Larger board or different rocker type?

(fbricard) · (fbricard) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 10-14-2006, 12:28 PM

Having a bit of a quandry here. I normally ride an '05 Obrien Valhalla 138. Am about 5'7", 180lbs. Decent air w2w, nothing spectacular. Today, tried an '06 Gator Gonzales 142 and was pretty surprised by the pop. Did not have to work at all for it and was just up there so much easier & higher as per what the people in the boat said and what I felt (landings were a bit harder though).

Now I'm just wondering if its because the Gonzales is larger in length (width wise both are the approximately the same), or because its the 3-stage rocker that I'm loving? Valhalla is a progressive rocker. The flip side, I did find the Gonazales a little long when riding.

So I'm thinking of switching but am not sure to get a larger board w/3stage or just my normal 138 w/3stage.

(jjakober) · (jjakober) **Join Date: Apr 2002** 10-16-2006, 7:07 AM

Check out the O'Brien Natural 139. It's a 3 stage board with sweet POP, but it still lands nice and soft. I used to ride the Valhalla 138, but I now like the Natural much more. Also the Natural is very fast for a 3 stage board.

Later,
jjakober

(fbricard) · (fbricard) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 10-16-2006, 7:16 AM

I've always been eyeing the Natural. The other board I'm sort of eyeing now is the Byerly 137/142. Both seem to have what I want in a board. Gonna try and arrange a demo this weekend.

Cheers J Jakober