the battle is almost over and i need to find a stick

[typerider]

so my dad is beating cancer as we speak and i'm so glad he's still here. he has wakeboarded with me since i got him into to it about 8 years ago. a little while ago he told me he wanted to get into wakesurfing. so by request of a 53year old ripper i need some prices and info on good wakesurf boards. i've seen all the mainstream names rides(LF, Hyperlite, etc..) but let me know what kind of sizes and shapes to look for. he's 5'11" apx. 200 or so pounds. i liked those walker composite-x boards, i've seen shred stixx but i've got nothing on prices from either or anyone else. oh and if anyone has one they'd like to sell and live around austin hit me up. thanks a bunch guys.

[NICKYPOO]

They've got a lot of good stuff to treat cancer these days. It's no longer a one way ticket like it used to be. Best regards in that manner.

He's my size so I'll give it shot. When learning to wake surf, speed is the key. If you don't have a board that can generate an speed, you'll never learn to stay in the pocket. The 5'6" HL Broadcast is a good beginer board. I've ridden it for years and I've tought a lot of people how to surf on that thing. It doesn't go anywhere beyond intermediate though. If you want to go out into the world of "custom" boards, my only research is in high performance boards and even then, I don't know nuttin' compaired to the likes of Surfdad. I'm sure he'll have some quality recommendations from the likes of Walker, Shredd Stixx, Inland Surfer, ect.

[Surfdad]

Nick is right - the 5'6" broadcast is a decent board for getting started, plus you can usually find it at your local shop. Mike's composite X in 5'0" is a serious fast board...considerable faster than the boardcast and it's going to have a price in the $299 range. I believe that Ken W is a rep for Mike in the TX area, I can try and get that contact info if you want. The Shred Stixx are great boards too, but a little pricey for just starting out. They retail in the $495 range which is where the Inlands are priced also.

For casual first time riders, there is nothing wrong with the Broadcast that Nick recommends. Considering it's price and ease of finding it...it's probably one of the best bets.

God speed to your father and his recovery, my mother who is 82, has struggled with cancer for years now.

[NICKYPOO]

What is the $tag on a new Boradcast?

[Matt Garcia]

I bought a 5' 6" HL Broadcast and it is easy to ride especially for beginners. Im 6' 1" and weigh 194 and it is just the right size for me.

They sell them for 279.00.

Good luck to your father and his recovery.

[NICKYPOO]

For that price, I would order the Walker. You can always apply enough brake to keep from hitting the boat. You don't always have enough gas pedal to get back to the boat. More speed = more fun/less strugle IMO.

Hey Matt, try throwing a couple of A-wings on your Boardcast. Dump the center and ride it as a twin. See how you like. Makes a huge difference in manueverability.

[billspin]

typerider: I have an Inland Surfer that is a couple of years old. It is like new. I can get pictures, model, and size this evening when I get home. You pay the packing and shipping cost and it is yours. Let me know.

[Matt Garcia]

For that price, I would order the Walker. You can always apply enough brake to keep from hitting the boat. You don't always have enough gas pedal to get back to the boat. More speed = more fun/less strugle IMO.

Hey Matt, try throwing a couple of A-wings on your Boardcast. Dump the center and ride it as a twin. See how you like. Makes a huge difference in manueverability.

Nicky, other HL fins will work? If so I will definetly try that. I do like a loose riding board. Thanks...

[NICKYPOO]

Nicky, other HL fins will work? If so I will definetly try that. I do like a loose riding board. Thanks...

Bolt pattern should be the same as the wakeboards. I bought a set of 1.1 A-wings for $25 or so. Bolted right up. If you ask me, it made the board faster down the line. By all rights it shouldn't. Bigger fins = more drive. It loosens it up so much though that you can really work the board a lot better in order to put it where you need to really work the wave. With it's sheer size and weight though, it still aint gonna be no super duper rad board, but it will be much, much better.

[Surfdad]

Nick - no lift. Bigger fins = more drive when there is the proper amount of toe in, when the fins are parallel I'd bet bigger fins = more drag.

[NICKYPOO]

Oooooooooohhhhh. That would explain the increase in speed. Them things are dead nuts straight on that board, well my board. I honestly couldn't tell you about a new one.

So where are we at with putting different shape fins on these twin pins? Fhe FCS box kind of limits it, doesn't it?

[Coach]

Congrats with your Dad. Mine was not as lucky with the cancer battle.

I just got an Inland Surfer Red Tide and am very happy with it. I bet you if you call Jeff (the owner) or e-mail him he might get you the price he did for many of us here on the tigeowners which was $265.

[Surfdad]

I almost hate to admit, I did this. I installed a set of Futures Ocean Airs on a broadcast - it was the smaller one though, I believe it was 4'8". The side fins on the futures are 3/4" deep, the middle trailer is only 1/2" deep. The boxes actually poked through the deck

Then when it was all done...it was mostly a mediocore board with two holes through it.

Those C5 boxes might fit in without ripping the top open, but I haven't tried that yet. Unless you already had the futures template and boxes lying around, or for that matter the FCS's or any of the removable fin installation tools, it's pretty expensive to do a one off.

[NICKYPOO]

Is there a fin that can be shaped. Almost like a blank with just the base on it. I'm sure it would be far from optimal due to the shape of the foil huh? Just a thought.

[Surfdad]

Unless they are carbon, most of the fins are plastic and you can grind them down with a bench grinder. Jerry Price of Shred Stixx showed me once: Bench grind the rough outline and then the entry taper - then sand it with successively finer grits of sandpaper and finally use a wooden dowel to polish the whole thing - don't know why it works, but the wooden dowel gets rid of all the scratch marks.

I would guess you could get a huge sb1 in like 4 or 5" and shape away.