Wake Surf Board Advice

[pdhj1990]

I'd appreciate some input on a couple surf boards. My kids are 14 (boy) and 15 (girl) and weigh 130 and 102 respectively.

I'm six foot and weigh 209. My wife is petite and weighs about 110.

We've boarded a few times. Getting out of the water is no big deal. However, we need to improve our surfing skills without the rope. I purchased an Enzo fat sac from a fellow forum member so we'll have a decent wake.

I’m a big believer in quality gear and would appreciate any advice on models, lengths and best place to purchase. Also, I'd like to keep the under $400 per board, if possible.

Thanks.

[murphini]

My Inland Surfer Blue Lake works really well for me--I'm 200# 6', and the Inland Surfer Squirt works well for people 100#-200#. I can ride the Squirt but prefer the Blue Lake. The Blue Lake is too buoyant for lighter people to easily get up on--it sort of skids across water when they try to stand up.

The Squirt also fits in a wakeboard rack, which is nice.

Lots of good boards out there-lots of good advice from other surfers

[tnvolgrad]

My Inland Surfer Blue Lake works really well for me--I'm 200# 6', and the Inland Surfer Squirt works well for people 100#-200#. I can ride the Squirt but prefer the Blue Lake. The Blue Lake is too buoyant for lighter people to easily get up on--it sort of skids across water when they try to stand up.

The Squirt also fits in a wakeboard rack, which is nice.

Lots of good boards out there-lots of good advice from other surfers

The Blue Lake is an awesome board - Hyperlite Broadcaster and Fish are also good price point boards. I would recommend atleast a 5'2" board

[pdhj1990]

I can buy a Hyperlight, 5.6 Broadcast for $290 or a 5.3 Liquid Force Fish for $300. How do these two boards compare?

The description of each board appears well suited for beginners and each board allows for skill development. Thoughts?

[Iwndr]

Everyone that has tried to get up on our broadcast has had almost instant success, one or two attempts. That's kids and adults. I never have tried the LF Fish.

[NICKYPOO]

Broadcast. I've taught so many people how to surf on that thing. Although not exactly the same as my old one, it is still basically the same. I took the stock fins of and replaced them Hyperlite 1.1 A-wings. Not sure it is still possible with the new ones but, since the fins on pop out boards are for stability and nothing else, the A-wings have much less drag, resulting in more speed.

I prefer skim style boards and I like the Inland Surfer 4 Skim. Good down the line speed and is fairly stable yet still fairly quick. Skim style boards fit in regular board racks. Phase 5's run pretty good but are overpriced IMO for what the are.

If you can afford a real board (not a pop out) you should.

[pdhj1990]

What do you mean, "If you can afford a real board (not a pop out) you should"?

[lancehon]

I have the broadcast 4'9" and the 5'6" both work extremely well

[NICKYPOO]

What do you mean, "If you can afford a real board (not a pop out) you should"?

As in a mid to high end board as opposed to the major wakeboard brand boards. While the pop outs seem to be pretty durable, will actually surf, will generally fit in a wakeboard rack and in your budget quite nicely, the performance leap to a higher end board is well worth the extra coin. I had mine built for me and I love that damn thing. It's too bad he's no longer building boards, or at least none that I know of. I would recommend it in a heartbeat. If you ever see a nice Walzer for sale, grab it.

I would do a search for "which board" and read what surfdad has to say. He has built a lot of boards and has a lot a sound advice.

For reference, I'm 6'0", 200#. I ride a 4'6" 3/4" pintail, 100% hard rail. Check my post in the July picture thread. Fat guy on tiny board on tiny wake. Fast boards rule in wakesurfing.

[NICKYPOO]

Do a search for Walzer. It brings up all sorts of good reading.

[pdhj1990]

Does anyone have experience with ToWanZa Wakesurfing? Here'a a link to their website:

http://www.towanza.com/content/about...za-wakesurfing

I'm looking at the following two boards:

1) Sweet Spot Camo - Surf Style Board - $595
http://www.towanza.com/product/sweet-spot-camo

2) 4-Skim Virus - Skim Style Board - $595
http://www.towanza.com/product/4-skim-virus

Thanks

[dingleberry]

I ordered a blemish Mucus from Towanza. Good price, good service, happy customer. I hadn't gotten any shipping notification from them, so I submitted an inquiry online - I think they replied via email within an hour or so (turned out the board was almost to my house by then).

[pdhj1990]

Thanks Dingleberry. That is a nice endorsement.

Does anyone have any experience with either of the boards and/or board types referenced above?

Paul

[NICKYPOO]

I've always wanted to try that P5 Danielo. Very similar to my board minus the fins. I've got two 2 5/8 on mine. I've ridden my wife's P5 Prop on several occasions. Same size and similarly shaped as mine and a little heavier, just no fins which makes it a bit too slow for me. It's amazing what a good set of fins will do. It is pretty squirrely with just that one little fin.

I really can't comment on surf style boards as I have very little experience with them. Most people however, prefer them over the skim. I always just liked the edge feel of the hard rails and the thin board. You can really edge into the wake hard. The soft rails (rounded edges) just don't have the same bite IMO. Maybe its just my slalom upbringing.

[NICKYPOO]

Does anyone know it the fins on the 4 skim Virus are canted or are they just straight? That is a pretty nice board without those fins. It would be even better with a good fin set up.