New Liquid Force Trip feels foreign to me

A few years ago, it took me alot of trial and error to find a board I really liked.. the perfect combination of enough pop, handling chop, landing softly, controllability, etc. It ended up being the Liquid Force Trip... I bought a nice, red white and blue one, made right here in the USA... I like it so much, I bought an extra for myself, and 1 for my wife.

Now it's getting time to replace these boards because they're getting dinged up. I rode my friend's brand new Trip over the weekend, and it's just not the same board . The best way I can describe it is "volatile". It has more pop, but I'm completely unable to predict it. When I hit the wake, it feels like an explosion... but I have no idea how big the explosion will be, causing me to over-rotate inverts and spins, and smack the water like a kook... It lands so hard, my knees are still recovering from this weekend. The side fins have been replaced with molded, channel-like "fins", and now, on the surface, it seems sketchy and unpredictable in chop, but in glassy water it behaves itself just fine. Oh, and it has a logo on it that says, "Made in the United Arab Emerates" in place of the "Made in USA" logo.

To be fair, I can see that this new Trip design has it's high points, but it's just not the same design that I grew to know and trust over the years. If they were going to build a different board, they should have picked a different name, and left the Trip alone.

Where do I look for a board that rides like the Liquid Force Trip from 3 or 4 years ago?

Try the Team it still has removable fins and might ride the same. I used to ride the Trip way back when and personally I like that explosive pop you are not enjoying. Once you get the hang of it, you get lots of extra pop. As for the UAE, they press their boards there now, pretty simple.

(Message edited by stephan on July 03, 2007)

Tim , when you find ti let me knwo...I've been unable to find anythign close. the team is close, btu I've never ridden it with the side fins in. supposedly the team used the same mold as the trip...I refuse to let go of my trip, it's got tons of dings, scrathces, but still floats me.

I ride them both, the Team is a bit faster than the Trip. The Trip has a little more pop to me and softer landings than the Team. Try the Team, it is all personal preference and you can add/remove fins to your liking.

Try the Free Motion Icon. Its the exact same trip as you used to ride, but says FreeMotion Icon. FreeMotion is part of Liquid Force.

Cool, the free motion icon... but where do I buy it? None of my regular stores seem to carry this brand.

http://www.the-house.com/wakea-freemotion.html

http://www.amazon.com/Freemotion-Icon-Wakeboard-Wake-Board/dp/B000R7L8HU

http://cgi.ebay.com/LIQUID-FORCE-WAKE-BOARD-TRIP-43-BRAND-NEW-KNEEBOARDING_W0QQitemZ200125489669QQihZ010QQcatego ryZ47363QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

there is a 2002...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Liquid-Force-Trip-143-wakeboard_W0QQitemZ300126560552QQihZ020QQcategoryZ 106979QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
2005

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-LIQUID-FORCE-TRIP-133-WAKEBOARD_W0QQitemZ180134273342QQihZ008QQcategoryZ 106979QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
a 2004 but 133

http://www.the-house.com/wakea-freemotion.html

check this out for the Free Motion Icon (old Trip)

i ride the Team 139 and i love it. i rode the 04 trip for a while and went to the team.

I ride the new trip...the best board I have ever ridden IMO...

Get a new LF Team. It is the OLD Trip with new graphics. I just switched to the Witness 140 from the Team and love it. Just my .02, but try 'em all out and then decide.