Everyone's thoughts on ronix darkside
 

I presently ride Watson hybrid. Used to ride ronix one from 07-10. The darkside looks like it might be a good board but hard to know without riding. Thinking about ronix one or darkside next year. I know the one will ride way different than the old one I used to ride. I took my 03 byerly for a ride the other day. Have not rode that since 07 and used to love. omg slow coming in and felt like a brick when in the air and landing.

I've heard via the local Ronix rep that the board has a similar rocker to Dean's previous board, the Code 22, but that this is a faster board.

Not sure a faster board is where I should go as my past slalom ski background already makes me want to cut to fast. Maybe the one would be a better option. I am 6'1 and 210 so then wondering 142 or 146

If you go with the one, get the 146 for sure.

I do like the idea of soft landings with darkside but I'm sure the 146 one would be soft. I know my Watson hybrid has soft landings.

I only said it was faster than the previous Code 22. Which, I've found to be slower than the One Timebombs I have access to. I have no idea if the darkside is faster or slower than the one. I doubt they'd be to far off from one another.

Thanks w,s.of course with everyone surfing and only us old guys on the water still boarding not many shops around here carry a full lineup of boards. So in spring it might be hard to get hands on one of each to test ride.

I definitely feel your pain. I'm actually thinking of hitting ebay and grabbing an extra deck of my current 2015 board to avoid any of the unknown related to trying to find a new shape with the limited ability to try before you buy.

My buddy over at Active Water Sports got to ride with Dean Smith this past summer and try out the Darkside. He said it's a really fun board and fast, but glides smoothly. It sounds like the One and the Darkside are definitely top of the line for Ronix though. I know Active Water Sports just got the 2018 Ronix boards in recently, so if you live in the Oregon area you should head there and check it out. The guys there are really knowledgeable on that stuff too, especially after riding both.

Yeah I'm up in Canada eh. About 2 hours from where rusty malinoski is from. I even road the marek for a season in support of him. That was an awesome board but did take some dirty spills on it. Maybe trying to hard to ride like rusty. I am definately no rusty.

Thread bump. Any word on new feedback 2018 One Timebomb vs Darkside? I saw them at the boat show and thought they both looked interesting. Currently on a 2016 139 Code 22 that I love. Unfortunately, I'm feeling I need to go up a size. I'm 180, 5'11". I'm debating tracking down a 143 Code 22 or jumping on one of these boards.

I rode the 2017 one , I came off the old one time bomb from 2013 and had a 2012 watson. I love the new one , it is way faster and way softer landings than the previous generations, you can also break it loose a lot easier than the old one. I really loved my watson because i could break it loose and was fast. I love the new One as it is fast, can break loose and has way softer landings , plus it is really light.

I wonder how the new One will compare. They changed the shape a little and added these carbon reinforcement rods.

https://waterskiersworld.com.au/medi...s-2018-35d.jpg

Hey canada_air, I'm up in SK as well, may be able to meet up? I've got a 2014 One ATR and love it, it's a 142 though.

I wanted to follow up as I had a chance to demo the 2018 143 Darkside vs a 2018 142 One ATR vs 2017 HL Murray 145. I was hoping to have the Timebomb for the One but it’s what I had access to.

To me the darkside felt much more locked in when tracking than the One. I also noticed the delayed pop that Ronix advertises for it. Kind of feels like you’re getting the pop when the middle/back foot come off the lip of the wake (kind of like snowboarding). The darkside also felt bigger. Obviously it was 1cm longer but it felt larger in general. Comparing it to a Code 22 (with .8s) I was on previously, it was similar but the main differences were the faster feel and a more delayed pop.

I liked the Darkside more than the One but not enough to buy. I ended up keeping my HL Murray 145, which I liked the most of the 3. I still plan on demoing a HL Relapse when a chance arrives as that one has me curious too.

Thanks for reviews and tips guys. I road a 14 142 one the other day and felt slow like I weighed 300lbs. I hopped on buddies 145 bill board and it felt faster and more stable on the landings. The 142 one definately maybe a little small for my 215lb frame.