New Surf/Wake Company

[KevOLikesBoating]

I will be starting a new Surf/Wakeskate company in the near future. Surfboard shaping on the left side of the garage, boat resto on the right.

Anyhow, I was just wondering if any of you wakeboarders/surfers have any ideas about what you'd like to see when it comes to wake surfboard design, or just about the sport in general?

Hyperlite is a wakeboarding company that has been around since the sport was first invented. Hyperlite is frequently cited as the 'best' wakeboard manufacturer, but many wakeboarders feel that the company is overcommercialising the sport and is moving it away from its core values.

What would you say the sport's core values are?

 

[kyle f]

Re: New Surf/Wake Company

Personally, I love Hyperlite and their products. Scott Byerly and Shaun Murray was 2 key players in making the sport what it is today and they are absolutely great ambassidors for the sport.

Hyperlite sponsors many events and tournaments. I guess if the core values were to keep th sport low key and off the radar... then many of the sponsors alogn with Hyperlite would be guilty of getting away from teh "core values"

With that said...
I feel the core values are fun, self expression, freedom, and relaxation.


So send me one of your boards and we will take plenty of pictures/video of surfing/skating/boarding... whatever.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: New Surf/Wake Company

but many wakeboarders feel that the company is overcommercialising the sport and is moving it away from its core values.

What would you say the sport's core values are?

Blah blah blah - same whining that the skateboarders did when all the sudden they were a mainstream sport instead of the shaggy black shirt wearing outsiders.

 

[SeanT]

Re: New Surf/Wake Company

I was just wondering if any of you wakeboarders/surfers have any ideas about what you'd like to see when it comes to wake surfboard design, or just about the sport in general?

Cheaper!

Let's face it, this is high margin stuff. While wake surf boards cost $700, I won't be buying one. I can wake surf on my knee board...

 

[kyle f]

Re: New Surf/Wake Company

only high margin if you have to have this years stuff.

I am not so sure its as high margin as you may believe when you consider it is still a relatively small market as compared to other sports. It may be the mainstream or largets market in watersports, but watersports is no where near the market for say... motor sports, tennis, football, baseball.

 

[JasonB]

Re: New Surf/Wake Company

I'm a newcomer to the sport (hey, I got up for the first time today!). To me it's about learning something new to try to teach my children that you can learn to do most anything you really want to do (my 6yo daughter did her first solo ride on her kid's kneeboard today!).

To me, cost is a significant issue. I'm 225lbs and didn't feel that a 140cm board would work well for me. While a 142 would likely work ok, most experienced riders told me to go 144+ to start out. Seems there is only one-1 lower cost board makers-Nash/Hydroslide/bodyglove and they stop at 142. To get a 144, I lucked out and found a non-current CWB faction 144 + non-current Hyperlite focus bindings. I'm in the setup for $250. Not too bad, but it would be nice to be able to get in for less $$$ to try it out. Used doesn't really exist in my area.

It was also tough to get started as we don't have many local shops that I know of and I got looked at a bit funny when I strolled in as a guy in my mid 30's with 2 young kids in tow asking about starting wakeboarding on a budget. They were nice and helpful, but it felt really wierd. I'm just 10-15 years past the regular scene for this I guess.

 

[SeanT]

Re: New Surf/Wake Company

$250 is okay.

The board I use is a 142cm Hydroslide Black Widow with large open toe bindings. The board gets horrible reviews, and I hated it at first, but now that I'm getting it it works okay.

Only now that I'm starting to see the value am I considering dropping some cash on a decent wakeboard and bindings for myself. My current board will eventually get relegated to guest duty, or for when my kids get bigger.

Anyway, I still think wake surf boards are ridiculously priced. My wife really wants to try it though, so I'm sort of looking.

 

[kyle f]

Re: New Surf/Wake Company

I'm a newcomer to the sport (hey, I got up for the first time today!). To me it's about learning something new to try to teach my children that you can learn to do most anything you really want to do (my 6yo daughter did her first solo ride on her kid's kneeboard today!).

To me, cost is a significant issue. I'm 225lbs and didn't feel that a 140cm board would work well for me. While a 142 would likely work ok, most experienced riders told me to go 144+ to start out. Seems there is only one-1 lower cost board makers-Nash/Hydroslide/bodyglove and they stop at 142. To get a 144, I lucked out and found a non-current CWB faction 144 + non-current Hyperlite focus bindings. I'm in the setup for $250. Not too bad, but it would be nice to be able to get in for less $$$ to try it out. Used doesn't really exist in my area.

It was also tough to get started as we don't have many local shops that I know of and I got looked at a bit funny when I strolled in as a guy in my mid 30's with 2 young kids in tow asking about starting wakeboarding on a budget. They were nice and helpful, but it felt really wierd. I'm just 10-15 years past the regular scene for this I guess.

You have to be kidding me!

Most of the people I ride with are 30+ and I hav eno issue finding people to ride with. Don't get me wrong, I have a few 20 somethings I ride with as well. Sure there are more kids in the game, there ar emore kids in every sport other than maybe bowling and golf.

As for your board size, at 225lbs I rode a Hyperlite Apex 142, as I progressed I switched to a Hyperlite Murray 140. However, this might be a but misleading as the Murray actually had more surface area than the Apex 142. Now I ride a Byerly Monarch 54" (about a 138 board) at 200-205lbs, and had ridden a buddoes CWB Faction 138 before at 225lbs hand and really liked it. After switching to the smaller board, I get more air, travel further on jumps, and land better. Its really about what you feel comfortable one.

Don't let anyone make you feel uncomfortable about your age, unless you are still playing with GI Joes. There is no age requirement for this sport, only that you have fun! 2 of my regular riding buddies are in their 50s and have grand kids! To me, the sport brings people together from teenage gilrs to guys in their 50s... they have all been on my boat, all had a good time, and all love the sport. That is what it is about!

 

[SeanT]

Re: New Surf/Wake Company

I agree with Kyle JasonB - I think you just wandered into the "wrong" store, by which I mean one of those beach front outfits where they have teenagers selling you stuff. They may know what they are talking about, but they certainly think they are "better than you" on the water. Hell, I'll admit I'M being stereotypical at the moment, your mileage may vary.

In the town we boat at, there's at least one of those kinds of stores (they also sell overpriced sunglasses in addition to wake boards and surf boards - absolutely NO kneeboards or skis to be found). But there's also good stores, like the mom and pop sports store that has everything and a wide ranch of brands, and even the marina store.

Incidentally, despite my complaining above, I caught a sale on a low end wake surf board yesterday at the marina and took it out for a try. Regrettably it doesn't fit into my wakeboard racks, but that's the only downside. We had an absolute blast learning to wake surf, and it didn't need to cost me an arm and leg!

Now I need more wake....

 

[JasonB]

Re: New Surf/Wake Company

Thanks guys. I live an hour from the lake and few of my friends are boaters, and the ones that are stick with tubes and skiis. I only know one other person that wakeboards and he is on a lake I never make it to so I'm learning on my own. It's a slow adventure though as my Wife is just learning to drive the boat for me. Last weekend was my 3rd time out with the board, and the first time I managed to get up. The tower I put on my boat last week seemed to help a bunch.

One of my goals has been met though. I started out with a kneeboard and have learned how to ride it some. It has pricked the curiosity of my 6yo daughter enough that she just did her first solo ride on a a kid's Hydroslide Split kneeboard and my 4yo son will ride dad's kneeboard with me dragging behind hanging onto the strap. If I can get them interested enough to do watersports, I won't have to worry as much where they will be during the summer as they get older.

Until then, I'll keep relying on you guys for my info and watching youtube instructional vids to pick up more pointers.

Someday, I might actually try to ski again. I've only tried once and that was 10 years ago. Heck, I'd give this wakesurf thing a shot, but I have an I/O, so no go there.