Any guys in this size range riding a 135 or smaller? Fracture it yet?

I rode a 137 Fish and I am 6'4" 200 lbs. It has some width to it though. I have ridden a 135 Vison way back when I was learning how to ride. I like my 137 Fish, I want to pick up a 133 Fish one of these days. Probably not exactly what you meant though.

Ya, I'm just wondering how many guys are riding boards that are specified for lighter riders and if there is a consequence.

200 5' 11" 38 watson.

6'5" 230, 138 Watson limited, albeit, I only rode it for one set behind my jetski. I'm sure it would have popped less if I had been behind a boat, but yeah. <BR> <BR>It just means there'd be less pop because of a smaller surface area to weight ratio. Oh, and they are a lot looser when they're small for your size. It's easy to spin around and slide on them.

6'1 195 on a 136 Premier. I love how it rides!! <BR> <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65919/594235.jpg" alt="Upload">

6' 185lbs <BR>my last two boards were <BR>132 byerly <BR>134 ibex

I am on the opposite end of the spectrum. I switched from a 134-138 to a 146. I am 5'5" about 160 and now riding the Marek 146, incredible pop, low swing weight easy to spin and super soft landings. Everyone comments on how big the board looks on me, but I am riding it better than any board I have ridden in the past. If you ever get a chance to demo or ride, you should check it out.

Kevbo, <BR> <BR>The consequence of riding a board not rated for your weight isn't that it is more likely to break, it just might not perform as well as one sized for your weight.

Seems like a lot of the pros ride a longer board than you would think in relation to their height and weight. I am riding a 144 Faction now and I like the feel of the board being a little longer, seems more stable.

6'1" about 185lbs currently on the 134 Watson. I would rather have a 136 but the 138 just feels big and clunky. Used to ride '05 Era 140....went to smaller Watson and wouldn't go back (unless there was a 136!) <BR> <BR>The only "consequence" is that it sits a little too low in the water sometimes and I can feel the drag a little. Other than that, I've progressed more on this board than any other I've ridden. As usual, it all comes to personal preference.

so what actually is the the difference in the size. im 5'7 150lbs and im riding a 140 state. what do the smaller boards offer?

A smaller board fits in your car easier<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

would i also look bigger carrying a smaller board? :D

the actual difference between 138 and 134 is in the neighborhood of 4 cm. <BR> <BR>i'm guessing you want the practical difference, and to me, it's a matter of bulk. i just feel more comfortable inverted and spinning with the smaller board. for straight air and big grabs, i could easily ride a 138 for the big pop and softer landings, but i trade that for feel. i'm not sure smaller boards offer anything other than a different option for us to choose from. <BR> <BR>if it matters, one of our crew is about your size and used to ride big boards, but has recently (past 2 years) started stepping down in size.....142 parks, 138 parks, 136 murray.

so there really isn't a difference when it comes down to pop or speed with board size then? Sound like it might be a little easier to control.

I weigh 240 and find a bigger board allows me to slow the boat down and still get the speed and pop. surface area of the board vs lift vs boat speed vs feel all factor in. <BR> <BR>If you are riding a small board, landing will be harder because the board will sink and decelerate more on landings <BR> <BR>All this is just my oppinion, but for me I couldn't of been happier when the 146 marek came out and I got a board slightly bigger than my 143 3ds.

6', 195 lbs, 138 J-Star Empire <BR> <BR>"I wanna go fast"

however, i also ride a 144 local just for fun, press n' pop kinda stuff, rides like a big snowboard...just depends what ya like i guess

5'11 200 and I ride a LTD 138 Watson and I love it.

"If you are riding a small board, landing will be harder because the board will sink and decelerate more on landing" <BR> <BR>Can someone explain this to me. For starters all boards irrespective of size will have the same vertical deceleration where it will reach zero at some point. Ultimately the hardness of landing would be related to the RATE of deceleration. It would seem that a larger board with more surface area would decelerate quicker and in turn have harder landings than a smaller board, everything else being equal. But I keep seeing posts that a larger board will land softer. <BR> <BR>Here is an experiment anyone can do at their local pool. Jump of a 3 meter diving board and compare a belly flop (large surface area) to a front entry dive (small surface area) and tell me which landing is harder.

you are ignoring the side to side speed and focusing only on the vertical deceleration. the smaller the board, the deeper you are in the water once the board lands. agree (belly flop vs diving). Now what happens to all of that forward momentum when the board is sitting deeper in the water. Some of the smaller boards I rode I would go out the front on big moves and always feel like someone threw on the brakes when I didn't go out the front. <BR> <BR>Other than that I don't have any proof, just what I have experimented with.

hmmm...good point kevin. I have noticed that I tend to go out the front more frequently since downsizing and your explanation makes perfect sense.....I just never thought of that way. <BR> <BR>softer or not, larger boards do leave more room for error on landings.

"Here is an experiment anyone can do at their local pool. Jump of a 3 meter diving board and compare a belly flop (large surface area) to a front entry dive (small surface area) and tell me which landing is harder." <BR> <BR>You are for getting PSI. <BR>dive entry: <BR>Lets say you weigh 200lb and you in the dive position your hands have a 9sp inch surface area then you are starting with a 22 psi impact pressure. <BR> <BR>Belly flop <BR>same 200lbs lets say 6ftx2ft (1920 inches of surface area) at the point of impact you are starting at .10 psi <BR> <BR>speed not factored because I'm lazy

So no stress fractures or insert pull-outs? Well after riding a 144 for the last 5 years cause I thought it was the right thing to do...per specs, I'm going back to my old 132 Byerly after giving it a test ride last weekend and noticing a major difference in weight and not having a problem doing my run.