Designing a board for Ragboy

[Surfdad]

That argument is inane at best and riduculous at worst - there is absolutely NOTHING about wakesurfing that requires actually doing it. That makes this project even more necessary and I want to build that board - I'm not 400 pounds and I'll shape a board that works so that I can laugh at everyone that even twisted that logic to make it fit.

The argument will be gone and guess what? None of Robert's opinions will magically change - huh how could that be? AND I'll make that board not being 400 pounds because you CAN develop an informed opinion without having to "do it".

[gwhite94]

Good for you Ragboy, I have taught Slalom skiing for more than 20 years and Wakeboarding for 5 years and dozens and dozens of kid who other wise would have exposure to these activities even though I have not skied in over 18 years and have never wakeboarded. By reading blogging on forums like this I learn alot and pass this knowledge off to others. I learning to surf this summer I now have a new passion in life...Keep up the fight buddy....

[gwhite94]

Amen Surfdad

[ragboy]

I am good, I have thick skin, literally. ;-)

Dennis, I will try several boards, I don't think the cruiser will work. Frank couldn't even ride that board well. I will try it though, and have tried it once. I def think that less flotation would help, wish there was a way to try without going through the expense. I am hosting guests all weekend, but will give it a try on wed, and the door, which I think is my best chance, and haven't tried yet.

Bottom line, I need to work harder at continuing to lose weight, and I feel like I really have to now. Will work harder.

For the record, I have been on the water boating since I was 12. Skiing, slalom skiing, Skurfing even. Wakeboarding was just starting when I stopped at 19 to get to work (1988). Then I bought my own boat with my family in 1995, and haven't stopped since. Since 2007 up here wakesurfing, about 200+ hours a season doing it with my family.

I also snow skied, was an avid skateboarder, and we also used to bring our ocean boards out to the lake and get towed by the boat. So the concepts are not foreign to me.

The attitude that WW is not as friendly to families is not true, you are taking WW as what you see posted. There are so many lurkers that are afraid to post, because they don't want to get harassed. I get messages from many of them. There is this idea that wakesurfing is less cool when families do it, or kids. I don't care. Frank Wolter sent me a text from Worlds a few weeks ago, it said this:

"Man I want to give u the biggest hug. Chris just rocked the worlds I want to thank u 4 makin this all happen."

I have pictures and notes from people telling me how they got their kids up wakesurfing now, because of the videos. Lots of stuff like that, and my favorite, a few people that have considered, or pushed over the edge to adopt/foster. Do you know how many kids are neglected and thrown out and need homes? Its astounding. When people watch our family, we are not perfect, but maybe it can give them the idea to get out of the house and do something outdoors together, go wakesurfing together.

Those of you that wakesurf with your families know what I am talking about. It pulls you together, its an incredible family activity, and I won't stop promoting it that way.

I have been emailing DJJamez back and forth the last few days, he is a funny guy. He comes from a whole different angle, the MOB tv angle. He respects what I am doing, and I respect what he is doing. All good for the sport.

Anyway, those are the things that drive me. Forum posts would not deter me. I AM too fat though, and I need to fix that. I wear my weakness around my belt. At least what you see is what you get.

Thanks for the support.

[somebodyelse5]

That argument is inane at best and riduculous at worst - there is absolutely NOTHING about wakesurfing that requires actually doing it. That makes this project even more necessary and I want to build that board - I'm not 400 pounds and I'll shape a board that works so that I can laugh at everyone that even twisted that logic to make it fit.

The argument will be gone and guess what? None of Robert's opinions will magically change - huh how could that be? AND I'll make that board not being 400 pounds because you CAN develop an informed opinion without having to "do it".

It may not really matter, but its why info-mertials (sp?) show the guy using the product hes trying to sell. I dont think ragboy is in the wrong, i have nothing against him or his weight, and i am all for him getting on a board and riding the hell out of it! Shut those guys up, I just wanted to point out where these guys are coming from.

Good for you Ragboy, I have taught Slalom skiing for more than 20 years and Wakeboarding for 5 years and dozens and dozens of kid who other wise would have exposure to these activities even though I have not skied in over 18 years and have never wakeboarded. By reading blogging on forums like this I learn alot and pass this knowledge off to others. I learning to surf this summer I now have a new passion in life...Keep up the fight buddy....

Just teaching someone to get up, and teaching a little technique is much different than being the one judging/criticizing everyone.

I am good, I have thick skin, literally. ;-)

Dennis, I will try several boards, I don't think the cruiser will work. Frank couldn't even ride that board well. I will try it though, and have tried it once. I def think that less flotation would help, wish there was a way to try without going through the expense. I am hosting guests all weekend, but will give it a try on wed, and the door, which I think is my best chance, and haven't tried yet.

Bottom line, I need to work harder at continuing to lose weight, and I feel like I really have to now. Will work harder.

For the record, I have been on the water boating since I was 12. Skiing, slalom skiing, Skurfing even. Wakeboarding was just starting when I stopped at 19 to get to work (1988). Then I bought my own boat with my family in 1995, and haven't stopped since. Since 2007 up here wakesurfing, about 200+ hours a season doing it with my family.

I also snow skied, was an avid skateboarder, and we also used to bring our ocean boards out to the lake and get towed by the boat. So the concepts are not foreign to me.

The attitude that WW is not as friendly to families is not true, you are taking WW as what you see posted. There are so many lurkers that are afraid to post, because they don't want to get harassed. I get messages from many of them. There is this idea that wakesurfing is less cool when families do it, or kids. I don't care. Frank Wolter sent me a text from Worlds a few weeks ago, it said this:

"Man I want to give u the biggest hug. Chris just rocked the worlds I want to thank u 4 makin this all happen."

I have pictures and notes from people telling me how they got their kids up wakesurfing now, because of the videos. Lots of stuff like that, and my favorite, a few people that have considered, or pushed over the edge to adopt/foster. Do you know how many kids are neglected and thrown out and need homes? Its astounding. When people watch our family, we are not perfect, but maybe it can give them the idea to get out of the house and do something outdoors together, go wakesurfing together.

Those of you that wakesurf with your families know what I am talking about. It pulls you together, its an incredible family activity, and I won't stop promoting it that way.

I have been emailing DJJamez back and forth the last few days, he is a funny guy. He comes from a whole different angle, the MOB tv angle. He respects what I am doing, and I respect what he is doing. All good for the sport.

Anyway, those are the things that drive me. Forum posts would not deter me. I AM too fat though, and I need to fix that. I wear my weakness around my belt. At least what you see is what you get.

Thanks for the support.

Ragboy keep it up, im really pumped with what your doing, takes a ton of work and I respect you for that. You have to admit, most of WW is a different crowd than on TO. I dont doubt wakesurfings ability to pull a family together, I do it with my dad all the time. I am not going to come on TO and post pictures of the hott girls on my boat....(granted I wont be doing that on WW either) but it would be much more accepted on WW. Its a different crowd, and must be approached differently. Theres no reason the guys on WW should dislike wake9.com, all I'm saying is try a different approach and I bet you would get a much better response

[ragboy]

In that thread they were telling a new guy looking for a boat, some very innaccurate information. Wasn't judging or critiquing, just wanted to make sure that guy understood the truth before he bought the boat. If you were new to wakesurfing, and took a demo on an enzo, rode regular, would you even think to test the other side also to make sure it was the same? Would the dealer maybe know that it isn't and not show that to you? That has happened, 1 I have spoken to, and another I have heard of. Here on TO, people do a pretty good job of giving out accurate info.

[jwanck11]

Im not bashing on ragboy, because I know he has done the research and Ive seen him on the forums for a while now, but I do see where these guys are coming from. If someone who has never wakesurfed tried to school me in all aspects of the sport, i would seriously question what they were telling me. Just look at it from their point of view.

For example, If someone who doesnt snowboard tries to talk to me about riding or tries to sell me on a brand, i really wouldnt listen to them. Regardless of the research, somethings just cant be tought, they have to be experienced. And that is how those guys on WW are looking at it.
Now ragboy, if its your son talking about the wakes and all that I can understand, but I think he needs to get his own account on TO and WW so that we know who is who...


Ragboy, take this as constructive, if I hadnt talked on forums here on TO with you before i heard from you on wakeworld I would have a much different opinion of you and wake9.com. On TO we have all seen what wake9.com is doing and how your helping the sport, but not on WW. Wakeworld is way different crowd as well....they arent going to respond the same way to the family oriented approach.

This is the serious problem of WW. This is completely arse-backwards.

Look at golf. Many of the top teachers rarely if ever play a round of golf, but their students , the top players in the world hang on their every word. This is true in any sport and/or profession.

Think about education. The controlling percentage of teachers are not practitioners (almost in complete) and yet it is their teaching that allows us to function.

If you really want to understand the mentality of many on WW and where they are "coming from," all you need to do is to look no further than your nose and describe yourself as a know-it-all. Then, you are golden and will fit right in.

What Rag has done for the sport of Wakesurfing is incredible. What he has done will only be eclipsed by what he and his family will do.

I look at TO's like Robert and all those of Wake the World and have an immense sense of appreciation. Well done guys!

[dogbert]

Im not bashing on ragboy, because I know he has done the research and Ive seen him on the forums for a while now, but I do see where these guys are coming from. If someone who has never wakesurfed tried to school me in all aspects of the sport, i would seriously question what they were telling me. Just look at it from their point of view.
.

As with any sport, you don't have to have played to be a great coach.

[Timmy!]

In that thread they were telling a new guy looking for a boat, some very innaccurate information. Wasn't judging or critiquing, just wanted to make sure that guy understood the truth before he bought the boat. If you were new to wakesurfing, and took a demo on an enzo, rode regular, would you even think to test the other side also to make sure it was the same? Would the dealer maybe know that it isn't and not show that to you? That has happened, 1 I have spoken to, and another I have heard of. Here on TO, people do a pretty good job of giving out accurate info.

For sure, just look at the Enzo vs Epic thread in the Boats section. People trying to say that the Epic is just fine for surfing when in fact none of them had a clue as to how to weight that boat until last week when we finally made some headway with my buddy's boat and then posted it for them to try. They all get stuck on this brand thing and are blind to anything else. I'd like to argue that you do have experience with Centurion's since most of the contests are pulled by them and your son is riding in those contests, he can tell what wave he likes better.

Keep up the great work with wakesurfing and with the family and kids that need the help. Boating IMO is about spending time with family and friends and bringing everyone closer together no matter which activity you are doing behind it.

[dogbert]

Agreed. Ask any serious rider and they'll tell you what they think. That's worth more to me. At the end of the day, they're all nice boats and there's usually some little things that make you like one better than the other. I'm partial to the Tige brand because they really have managed to stick to their strategy of providing a family oriented boat with few compromises for performance. It's elevated the game over the past 10 years and you're seeing better results in all brands.

As for ragboy, dude, I wouldn't put up with that crap on WW, you're bigger than they are I don't see them making those incredible videos and promoting the sport like you do. Keep up the great work!

[rostap]

I am not going to come on TO and post pictures of the hott girls on my boat....(granted I wont be doing that on WW either) but it would be much more accepted on WW.

Accepted questionable....but appreciated...YES!

[somebodyelse5]

This is the serious problem of WW. This is completely arse-backwards.

Look at golf. Many of the top teachers rarely if ever play a round of golf, but their students , the top players in the world hang on their every word. This is true in any sport and/or profession.

Think about education. The controlling percentage of teachers are not practitioners (almost in complete) and yet it is their teaching that allows us to function.

Im gonna have to disagree here, ill give you the golf one, but not the teachers example. Teachers may get us to a point where we can function, at one point they sat through the same class and were taught the same things....at that point it was experienced. The people who really teach you the knowledge that matter, professors, at some point were practitioners. All my engineering teachers were once in the field.
Im just saying experience is much different, it doesnt ALWAYS help teach, but it always is reassuring to the pupil..
I know ragboy knows is stuff and I know all you guys know ragboy knows his stuff, but to a group that doesnt know ragboy or his site that hears he has never wakesurfed, its just a perfect opportunity to bash him.

Accepted questionable....but appreciated...YES!

haha should we start the Tige Boat Bun thread

[da.bell]

When Robert is going to wakesurf, can I be there? Just need a time and place and I'll be there. I know Robert will get up without second guessing if he can. Also, I'm sure his children will all be there also for him.

Now, there is the surfdad special board.

[Duncan]

RB, you know TO has your back! You have contributed vast amounts of advice and inspiration that has made a positive difference to us, our boat, and how we use. Glad you have a healthy perspective on the WW criticism. Keep at it (especially those RZ2 weighting experiments ).

[Surfdad]

Have you folks watched the thread over on CC.com?

http://www.centurioncrew.com/Topic-f12.html

Hugely defamatory towards Robert and Wake9.com. I absolutely hate Plaintiff's attorney's and hope they rot in hell, but there is clearly libel involved in those posts. The owner of that site participated and there are posts on that site by presumed employees of Fineline and Centurion. I wonder if Mr. Lee has see the thread yet?

California's 6th circuit has found that defamatory postings on the Internet are libel, not slander, under California law and plaintiffs may collect damages for them without demonstrating specific injury.

Plaintiffs suing for slander must prove special damages, while in libel—defined by Sec. 45 as defamation by “writing, printing, picture, effigy, or other fixed representation to the eye”—damages are presumed.

Do we have any scum-of-the-earth...er, I mean Plaintiff's Attorney's on TO.com? Is that thread actionable?