The various trick boardz are an interesting design. The concave bottom offers greater surface area in the same length/width dimensions than a conventional flat board. Also, like the modern shortboard surfboard, they are sensitive to weight variations and folks that exceed the weight recommendations find the boards to be sticky.
While dogbert is correct, the trick boardz are faster than most of the molded boards, they tend to be slower than an equivalently sized skimboard or foam and glass board. The big draw for the Trick Boards is that they are NOT directional, so 180 degree surface spins (and multiples thereof) are possible. Further they fit in any rack, are exceptionally sturdy and Larry does offer a great return policy.
The down side, IMO, is that the design restricts aerial tricks - shuv-its, ollies off the lip, etc. The tip is more narrow than a pintail, like on a skim style board such as the Phase 5, Vic, Calibrated or the new 4 skim. This provides a greater amount of stability, but you have to be pretty accomplished to catch air with the board.
Also, most folks are simply not good at riding backside switch and so the draw of a twin tip doesn't really play out in practice. When was the last time anyone on your boat rode backside switch for a considerable period of time?
I am a glass and foam advocate. Personally I think they offer tremendous performace advantages over other boards. The downside though, is that they can't handle the rough treatment that is considered acceptable on a boat. They don't fit in standard board racks and the deeper fins limit rotational moves, like a shuv-it. Also they are expensive. I am fortunate in that James has a board sponsor and I am able to make prototypes in the garage...if this were not the case, I would have spend upwards of $6,000 on boards last year!!!!
In the glass an foam arena, I personally think that Shred Stixx and XBC have the best stock boards available. Jerry Price of Shred Stixx is probably the most knowledgable manufacturer out there.
I personally own a Shred Stixx Ja Mako that I use for small mushy wakes, but I have also been able to surf that board at speeds in excess of 15mph. That sort of surfing simply isn't possible on a skimboard or trick boardz product.
The Inland Surfer folks offer some nice boards. The are a good compromise in durability and performance. They can be handled a bit more roughly, but still offer a good amount of speed and manuverability. The come in stock sizes, so you can pick one up rather quickly.
Then of course if you want to perform skate style tricks, there are a number of good skim style boards. I prefer the Vic to the Phase 5, and I prefer the Calibrated pro model to all. Jaime Lovett will be riding that at the World's this year, it wouldn't surprize me if he wins.
My 2 cents
While dogbert is correct, the trick boardz are faster than most of the molded boards, they tend to be slower than an equivalently sized skimboard or foam and glass board. The big draw for the Trick Boards is that they are NOT directional, so 180 degree surface spins (and multiples thereof) are possible. Further they fit in any rack, are exceptionally sturdy and Larry does offer a great return policy.
The down side, IMO, is that the design restricts aerial tricks - shuv-its, ollies off the lip, etc. The tip is more narrow than a pintail, like on a skim style board such as the Phase 5, Vic, Calibrated or the new 4 skim. This provides a greater amount of stability, but you have to be pretty accomplished to catch air with the board.
Also, most folks are simply not good at riding backside switch and so the draw of a twin tip doesn't really play out in practice. When was the last time anyone on your boat rode backside switch for a considerable period of time?
I am a glass and foam advocate. Personally I think they offer tremendous performace advantages over other boards. The downside though, is that they can't handle the rough treatment that is considered acceptable on a boat. They don't fit in standard board racks and the deeper fins limit rotational moves, like a shuv-it. Also they are expensive. I am fortunate in that James has a board sponsor and I am able to make prototypes in the garage...if this were not the case, I would have spend upwards of $6,000 on boards last year!!!!
In the glass an foam arena, I personally think that Shred Stixx and XBC have the best stock boards available. Jerry Price of Shred Stixx is probably the most knowledgable manufacturer out there.
I personally own a Shred Stixx Ja Mako that I use for small mushy wakes, but I have also been able to surf that board at speeds in excess of 15mph. That sort of surfing simply isn't possible on a skimboard or trick boardz product.
The Inland Surfer folks offer some nice boards. The are a good compromise in durability and performance. They can be handled a bit more roughly, but still offer a good amount of speed and manuverability. The come in stock sizes, so you can pick one up rather quickly.
Then of course if you want to perform skate style tricks, there are a number of good skim style boards. I prefer the Vic to the Phase 5, and I prefer the Calibrated pro model to all. Jaime Lovett will be riding that at the World's this year, it wouldn't surprize me if he wins.
My 2 cents
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