Omen/Integrity/ and other lil companies

feelnjstfine · Backside 180 Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Posts: 802 City: Portland

Is it just me or does it really seem like Omen and Integrity and other small companies are taking over as the boards of choice to ride? I still haven't gotten a chance to ride boards from any of them but damn I want to. Seems like they are the only ones really pushing board development and design and in term helping elevate people's riding.

jonnyUTAH · Backside 180 Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 1951

are you talking in general in the past or right this instance? Devoited is making Bi-levles that look pretty tight. Integrity's are good...never ridden an Omen.

there's no sense making decks if you arn't trying to make better decks.

tad · 360 flip Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 5031

Dont really feel like getting into it but you're wrong. Wood decks and Bi levels are progressing too and there's still a ton of people that would rather ride them..

Brett Leadley · Posted: Sep 01, 2006 2:15 pm Post subject:

I think people on here really respect the fact that Schmaltz and Christian and their team riders post on this site a lot. It's like you know exactly what you're going to get from these guys which is a quality product and great customer service.
But as far as pushing board development and design you can't say enough about Cassette.. the first concaves, a-syms, tri-fin setups, bi-levels.
Oh yeah and putting out the first wakeskate-only video Cool

xstfu ill pwn youx · Backside 180 Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 837 City: 954.

just ride what ever board you like.
stop b1tch1n.
fgtz.
ily Brett Leadley,

feelnjstfine · Backside 180 Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Posts: 802 City: Portland

True, you definately can't say enough about Cassette, afterall they are the ones responsible for getting board design where it is today, truely the original inovators. If you think about it , damn near all wood boards are a knockoff or their designs (concaves and bi's) with each comany trying to put their own little twist on it, more refining than revolutionizing.But it does seem like these newer, smaller companies are the ones pushing the boundries today( really the only way they can make a name for themselves) while it seems like the more established brands are resting one their laurels a bit more, kind of how it seems some of the old pros are riding compaired to some of the up and coming riders.

itch · Posted: Sep 01, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject:

The OMEN boards are wood core
ITCH

feelnjstfine · Backside 180 Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Posts: 802 City: Portland

I know the Omens are wood core. But they are one of the few wood companies using their own design and they also bring composites into the mix. Getting the best of both worlds. Even though I have yet to ride one of their boards, I have a ton of respect for them for their forward thinking.

TannerC · Backside 180 Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 1694 City: Nanaimo

It doesn't matter who's taking over or who's dieing. Support who ever you want. We are all here for one reason, to ride wakeskates. As long as your having fun doing the sport we love that's all that matters.
<3

Maria · _________________ 01/20/2009. Niko-chan!

What about those companies that have a lot of money but don't really contribute to board development? I'm thinking of wakeboarding manufacturers, such as LF, GB etc... OK, so their boards may be really good but what are they doing as far as development is concerned? Please correct me if I'm wrong...

scott a · "a" is for angel Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 4126

excuse me? LF has done their fair share of board development. in the beginning they also provided distribution for cassette. but enough of a history lesson for today. LF will always be "the bad corporate guys" according to some.

feelnjstfine · Backside 180 Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Posts: 802 City: Portland

Maria, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Those big companies are reaping the rewards of having boards out there yet seem to be doing little to further advance the boards we ride. Yet it's the little companies that are trying to improve what we ride and that's why I respect them. Plus the fact that they're all wakeskaters themselves, not suits.

dirtyohioriver22 · Backside 180 Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 1705 City: cincy

if integrity got real popular and as big as lf their would be people who would hate them just because that, its always more fun to cheer for the under dog

Maria · _________________ 01/20/2009. Niko-chan!

scott a, Weren't Cassette actually a part of LF back then? And yes, they will be "the bad corporate guys" as long as they keep making crappy boards, quality-wise. Period. And exactly WHAT have they done as far as developing is concerned? Ripping off the Cassette designs? Making a pink board? (hey I did that two years before them! Wink

) I'm not saying they aren't nice boards to ride, but innovative? Avant-garde? Not really.

feelnjstfine, word. Always nice when someone understands my point.

deepcove · Posted: Sep 01, 2006 4:51 pm Post subject:

Vance Collins · Guest

deepcove,

get cassette to where? haha. J/k I <3 cassette.

I also find it graet how Reed Hansen sticks with them. Best rider out there right now and he rides for Cassette. Imagine if he left them... Question

scott a · "a" is for angel Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 4126

perhaps there is more than meets the eye, maria.

deepcove · Posted: Sep 01, 2006 5:38 pm Post subject:

cjbecker · Posted: Sep 01, 2006 5:50 pm Post subject:

it is an underdog story.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

cassette was always thomas' and he started it without Liquid force. sometime in 2000 he partnered up with LF, where liquid force would distribute the product and thomas would still have creative control over his baby. So yes, that partnership helped both thomas and wakeskating in a huge way, and I know that I'M thankful for that.

And while some of the designs from the larger companies may not be earth shattering (though most have their own unique design characteristics combined with proven and preferred technology) I like to think that everyone seems to have their place right now. Whether it be sponsoring some of wakeskating's innovative/charasmatic/rising stars riders (for me at least, like reed, hampson, kyle walton, aaron rathy, and my favorite am, Kyle Hyams), to doing their nation wide demos so people can either a) learn how to ride a wakeskate or meet new people or b) see wakeskating from some of their favorite pros in a non traditional atmosphere.

However, I should note that there are some tallented dudes riding for other companies. The riders I listed above are just examples.