Wakeboards? Your opinions, what's best?

[rushin]

You guys that get to ride all year long must have an opinion on what the best boards out there are. What makes of boards & binding are you guys using? Anything new out there that has caught your eye? Best value for the dollar right now?

Buy the board that is best for YOU and your riding style and what you want to do. Not what the Jones' are riding!

[thtrog]

My son's new setup is the new LF Lyman 135 with the Shane CT boots. He rode it one set last month when we were in Fl and loved it. He says it was really fast, but had good control and pop much like the Watson.

I personally do not ride enough to make suggestions, but often riders I take out try each others boards and quickly can tell the board characteristics. Like others have posted it is really rider preference and how comfortable / confident you are with what you choose.

2008 Lyman 135 - 2008 Shane Closed Toe's

[Fit to be Tige]

My CWB Seven bindings are a bit large for me and I just saw this deal. http://www.boardersbestbuy.com. Is this a good deal? Anyone have these? I do love the hinge on my CWB's, it makes it so easy to get in and out of the boot. Are these tough to get into?

Thanks.

[Duncan]

I love my Ronix Vault. Asymetric heel-side and toe-side edge makes it easier to cut on your toes. Plus I really respect the Ronix business model. Ronix Cell bindings are great as well--heat molded liner, fits like a glove. It is a very rigid boot though, more so than most I tried. I demo'd several boards and bindings prior to buying.

I want to demo some of the flexible boards as a second. And I plan on getting some CWB hinge bindings (open toe) for others. One bummer is the CWB hinge bindings seem to have narrower range of size fittings than other open toes. And one of the points of the second set is to fit as many feet as possible.

[DieselPWR]

I like the Ronix Covin. My buddies have the Ronix One and Ibex and like them as well. The closed toed bindings have heat molded inserts for a good fit.

[dinfusino]

Through I've only owned 2 boards, so my experience is limited, I really like the O'Brien Player board and Ion bindings.

[NICKYPOO]

Demo, demo, demo. Ride every board you can. I rode a bunch of boards from different manufacturers when I first got into wakeboarding. HL, Obrien, CWB, but the first time I jumped on a LF Super Fly 44 (yeah, remember that board?), it took about 5 seconds to know it was my board. Point is, there's lots of different feels out there and you need to find the one for you and when do you find it, you will know immediately.

[FacePlant]

I have bought a couple boards recently, both Liquid Force, and I find myself still liking my OLD Hyperlite Premier 140 the best of all of them! Just picked up some CWB Deuce bindings to replace the CRAPPY LF bindings I had and love the combo.

[illiniboarder88]

I tried a CWB Transcend a couple weeks ago and loved it. Was the softest landing board I have ever ridden. That being said, it does not hold its edge like my imperial does.

[formandfunction]

You could screw some chuck taylors to a sheet of plywood and I could ride it.I think 90% is the person riding and 10% is the board/bindings.A better discusion would be what doesn't work well.What people don't like and why.
Ill start by saying some of the high top bindings don't allow the board to slip off easy which I consider a safety feature.If your feet don't come out of the bindings when you fall or worse one foot comes out you can get hurt real fast.In fact I only strap my boots tight enough to hold the board to my feet while I am airborn.

[sambo]

I learned on a POS O'Brien with sandal bindings from Overton's. Then went to a used LF Trip and then a used LF Balance. Rode both with Wiley's Tri-axis bindings. Still riding my Balance, but upgraded to LF Transit bindings and LOVE them. If I was going to recommend one board to take you from beginner to intermediate/advanced, it would still be the LF Trip. Great board, very forgiving. I have beat the hell out of both of them (my son is still riding the old Trip) and had no issues. Occassionally, I use a little fiberglass resin to "repair" the dings and help prevent delamination. BUT, like others have said, boards are like a good pair of shoes... You just gotta find one that fits you and your style.