Looking for a WakeSurf Board - ronix?

[DieselPWR]

I am new to wakesurfing and looking for a board. Any recommendations? What board size should I be looking for? I weigh 195, if that matters. I like the style of the Ronix boards, has anyone tried their boards yet?

Looking at:
Ronix Stage: 5'4"
Ronix Caption: 4'8"
CWB Tsunami: 4'9"

thanks in advance for any advice!

[Timmy!]

Here's my recommendation - talk to Bill and borrow one from him! He has a CWB Tsunami "loaner" board as well as a CWB Ride and possibly others. WWS is awesome because you can take them out for a few days and try them out and then decide what you want to get. I have a CWB Ride but wish I had a Walker Project or Inland Surfer or something.

Sterling Marine over on Federal sells Phase V boards too, might go check them out and see if they have a trial type of deal. WWS does it only for Tige owners and Sterling might be the same way (Centurion owners).

[DieselPWR]

Here's my recommendation - talk to Bill and borrow one from him! He has a CWB Tsunami "loaner" board as well as a CWB Ride and possibly others. WWS is awesome because you can take them out for a few days and try them out and then decide what you want to get. I have a CWB Ride but wish I had a Walker Project or Inland Surfer or something.

Sterling Marine over on Federal sells Phase V boards too, might go check them out and see if they have a trial type of deal. WWS does it only for Tige owners and Sterling might be the same way (Centurion owners).

Ya, Corey mentioned trying them out. I think I will do that on the walkthough/test drive day. that will help me figure out what length to go with at least. That's the other issue too. I like the look of the Ronix boards more, but I think I can get a good deal going with CWB through WWS.

Thanks Timmy

[da.bell]

Timmy is a great resource and I would also wait for a comment from Surfdad. He will be able to ask questions of you to help determine the type of board that would best suit you to try/choose.

[Timmy!]

Surfdad is a great resource, I'm just a poser! Surfdad will be able to explain EVERYTHING to you! He makes boards out of foam bought at the hardware store for crying out loud!

The one thing that I think about is with the CWB/Liquid Force/Ronix surfboards, you will ride it for awhile and then you are going to want more out of it, more speed, better turning, etc. I bought a CWB Ride because I was impatient and wanted to get out there surfing right away. The Tsunami is a fun board but it still doesn't have the speed that I am craving and the only real way you are going to get any speed (might be wrong) is if you have real Surf Style fins and none of these big company production boards have that. If you go with a surfboard company, they really know what they are doing (Inland Surfer, Shred Stixx, Walker Project, Phase V, etc). You are going to have to wait a few weeks to get it but I think in the long run you are going to be a lot happier.

I'm not saying that you won't have fun on these boards but after a month or two of surfing on them you are going to want something more/different than those that you have up there. That's just my guess....

[da.bell]

Surfdad is a great resource, I'm just a poser! Surfdad will be able to explain EVERYTHING to you! He makes boards out of foam bought at the hardware store for crying out loud!

The one thing that I think about is with the CWB/Liquid Force/Ronix surfboards, you will ride it for awhile and then you are going to want more out of it, more speed, better turning, etc. I bought a CWB Ride because I was impatient and wanted to get out there surfing right away. The Tsunami is a fun board but it still doesn't have the speed that I am craving and the only real way you are going to get any speed (might be wrong) is if you have real Surf Style fins and none of these big company production boards have that. If you go with a surfboard company, they really know what they are doing (Inland Surfer, Shred Stixx, Walker Project, Phase V, etc). You are going to have to wait a few weeks to get it but I think in the long run you are going to be a lot happier.

I'm not saying that you won't have fun on these boards but after a month or two of surfing on them you are going to want something more/different than those that you have up there. That's just my guess....

Don't be so hard on yourself Timmy!!!! You did have the local new channel do a broadcast of the sport. That was instramental.

I was luck to have my dealer give me a Inland Surfer Blue. I am still learning and have talked and met Surfdad. He was awesome ; had a lot of good information pertaining to boards and ballast setups; and then there is James Walker (aka: Surfkid????? ).

[Surfdad]

You have done well grasshopper. Timmy is correct in his observations, not only about the the fin setup but the performance in general of many of these molded boards.

The biggest issue of the molded wakesurfers from the wakeboard manufacturers is that they use the same method of fastening fins as with their wakeboards. If you look closely at the fins of the Caption you can see they are straight up and straight ahead.

[Surfdad]

This is the only picture I have that clearly shows the fins - this is a board we have been playing with fin setups - so the 7 fins is just me being silly. However, it gives you a pretty good view of the "cant" of the main fins.

[Surfdad]

There are two angles that are important with the fins. The cant which is the angle of the fins from vertical and the toe-in which is the angle of the fins as they point in towards the middle of the board.

The cant helps a board carve harder as you lean the board over the cant of the fin keeps water flow going. With a fin that is straight up and down to begin with that angle goes negative and starts to release water flow. The combination of toe-in and cant also help provide lift, rail-to-rail responsiveness and additional drive. As Timmy points out, these attributes probably aren't needed initially, but as you progress you'll want more performance.

I've ridden the Caption and it's fun. I surf more from my back foot and so prefer a board with a fuller tail. It is a good look though. The Caption is slightly and I mean slightly faster down the line than the 'Tsu. I do like the forward placement of the Captions fins, it gives a good pivot point and so it does feel "surf'ish" but it tends to fight you to go straight. I think you'd be happy with it for the first year. It's hard for me to get too excited about these offerings, because they are entry level boards.

I have NOT ridden the bigger Ronix. I'd think that would make an OK cruizer or fat boy board.

[dtown]

I bought a HL Landlock last spring (1st year wakesurfing). Rode it for 1 month, then was boared with the performance. Then I found this site and Surfdad. After a few Q&As I determined the Inland Surfer Red Tide would be a better board for a big guy like me (255 lbs). By the end of the summer I was getting my "surf legs" and would probably be happier on a IS Blue (but still not even close to riding the Red to its full potential, and still enjoy the Red very much). The IS Red is a little big for my wife (150lbs). This x-mas Santa left her an IS Yellow under the tree. I am excited to see if I can ride it too... Should have our first day above 65* on Sat.
I like the IS because they are a wakesurf company but don't have the price tag of the custom boards (WP, Shredtix). I would like to try a Shredstix. I would also like to try one of the new fiberglass TrickBoardz (skim style). The trick boards seem to be a real value (performance & $$$) buy if you are looking for something more skim style.

Check out boardersbestbuy.com daily. You can get smokin deals on IS boards from time to time. "Santa"

[DieselPWR]

Wow, thanks guys for all the advice. I don't mind buying an intro board for now and then upgrading later. I need to learn first, and I can always use that board for friends learning and if i wanted to have two riders at once. I don't mind spending more on a board for performance, but i don't want to get something too expertish that it will be a pain to learn on.

Thats interesting about the fins, i didn't even think about that.

So does my weight take into account length of board needed? I would say 195 is big boyish. I have a lot of big boy (200-300lbs) friends too. You bring up a good point, my lady is 135 and would be riding it as well so would the ronix stage be too big?

That boardersbestbuy is a good site. You should also check out zerodaydeals.com, it combines all of (or most of) the one item a day sites into one.

On the same subject, I have a Z1 without the ballast. Do you think that my surf wave would be pretty weak or even unsurfable?

Any tips on learning? I just learned how to get up on a wakeboard last summer so my board experience period is pretty weak.

[Timmy!]

On the same subject, I have a Z1 without the ballast. Do you think that my surf wave would be pretty weak or even unsurfable?

Any tips on learning? I just learned how to get up on a wakeboard last summer so my board experience period is pretty weak.

You will probably be able to surf it with some friends in the boat but you will want more ballast at some point, it will make it easier IMO.

Tips on learning - Inland surfer has some videos on their site. I also have DVD's from Inland and CWB that I could give you. Are you going to the Mile High Meet and Greet next month? I could give them to you then. What lake will you be going to most of the time? Maybe we could meet up and get you started.

[DieselPWR]

You will probably be able to surf it with some friends in the boat but you will want more ballast at some point, it will make it easier IMO.

Tips on learning - Inland surfer has some videos on their site. I also have DVD's from Inland and CWB that I could give you. Are you going to the Mile High Meet and Greet next month? I could give them to you then. What lake will you be going to most of the time? Maybe we could meet up and get you started.

I heard about the mile high spiel. Have you been to that in the past? Is it a good time?

We are lake whores, but I see ourselves going to boyd and horsetooth often. Thanks for the offer, ill have to take you up on that and let you know when we head to those lakes. If I don't see you at the mile high first. Thanks!

[Surfdad]

I have one tip that I think is universal for folks learing to surf. Don't be in a rush to drop the rope. If you have slack in the rope, you are surfing. However, when you inevitably start to fall out the back, rather than falling and having to get back up repeatedly...you can just pull yourself back into the pocket. Learning to surfing is mostly about muscle memory. So the more time you can spend focusing on just creating slack, the quicker you'll be without the rope.