i've ridden both in the past two weeks. i started out with the Watson 142. i loved the board...great pop, super light, nice landings, tracks well on edge, but very loose when flat (i rode without the middle fin). it is definitely a unfortunately i have a problem with breaking boards (5'11", 205 lbs, and not very graceful). i snapped it on Krypt on my 3rd set. so i went back to the shop and swapped it out for another one, and again it broke on a Krypt in the middle of it's second set. i was landing pretty evenly and solid, and rode away from both landings. my shop ran out of Watsons, so took a Lyman 143. i've taken 3 sets on it, and am really diggin' it. it's definitely faster than the Watson and not as loose, has about the same verticle pop, but it does shoot a little further out into the flats. i can tell that it has a little more swing weight when spinning than the Watson (take this comment with a grain of salt, as I can only spin as far as 540 on HS/TS)...better riders might disagree with me. also, the landings seem to be a bit harder, but this is probably due to the fact that you're landing out in the flats more often. if i could ride just either of them without breaking them, i think i would go with the Watson. since that is not the case, i will stick with the Lyman...it's far more durable, with it's double layer of glass. i hope this helps. you can't go wrong with either board, in my opinion.
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