My wife is an intermediate rider. She has been riding a LF Custom, but is looking to move on to a higher end board. She is starting to learn air tricks and wants a fast board that kicks good off the wake for nice air. She also wants a board though that will allow her to continue practicing shoveits, 180's and to learn 3's on. I want to get her a new board as a gift but don't know what will suit her best. Please help

Height &amp; Weight? <BR> <BR>Riding the Custom, does she have a preference of an ocean influenced board or skim-style ride? I see spinning on the agenda, but that doesn't mean that skim is required. Height and weight will help in our suggestions.

She is 5'7 and weighs 120lbs. She prefers an ocean influenced board that will still allow her to do spins. Thanks for any advice you might have.

I would recommend looking at a Walzer or Walker Composite X. Both are great boards and I've never heard of anybody that did not like one of these boards. There have been many discussions about these boards on this forum.

Check out <a href="http://www.lakeeffectsupply.com" target="_blank">www.lakeeffectsupply.com</a> for a good price on a variety of boards

Anyway - <BR> <BR>At 120lbs, and that stance I'd give you a few to try to ride before you buy. If you really want to get a surf-style board my opinion is there is nothing hotter than a TWP F-18. A friend of ours just picked up a 4'6" F-18 and she could not be more pleased with it. It's custom, and pricey, but it's worth it. <BR> <BR>For other options I'd say get a Walzer Alpha, 3/4" 20.25" x 52.5" which is a medium. Although Walzer makes a small that is RIGHT in your wife's weight range (and an xsmall), these boards are so, so small, I'd say a medium is the way to go. If you get a chance to ride a Walzer, ride on with the SKIM ROCKER and NOT the WAKE-SKIM rocker. I cannot tell you how different these boards are an IMO, the wake-skim is worthless, the skim rocker ROCKS though. <BR> <BR>Since I'm going down from Surf-style to actual skim I need to throw Phase5 in there. <BR> <BR>Any of the smaller boards: <BR>Drew (small): 51" x 20-1/4" x 3/4" <BR>Icon: icon 50" x 20" x 3/4" <BR> <BR>All four of the boards I listed are such an extreme upgrade to the Custom, she would be very pleased with any of them.

Mike - <BR> <BR>Trying to add some pics here to help with my post above, in comparison to the custom in size. I can take more pics if you like, in regards to rocker and width difference, I thought this may help you in your research. <BR> <BR>Below is the icon on top of custom. <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/559019/484141.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/559019/484142.jpg" alt="Upload">

Next is the Drew on the Custom, NOTE: this is the large Drew, not the small. The measurements are: <BR>54" x 20-1/2" x 3/4" Rider size up to 200 lbs. <BR> <BR>The small that I recommended for your wife is: <BR>51" x 20-1/4" x 3/4" Rider size up to 165 lbs. <BR> <BR>Drew on the custom. <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/559019/484146.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/559019/484147.jpg" alt="Upload">

how bout an inland surfer 4skim? its leaps and bounds nicer than the phase 5, i have both. the 4skim rides so smooth! it comes in wood and pink even, i got the pink one for my wife and she loves it!

Next is the Walzer Alpha. <BR> <BR>Note this is the LARGE Alpha, not the one that I am recommending to you. The dimensions are below: <BR> <BR>Large: 21" x 55" <BR>175-240lbs <BR> <BR>I recommend the <BR>Medium: 20.25" x 52.5" <BR>120-180lbs <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/559019/484155.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/559019/484156.jpg" alt="Upload">

Matt - <BR> <BR>The only F-18 I have here to picture is a very modified version, Surfdad will tell you that TWP builds the F-18's to the rider so taking pictures of mine on top of the custom would only add confusion to your decision making. I hope some of these pics help, all 4 of the boards I have mentioned straight up SMOKE the Custom in every single category, IMO. <BR> <BR>Let us know if you have any questions.

either the hyperlite coex or the cwb tsunami

In response to the vague mention of the different styles of rocker in Walzer boards. The skimstyle rocker is not as extreme and has better down the line speed and rides a little more stable. It is recommended for beginner to intermediates and bigger riders. (in short it's better suited for cruising) In contrast the more extreme wake-skim rocker loses some down the line speed but is much more responsive and generates more speed the harder it's being worked. This is the preferred rocker of the team riders and better suited for advanced riders with aspirations of reaching the stars and aggressive surf style riding. <BR> <BR>Neither is worthless and in fact both are highly specialized to accommodate the different levels in riding abilities <BR> <BR>(Message edited by caskimmer on August 02, 2007) <BR> <BR>(Message edited by caskimmer on August 02, 2007)

Thanks for the rocker explanation Sean! <BR> <BR>I should have mentioned, that the above is my opinion. <BR> <BR>In my experience with the skim rocker the Alpha is fast, responsive and fun to ride. In my experience the wake-skim rocker is slow, boring, unresponsive and looks good hanging in my board racks.

Loc, <BR> <BR>Thank you so much for the pictures and detailed explinations. I am very impressed! I had a friend who wake surfs (I mostly just board) that I look into the Island Surfer Luggey. Do you think that this is also a good alternative.

The loogey is a great alternative as well. There are many that will fit the need you are looking for. Are there any shops around you that will demo? Where are you located?

Loc, <BR> <BR>I am in West Texas. The nearest shops are 4 hrs away in Dallas. I better make a decision soon. There just appears to be so many choices. Thanks again for all the help.

Mike - That's too bad, we're in Dallas &amp; Houston and have a fleet of toys to ride on before you buy. <BR> <BR>I don't think you can go wrong with any of my recommendations above, I hoped more people would chime in on theirs. <BR> <BR>The TWP F-18 will take the longest to be made, the Walzer about the same, you can see other forums members still waiting on their Walzers now. <BR> <BR>I'd check into a Phase 5 Icon/Drew or an IS Yellow. Those will be the quickest to the door and neither will disappoint. <BR> <BR>If you want to come to Dallas to ride, just hit me up, next weekend there is a Austin Surf Company Landlocked 2007 Wakesurf Contest, it's worth the 4 hours and you can see, AND ride, the boards in person. <BR> <BR>Check out the details: <BR><a href="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87668/480005.html?1185385523" target="_blank">Originally Posted by Smedman Tourney in Forth Worth Aug 11</a>

If I can put my two cents in. Loc did a great job, so I don't mean to detract from anything he said. <BR> <BR>You mentioned two tricks that caught my attention. A 180 and Shuv's. Those two tricks will require that the board be ridden revert for some period of time. The 180, typically ends in switch backside, with the board revert. <BR> <BR>With that info, I'd eliminate the loogey and Walzer Alpha. They are both good boards, but with the fin placement (twin fin, located out towards the rail), IMO, make learning any trick where the board is ridden revert difficult. The reason being that the fin closest to the wake tends to catch, especially when the board is pumped. <BR> <BR>I would also eliminated the WP F-18 and Comp X 4.5 for this same basic reason. <BR> <BR>I would opt for a skimstyle board as Loc suggested - P5's, IS 4skim, Walzer Skim Pin, Calibrated Tellum or Lovett Pro and I would consider a Trick Boardz. I think all of those would be suitable and good performers. If you are up against a deadline, you'll probably want to look at a local dealer that carries Inland Surfer, or Phase 5's. <a href="http://www.wakeoutlaws.com" target="_blank">www.wakeoutlaws.com</a> has a good site for online orders of stock boards.