Wakesurf board recommendations?

[Surfdad]

It sounds like you are wanting to do surface rotational tricks. Skimmers are definately easy to start spins with, they tend to have the issue with "stopping" the rotation.

Mike over at Calibrated does a great job and he has a great product. The rocker isn't great for launching airs, but a bigger issue for most folks with the common pintail found on skimmers is that it sinks and therefore makes it hard to get the nose out of the water. Mike has a swallow tail design, that has a wider tail and that can make airs a bit easier. I can't remember the name of it now! If you dead set on a skimmer, say that you want to try shuv's, I'd give Mike a shout. Also the folks at CMS carry Calibrated.

I wouldn't sell yourself on the skimmer as being the only board capable of surface rotations. James routinely does 720's and now 5's on his board, but he DOES have to end frontside regular rather than with the board revert. The skimmers can be ridden regular and also revert all day long.

The offerings from TWP (signature and F-18) and Soulcraft are very good at surface rotations and they are decidely surf style. Inland has a bunch of stuff, including the FlyBoy coming out in the spring. Another brand that I would look at is LakeWakes. Mark is a nice guy and he has a quality product.

Typically you'll want to reduce the fin pod down to a twin, however, in order to get proficient at surface rotations. This video shows James doing some 3's and a 7, plus airs. Those are 4.5" fins, HUGE which allows him to develop drive, but without limiting the surface rotation tricks.




Do you see yourself wanting to try and learn shuv's in the near term?

[IDBoating]

It sounds like you are wanting to do surface rotational tricks. If you dead set on a skimmer... I wouldn't sell yourself on the skimmer as being the only board capable of surface rotations.

We want to do airs, too. I may have overemphasized surface tricks in my earlier message. Let me be clear: We want to learn everything. I recognize it may require two different boards to cover the entire spectrum, and I'm OK with that. The trick is to figure out which two boards!

Typically you'll want to reduce the fin pod down to a twin, however, in order to get proficient at surface rotations.

I expected that, which is why I mentioned that I ride finless on my wakeboard. My wakeboard is totally symmetrical, and I have the bindings mounted symmetrically too. All of this is so there is no preference for riding direction. That benefits BOTH surface tricks and air moves, since many air moves involve landing reversed from your starting orientation.

What's not clear to me yet is whether finless/symmetrical wakesurf boards are all that common. Do people just shrink the fins a lot and then ride them backwards and not worry about it? Is going finless harder for beginners? Does it make something difficult or impossible?

[IDBoating]

This video shows James doing some 3's and a 7, plus airs. Those are 4.5" fins, HUGE which allows him to develop drive, but without limiting the surface rotation tricks.

That video is an excellent example of the spectrum I'd like to work toward next season. Some air, some surface stuff, some mixtures of both, etc. Using that as an example for next year's goal, what board(s) should we consider?

[IDBoating]

Do you see yourself wanting to try and learn shuv's in the near term?

Yes. At least 180's. That is one of the moves where I presume shorter or nonexistent fins would be an advantage.

Also "airs", including with grabs.

[majestic]

I learned on an IS blue lake which always goes out on the boat for newbie's and the bigger crowd. I also own a IS 4-skim tri fin which is a fun board, and my baby a Walker project F-18 got damaged by some part of my body during a fun weekend with the Wake9 crew in the following video at about minute 12:20.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...98&postcount=1

I have heard that the IS squirt is also a good beginner board. My next board will either be a Flyboy or a TWP signature.

[Surfdad]

What's not clear to me yet is whether finless/symmetrical wakesurf boards are all that common. Do people just shrink the fins a lot and then ride them backwards and not worry about it? Is going finless harder for beginners? Does it make something difficult or impossible?

As mentioned the Asylum Boardz are aysmmetrical and typically you won't find great airs on that board. James has done a shuv on one and can boost, but it's not the optimum design for aerials. Huge single concaves tend to be sticky and you'll find most decent aerial boards will flow to a flat or V in the tail. We had Larry Mann of FAE and Asylum out on our boat and he rides his finless. In a straight line, they are very VERY slippery, but if you're turning such that you're on rail, they loose that slipping out feeling.

Most skimmers can be ridden finless, you're just using your rails rather then the fin to track. Like that Asylum, turning makes the board feel tracky, but trimming makes it crazy sliding sideways "loose".

I only know of a handful of riders that ride finless. Larry, Adriana Borelli and then Bri Cheml. You can find some videos of both of those ladies over at Wake9.com. Bri is the Women's World Wakesurfing Champion.

I think that if you have a propensity for rail surfing, like maybe you are a slalom snowboard rider, that might send you toward finless. However, finless is probably the realm of skim boards. The reason is that the rails are sharp nose to tail and can be ridden frontwards and backwards. Also the nose is basically a pintail - skimmers like the pin because it sinks and gives stability upon landing and riding without a fin (like when the board is revert).

So in a very real sense, most skimmers are very close to symmetrical.

[Surfdad]

That video is an excellent example of the spectrum I'd like to work toward next season. Some air, some surface stuff, some mixtures of both, etc. Using that as an example for next year's goal, what board(s) should we consider?

A skimmer is what I would recommend. You can still get air - check the videos of Keenan on the IS site, he goes huge, it's just harder. The skimmer will allow you to do shuv's which are REALLY hard on anything else. Also, skimmers initiate surface rotations easily, the hard part is STOPPING the rotation at the desired "location"

Check out Victoria, IS, P5 and definately Calibrated.

[IDBoating]

Awesome info here, folks. I really appreciate the guidance. I'm reading and learning as fast as possible. Next Spring cannot get here fast enough!

I'm sure I'll have more questions soon. Thanks for being patient with me.

[BPRES]

I've got a Hyperlite wakeskate right now, and will be purchasing fatsacks this fall for surfing. Think I'll be able to learn on the wakeskate or will a surfboard make that much of a difference?

[chpthril]

I've got a Hyperlite wakeskate right now, and will be purchasing fatsacks this fall for surfing. Think I'll be able to learn on the wakeskate or will a surfboard make that much of a difference?

You need a wake surf board

[NICKYPOO]

You need a wake surf board

x10!

[somebodyelse5]

You need a wake surf board

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[AdaminMN]

The wakeskate does not have enough surface area to keep you above the water at 10 mph. Besides the shape is all wrong.

[IDBoating]

Mike over at Calibrated does a great job and he has a great product.

I'm trying to research Calibrated, but their website says "something new is coming" and only has a catalog from 2008. Anyone know what's going on there? Are they gone?

If not, they have two boards, the Pincus and the Telum. The Pincus is the swallowtail model and seems less targeted at experts. The Telum is more symmetrical but it sounds like they intend it for high end riders.

Several comments here have recommended Calibrated... are they even available anymore? Why no updated website? Which board would be better for our family?

[BPRES]

The wakeskate does not have enough surface area to keep you above the water at 10 mph. Besides the shape is all wrong.

I know I know... I wasn't planning on using it all season, just to tryout before dropping 3+ hundo on a board. Just over the weekend I was wakeskating on a kneeboard behind a seadoo, I like to improvise lol.

I WILL be buying a surfboard before the weather warms back up.