I am looking for my first board. I can't believe how many options there are. I was looking at this: <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-OBRIEN-DIESEL-141-cm-WAKEBOARD-w-BINDINGS-SRP-340_W0QQitemZ190117446089QQihZ009QQcategoryZ111301 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-OBRIEN-DIESEL-141-cm-WAKEBOARD-w-BINDINGS-SRP-340_W0QQitemZ190117446089QQihZ009QQcategoryZ111301 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem</a> <BR> <BR>I am ~190 lbs.

BTW, I am looking to spend no more than $250 for the board/bindings.

I would get these (below)if i were in your situation, i have these boots and i think they are great. You will most likely be disappointed with those obrien boots. I have an obrien oasis setup too with the link bindings and they are terrible. I'm not sure which those are. <BR> <BR>size med/large <BR><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/2005-Hyperlite-Era-Wakeboard-Bindings-M-L-9-10-NEW_W0QQitemZ260123975755QQihZ016QQcategoryZ114267 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/2005-Hyperlite-Era-Wakeboard-Bindings-M-L-9-10-NEW_W0QQitemZ260123975755QQihZ016QQcategoryZ114267 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem</a> <BR> <BR>Size large <BR><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Hyperlite-Wakeboard-Bindings-Era-Large-2005_W0QQitemZ330126471252QQihZ014QQcategoryZ11426 7QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Hyperlite-Wakeboard-Bindings-Era-Large-2005_W0QQitemZ330126471252QQihZ014QQcategoryZ11426 7QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem</a> <BR> <BR>Then find a board for ~150, <BR><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-OBRIEN-DIESEL-141-cm-PRO-RIDER-WAKEBOARD-SRP-290_W0QQitemZ190117162824QQihZ009QQcategoryZ111301 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-OBRIEN-DIESEL-141-cm-PRO-RIDER-WAKEBOARD-SRP-290_W0QQitemZ190117162824QQihZ009QQcategoryZ111301 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem</a> <BR> <BR>You should probably looking for a continuos rocker board though <BR> <BR>(Message edited by Jpshaff01 on June 04, 2007)

Thanks for the info. I am open to any board. I have wakeboarded a couple times, but I don't know anything about it. Why should I be leaning towards a continuous rocker design?

Jeremy, I have a O'brian Diesel 141 with bindings, brand new still in the plastic. My son won it at a contest last year. $225.00 you pay to ship. Send me a PM if your interested.

the continuous rocker is usually easier to control overall. easier to control pop...board control comes down to how many/how big your fins are

Why not go with something like this? <BR><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-OBRIEN-PLAYER-143-cm-8-FINS-PRO-WAKEBOARD-SRP-350_W0QQitemZ190119810774QQihZ009QQcategoryZ111301 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-OBRIEN-PLAYER-143-cm-8-FINS-PRO-WAKEBOARD-SRP-350_W0QQitemZ190119810774QQihZ009QQcategoryZ111301 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem</a> <BR> <BR>$129 shipped, brand new. The player has gotten great reviews, and the expensive/acclaimed natural is basically a player on crack.

YYEEAAUUHHH. i ride the player...it is a badass board. im kinda experienced...and i dont ride with the center fin...if you stick that thing on there itll stick to the water really good....easy board to ride...lol even though it has a massive 3stage rocker

I looked at the player, but it says its for more experienced riders. What makes a board for more experienced riders? Those Hyperlite Era bindings look nice, but they would prolly look pretty dumb on the player. Thanks for the continued info.

For $250 there is no way you can afford to care what it looks like haha. j/k

HAHA, yeah i know. It's just my first board and don't want to pay a ton. I don't know how often I will be able to go because the closest lake is about an hour away.

an hour is relatively close! Try checking your local boardshop too and see if they can't hook you up with a deal.

Dunno if you can beat that ebay deal on the player, seriously. I bought that board for $129 shipped, and then bought some link bindings for around $65. <BR> <BR>I'm a beginner and to me, the player seems to be pretty forgiving. I run it presently with all the fins.

For me, an hour is a long way for a lake. I grew up less than a mile from the great lakes, but I now live in the middle of NC and there are few lakes suitable for boats. I am leaning towards the Player.

A player for 130 bucks is ridiculously good. Mine ran me about 800 bucks(Canadian) with bindings and I love it. It's a pretty advanced board because it has really huge pop and landings that are on the harder side (because of the aggressive 3-stage rocker). Like Jeff said earlier in the thread, it's harder to control the pop on a 3-stage rocker, but at the same time, you get way more of it with the 3-stage. So yeah, all in all an awesome board for going big and progressing quickly, I'd say buy the player unless you're worried about control.

<a href="http://buywake.com/catalog/detail/MNSLX" target="_blank">http://buywake.com/catalog/detail/MNSLX</a> <BR>a little more but pretty nice board