmick", because if it fails, I'm sure the person demoing the product will say "no thanks, it just didnt feel right. I'll just buy that other HL board because you only carry HL." <BR> <BR>Hyperlite has just put themselves in a good position. Its unfortunate for the other companies.

yeah I agree toolfan. Where I live that's all there is to demo. It sux because alot of us want to try out other stuff but can't. When I bought my GB Gonzalez I just bought it without trying it out and luckily I love it! I definately disagree with alot of the '04 choices. How about the Byerly board getting like 2nd or 3rd in best innovation??

All polls are simply popularity contest so I'm suprised that this poll suprised people if that makes sense. Of course Parks is going to be number 1 and of course Byerly is going to be up there in the top for everything because his name is on almost everything. The poll really shouldn't offend anyone or make anyone sick because it just has to be taken for what it is. More props to those who vote for Randy Harris, or Ricky G, Gator, and CWB gear. Problem is that most people haven't had enough contact with those riders i.e. competitions polls, and videos, or tried out the gear. Yes I ride Hyperlite don't hate me I got a sweet deal on gear and wasn't able to demo anything else to justify spending the cash, and yes Harf is my favorite rider after seeing him crash into a 4x4 slider gap on Boombox I was sold.

I was apalled when I read the top 10 riders and Randall wasn't in there. <BR> <BR>I guess I wouldn't have voted for Randall 2 years ago, which was my first Rider's Choice voting experience. I can't remember who I voted for but I won a copy of <i>Natural Born Thrillaz</i>. After I watched it was when I thought of Randall as the best, and my personal favorite. <BR> <BR>The way I see this contest is not to see who get's the vote, but to try and win some free STUFF!! <BR> <BR>As much as I hate to admit it, I knew what the results were gonna be...and that Randall wasn't gonna make the top 10. <BR> <BR>What was he as far as ranking anyway Dave?

No offense, but Byerly should not be on any top rider list unless it is most memorable. His wakeskating is not top 10 and he might make top 30 for wakeboarding. He was good in the day...but the day is long past.

I think a lot of it is exposure and availability. Hyperlite has invested a lot in both being in a large number of shops and sponsoring key riders and events. I think that is changing somewhat, particularly with GB having Ricky G, Randall, and Leslie Kent (I think). I think they still enjoy their "underground" status. I don't think you'd see Randall happily riding for a more mainstream company in other words. <BR> <BR>As other companies step up, there will be more competition in those areas. However, for now, if you don't live in California or Florida, you don't have easy access to Hyperlite's competitors. <BR> <BR>As for the poll it is a people's choice, and right now, more people are more familiar with the big names. In the future you may find Tino Santori, or Ricky G, or some of the other riders show up. From the INDY event, there were quite a few riders "in the money" who weren't a Bonifay or a Byerly. <BR> <BR>Eric

If everybody thru their best stuff and stuck it, this is my opinion of the top 10 wakeboard torney rider list. <BR> <BR>1. Danny Harf <BR>2. Tino Santori - 243 <BR>3. Parks Bonifay - 435 <BR>4. Phillip Soven - 344 <BR>5. Daniel Watkins - 395 <BR>6. Trevor Hansen - 33911. <BR>7. Shawn Watson - 270 <BR>8. Jeff Weatherall - 340 <BR>9. Andrew Adkison - 325 <BR>10. Brett Eisenhauer - 300 <BR>

is anyone surprised to see hyperlite dominate? <BR> <BR>if i have to see parks throw another double half cab i think will rip out my own spleen with a rusty spoon. i really hope that the judges deduct points from him for throwing that crap in the future. mr bonifay if you are reading this, its time to move on... <BR> <BR>and how did byerly make the WAKEBOARDING list. did he even put on a wakeboard this summer? <BR> <BR>how did shapiro make the list? and why is he ranked above phillip soven who won 3 pro contests at the age of 15? <BR> <BR>top 5 wakeskaters: people, please remember highlighted hair wins popularity contests, even if you are still having trouble landing a w2w kickflip...

Phillip Soven did get Most Improved!

you're right, im wrong. <BR> <BR>get your shots in while you can Dave, I'm gonna own the WakeWorld or Bust FFL. You really dont want to step into my world. <BR> <BR>By the way, how about that R.Johnson/T.Henry deal. Im working on getting McGahee for ya.<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/wink.gif" border=0>

Scott ~ How could you even say that? I know people hate on the best, but come on dude.... any double trick is the <font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font> and then your the only one throwing it. DON'T BE HATEN <BR> <BR>(Message edited by antbug on September 01, 2004)

Not to hijack, but if you throw in McGahee, you can start the Ru-di, Ru-di, Ru-di chant! <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0>

Rudi is going to have a huge year.....and you don't have to play who is going to get the carries this week.... <BR> <BR>This thread is firmly hi-jacked!!!! <BR> <BR>E.J.

I actually thought the results were pretty interesting this year. If you look back at the previous three years of Riders Choice Awards, the top ten males were getting pretty stagnant, especially in the top five. It was cool to see the whole top ten shuffled around a bit. It's really weird to see the youngsters moving up and some of the veterans sliding down. <BR> <BR>Tim, why wouldn't you at least vote for a shot at winning the prizes?? <BR> <BR>Thane, here are positions 11-20 for the men and positions 6-8 for the women... <BR> <BR>Top Males <BR>11. Daniel Watkins <BR>12. Erik Ruck <BR>13. Randall Harris <BR>14. JD Webb <BR>15. Ricky Gonzalez <BR>16. Keith Lyman <BR>17. Tino Santori <BR>18. Gregg Necrason <BR>19. Josh Sanders <BR>20. Trevor Hansen <BR> <BR>Top Females <BR>6. Maeghan Major <BR>7. Lauren Loe <BR>8. Megan McNeil

Who did win the prizes?

shhhhhhhh, EJ, you are going mess this up for me. <BR> <BR>Rudi just tore his ACL. Dave, you can trade him now.

i don't really need anymore wakeboarding stuff. i got a board, bindings, rope, vest, etc. all i need. let someone who wants to use the stuff win it. i'd probably have just given it to a friend. <BR> <BR>plus i didn't really want to vote for 10 riders. i only wanted to vote for one. i went to the page and everything, but it was simply a hassle because i don't care enough about the riders to pick 10 i like. i got distracted and did something else. <BR> <BR>only reason i replied to this thread is to express my disdain for the whiney 'core' folks. <BR> <BR>ride what you ride. don't hate on other people for riding what they ride. it is inconsequential in the whole scheme of things.

You actually only have to vote for one rider and you can leave the rest blank. Maybe I should be more specific on that next year in order to encourage more voters. I know that filling out the whole form can be intimidating, so we left the option of just selecting the categories you want.

hmmm...i was in the same boat as tim. i got annoyed w/ having to pick 10 of this, and X number of that, so i quit. <BR> <BR>but then again, i'd be wasting my time...i'd never win! <BR> <BR>(Message edited by dakid on September 01, 2004)

Antbug, frankly, Scott is just one of many of us that share the same opine.

antbug, i, too, share the same opinion. <BR> <BR>it took shapiro a while to realize that doing the speedball at each and every tournament was hurting him. i'm sure parks will realize it eventually. don't get me wrong, it's a sick ass trick! it's just played like trucker hats worn crooked. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by dakid on September 01, 2004)

Good Product + Good Marketing + Good Team + Good whatever you can think of = Good Company that has popularity. <BR> <BR>Think about how Hyperlite promotes wakeboarding. Think about how they have developed products that have helped you. Think about how Hyperlite's riders have influenced the sport. You can be sick because they are popular and people choose their product, but you don't have to ride the stuff. So be glad the industry is big enough to have a popular company and many more smaller one's that give you a choice. <BR> <BR>I used to somewhat think the same thing about Burton snowboards. One day there were talks at the mountain I was living at about banning snowboarding (Beaver Creek). Jake Burton personally flew out there to explain things to the homeowners who wanted the snowboarders gone. Nothing ever became of it and now there are jib parks all over the mountain for everyone's enjoyment. My Burton gear has never failed me either. Jake Burton ate alot of <font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font> promote snowboarding. <BR> <BR>So being a newbie to the wakeboarding sport when I went to get a setup and gear, my local shop featured Hyperlite and was able to give me a nice discount. My favorite videos feature Hyperlite riders, so they are popular with me. I love my Byerly board and boots, my Accurate handle and line, and my buddy's Nautique. So whatever. <BR> <BR>So if a Choice pole on this site makes you sick because Hyperlite is so popular, maybe you need to ask yourself what you have done for the sport lately. There's no way I would criticize Parks for throwing his signature move, I ain't even fit to coil the rope for the guy. <BR> <BR>

just beacuse froggy won 3 events this year means nothing. contest finishes should be so little in determining the best riders.

^^^ <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

"So if a Choice pole on this site makes you sick because Hyperlite is so popular, maybe you need to ask yourself what you have done for the sport lately." <BR> <BR>what have i done for the sport? in the past year or two ive videoed at the malibu open and posted the final runs on this very site so people that dont live near a comp can see what a finals run consists of. i did the same at the irvine pwt for the wakeskating finals (but for wakeskating.com). i worked at a heavily trafficked wakeboard shop in nor-cal. ive attended demos with pros and reps so i could ride their boards and ask questions so i could have more knowledge about their products. ive ridden nearly all boards that HL, LF and double up have to offer and a few gators and cwb's, too. don’t think that im the only one here that is involved in the industry either. im just the first person to speak up. <BR> <BR>the choice poll makes me sick because people DONT ride other brands. ive ridden enough wakeboards and bindings to know for sure that there really are some great shapes out there by companies other than hyperlite. THAT is why the poll disgusts me. <BR> <BR>oh and i actually DID coil the rope that parks used. it was kinda like coiling up the rope that my buddy just used... <BR> <BR>and i'll criticize parks all i want. this is a message board and ive choosen to share my opnions. you can kiss his toes if you want. the difference between you and i is that you enjoy to see riders stylelessly huck themselves through the air...

So who won the prizes thats the important thing at the momement, we can worry about marketing later and all that other blah blah.

Scott, my point is that the pole obviously shows what is popular and fortunately Hyperlite and their riders should get proper respect. Not to take away from anyone else or their product, but people see what they see and go from there, Marketing people know that. <BR> <BR>Someone as heavily involved within wakeboarding as yourself may want to rethink their wording on how they see people such as myself and their "popularist views". Perhaps learn from it and do your best to promote everyone else. <BR> <BR>As for idolizing people, not really me at all. I bought my Byerly stuff because of his stated devotion to his family, that was enough for me. And as far as hucking, I still think giant floaty blindside 180's are the best trick ever, especially on a wakeskate. <BR> <BR>PS, thanks for posting those vids, I watch em all and sincerely appreciate it. If you want to change people's minds about things, first understand why they think the way they do and figure out how to influence them. Sorry to piss you off and all, just trying to tell it like I see it, Hyperlite banners every place I go.

Scott- just out of curiosity, what would you put as the top 5 wakeboards? or Bindings?. Or anybody else for that matter who has demo'd a bunch of different boards. <BR> <BR>Aaron <BR> <BR>(Message edited by aaronmarkson on September 01, 2004)

excellent post, scott a. you took the words right out of my mouth. <BR> <BR>and flux, well thought-out, mature, level-headed response. (not saying i expected less) heh

aaron, <BR> <BR>top 5 boards <BR>1. blindside blade <BR>2. doubleup nelson <BR>3. gator (the badass mold) <BR>4. cwb absolute <BR>5. liquid force balance <BR> <BR>top 5 bindings <BR>1. doubleup luke wulf <BR>2. cwb zeus <BR>3. hyperlite belmont (pre-temet) <BR>4. hyperlite parks <BR>5. doubleup kranks <BR> <BR>btw, i ride the blade w/ luke bindings. my girlfriend rides the badass 135 w/ hyperlite belmont bindings. we're pretty open-minded when it comes to tryin' out new stuff, so, i'm going to demo the liquid force substance 138 and liquid force sphynx bindings, and my girlfriend is going to be demo'ing the minx bindings.

they need a comeback rider of the year

they need to do away w/ _______ of the year. it's really not all that accurate which is best, or who is better.

Here is my top 5 (top 10 is to many) <BR> <BR>1. Keith Lidberg <BR>2. Danny Harf <BR>3. Tino Santori <BR>4. Trevor Hansen <BR>5. Phillip Soven

Flux, the only thing a lot of us can respect about HL is their incredible marketing machine. Their plan works. Now if they can only operate in the black...<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>R&amp;D from them is debatable - a lot of what they have done was not exactly their "innovation". That is all I will say about that. <BR> <BR>Their team members will bail out to the highest bidder - if CWB or LF came in and blew away HL's current deal with Parks, and HL didn't counter, do you think he would remain? I don't. Obviously this will never happen but I think you see where I am going with it so I digress.

fyi, byerly stated in an interview that he would "never ride for hyperlite." <BR> <BR>$$$ talks.

What do you guys expect when the general public is allowed to vote on something (especially when the "general public" is comprised of 15 year olds, like in our scenario)? It kind of makes the electoral college (as it was originally designed) make a lot of sense.

I thought the poll was a joke. I picked Lyman, Harris, and Lidberg as part of my top 10. I dont think any of the riders I picked got placed in the list except for watson. The premier from what I have heard is a slow board. I definately think hyperlite's are too expensive and too heavy. But kids want to buy what the top pros use. And the top pros are determined by who are in the reef, nautique, mastercraft, and hyperlite ads. Byerly is not the best wakeskater. There is way better talent. Although he does do a lot for the sport. Hyperlite basically won every category. I own, and never have owned hyperlite products. I will probably never own one unless I demo it and find out that it pops me into outerspace. That poll is mainly comprised of teenagers who are all attracted to the most popular stuff out there (hyperlite). Being a teen myself, I try not to buy something based on who rides it, more on its performance. But most teens want to ride like parks and harf, even if the guys who ride for double up, gator, and LF are just as good (even better in my oppinion).

wakeboards: <BR>double up nelson <BR>gb nautilus <BR>lf balance <BR>cwb absolute <BR>lf litmus <BR> <BR>bindings: <BR>transits <BR>parks <BR>zeus <BR>belmont <BR>ultra

It would be nice if somebody else stepped up with the kind of warranty that Hyperlite offers. The combination of Hyperlite's warranty (double the length of most competitors) and a great board shop make it tough to shop elsewhere. That said, I currently ride a CWB Prodigy with Temets, and have Neptune, Obrien and Hyperlite boards in the rack in my garage. Still, it is a consideration in making the purchase.

How can you guys possibly diss the parks double back, all of you Americans must be getting jaded from too much wakeboarding exposure. Up here in Canada the kelowna protour was pretty much the only pro level riding I got to see all year. The amount of wakeboarding on Canadian tv is getting less and less. <BR> <BR>When parks threw the double back in kelowna the crowd went wild. It was extremely sweet to see it being thrown down in person. Don't be playa hatin' <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/lol.gif" border=0>

you have to realize he has been doing that same trick since like 1999. For all of us who have seen it 100 times, its a tough trick, but do something else. Try another trick that no one else is doing, say a 1080. Or possibly like a bs 9. Something insane. If he is that good, he wouldnt depend on one single trick to win a competition.

aaron, your post was actually good....up until the "playa hatin" 12 year old comment. that saying's about as played out as "off the hook," etc. <BR> <BR>like leo said, he's been doing that trick for a while now. we all appreciate its difficultness, but a little variety would be nice. his runs are mirrors of runs the past tournament...and the last...and the last...and the last... <BR> <BR>you get the point.

Yes variety would be nice, but I think it would be the same thing as going to a motocross event with travis pastrana and being disappointed when he doesn't do any backflips on his dirtbike. <BR> <BR>also, I guess the laughing smiley face after the "playa hatin'" wasn't enough to convey to you that I wasn't using this phrase seriously. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0>

yeah, but going along w/ the pastrana analogy, pastrana even knew that doing just "plain" backflips is going to get old. that's why he, along w/ many others, added a little something to the trick, such as can-can backflip, heelclicker backflip, etc. and he's turning it up by trying double backflips. fmx riders have even turned it up w/ doing 360s. <BR> <BR>all this in one year! parks has been doing the same run for the past, what, 2-3 years?

I really wanted to stay out of this thread but Parks threw a run at the X games that he could have stood up four years ago and he was pissed he didn't win. This is why I don't really care about the comps. <BR> <BR>He has the talent to open the door to some new tricks (other than the double roll which is still very impressive) but obviously not very hard for him since he seems to stick it 90 percent of the time.

I Can't believe I just read that entire thing...And since I don't have work and I'm bored tonight.....I'll pipe up...... <BR> <BR>"Their team members will bail out to the highest bidder" <BR> <BR>---Of Course! Thats how life is, think about Tiger Woods, Labron James, Micheal Jordan....Nike pays the bills, not New Balance. <BR> <BR>"if you don't live in California or Florida, you don't have easy access to Hyperlite's competitors" <BR> <BR>---Incorrect, don't speak ignorance just to try to get your point across. I lived in Portland and recently now in Boise, and at both places I have had easy access to every brand there is. In Portland the shops were divided but here in Boise, a couple shops carry almost every single brand next to each other. Just so you know <BR> <BR>"it's just played like trucker hats worn crooked" <BR> <BR>---Thats the best thing I've heard in a while. Why does everyone try to fit the stereo type rider, I'm sick of it, I almost don't feel comfortable in my local shops.

all those guys can huck as many mobes as they want. but where has all the style gone these days. Greg nelson, josh smith, mike schwenne, come on now. It isn't about who can do the most mobes, but who can freeride the best

Blah, Blah, Blah <BR>He is my 2 cents. <BR>everyone is looking at who rides what. Big deal. <BR>Sponsors pay big money for big names. Hyperlite sells a lot of equipment so they can advertise more. They can also pay more for a sponsorship. <BR>Look at who is winning the competitions. <BR>then look at what they are riding. <BR>It might be they are winning because the equipment they are riding is better than others. <BR>then again it might be they are the best riders and can ride anything and win. either way they are winning. One day they will get replaced by the ones moving up. But for now the top dogs are still the top dogs. And yes Parks is one of them. And about the comment on the double half cab. There are not a lot of riders that can pull it off, and if it brings points to win. why not do it.

Well said Mike. If I could throw down a trick that no one else could I would do it every day <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/proud.gif" border=0>

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>Hyperlite sells a lot of equipment so they can advertise more. They can also pay more for a sponsorship.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR> <BR>Yet they fail to operate in the black. Food for thought...

Yeah, I agree complete bs. Isn't anyone else out there sick of Parks, I don't even like watching the guy ride. I have seen enough double half cab rolls. None of the freeriders are getting any respect. All of those riders are contest riders. I mean c'mon the Vandal doesn't crack the top ten. I'm calling bunk on that

Randal the Vandal probably isn't breaking the top ten because in his younger days he was a bit of an <font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font> remember reading in one of the wakeboarding magazines a few years back how he was firing a paintball gun at jeremy kovak because he was a "skiboarder" and not a "wakeboarder". He may be a great wakeboarder but he is also an idiot.

I guess we are voting on personalities now. Thats what it looked like anyway.

You say idiot, I say probably the best and most underated rider there is. He doesn't ride contests, so he doesn't get respect from the mainstream and that is why he did not crack the top ten. And it isn't only Randy that isn't getting the respect as a few of the other people on this board have mentioned. It's also Ricky G and Gregg Necrason, Greg Nelson, Collin Wright, etc., etc.

Hey Ryan, <BR> <BR>Before you start spewing your 19yr old hate around... I live in Cincinnati, and of the three shops in the area I have been to, they all sell only Hyperlite and O'Brien gear. Deliver me to any place in my area where I could buy, much less demo anything but Hyperlite and maybe you'd be on to something. Boise is still a lot closer to the center of the boarding universe than I am so I don't get your choices. I guess I could use Trinity's demo program...but oh wait, they deal for Hyperlite. <BR> <BR>Get a grip. <BR> <BR>Eric

Trinity Boardshop is now selling Liquid Force as well. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.trinityboardshop.com" target="_blank">http://www.trinityboardshop.com</a>

Thanks for the clarification Dave...but I was really trying to make the point that alot of the people complaining that Hyperlite always wins are the same ones who advocate supporting your local shop. I like that idea too, however, doing so means losing some choices in terms of gear. If money were no object, it would be great to start a shop in my area and carry lots of different boards. <BR> <BR>I would be interesting in trying the Blindside Blade as an example...I have a smaller wake and would like a little more pop than my Byerly gives. You got the hook-up for a remote demo Joe??? <BR> <BR>Eric

Wow people! Randy is in my top 5 riders but this is based primarily off NBT video and his indy tantrum at the Parks Double up contest.. He doesn't ride very much and has no visibility. Choosing him year after year is like choosing Byerly year after year to me. Hyperlite riders dominated the list but they do the same on the score board as well. Therefore they are seen as the ones consistently doing well, thus making them standout as the ones that are always good and don't just land a trick by 'luck' sort-a-speak. And now for my opinions about whos who on the list..... <BR>Most improved- Chad Sharpe and Shane Bonifay in comp. <BR>Best Male- Keith Lymen is way to good to leave that far back on the list. Rucks my favorite but I know he doesn't pull a million and 1 tricks off. <BR>I really wanted to see Jr Mens- Silly Ho Hopkins had to be up there in top two on that one. I like Henshaw and he was nice talking to me but I personally know Hopkins and hes just a great guy. <BR>Lastly for personal reasons- If Sean O'brien could take one or two of his runs he does out on the lake in Tally and do it at a contest he'd be turning ALOT of heads!! <BR> <BR>Just my little deal

Yeah, how about that Indy Tantrum in the double up comp. I think that may be the biggest trick I have ever seen. Anyone that hasn't seen that shot should check it out in Alliance.

scan pic and post plz. thx.

sorry Joe I don't have a scanner but it's in the July Alliance Mag and it's in page 83. It's definitely a HUGE Indy Tantrum.

i don't subscribe to either wbm or alliance.