Picture thread

[Surfdad]

Who's surfing? We can't be the only ones. Post 'em up, please.

[Dan and Christy]

A couple with the new custom sac

[LovinPowell]

Dan is that an inland surfer that you're riding? Which one is it and how do you like it?

[Dan and Christy]

Yes, it is an Inland Surfer. I believe it is the Pink 4 Skim. I bought if for Christy but I absolutely love it. John (Bad05) has a Yellow Loogey that we rode this weekend but I much prefer the Pinky. I feel that I have a lot of control over the board. Next time you come to Lake Mead hit me up and you can ride it for sure.

[LovinPowell]

Thanks, I'd like to try it. We have a yellow loogey (actually two of them), but I'm always on the "lookout" for something else. (Much to my wife's shagrin).

[nothingbuttige]

Hey Surfdad, what surf board would you reccomend for someone who is 6'1 and wieghs 218??? also I have a 2006 24ve, where and how much wieght are you putting in the boat? thanks for the tips....I will post some pics once I dial it in...thanks again.

[Surfdad]

Hey nothing - tell me more about what you want out of the board. I know that you'll see posts on other sites with people answering based solely on the rider's size...but I've found those folks have something to sell.

So...what I'd need is:

Budget
Wake you're riding on mostly
Your skills (newb, intermediate, advanced)
Surf style or skim style
Will you be the only one riding, if not, size and skills of the others
Is it important to you if the board is made in the USA
Are graphics important to you
Is it important that the board fits in a standard wakeboard rack.

I think with that we'll be able to give you some suggestions.

I have two custom fly high fat sac's. On the regular side it fills up the rear compartment all the way up under the bench seat. I believe that theoretically it holds 1,600 pounds, but my estimate is that we never exceed 1,300 pounds. I've been adding a small fat buddy on top, lately. That is maybe 125. Then we have people ballast totalling 450-700 depending upon who is riding.

On the darkside, the sac only holds about 1,100 theoretical. I'd be surprized if it was above 1,000 in reality.

I use no bow weight and nothing on the seats or on the floor.

[nothingbuttige]

Okay, I will try and answer to the I can..

1. Budget- no budget, just want a good board that I can grow with..
2. Wake you are riding on mostly-I think you are asking what side?? I ride on the regular side.
3. skill level-I would say intermediate..I can stay in the pocket for about 20 seconds without the rope and that is about it. When ever I try to do anything else I cannot keep up the speed.
4. Surf Style or Skim- not sure, I have only ever ridden 1 board. It is a Liquid Force board the dealer sold me 3 years ago. It is about 5 feet tall and pretty skinny and not very fat. I would take your opinion on this. Whatever is more fun.
5.Will I be the only one riding- no, but everyone else is about the height. I am just fatter than everyone else. And they will not complain becuase they can get their own board if they don't like it.
6. Made in the USA- don't care
7.Graphics- don't care, not important
8.Important to fit in my racks- no, I can always put it on top of my tower.

thanks for taking the time to help...Right now I only have 2 500lb fat sacs...So I guess I need some more weight. Next I will ask you about my wife...She is 5'8, 125lbs, a beginner and rides goofy....What you recomend for her..thanks again.

[chpthril]

Sounds like you are currently riding a LF Venture. It's a slug, any board would be an upgrade

I'll leave the board recommendations to the experts, but where is your weight placed when surfing? The 24V will fit a Fly High Enzo and holds around apx 1300 or so. Also, what's your speed and TAPS setting?

[Surfdad]

I second Chpthril's concern over weight placement and perhaps your riding position. If you are on the Venture it is quite slow, but you should be able to ride it longer than 20 seconds. Before we move on to a new board, let's make sure that we have the basic's under control. The next time you go out. Rather than dropping the rope, try concentrating on creating slack in the rope. If the rope is slack, you're surfing. Let's make sure that your wake is big enough for you and that you aren't going too fast. All of your weight, during this learning phase, in the rear surfing corner. Make sure that your people ballast are on that side also, mostly NOT in the bow. Speed shouldn't be above 10.5 at this stage. The wake probably will be rather short and steep, but for the learning phase, we just want to create enough push that you can surf as long as you want. There is a strange phenomenon in wakesurfing - once you get your surf legs, you're able to size down on a board.

Your position on the board should allow you to have even weight on both feet NOT like a wakeboard - rear leg heavy. If it's still slow - inch forward on the board - both feet forward maybe an inch at a time. Also, moving your feet closer to the wake can increase speed. Make small adjustments and note your position so that you have an idea where the board seems to work for you best. If you get too far forward, it will pearl (nose will bury).

Try that for me, please, on your next day out on the water. I want to check a few locations on boards before giving you my 2 cents on board selection, later today.

[nothingbuttige]

Okay I went and checked my board. It is a LF Venture 5'6...I have not had a problem getting slack in the rope, the problem is when I start to fade I cannot get any speed to catch up. My boat speed seems to be best around 11.5, if I go lower than it turns into white wash... And I have tried weight all over the boat and it seems best to have most of all my weight on the regular side rear locker and then some also on the other side. And I push everyone to the back corner. I will definatly take Chpthril's advice and look for the Fly High Enzo sac. We are going to Powell in 3 weeks and I want to have what I need to do some great surfing. Now that I know that my board sucks then I really need to get a new board. let me know. thanks

[chpthril]

Okay I went and checked my board. It is a LF Venture 5'6...I have not had a problem getting slack in the rope, the problem is when I start to fade I cannot get any speed to catch up. My boat speed seems to be best around 11.5, if I go lower than it turns into white wash... And I have tried weight all over the boat and it seems best to have most of all my weight on the regular side rear locker and then some also on the other side. And I push everyone to the back corner. I will definatly take Chpthril's advice and look for the Fly High Enzo sac. We are going to Powell in 3 weeks and I want to have what I need to do some great surfing. Now that I know that my board sucks then I really need to get a new board. let me know. thanks

PM sent

[evil0ne]

Yes, it is an Inland Surfer. I believe it is the Pink 4 Skim. I bought if for Christy but I absolutely love it. John (Bad05) has a Yellow Loogey that we rode this weekend but I much prefer the Pinky. I feel that I have a lot of control over the board. Next time you come to Lake Mead hit me up and you can ride it for sure.

I know, but I was out Saturday and Sunday down south and didn't see you, john or dingles, what gives. The boats going to its slip this weekend, so I'll be up north the rest of the summer.

[ATL 22Ve]

Sounds like a few people recommend putting weight on both sides? I have only been weighting my surf side. What is the benefit to putting weight on both sides of the boat?

[Surfdad]

...the problem is when I start to fade I cannot get any speed to catch up.

Yeah - that board is a slug. That also helps eliminate some of the boards without much drive. My short list for your size and wake - plus a board that is a step up from the LF would include:

Inland Surfer Swallow
Inland Surfer Blue
The Walker Project Composite X 5.0
Shred Stixx Jamako
Smed Wombat

Each of those will offer you more drive that you currently have. The last three are probably the best combinations of speed, drive and manuverability.

The Inland Swallow is preorder only, but the Blue seems to be available everywhere.

I'd think others will chime in, but those would be my recommendations. There are others from Endless Break, Props, etc that I either didn't like or haven't ridden and so can't recommend. I hope that narrows your search down.