I can get a 04 parks or an 05 absolute pretty cheap. I have heard that the parks lands pretty hard compared to the absolute and was wondering what you guys think. Thanks

Unless you ride like Parks, get the Absolute. Even though I guarantee PB would ride better on an Absolute..

not to hijack this thread but I think pros like parks can ride any board and it doesn't matter. Look at that old free motion he rode for the longest time, thats the board he stuck a 10 on, old tech, cont. rocker <BR> <BR>I would go with the absolute...

Parks was a better rider on the CWB/Free Motion shape than he ever has been on his shape.

two totally completely different boards, almost everyone loves the absolute while some hate/love the parks. <BR> <BR>switching to the absolute changed my life, im a convert. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakecoupons.com" target="_blank">www.wakecoupons.com</a>

i would check out that absolute. A lot of people seem to really enjoy that board. <BR> <BR>Why dont you demo them both first?

i dont know he learned the double half cab on his current shape...

No he didn't. <BR> <BR>Parks' new shape (body and board) make him a far less impressive rider. Don't get me wrong, he's amazing, but I feel his board hurts him more than helps.

I know I am going to receive some crap for this, but I have to defend the parks. I haven't ridden an absolute, so I won't say that it is better...but, I love the 05 parks. I rode an 02 dna premier up until this year and now ride an 05 dna parks. The board is very fast, tracks like it is on rails, is very loose when you want it to be (I put the .7 fins on it) and has excellent pop. A lot of people say that it is unpredictable and too advanced, I don't think so. I don't consider myself to be an advanced rider at all. The board gives me the same, insane, pop every time. The board is very easy on the landing and is very easy to control. I did ride the 04 last year and didn't care for it as much, thought it was a little "squirlly". I know there are a lot of parks haters out there who think that everyone who rides a parks is a posser! Unfortunatly, that is a bad stereo type that has started to follow that board. Like I said before, I rode a premier, which is considered by most to be a very good board, for a few years before going to the parks. The reason I did go to the parks is because as my riding got better I wanted a fast board with a little more pop. That is exactly what I got in the 05 parks dna. <BR> <BR>...ok, I'm ready...let me have it!

Yeah, but tyler is looking at the 04 parks which is a different ride than the 05. Everyone i talk to say the 05 rides a lot better than the old one. <BR> <BR>...ride em both, then decide.

the parks board has so much balls....the 1st time i ever rode it was behind a brand new x-2 with 2500 lbs in and it was probaly the biggest air i have ever gotten....

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>i dont know he learned the double half cab on his current shape...<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR> <BR>sorry dude, no. <BR>

when was his 1st video segment with the double half cab....was it F4A???

Parks has been doing double half cab rolls for a LONG time. Way before his pro model..... Also for the original poster, I have found WakeWorld to be VERY pro-CWB and from all their boards VERY pro-Absolute. I personally hate the company and one of my buddies rides for them! And from my group of riders that I ride with alot, alot pro or Jr. mens, they HATE the Absolute. So basically what im trying to get across is your going to have demo both because in a race between CWB and alot of other companies... CWB has a HUGE following on this site. <BR> <BR>As far as the Parks board I find is very old that people are mentioning that he would ride 'better' on another board. The board is his, and only his, choice of design... Period! It is a good board, just way more specific then most boards, say..... the Absolute!

well i just saw a segment on world of wakeboaring from 99' and it had PB on a free motion and he was not nearly at the level he is today...

Had nothing to do with "a brand new x-2 with 2500 lbs in it". <BR>

i was just stating that my wake was a bit better than usual...chill

I'm a newb, but did try the '05 parks that a friend had gotten for Christmas. With the tension I give with my old continuous rocker LF on a medium cut, the Parks launched me so high and off-axis to faceplant. I 'compensated' by building less tension and ended up finishing the set. <BR> <BR>The same thing happened to my friend on his first pull with his new board - first jump was huge, then every one after it was tiny because he was having to throttle back. <BR> <BR>This last weekend in Havasu, Todd never did ride his Parks...rode a friends LF Trip the whole time and we could all see an improvement in his edging, smoothness and size. His prior board was a Byerly. <BR> <BR>I didn't have the same problems at all with the Trip, TFD, ERA or an older Byerly.

parks was doin' double half cab rolls and whirly 7s in shafted on a free motion. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by dakid on September 11, 2005)

so when parks landed the 1080 back in 99 and landed what... didnt he do a double whirly, double s bend and double tantrum back then as well?? don't hold me to that I just thought I heard of those tricks <BR>so he's better now than back then... no, he might have more style now as apposed to the riding everyone did years ago but better and more powerful today as apposed to his earlier years, definitely not, I suppose you can say hes better on rails now... not like the board influences that though... <BR>once again, sorry to hijack the thread but the absolute is less defined than the parks, that is true, CWB does have a solid following, when the premier came out I think just as many people who ride the abs rode the premier... CWB makes killer boards that can also be ridden by the average joe because they are predictable, thats what makes them loved here... I think

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>CWB makes killer boards that can also be ridden by the average joe because they are predictable, thats what makes them loved here.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR> <BR>boards are only predictable when the rider uses proper fundamentals consistently. <BR>

I rode on an 04 Absolute Platinum 141 all last season and for 2 months of this season. I have to say that i really liked it cause it was nice and predictable with a decant amount of pop. a month ago I got myself the Parks DNA 140 with Murray's, I hated it for the first week cause I could barely land on the damn thing cause it was so unforgiving. It took alot of getting used to but ive gone from landing 2 out of every 10 HS Back rolls on my CWB to landing 8/10 on the Parks. Now i love the bloody thing. <BR> <BR>As for the Murray's, well thats a different story, the black foam on the back of the boot has separated from the brown part. Do you guys think that buywake will replace them for me??<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0>

between an '04 Absolute and '04 Parks I'd go Absolute. An '05 Parks is a different board that IMO rides much better. There are a ton of good baords out there. A lot of people on this board want to see some of the small companies take a bite out of HL. Personally I like products that people stand behind. Much of that has to do with your local board rep and local shop. <BR> <BR>CWB's have become much more popular lately as an alternative to relatively heavy HL boards. Only this year (IMO) has CWB started making bindings rivaling LF and HL (Although the Zeus has been OK for the last few years). <BR> <BR>All of the companies make good product so I'd like to stay out of that argument. This particular thread is regarding two specific boards that this guy can get a deal on. Of those boards I would definitely go Absolute. BTW I would have to say I really like the new Absolute too, although finding boards that I don't like is kinda difficult. They all seem to do something good and I have come to realization that no board is going to make me a better rider.

Funny to hear you guys debating Parks riding. <BR> <BR>"but I feel his board hurts him more than helps." <BR> <BR>WTF do you know about what his board does and does not do for him? <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

What's up dude, not a bad situation to be in if you ask me. I ride the 04 Parks and like it a lot. I will say that the landings are rougher than other boards I've ridden, but it's worth getting popped that hard if you ask me.

I own and ride an 04 Parks, owned and sold an 04 Absolute Platinum. I personally thought the 04 Absolute landed harder than the 04 Parks, but people have said they made some changes to the new Absolutes that make them land softer than the 04 landed. Both are good boards, I'd try them both out and make your own decision rather than listen to people on here if I were you.

It seems like all the wakeboard discussion areas are pro CWB boards and its not just wakeworld. Must be the boards, and I hear them giving props to more than the absolute. I here good post about the cwb Marius, Trancend as well, so it sounds to me like Cwb has alot of happy customers, that have riddin alot of different boards and not to many are switchin back to what they were ridin, they are staying with Cwb. I would say demo them both and see what you like the best.

I have both 04 Parks and 05 Absolute... and I still can't decide which I like better. Just depends on the wake I'm behind that day. <BR>

CWB is taking care of the people that take care of them. I think that's why they get hyped up that much. The product is great and the customer service is excellent. <BR> <BR>That said, I've never had a problem with HL before either.

CWB's only real problem is that they've changed their logo. Dumb. Yeah, I'm a dork, but... <BR> <BR>This is what we know and is cool: <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65919/253946.jpg" alt="cwb old"> <BR> <BR>Here's what's all over the new line for no good reason (IMHO): <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65919/253947.jpg" alt="new cwb"> <BR>

Derek I like the 05 grappic to, but iam hearing alot of good response to the new logo aswell. Cwb is teaming up with Napster for 06 and the new image reminds me alot of Napsters look. Maybe that has somthing to do with it.

im with j-rod on that one. if parks really rode better on that shape dont you think he would still ride it? i think socal rider might have a little bit of water on the brain.

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>if parks really rode better on that shape dont you think he would still ride it? <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR> <BR>nope. he's not sponsored by free motion anymore, nor was he getting paid as much as hyperlite is paying him now.

joe. one thing socalrider was correct about was his refference to praks' FM board bein the same shape as his cwb board was. hype and parks got together to design a new shape, obviously parks was looking for something different to help him ride better rather than the old school technology. the reason the FM board was the same shape was that parks was comfortable on that shape, hed already been ridin it for years. and with FM's lack of creativity and resources (even though FM was a division of liquid force) there probably wasnt much drive to create a new shape for him. not to mention parks was fresh out of rehab

With the way some of you guys talk, you would think that you are sponcered riders or even owners of major manufacturing companies. To imply, or even come out and say, that high profile riders, such as Parks, are just ponds to their sponcers and have no say about their boards is rediculous to me. These riders are pushing themselves every year to advance their own skills and even the sport. Part of that advancement, or progression, is improvements to equipment. To imply that board designs are assigned or even pushed onto riders, by a CEO, because it may seem to be more marketable just doesn't make sense to me. These companies understand that it is the riders progression and style that excites other riders and promotes the sport. You can argue with me if you want and say that Parks could ride a piece of ply wood and still excite people, but I don't buy it. I just talked to a guy last week who just got back from Radar lake and met a lot of Hyperlite 'big wigs', including Herb Obrien. He told me that when he was up there he chatted with R&amp;D. He said they showed him stacks and stacks of 'concept boards' that never made the cut. All of these concept boards were modified according to riders specifications. These board were all modified by hyperlite for the riders, according to the riders requests, and tested right on Radar Lake by the riders. <BR> <BR>I don't mean to come across as a jerk, I really don't. It is just irritating to me that some people think they know soooooo much!

i guess you know more since you talked to a guy that knows this guy that talked to that guy. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR><blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>I just talked to a guy last week who just got back from Radar lake and met a lot of Hyperlite 'big wigs', including Herb Obrien. <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR> <BR>i thought herb doesn't wanna touch hyperlite??? <BR> <BR>(Message edited by dakid on September 12, 2005)

I don't know anything about Herb Obrien not wanting to touch hyperlite. All I know is that I talked to this guy last week, he had just gotten back from Radar lake and he had pics of the place...including a pic of him with Herb Obrien.

ok maybe I was wrong in saying parks rode better on his old board, allow me to rephrase my statement <BR> <BR>I think any pro could ride any board and have very little to no trouble stomping all of their tricks, parks could do his tricks on an old motive if he really wanted to, shane used to ride the squirt, he could do a super ridiculous corked backside 7 on that <BR>new boards are pushing the envelope but I wonder how much they really help the pros... <BR>the old premier rides differently than the new premier, but what has danny learned on the new board that he couldn't stomp on the old one?

trevor, maybe you (or the guy you talked to) meant paul o'brien. last i heard, paul runs hyperlite and herb runs ho sports (skis). i could be wrong though.

Interesting fact - What board was Parks riding when he landed the only 1080 ever caught on film? That's right, that old Free Motion Quest board. <BR> <BR>Paul, might want to ease up on the hate, just a bit...

My bad, I now see that the 1080 - Free Motion connection was already covered, sorry.

in my previous post I apologize for the use of the word 'hate', I meary dislike.

Parks was landing the Temper Tantrum(double tantrum) on his white &amp; red Connelly pro model. It was essentially a Connelly Dually from 1996. He then stuck the first Double Half Cab on a Liquid Force Best board, which he was riding before his Quest was complete from FM( side note, he was using Hyperlite Highbacks). The 1080 was obviously on the FM Quest which was essentially the same Connelly Dually. He even had an interview in WBM where he was describing how comfortable he was with that shape. The thing just never sold for anything. <BR> <BR>As for the two boards in question, it's like night an day difference. One has characteristics that the other doesn't. I mean one has two removable fins and the other has molded side fins. These features create a drastically different ride. Paul why hate CWB? What exactly has CWB done to make you dislike them? They aren't stealing shapes, their riders are all good guys and unless Trevor hit your dog with his car I am confused. I ride the Absolute and would not ride another board. It perfectly fits my style and I rock it with pride. Can't wait to get my new Platinum.

As far as arguing about parks "progression" chill out. How long has the guy been riding; X games at like 16? If he wanted to relax, enjoy life and take a step back from pushing the sport I would completely see the reason (I am glad he pushed as hard as he has for so long). The guy has been riding at the pro level for an extremely long time. People get burned out riding less than he does and their progression slows because of it. Personally I think a lot of the up and coming riders that are stomping new/different variations of tricks are probably where parks was when he rode for FM. Parks has been grandfathered in as a pioneer of the sports progression and I dont see any logical correlation between his current pro model and his abilities. I thought about the whole pro lifestlye and have heard something said that I can totally agree with "becoming a professional athlete means you gain a cool job, while at the same time loosing a hobby". <BR> <BR>As far as forcing pros to ride certain model boards I can see the reasons why it would happen. The pro motocross 250 guys have to do it in their industry because the execs want the consumer to think that they can win on both a 2 stroke and 4 stroke model of said company (except the 125 class<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/wink.gif" border=0>). At the same time it would not make sense to create a product that is not rideable. The decision is left to the management and the only ones who really know are the riders and their close friends.

"You can argue with me if you want and say that Parks could ride a piece of ply wood and still excite people, but I don't buy it." <BR> <BR>You must not have seen Parks ride his connelly(basically a piece of plywood). He killed it on this board and the board was as basic as it gets.

Ahhh what an overwhelming dose of nostalgia I just got after someone mentioned the Dually. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/proud.gif" border=0> As that was my first "real" board, I can attest that it wasn't much more than a piece of wood. I must say, however, that I did land my first 3s on that board along w/several other firsts, so it couldn't have been that bad. Granted, I never rode it like PB.

Heavy..... I was kinda hard on CWB but it comes down to the different boards I've ridden. The most popular boards they have I just can't stand to ride.. and I have given them lots of chances. I do not like the look of their bindings although after riding a pair of Boss's at OWC they are effin comfortable!! I love their team, Scott Hopkins is a friend of mine. I haven't ridden Trevor H's new board <u>although</u> I would really like to give it a go! Basically it comes down to you've found probably the one guy out there that honestly doesn't like most of their shapes when compaired to any of the LF or HL boards, except maybe the LF Team..... I would choose any CWB board over the Team!

haha I guess it all comes down to different strokes for different folks. I have a few CWB boards and have ridden them ALL, literally. This past week I was riding Trevor's Marius 140 despite the fact that i only weigh 150. Man what a well designed board. Super smooth continuous rocker but with a big pop. It almost surprises you. Personally though I'm more of a wake to wake rider and love how my Absolute bucks my high W2W. I'm just stoked on the continual progression they are making. In the last 4 years they have not rested once and every year they improve their pro shapes. the absolute was good so they made it better. Thats the kind of company I can support.

You support the boards and I'll stick with supporting their riders!! Hahah.... I wanna ride the Marius though!