wakemitch

It's easier to teach people on boards that don't float as much. Heavy and thin boards flip up really easy for first timers.

https://www.facebook.com/victoriawakesurf/videos/1733653353543046/ The line she throws is crazy. I need to step up my switch game. I got to ride behind her boat a few weeks ago and her FS33 wake is so freaking good.

I prefer arches. I have a lot more control of the board and I know exactly where to put my feet after tricks without looking down. But I'm also always trying new stuff and falling every couple of minutes. I can understand how your foot might cramp if you just cruise for long stretches of time. That's why it's nice that there is the option

Inland makes a ton of different fins that all make the board ride differently.

If you already know how to wakesurf, don't waste your money on a hybrid. Hybrids aren't that good for airs or spins. Either get a surf style or skim style. If you are working on 3 foot airs then maybe a $1000 board is worth it, but there are a lot of great options between $600-800 that people can not progress out of

That's really good turn around. Jeff does great work

What are wait times on Soulcrafts right now?

The Scamp is a great board and has more performance down the road. It can also handle beyond its weight limit. Ive ridden it at 160 lbs. The Debut is the easiest board to learn on and the price is great and it is indestructible. The Debut isnt meant for doing airs, but just learning how to ride ropeless is effortless on it and it will be good until you master 360s. The Vic website has the small for 200 and the Large for 220, but other shops like CMS and Wake Roots have them for $180 and $200 respectively. Boards like to Tako (60") and Oogle (58") are just huge for a kid. I've found that kids learn and progress faster on a board that fits right like the Scamp or Debut Small.

I take that back about nautique sponsorship then

Nautique has always had a small team. Being on nautique always meant a lot to the athletes. Drew is the only one on the Phase 5 team sponsored by Nautique im pretty sure. Centurion on the other hand will make anyone who buys one of their boats a team rider. They get the boat around dealer cost and BOOM their a team rider, and that is around the extent of the sponsorship. They make excellent boats, but being on the team isnt as meaningful as it is with other boat companies. Also, Nautique is based in Florida so I would assume it is easier to have a closer relationship. Another thing to consider is the party atmosphere of centurion and some of their executives. Like Drew, I am also straight edge and I would have a very hard time being around those guys at events. I was shocked when he switched since I have been a huge fan since his wakeskating days, but the more I think about it the more it makes sense.

That is the exact same as what James rides. I believe they will also be releasing a cheaper version built with traditional materials like every other brand. It's like how it was with Inland kind of. Inland Surfer made a James Walker pro model which was the same shape but different construction, but if you called Jeff Walker you could order the exact board that James rode and it was around $1,500. When I worked at a shop, I worked pretty closely with the Walkers and we sold a couple of his real boards. But obviously because of the price, people would usually just buy the off the shelf Inland Surfer because the shape is so good anyways.

I have ridden behind the SV233 with cats and ramfill a bunch of times (with and without extra ballast) and I have ridden behind the FS233 with cats and ramfill (no non factory bags or lead). I prefer the wake on FS by far. The wake is firmer and is a little steeper. Generally Enzos have had pretty mellow transitions, but the FS has an excellent transition. Its my favorite centurion I have ever ridden behind.

the Debut is 3/8" thick but is super strong using birch and fiberglass. The 3/8" thickness is what really makes the board so beginner friendly. It grips the wake better and sits deeper. It is more stable than a 3 fin board

Thin boards with less float are some of the easiest to learn on. Thin boards are easier to flip up to your feet when first getting up, and once up, the thinner rails help keep you grip the wake and stay stable. Also, too big of fins can make the board harder to control because the board will react too quick to movement, so 1"-2" fins are ideal imo for beginners. The Hyperlite Broadcast (~$369), Inland Surfer Tako ($399), and Victoria Skimboards Debut ($199) are some of the easiest boards to learn on and dont break the bank.

One fin is the most common because it gives the riders options. Certain tricks are easier with no fin, while others are easier with a fin. With one fin you can set up the board how you want by just doing a shuvit. Rocker needs to be directional. Skateboards use wheels so it rides fine in either direction. But skimboards rely on rocker for speed and maneuverability. You need nose rocker so the board can carve up the wake without digging, but you want almost no tail rocker because that slows the board down. If the rocker was symmetrical, the board would have so much drag, or it would pearl too easy depending on how much rocker was used. Phase 5 makes the Oath which is very close to having a symmetrical outline, but the rocker is still directional, the traction is normal, and there is only one fin. I personally was not a fan. I liked the pro carbon much more. The Oath wasn't as nimble or as fast IMO