I have tried The Gate about 3 times but have found it hard to stay on (maybe it's normal for a begginer. What would be the the best skate to start with ? Shold I go for a wooden one ? Should I get a concave or non-concave?

How much do you want to spend, and how often do you think you'll use it. If you want to get into it, I'd suggest one of LF's or Cassettes concaves. Just for messing around, then just a flat deck will be more than fine.

I will do mainly wakeboarding, but will ride the skate about twice a week. If the concave is worth the price difference I will get it.... but as a geginner will it be harder for me to learn on a concave than a flat ? I also don't want to be limited as I get better. Is it the case with a flat ? <BR>And what size ? I weigh 165lbs

Concaves are easier to ride, you have more control. Saying that people do kickflips on flats, so a flat wont hold you back, just it'll more comfortable on a concave. <BR>Well the LF and Cassette concaves come in 40" 41" and 43" (don't bother yourself the th Asymetrical ones) take a look at the 41" and 43" I'm 180 and 6'1" and ride the 43"

hi Kristian <BR>Thanks for your info's. I am getting an idee but still have a few questions. I checket out the Cassette and the liquid Force skates. All the concave say they are for advanced.. (????) but you say they are easier to ride... Why do they advise them for advenced riders then ? <BR>And what about the grip ? Should I get foam or tape ? Is there a gig difference in the quality of grip ? Of cource I would prefer the one that doesn' t hurt but if the grip of the foam and the feeling is not good then I will go for the tape. <BR>Another thing. The 2004 Cassettes concave are all, but one, a-symetric. So maybe I should go for the Liquid Force ? <BR>Thanks again for your imput

A beginner can ride a concave--I think it's called an "advanced" skate because it's a higher end skate. You could ride either style of skate--BOTH will take time to master <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> . If you're sure you'll like wakeskating and money isn't an option, than spring for a concave. If you're not quite certain if you'll love it, buy a flat. <BR> <BR>As for grip, it's all personal opinion. People say that grip tape will a) give you cuts b) wear out faster c) it's not as grippy in water. I've ridden both and I personally like grip, but that's just me. A positive about grip tape is it will give you the true contours of the concave, where as foam is thicker and it will..."absorb" for a lack of better words, the concave. And if you do like it, grip isn't that expensive to replace (if you do wear it out, that is). As for foam, people say it's a) softer b) it can be tacky in water c) it will last longer. Oh, besides absorbing the concave, one other negative I've heard is that it absorbs energy, but I can't really say if that's true or not because I really didn't notice (although when I tried mine out, I was only ollieing and doing shoves, so it wasn't really a good test). Anyway, take it for what it's worth. So, look at those positives and negatives and figure out what will work best for you. If you already skate, grip may not be a bad choice. But either way, they both work and one really isn't better than the other, it all boils down to personal opinion. <BR> <BR>Lastly, there's nothing wrong with asymmetrical decks (I'm not quite sure why something like that was implied). A beginner most likely won't even notice a difference between a symmetrical and an asymmetrical deck. There was a conversation about them on wakeskating.com if you want to find out more about them. Good luck!

Hey, here's something on the foam vs. grip debate that was in wbm last year. It has brian's take on foam and thomas' take on grip: <BR> <BR>Brian likes foam because: <BR>-"in water, foam grip works way better than normal grip tape in absorbing pressure from your feet when you ollie." <BR>-"normal grip tape doesn't last as long once it's been exposed to water." <BR>- "When you fall on foam grip you don't get all torn up; the more leg hair you can save, the better." <BR> <BR>Thomas and grip: <BR>- "You get better pop because you don't lose energy to the foam." <BR>-"You get a better feel because you're closer to the board." <BR>-"the tape can be put closer to the edges and true contours of the board because it's thinner than foam." <BR>-"squeaking from foam-to-foot contact is just annoying."

Electricsnow pretty much answered it all, Listen to her, even if she can get a little bonkers at times <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/wink.gif" border=0> <BR>personally I go for crip tape. <BR>as far as Asymetrical comment, they cost more, thats why I said don't bother, when you won't notice much or any differance between the standard concave and asymetrical. But I was wrong, they cost the same, so its your choice. <BR>

Yeah, the 4tracs and the....whatever liquid force's version of the 4trac is, all cost more, but that's really about it. In my opinion, this IS a good year for wakeskates...almost every company has lowered their prices...so I think they're all pretty decent. <BR> <BR>Yes, I AM bonkers!! Sometimes I just can't sit still and I have a hundred thoughts racing through my head...

Yeah, now Cassette has A-symetrical boards without the 4-trac fin config' and they cost $5 less than the concaves. Its pretty cool with the lowering of prices, (except here they still cost a fortune). would have to agree, good year for wakeskates. <BR> <BR>and don't get her started on typing in British slang, hahahaha. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>(Message edited by kristian on February 21, 2004)

yeah, not to turn this into a personal discussion, but my sister's finance called from england today and I had my crappy british accent that will change from sentence to sentence...it sounds like I'm from many different regions or something--a wanderer, if you will. So after I was don speaking with him, he said I was crazy. Ahhh, all in a days work... <BR> <BR>cheerio, chappie!! (I may have made that one up, instead of chap, it's chappie...chappie and chippie--for females). hahahahha...ahhh yeah.

is grip tape that bad ie getting cuts etc.... <BR>i have ridden a skateboard for years but it sounds like a wake skate is worse how so?

If you've skated for years, you'll feel much more comfortable on grip tape. Well some of the grip tape boards use tape thats a little more corse (sp) because it does get wet. It's not so much the fact of the grip that cuts you up, its just your going faster than you would do on a skateboard, so of course when you make contact with the board its a little more aggressive. But I ride Grip tape, and have only had a few cuts on my shins. So my final thought, I wouldn't worry about it.

I have deceided to order the Cassette asymetrical grip tape. Still not shure about the size . 41 or 43 ? <BR>I am 165lbs, 6 foot 1 .

Tuff choice, I'm 6'1" and have a 43 3D, I also really like the 41, but find doing W2W stuff easier on the 43 (Also a little more space for my size 12's). <BR>Let us know which one you end up getting. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by kristian on March 01, 2004)