Bigger board = Better?

Okay so I have been wakeboarding for several years now and I've always ridden between a 134cm - 137cm board. My current ride is a shane 136 which I love, but I am thinking of moving up to the shane 140 this year which will be the biggest board I've ever ridden. I'm not a very big guy at 5' 7" 165 lbs, so I was wondering if a 140cm board will feel THAT much different. I mean it's only a 4 centimeter difference, but I've just never even ridden a board that big EVER! Is a board that size just too big for me? Will it effect my invert rotations? spins? Give me softer landings? I know some people love the bigger boards, so any input is very much appreciated.

I weigh less than you and ride a 140 sized board. It does seem to give softer landings, but it might slow your spin

i'm 5'9, 160 lbs and been riding the shane 140 the last couple of years. i've always been a fan of bigger boards though: bigger pop and softer landings. it shouldn't have any negative effects on your riding. now, if you weighed 100 lbs and tried a ride a 140, i'd say don't do it.

Bigger = Better.
The first couple rides will feel weird but once you get used to it you'll love it!!
Most people ride boards that are too small for them anyways, the 140 would be great for your size.

Boo yeah. Thanks for the responses guys. This makes me feel much better about going with the 140. What about my stance? Normally I would push the bindings all the way out, but I think I'll try it a notch in at first and go from there.

go all the way out.

Bigger is definately better. After riding my new stick a few times, I will never go back to a smaller board. Its a 144, and dope. I go bigger and the landings are softer to boot. Love it.

Umali, what up?! Our lake is filling!

not much dude! i'm lookin' forward to headin' out there to ride w/ you and chuck as soon as it starts warmin' up. btw, antbug's knee is almost 100%! it'd be a sick weekend to get the crew out there!

Oh yes indeed. Maybe we'll have everyone bring some lumber instead of gas so we can build a wall ride!!!

I think bigger is better to a certain extent. I'm 5'8 140 and used to ride a 133, now I ride a 137 and love it so much more. But when I tried the 143 Lyman I hated it. I don't know how I would like a 140, maybe I should try one....

Tom it might be more the board shape you didn't like. You can't compare sizes all that well unless they're the same or similar shapes. Next time you're out at OWC give my 142 One a shot and see how you like that. You'll know who I am I've got the double knee braces.

Hey Brandon, how's the ear??

The Watson says something on it like if you ride their 134 it's like a 138 because if the design...

Chris, still messed up a bit. It comes and goes, but I think its getting better.

my last two boards were 132/134 just to keep the weight down... i'm 6' 185lbs so they were tiny for me, but I liked it,
but when slingshot/flex boards came out (others too, ronix v-series, byerly monarch, DINE, FLY etc etc) I instantly got a bigger board since the weight was still low.

Bigger board = more surface area = more pop

i weigh 170. and i ride a 139, my dad is 230 and rides a 142. i find his really awkward. his bindings are big on me so that might be some of the problem. but i really like riding a 139

I ride the lyman 139 and I really like it for style. But for some reason i believe if i had the 135 lyman i would have stuck that toe 7 more then a couple times at the end of the season. On the other hand the larger board gives me the pop neccessary to throw grab inverts ??????

tom knotek- this is not necessarily true. in '07 i rode a 143 covin and learned toe 7s and landed about 15 more that year. in '08 i rode several boards must mostly a 138 covin and didnt land one toe 7. i felt that the smaller board didnt give me the time to lock my position in on landings, it was like i was re-learning it for the first time.

Bottom line: the myth of bigger boards are harder to spin with is just that a myth. they are more fun to ride if you ask me.

I couldn't have said it better than Tom...I'm tired of hearing that small boards spin better; Danny and Rusty spin pretty well on big boards

Danny's 1080's on 142's
Brad's 1080 on a 146
Rusty's 1080's 142-146
Parks 1080 on a 142

Personally I'm way more comfortable spinning on a bigger board. I wouldn't have any qualms riding a 150.
Bigger = Better

Nick- how the hell do you ride a 132 and be 6' 185. I have messed around here and there with little boards but felt like every jump i was going to dig the nose, in fact there have been a few times where i did dig the nose

Does Parks ride the 139 IBEX or the 144 now? I looked at a 144 and that board seemed huge. I think if I get an Ibex I will get a 139.

The Ibex is really wide (a lot of surface area) so that 139 is like a 140-142 in most other boards.

I just stepped up to a 140 witness from 136/138 boards as well. I'm 5'5 165lbs. Haven't ridden it yet, its still way to cold here in KS. I'm excited about it. I'm sure it will take a few rides to get used to it but my old body will appreciate the softer landings. I also asked a lot of people and everyone said go up. Hopefully my airtime does too!!

Im currently on an 06 138 watson right now and love it.. looking to get the 09 viva in either the 136 or 140. the guy at my pro shop is telling me to get the 136 but after reading this thread im kind of skeptical. im 5' 10" 155... has anyone ridden the viva and know if it rides big like the watson does,from what ive heard? any suggestions on which size i should get?
thanks

The Viva rides true to size. If you like bigger boards get the 140, but if I were you I would ride the 136. I am 5'11" 185, and have a 142, but will be on a 139-142.

not really sure if i have a preference for bigger boards cause i havent ridden very many but if i like the size of the 138 watson which is suppose to ride big would the 140 viva ride similar? and would the jump from the watson to a 136 feel drastic?

Bigger board is more surface area, so more reaction to what you are doing. it will pop more, and land softer. It isnt harder to spin, but since you are dealing with increased forces, everything on it requires a little more upper body stregnth. So if you have a good strength to weight ratio then you will really love it. if it seems overpowering at first, give a a couple of months and you will get stronger and adjust.

WELL BENCHING 275 I THINK ILL BE ALRIGHT... SOUNDS LIKE I SHOULD GO WITH THE 140 THO...

I just got use to riding little ones... I ended up snapping my 139 3DS and only had an old Byerly 132...started riding and could just throw it around soooo easy.... got a new Ibex at 134, like that a ton too. I just hated swing weight on a board.... I rode a roam for like 1/2 years for boat/rails/everything, you know what thats like, so after than everything seemed heavy so I would get smaller boards to cut down on weight... until I found Slingshot