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-   -   Truth about Slingshot- more or less pop??? (http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=774041)

bcrider 02-08-2010 10:55 AM

I was at the Seattle boat show this weekend and finally got to see and touch the Slingshot boards. One guy tells me the usual they load up when coming in the wake and release to give you more pop. Another guy (in the same booth for Wiley's) tells me I need to go with a regular board because the Slingshot being a flex board actually takes your pop away so you don't go as big. Buddy was saying I need a board more like the Marek ( what I was looking at just to look at) because it has the flex but at the same time the stiffness. Then proceeds to tell me how you never see pros riding Slingshot in comps yada yada yada. <BR> Now, I wasn't actually looking for a new board as I like my current B-Side nor did I believe everything this guy was trying to tell me but I did find it funny how 2 guys at the same booth said 2 different things about the boards.lol. <BR> <BR>So my question is, which is it? Do they help or take away from the pop when hitting the wake? I've never been on a Slingshot and have always been curious coming from a Snowboard background how they would ride.

eubanks01 02-08-2010 11:04 AM

Dave - I'm guessing you'll have to ride one yourself as I am curious about the same questions. The problem on here is that the Slingshot homers are going to tell you "more pop" and the other brand homers that haven't ridden a Slingshot are going to tell you "less pop". <BR> <BR>I don't have access to demo so that's why I would be curious about an answer as well but I don't think you're going to get a satisfactory one here.

nauty 02-08-2010 11:13 AM

I rode one a couple of years ago and it just wasn't for me. Granted, I'm not the best technical rider in the world, so perhaps it was just me? However, last summer a guy came out on my boat and was riding a SS. He was killing it with that thing taking it huge into the flats. <BR> <BR>He was obviously a much better rider than me and certainly knew how to get the most out of the flex. I think that is what it comes down to though.... it's more about you getting pop and not the board giving it to you. IMO if you're not already going huge then I don't think changing to a flex board will all of a sudden give you more pop than you were getting with your old traditional board.

ralph 02-08-2010 11:15 AM

I've ridden the recoil, response and company recruit. They ride really nicely and are super fun but I didn't feel like I could get the same pop as I do from my watson, people in the boat confirmed I wasn't going nearly as big. So not for me but tonnes of people love them. I ride with a more aggressive approach close to the wake than most people, maybe that is why they don't work for me.

cjh1669 02-08-2010 11:16 AM

I love my recoil and get a ton of pop from it. I too am from a snowboarding background. The one thing I've noticed, from the dealers I've talked to, is that they really don't know much about the flex boards at all. I had a Ronix rep tell me that they tested the flex boards and all their pros broke through them in a few jumps, which I think is BS. From my Exp the lfex boards actually hold up better to abuse. Ride one and feel it out. One thing I can say is it takes few sessions to get them down.

bmartin 02-08-2010 11:18 AM

A lot of people look to the deck to boot them and pop is way more a function of the edge and rider skill. Having said that and having ridden flex and traditional boards for years, I would say the vertical pop is similar, rocker and size being equal, but the feel is a lot different. My kids tell me I get a little more 'pop' on the flex, but the Vandall I am not. <BR> <BR>I guess what I am saying is that I would or wouldn't buy a flex because of pop, but for other reasons. The landings are way softer if you land on the tail and it gives you a different feel. Presses on these decks are liking hitting the easy button.

seth 02-08-2010 11:32 AM

I think Richard gave a good explation of it. I think the same person will go as big on a regular board as flex. Its all about the ride difference though. People who like the flex characteristics and how it feels on the water will gravitate towards that board, while people who like a conventional board characteristics will naturally choose that. Its all about riding them and figuring out for yourself. People either love flex and never go back or hate it.

eubanks01 02-08-2010 11:45 AM

Yeah, it seems to come down to durability and "press-ability" in what distinguishes flex from non-flex. Some say softer landings, but you have to learn how to land tail heavy from what I understand or it's quite the opposite.

bcrider 02-08-2010 11:45 AM

Thanks guys, I personally believe it has more to do with the rider then what the board is going to give you as well but I just thought I would get some rider feedback.

sidekicknicholas 02-08-2010 1:19 PM

For me personally (on a slingshot): <BR>it adds pop <BR>the landings ARE far far far softer <BR>riding is all around more fun <BR>Rails are more fun <BR> <BR>I could see how someone's riding style could work against the board... also I feel people knock them after 1/2 sets where honestly to really get use to it, it takes 3/5 sets... just like the first time you rode a wakeboard/cable/wakeskate, you weren't GOOD...but figuring it out made you better... <BR> <BR>I'll personally NEVER go back to a foam/stiff board. <BR> <BR>*I have always loved flex boards, I rode nothing but the roam for quite a while, so slingshots are the bee's knees*

dakid 02-08-2010 1:30 PM

for me personally: <BR> <BR>the pop was significantly less <BR>the landings are nowhere near as soft <BR>i don't want to <i><b>have to</b></i> get used to a board

wakeparent 02-08-2010 1:59 PM

Come on Joe... <BR> <BR>Best boards I have ever ridden.

dakid 02-08-2010 2:06 PM

larry (i'm assuming it's you), are you disputing <i><b>my</b></i> experience? just because it's the best boards you've ridden, doesn't mean the next person will have the same results.

denverd1 02-08-2010 2:21 PM

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>Best boards I have ever ridden.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR> <BR>Sounds like he's talking about <b><i>his</i></b> experience

dakid 02-08-2010 2:37 PM

i didn't intend to dispute what he's talking about or his experience.

ghettofab 02-08-2010 2:45 PM

i can ollie high on a flex board... <BR>if you land tail heavy the board flexes like it suppose to absorb impact. <BR>its fun as hell on rails

eubanks01 02-08-2010 2:49 PM

Nacho - <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

wakebrdr38 02-08-2010 2:49 PM

I love the feel of the slingshots, but to be totally honest, I feel they ride best on big wakes. Hands down one of the best double up boards in my opinion. On a smaller wake or days where we arent going to ride with much ballast sometimes I grab my old premier. But 95% of the time I grab my SS. You cant half ass it at all. You gotta load the line. Thats one great aspect is it makes you focus on correct edging. They have a totally different feel. Some people like em some dont. <BR> <BR>First time I demoed one I was sold. It was on cable though. When I started riding it behind boat the first couple times I was frustrated with not getting the pop I wanted but it was still fun to ride. I remember on like my third time to take it out I said I am really going to focus today and really try to edge the way I know I should be. That was the day it clicked and I understood the hype. Kind of funny that I still remember that day a couple years later.

robd 02-08-2010 3:17 PM

i picked up an 09 ss recoil and i LOVE it. not a huge difference, for pop, btwn recoil and my old watson. but the recoil is by far, a hell of a lot more fun. it seems, imo, that the recoil takes less out of you to ride, equaling longer sets. maybe its the softer landings who knows. but yea i doubt ill be able to buy another regular board, nor would i want to.

tracktor 02-08-2010 3:57 PM

Pop comes from the rider, not the board. Sure some pop easier than others but people were going big long before board tech got better. <BR> <BR>I ride a SS because for me, it's just more fun. If I find a board down the road I enjoy more I will switch..............

benjaminp 02-08-2010 4:30 PM

I have ridden a Company Severance a couple times, and I agree that it is more fun to mess around on, but if I am working on a new trick, or really just riding hard I much prefer my Ibex. Might be because it is my own board and I am more comfortable on it, but it floats my boat more than flex does. <BR>Also, I would like to ask the second rep what he thinks the Jeffs (McKee and House) ride when they compete. Out of curiosity.

blazer 02-08-2010 4:31 PM

I'm in the same boat as Joe; the pop is different (not necessarily more) and if you don't land a bit tail heavy it's an absolute knee killer. Super soft if you do land on the tail but I didn't like having to adjust my tricks to land tail heavy. Riding the Monarch now if that helps...

elbastardo 02-08-2010 4:38 PM

I switched to a Recoil 2 years ago. It took me a couple of sessions to get used to it, but once I figured it out it felt more poppy with much softer landings. Last year, I tried out my old Premier because it had been so long since I'd ridden a non-flex board. I was wondering if I was losing pop to the flex. On the Premier, I got no pop, the landings were hard, and it felt like I was riding a slab of concrete. I'm sure I could remember how to get good pop from the Premier after a few runs, but I have adjusted to the flex style of riding. The amount of pop is in your technique, but I think I get more with the Recoil. Dakid seems to think that since he didn’t get it right away, it’s not worth his time. I disagree. My guess is that if you ride flex once, you’ll hate it. If you ride flex for three days, you will love it.

loudontn 02-08-2010 5:26 PM

I was shocked when I rode a friends Slingshot. I hit his wake and was immediately surprised...and jealous. I had never been booted as easily as I was that day. I wish I had one.

adrien 02-08-2010 5:52 PM

I have only been riding for a year and really don't get good pop at all at this point in my experience level, but I think the key to getting pop on a flex board might be "pre-loading" or pre-flexing the board as you start your cut up the wake (hard tail press with lots of edge). When you get to the top of the wake the board springs back adding the energy you stored in the board before even hitting the wake to your pop. If you don't "pre-load" the board it will flex while popping robbing you of pop energy. <BR> <BR>I have no idea if this makes any real sense or not, but it is how I think about it. When I am able to do it right, I fly, do it half way and get normal pop, do it wrong and dud.

lesstalkmoreride 02-08-2010 6:16 PM

With time anyone can ride any board how they want/need...dont get bogged down in details. Demo and find what works for you. Flex is way funner regardless.....<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/proud.gif" border=0>

wakeparent 02-08-2010 9:17 PM

I miss you Joe! <BR> <BR>Larry <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/blush.gif" border=0>

dakid 02-08-2010 9:40 PM

i miss you too larry! haha!

jhilltn 02-08-2010 10:10 PM

more or less pop? if you're on the right size board, it depends on the rider, not the flex (not including a roam type). that's the truth.

wakerider111 02-08-2010 10:31 PM

I used to tote around the idea that flex gave more pop indefinitely, but those ideas were based on many biases and my over-excitement at the time. Now I try to just say i <i>FEEL</i> like i get more pop. Most importantly i believe flex featured boards like Slingshot are just soooo much more fun IN MY and others' OPINION. i can pull out of sketchy landings better too and so my VERY humble nap sack of tricks are more consistent... FOR ME. <BR> <BR><blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>By chris (cjh1669) on Monday, February 08, 2010 - 11:16 am: <BR>I had a Ronix rep tell me that they tested the flex boards and all their pros broke through them in a few jumps, which I think is BS.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR>i experienced a similar thing with a store rep in '08 saying how hyperlite tested the slingshot boards and determined them to be a gimick and such. typical salesman trying to get you to make a purchase by dissing the competitor. EVERY company does it! they might be subtle about it, or just completely outrageous about it. Look at the battles about soft landings for example: CWB is huge on spines. Ronix is opposite and supports a smooth/featureless belly that "glides over the water and not through it." SS and other flex relies on the board acting like a spring (tail heavy AND even flat too... IMO), etc. etc. <BR> <BR><blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>By AtTheLake (bmartin) on Monday, February 08, 2010 - 11:18 am: <BR>I guess what I am saying is that I would or wouldn't buy a flex because of pop, but for other reasons.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR>i really like that thought, for All boards! switching to 3-stage isn't gona give a person more pop any more likely than switching to flex, etc. just a different KIND of pop. and there are so many more characteristics for which to buy a board <BR> <BR>---------------------------------------------- <BR>What campanies are offering flex as an option? <BR>1.)Slingshot <BR>2.)Company <BR>3.)Obrien <BR>4.)Sine <BR>5.)Humanoid <BR>6.)Liquid Force <BR>7.)CWB <BR>8.)Wakeology? pretty sure i remember talk about a 2010 model having flex <BR>9.)Phalanx? (same sandwich construction but sounds to be stiffer than typical "flex board") <BR>9.)Hyperlite? (Rucks future pro-model? and the Roam, as more of a mes-around/rail specific board) <BR>*.)any i missed <BR>A lot of these companies just joined the "Flex Wagon" so of course there have not been many pros on flex boards, but there will be more. a majority? probably not. more? YES! <BR> <BR>this leaves, for those who don't offer flex: <BR>1.)Ronix (dropped the covenant board), <BR>2.)Byerly, <BR>3.)Gator and <BR>4.)J-Star, <BR>*.)any i missed <BR> <BR>BUT i must be fair and say that <BR>1.)Slingshot is the only one who doesn't offer a "stiff" board ;) <BR> <BR>CAN you go big on a flex type board??? <BR>I think so <BR> <BR>randall (Company Recruit, pre- Vandall pro model) <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/774136.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR>-------------------------------------------------- <BR>Gabe (CWB Vibe, new for 2010) <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/774137.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR> <BR>granted neither of these are Slingshot boards, but both are "FLEX boards," (deep down this is more of a flex vs stiff thing anyway) But both riders also have a riding style of going big in the first place

adrien 02-08-2010 11:10 PM

Wholly krap Jeremy!!! And I felt I was thinking overly hard about this... hahaha Your awesome.

tinytdubb 02-09-2010 10:19 AM

For me the difference was that a flex board is more forgiving. Like Jeremy said, it's easier for me to pull out of sketchy landings. To each their own though


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