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-   Archive through November 07, 2008 (http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=644838)
-   -   Declining Board Reviews? (http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=642009)

tversetti 11-03-2008 1:33 PM

Don't get me wrong, boards are always getting <BR>"faster, has better landings, pops higher" <BR> <BR>but looking at the board section shows that the '08 board of the year was reviewed/rated right around 10 times. scroll down a bit more and you see boards with 20-30 reviews, with many per size! <BR> <BR>What do you think has turned people away from reviewing their boards?

sidekicknicholas 11-03-2008 1:51 PM

to busy riding....the best boards are the ones without reviews

liquidmx 11-03-2008 1:53 PM

I don't really give those reviews any weight so I don't contribute to them with my own reviews. <BR> <BR>The internet is a place for people to lie about their abilities and I would expect the same in this section. I personally don't really pay any attention to a review from someone lower than the advanced level (and if I don't recognize the name or reputation, I generally give those reviews very little attention/thought). My reasoning is their skill set isn't enough to discern the differences in boards (mine sure wasn't). Granted there are exceptions to the whole "advanced" thing, I know some peeps that are just slowing down and could kill it but choose not to for personal reasons. Personally the more experience someone has the more weight I give their review. The same applies to people who are sponsored, I will listen to what they say but am HIGHLY skeptical because its their job to pump up product regardless of how crappy it is. <BR> <BR>So ultimately if you combine: experience, ownership goggles, hidden agenda (sponsorship) and truthfulness you get a very questionable database...Yes, I am a cynic and choose to talk to people through my network and demo. <BR> <BR>There it is, flame on.

jason_ssr 11-03-2008 1:57 PM

Because all modern boards ride very well. A boards "characteristics" only mean something to two groups of people: <BR> <BR>1. The beginners\posers who think a new boards characteristics are going to make them ride better compared to the one they bought last year. <BR> <BR>2. The people trying to get those in group 1 to buy them over and over again. <BR> <BR> <BR>Everyone else knows that consistent fundamentals are what makes you ride better, not boards. Anyone can become consistent and ride well on any board make in the last 4-5 years. Pop is a product of surface area and line tension, not core materials, rails, rocker styles, phasers, notches, fin configs, or number of inserts. So reviewing them doesnt really do much good other than to tell you they dont fall the first time you ride it.

wakeboardern1 11-03-2008 2:07 PM

I'd like to argue the point that boards ride differently... <BR> <BR>I'm obviously not very good, but in the same breath, I can take most of my grabs into the flats easily. I don't say much about swing weight because as of right now, I just can't seem to get the handle pass down, but as for pop characteristics, different boards do different things. <BR> <BR>I have to work way hard to charge the wake and end up in the flats on my Watson behind a super air versus using my Lyman. However, I when I land on the watson, it sticks to the water way more than the Lyman because of it's width. The watson is way faster, and will make you ride somewhat differently if you usually ride a slower board like the Watson. Although, I do agree with someone who said that you can cut pretty damn fast with the watson if you know how to do it right... <BR> <BR>Another thing, rocker does affect your pop, a lot. TO say that it doesn't change the way you pop is kind of ridiculous. I can take a 5-7 foot cut on the watson and go straight up and wake to wake no problem. Cuts like that on the lyman yield a cased wake and annoyance...

wakeworld 11-03-2008 2:08 PM

I'm guessing it's the fact that the older boards have been there longer and, therefore, should have more reviews.

liquidmx 11-03-2008 2:35 PM

Jason you make another great point which is that many people buy into what I call a "magic board" phenomena. Meaning that many people have this notion that they are going to find this magic board that unlocks all their potentials and they start landing these amazing new tricks as a result. The board manufacturers continue to market towards this thought and the sponsored riders continue to push the agenda of "a new board will make you ride better". I have personally jumped around on several boards, none of them have caused me any major grief in my riding; my friends have done the same. The ironic part is your riding gets better the longer you stick with a board and get comfortable with it as opposed to jumping from deck to deck trying to find that magical one.

phenom_1819 11-03-2008 3:10 PM

Speaking of the magic board phenomenon. <BR> <BR>Is it just me, or does it seem like more and more in the past few years -- wakeboard descriptions, especially among high-end boards, have gotten so vague that they all say the exact same thing? <BR> <BR>And they keep coming up with all these clever marketing terms for rocker-lines. <BR> <BR>For example: <BR>blended 3-stage <BR>modified 3-stage <BR>abrupt continuous <BR> <BR>... and all of them are the fastest board on the market, with the biggest pop and smoothest landings. <BR> <BR>And each time they come out with a new one... I think to myself, this is the board that will take my riding to the next level... I've gotta buy this!! <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

rmcronin 11-03-2008 4:09 PM

I always check the wakeworld reviews, and wish there were more. I actually prefer binding reviews, since so many are $300 worth of pure garbage (bindings, that is). Unfortunately, most of the reviews seem to be from beginners, but thanks for taking the time to make them beginners.

jason_ssr 11-03-2008 7:18 PM

Nick, Im not saying they are not different, Im saying their differences dont matter much to people with solid fundamentals. Thus, people arent reviewing boards like they did in times past. All the modern boards are good, and a rider with good fundamentals can make it "fast, with good pop, and soft landings. Loose when flat but locks up on edge." There, feel free to cut and paste that onto any board needing review. <BR> <BR>Its not like back in they day when companies were using the public to prototype ideas. They dont make a dog slow board anymore, or a flat board that cuts through the wake instead of popping. No pro wants to ride a dog. So, generally all boards off the press hover around the sweet spot with subtle tweaks for the team riders. Whats most important is engineering something into it to make the public see it as revolutionary. <BR> <BR>So, back to the topic. I dont think extensive reviews are done by a core group like this simply because there isnt much unique to point out like in times past.

bmartin 11-04-2008 11:09 AM

I agree boards do not make you ride that much better or worse but think the reviews can help select boards and especially bindings for the following characteristics. <BR> <BR>1. Softness of landings <BR>2. Reliability - it seems some boards and especially some bindings are more prone to defects than others. <BR>3. Comfort of bindings. <BR> <BR>As far as boards are concerned I think the primary decision is to go with a flex or a traditional board. Once you decide that, there are only subtle differences between most boards.

eubanks01 11-04-2008 12:40 PM

I think board LENGTH matters more than board shape. For years I had ridden a board that was too short. How did I know...because my riding became much more consistent after I went to a longer board. If you are falling out the front often, then a longer board could help. Yes, technique will help as well but a longer ride will definitely benefit you. <BR> <BR>Other than that, I agree with JG. I've gone from an old Premier to a 3DS to a Transcend and IMO there is no noticeable difference in any of these boards.

eternalshadow 11-04-2008 4:48 PM

Another thing to consider when reading the board reviews is: <BR> <BR>Has the board been around for a few years? <BR> <BR>If it has, read the previous models reviews because for the most part boards don't change all that much (some exceptions do occur).


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