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-   Archive through August 20, 2005 (http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=249784)
-   -   Board length these days.. ? (http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243227)

whirly 07-26-2005 11:53 PM

I've been reading that people are riding longer boards now-- i.e. all the pros riding 140+ boards. I'm 5'8-5'9 and about 145 and was riding a premier 135. I'm right at the bottom level of the lf substance 138 given the recommendation of weight 140-190 I believe it was (Also looking at 134). Are those numbers just non-sense anyways? This does give me something to debate on, and I do plan to demo both sizes, but would like outside input. Now I know it's all about personal preference, but was just wondering your guys experience on bigger vs smaller board. thanks, blake. <BR> <BR>

blake_hughes 07-27-2005 12:15 AM

Try the bigger board... I use to ride a 136, then jumped to a 143, and liked the bigger board, much better. I now ride a 140, but still like the feel of the 143. I'd say give it a try, I think you'll like it, and definitely will be able to tell a difference in your riding. <BR> <BR>-Blake

thane_dogg 07-27-2005 11:08 AM

I'm the exact same size as you, and I rode a 141 for a while and loved it. I'm now on a 138 Substance and wouldn't ever go smaller.

jarrod 07-27-2005 11:22 AM

I started on a 135 and jumped to a 140. I'm 175 though. Landing on a bigger surface is easier for me. It cleaned up my riding.

zboomer 07-27-2005 12:02 PM

I go against the current grain. I was having hell adapting to my Premier 141, so one day for the hell of it rode my wife's tiny 134 hyperlite Divine (basically a Motive with girl graphics.) Going by all the charts it's WAY too small for me. <BR> <BR>I loved it! I was kicking ass better than I'd ever done. <BR> <BR>Started doing some testing, and found out I do much better on a board shorter than the weight charts indicated I should be riding. I ended up on a Substance 138 and do much better on it than I ever could on the Premier 141. <BR> <BR>I never did worth a damn on my first board either, a LF Trip 143. <BR> <BR>I'm not very tall though, 5'8", so I think that has something to do with it. The shorter board just works better for me. I ended up with a LF Substance 138, and LOVE it. <BR> <BR>Bottom line is don't go by what "Everyone else is doing." Do what works best for you.

wakebordr11 07-27-2005 6:37 PM

I would say go with the 134 Substance since it is very near to what you are riding. I went from a 140 old premier to a 138 substance and couldn't tell much difference in length, I also rode a 131 Nemesis a bunch last summer and loved the ride of that board too. Shorter didn't make a difference for me but I found I prefer a board in the mid 130 range...

thane_dogg 07-27-2005 10:10 PM

Boomer - I would believe your claim if you would have went from a 141 to a 130 premier. The premier and the motive are two totally different boards. <BR> <BR>I bet if you rode the Substance 142 you would like it just as much as your 138.

zboomer 07-28-2005 5:33 AM

That may be true, but I did go through a testing phase trying shorter boards compared the larger, and like the shorter ones pretty consistently. <BR> <BR>I just have a hard time getting large boards on edge, they want to go flat on me, for lack of a better term. <BR> <BR>The fact I'm not that great a wakeboarder has something to do with it I'm sure, heh. <BR> <BR>All I know at this point is I love my substance 138 like no other. <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0>

seven20 07-28-2005 5:57 AM

I went from the Substance 136->Lyman 137->Lyman 141 but i believe next season i will be back on either the substance 138 or the ps3 i will try out...i just can't throw the 141 around when i am screwing around, and spinning as well. I am 5'9, 165

wakeguru 07-28-2005 6:15 AM

Good thread, Blake. I'm in the same boat and prefer boards between 134 and 138 mostly - depending on mid and tip widths. <BR> <BR>Make sure you pay attention to widths. For example, the CWB Absolute is about the same width at 134 as a 138 Substance or 136 Premier. <BR> <BR>Think about how much Dallas weighs (maybe 110 max?) and she rides a 137cm. It seems big, but if you look at the width it's less wide than the 134 absolute. It's something to consider.

iamnathanhudson 07-28-2005 7:37 AM

good point wakeguru.

wickedwake 07-28-2005 7:44 AM

Bigger board= more displacement=more pop than the same board of smaller size. IMO there is no reason to ride a smaller board. Just give me one reason.

just_board 07-28-2005 10:03 AM

i'm the same size as you and i ride a 135, i rode my friend's 141 for a bit, and hated it, coulnd't get the feel for the longer board, but it's all personal preference.

wakeguru 07-28-2005 10:36 AM

Dang Clay, no challengers yet? <BR> <BR>Alright, I got one - swing weight. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

zboomer 07-28-2005 1:12 PM

If that general rule was true, everyone would ride a 10-foot long board because it has "more displacement." <BR> <BR>If someone made a 260cm board, you'd probably still ride your 140, so it's all relative, and in that case you'd have a good reason to ride a "smaller board" eh?

midwestrider 07-28-2005 1:19 PM

I guess at 6'1" and 240 pounds I should probably step up from my Premeir 140 to something longer eh? I have been noticing lately that the 140 rides too low in the water, I think I definitely need a longer board. <BR> <BR>Jb

rascal23 07-28-2005 2:42 PM

Clay, <BR>What about the LF Fish? Small yet wide board. More pop than 140+ boards IMO.

wakebordr11 07-28-2005 8:22 PM

Clay, I bought into that logic when I purchased my premier 140 in '02. I came from riding a Juvi 131 and reasoned that it was bigger board, it would pop harder and land smoother, Im not sure I was totally correct, it did pop better and land smoother but I think it was the fact that it was a board more suited to my size since I was growing... I rode a nemesis the same way as I rode the premier, actually took it to the flats easier than the premier and now Im on a 138 Substance which is roughly the same size as premier and it lands smoother and pops harder than the old board, its all personal preference and how you ride the wake I guess... <BR>Another thing, smaller board = more reactive which I definitely found with the substance and other smaller boards

wickedwake 07-28-2005 8:34 PM

Yeah yeah...Ive heard the swing weight excuse before. With boards getting lighter and having cut outs the swing weight issue is played out IMO.but if those few extra ounces is going to make you pull that 270 into a 360 then you better go for the smaller board<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/wink.gif" border=0>

wickedwake 07-28-2005 8:39 PM

Wider board that is shorter such as the Fish...Still around the same cm2 as a longer board if not MORE. I would have to have a Fish and a tape measure to do that. I never said a brand X 140 would pop better than a brand Y 140. I said of the same 2 boards the longer board will pop harder due to displacement. I dont care if you add the size to the width or length, more board surface area in the water will give you more displacement allowing more pop. Anyone that has ridden the Marius might agree with me here.

rascal23 07-29-2005 12:48 PM

I will agree with you on the fact that a board with an overall larger area will have more displacement, and more pop, than a board with a smaller area. So it is a debate over surface area, not length. The statement that the "longer" board will have more pop only pertains to the exact same board width.

ak4life 07-29-2005 6:05 PM

My buddy Trevor rode my 161 Liquid Force picklefork last week and kicked ass on it. <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/crazy.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>Behold the future of wakeboarding: <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65919/243891.jpg" alt="the future of wakeboarding">

marshall08 08-16-2005 10:02 AM

that's a kiteboard. <BR> <BR>but anyways. I think one reason people think shorter smaller boards are better is because of snowboarding. A smaller, shorter board allows you to spin a hella lot more and have less drag than a longer one. And I think that's been carried over. it's true in a sense, because once your off the wake you can spin quicker, but the smaller the board the lower you'll sink in the water. I was on a 136 and I had this problem. Then I went to the substance 142 and noticed a huge change. I want to try the 138 but I don't know if I'm a little too big for it. I'm 6'3" and weigh 170 lbs. one other factor is your center of gravity. I think your height is more important than the weight. shorter people on a longer, wider board should have a harder time cutting because they don't have the height to come over the board and get it on it's edge. Because I'm tall I can't say I've experienced this but it's seemed to work for a few of my other friends. but a bigger board will float better so you should get more pop. i've noticed watson is always switching between a 138 and 142 on the videos. I don't know how big he is or what tricks he does while riding them but this seems to be a problem for alot of us. that's my 2 cents.

malibuboarder75 08-16-2005 10:43 AM

Jordan, that is true to some degree. But look at some of these guys like Murray and Shapiro riding boards that are 140+. I think it is about technique and knowing how to edge.

rmm025 08-17-2005 9:22 AM

I have ridden the larger boards, but I personally prefer a smaller board. I am 5'11" 170# which puts me at the upper limit of 135 vision and absolute that I have. I like riding them better than my old DLX 141 for sure. Surface area helps, but its all in technique. I am sure shapiro, parks, ect. could still go bigger than most of us on a 130 or smaller board.

seattle 08-17-2005 6:12 PM

I'm riding a ERA 147 and will never go back to anything smaller again. The swing weight takes some getting used to, but the board lands soooo soft, like nothing I've ever ridden before.<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/proud.gif" border=0>

supermangan 08-18-2005 12:51 AM

its all preference, i ride a 133 and i weigh 170...the bigger boards dont give me THAT much more pop to where it would effect my riding that much, same with my swing weight isnt THAT much less to wear it makes my spins easier. Don't sweat the technique. Its all about the feel.


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