Gator Gonzales

I just got back from Spring Break and my first boarding trip of the year. This trip was rather special because I was able to ride a whole new setup. I found some 03 Parks bindings on clearance at my local shop and purchased the Gator Gonzales 138. My old board was a 2002 Premier 140. I measured the two boards before I left and the Gonzales was just an inch shorter. The setup looked sweet and I was pumped to ride. The lake we rode at was glass and no other boats were to be seen. The Gonzales board was ten times better than the Premier. It was faster, lighter, had more pop, and tracked better than the Premier. I even rode it finless and found it to be more stable. I could be wrong, and the off season just made me a better rider mentally and that automatically translated to my physical riding...but I think it was the board. I am excited to be riding a non-hyperlite board. I will definetly look into buying more Gator Boards. The Gonzales is a great pick up for anyone looking for a beginer to intermediate board. Does anyone else have a similar expierance? Peace.

I recently went from a liquid force evolution 138, not a bad board, but after upgrading to a gonzalez, I will stick with gator too.. on my first run I was just getting used to the board, but on my second I was landing things I'd been trying 4 ages straight up.. I've ridden a fair few of my mates boards and non of them have the pop of the gonzalez.. stoked with it..

Go Finless. I don't think I will ever put the fins on mine.

"the off season just made me a better rider mentally and that automatically translated to my physical riding..."

True true, I think that is half the battle, trying to visualize a trick. Especially inverts, I have been visualizing back rolls for the last few months, I really think I am ready to bust one out. Day dreaming away!! LOL

Just as a side note, so you guys know why the Gonzo seems so much shorter than the prem. Its because its actually a 136, not a 138. Next year they'll have a real 138.

Hey, I am not sure if any of you have seen the new look for the 05, but it is sick! It has a black back ground. I have the 04 and the 04 caddy 135 and I am selling that and getting the new Gonzo board as soon as it comes out!!!!!!!! Check out wakewarld for the pic!!
http://www.wakeworld.com/news/2004/gatorboards3.asp

Here's a question for Mavrick LTD or Itch if they read this. About th 2005 Graf's it says its on a 2004 shape, does that still mean a 136cm? if so will the true 138 come out with the other two sizes?

(Message edited by kristian on March 23, 2004)

There are supposed to be two different sizes for the new 05! I am not sure which two, but I am going to call my dealer and he will know! So as soon as I hear from him I will tell ya!!!

the '05 is REALLY sick with the black background.
kris, is the board really a 136 instead of a 138?!?!
hope they'll have it in a true 138.
can't wait for it be in production and be available to get my hands on it.
sick board...think its time to dump my parks.

Even if it is a 136...its only an inch shorter than my old 140 premier. It didn't feel shorter, just lighter. Get the board. It's sick, white or black!

Wow!! I feel lucky to have gotten my board. I didn't know they sold out. I love my Gonzales board

Brian, interested in selling your premiere?? If so I just might be interested in buying.

Kyle

I'll Break it down for you guys.

For now the "138" is still a 136 the old shape but with the Black graphics there will be a completly new shape out in a few months we don't know for sure how long till they come cause were so busy with the current boards and working on the other 2 sizes.

in a few weeks the 142 model will be out with a New Shape with NEW completely different graphics

After the 142 there will be a 134ish board out in the new shape with new graphics after that the 138 will get re-cutt to match the other boards.

For now don't worry about the size everyone 2cm is not enough to worry about its all in the mind.
their is absolutely nothing wrong with the 136 shape in my opinion there is no reason to even change it it rides soo good. the 138 shape change probably won't be till next season.

There are actually 3 sizes for '05 coming out this season 134,138,142 and they are all true to there size. The 138 has reverse colors and the same graphics from last year(Black white and Gray) and 2 new graphics for the 134 and 142 yet to be released. FYI the bottom graphics are the same as '03 on all three boards.

Maverick,
You say a few weeks for the new 142 model/shape??
Any ideas on when that will be available for my local shop to order?

you are riding a hyperlite board, if there was an 03 premier 138 it would be the exact same as the gonzales 138

mav - I'm about to take my Gonzalez back because of a crack at the top, its only been ridden twice, if i get a a new one sent out, how long till I can get one with reversed colors??OH.. I live in NSW Australia too..

JONB we have all been down this hyperlite copied blah blah road b4 please don't talk about things you know nothing about.
D O double G it should be out no later than the middle of may.

i don't think that you will be getting reverse to Aussie for a while boats take forever get what you can for now

JONb, if you want to get technical, sure, it's a Hyperlite if they made a 138. But, the Premier/Era is a BadAss Motor Head/Shroom.

If you want to be factual, Hyperlite stole the mold from BadAss (Pod 135 and Shroom 141) to make what is now known as the Hyperlite Premier/Era.

Joe, don't forget HL did change it slightly, and slowed it down a bit. Which is why the Shroom was so good. I'm not playing preferance, but for me, the fact alone the Gonzo is a faster board, makes it that much better. That was my only complaint with the prem. (remember this is only an opinion)

Yeah, I totally agree that the Premier was slower...lots of people would agree with you.

The BadAss Motor Head/Pod had been out way before the Hyperlite Premier was released. When the Premier was released, I bought it. Loved it at first, but after a while, I realized I was workin' my ass off to get good speed on the cuts. Then I learned of the BadAss Motor Head/Pod. I demo'd it and loved it! It was my board after that, and never went back to Hyperlite after I heard what they did to Herbie.

Don't get me wrong, Hyperlite puts out good products. Almost all wakeboard companies do. Hell, I recommend Hyperlite boards if/when I see fit. But, I'd never ride one again.

I saw the Gonzales at the factory. The slick bottom, do you think that helps in its speed? I can't remember, but does the Gonzales have turned down edges from tip to tail like the BadAss? I think that's where Hyperlite f'ed up when they took it upon themselves to f up a perfectly good design.

Hyperlite should have never let Ricky G get away! He has to many followers and he designs some bad boards!!

Thanks Mav, I'll talk to my pro shop today and see if I can get one ordered asap. Can't wait to demo that bad boy.

Here we go again....

Isn't that an old Whitesnake song??

Hahn: are you saying you've seen this before?

Kristian,
Headed to Salt Lake City today to pick up the M2R bus and head to Orlando. 7 Month road trip!

I'm so jealous!!!!!

Joe who are you man? if you've been around the factory i must have met or seen you?

Ricky and I pushed for the smooth bottom for months. the board ride slide and overall much much better that way the shot peened bottom is •••••••••••• smooth is waaay better!

Maverick, I've only been to the factory 3 or 4 times, so I doubt we've met.

o ok man, ARE YOU GUYS LIKING RICKY G'S NEW BINDING OR WHAT?

yeah.. they look nice.. shame i just invested in new bindings..

They look bada$$. I'd like to get my hands on a pair... rather my feet in a pair.
So if you have the a new RG 142 and the RG1 bindings sitting around, I'll gladly take em off your hands.

They look cool, but no-one has written a review on them yet, so my judgement is still out on it. but I guess we can assume they're just as good as the PRS1's atleast. (which is a good thing)

I have the RG bindings on order. Should have them sometime in April. They look really cool.

mine are comin as soon as they come out of the crate ill let you know how ther are. im sure they are sick ricky let me try his prototypes and they were money!!

DO e-mail me ill hook you up with a 42 and some RG1's

Mav - You have mail.

What do you think of Randy's new bindings by CD?

Here is a look at the RG1: http://www.wakeworld.com/news/2004/nice1.asp

Maverick the new Ricky G's look just like the gator bindings and parks are they them same basic idea?

the gator bindings are similar the parks are totally different the parks has a single tightening system the RG1's are independant front and back lace, they also have heel locks to keep you in your heels in so you don't fall out the front like parks. ricky developed the prototypes, Gator used the idea as well as CD's new CS01. im hearing good things about the vandall binding.

yeah well the parks has individual lacing this year and they have had the strap in the front so you dont fall out the front called the option 2 strap since they first came out I want to check out the vandalls though really bad they look stinken sweet

yeah and the parks have the heel locks also to keep your foot locked in, they look sweet this year, cant wait to try my new pair. I had nice PRS1s a while ago and the stupid buckle was always a problem. My parks were a lot better last year.

has another version of the parks come out besides the burgundy ones that i don't know about?

What are you doing up so early on a Sunday Mav?

it was my B-day friday so we did it up and i had all day yesterday to chill i got up mad early this morning to stick The new motor in the stabbin cabin, i picked up a HiPo 429 Cobra jet block with Thunderjet heads for her should be somewhere in the 375hp 450tq at the wheels range, not bad for the ol' van.