I see lots of threads on here where it seems people change up their gear every year. I'm having trouble understanding this, and wonder why this happens. I got my first wakeboard in 2001, an '01 CWB Infinity 140 with Hyperlite Powerboots. Very beginner board which barely lasted that summer before I sold it and bought my '01 Hyperlite Drifter 136 in September that year. I'm still riding the Drifter. I took much of that first summer riding other boards, including that year's Premier, Project, LF Trip, and a couple other makes (IIRC they were Double-Ups and so forth). But I fell in love with the Drifter, and have never been able to let go.
Since then, I've upgraded the bindings to '04 Hyperlite ERA's (the green binding/blue board combo goes great with a big fashion air), but I've never felt the need to change boards. I hate how 3-stage boards ride and have never ridden one I like, and most boards nowadays are 3-stage, or hybrid. Almost all the continuous rocker boards out now are locked-down beginner boards. I even bought a used '04 TFD a few years ago to ride and try to get used to a hybrid setup. It's now stashed in the rafters of my boathouse with the old powerboots on it, used exclusively as a "visitor" board. I'm now feeling the itch for some new bindings again, but still in love with my old Drifter. I don't hit rails, it's all water work, so the board still looks brand new, and I still love the ride.
Am I the exception here? How do the rest of you feel about the subject? How often do you change your gear, and why?
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