Is wakeskating dying?

kyle · Posted: Mar 07, 2011 6:37 am Post subject: Is wakeskating dying?

You would think that with all of these new cables going up and winching become more popular, the parks should be inundated with skaters. But as the flex boards have been becoming more and more popular, it seems like a lot of the kids that would be skating, are now riding flex and charging the parks through that route. It could just be just me, but I am basing this solely off of observation. I just don't see as many skaters at any of the cables anymore.

-=AlexXx=- · Posted: Mar 07, 2011 8:44 am Post subject:

whats a flex board?

texasT · Posted: Mar 07, 2011 9:35 am Post subject:

http://www.flexboard.net/ ?

Dunno how those affect cable parks though..

masi · Posted: Mar 07, 2011 9:50 am Post subject:

kyle, i know a lot of wakeskaters that ride at ski rixen every day. On the rare days i show up there, its usually split down the middle, or more favored towards wakeskaters. It really all depends on the cable, and it all depends on if there are a lot of riders in the area who have winches, skis, or boats. I would probably say that most people don't like wakeskating at most of the cable parks in the united states and would rather go ride something else. Other then tampa, look at the lay out of most of the cable parks here in the U.S, they have large kickers, 5 foot tall rollar coster esque rails. If they were catered to wakeskating a little more, then you would most likely see more wakeskaters

Raven · Posted: Mar 07, 2011 10:14 am Post subject:

a wakeskater knows true freedom.

dscsk8er55 · Backside 180 Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 1030 City: Orlando

I think one problem is cable is expensive (unless you get attacked by the dog behind the counter).

I skate but I can't afford to go to the cable all the time, and I make a decent living. Shoot I can just barely keep gas in the seadoo.

Lollar · 360 flip Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 8253

When it comes to wakeboarding if you arent riding at teh cable you dont have to many more options. Thats for the traditional wakeboarder. You have the cable or a big ass expensive boat to ride behind that costs a lot in gas to fill just to ride. For us wakeskaters we have a lot more options. Ski, johnboat, winch, cable, wakeboat, you can even ride behind a pontoon boat and have a good time (Seaman). So the cable is more than likely cheaper to a lot of wakeboarders but we as wakeskaters have way more inexpensive options. 5 bucks in gas on the tinny gets me on the water and riding until I pretty much get tired and say I want to be done vs. spending 25 bucks on a cable thats kinda choppy with a bunch of waveboarders riding that never fvcking fall and I only get an hour to get my riding in unless I pay more. Id much rather ride behind Romans tinny than any wakeboat or at any cable personally.

POPTART · 360 flip Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 7621

Mos Def

Guy · Backside 180 Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 842 City: Orillia

texasT · Posted: Mar 07, 2011 1:59 pm Post subject:

Guy, i'm just as stoked as ever Laughing

soy escuala · Backside 180 Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 2248

The short answer is yes.... it's pretty much dead.

loganhursh · Frontside 180 Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 401 City: Orlando

Yeah i think its too expensive i could skate a whole week behind my ski for the same price as a couple hours at the park

stack · Ollie Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 79

wow this is completely different to Europe. Out here in england cable is the cheap alternative to boat. I just stopped riding boat and joined a cable and have halved how much i spend on riding.

yookyle · Backside 180 Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 1002 City: Reno

hes talking about wakeboards made for cables that have flex to them.

Lollar · 360 flip Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 8253

stack · Ollie Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 79

22 pounds for 2 hours or 550 for the year. The only real public water here is the sea we have boat owners clubs but they have waiting lists and cost a lot of money in membership fee's. Apart from that we have boat clubs where you pay per tow. I was at one of the cheapest but was still just under a pound a minute.

(pound is a dollar 50 to 2 dollars depending on exchange rate)

POPTART · 360 flip Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 7621

wakeskating is too mainstream

it must die before it can be cool again

price.dan · Backside 180 Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 1404 City: Regina

stack, not to mention gas is twice expensive in england.

1 pound = $1.5/2 US. Thus, approx. $44 US to ride for 2 hrs is expensive for cable parks. But i guess if fresh water is limited, you gotta do what you gotta do. Correct me if i'm wrong but... wouldn't $44 US get you 4-5 hrs at McCorrmicks?

stack · Ollie Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 79

I am not sure if you can equate it that simply as average wage might differ here and if things are priced to be too much they don't last very long.

The big killer out here is that gas is currently 1.30+ pounds a litre (not gallon) so in the grand scheme of things cable is massively cheaper.

Other beach is that if we want a wakeskate other than LF or hyperlite we need to do an import which adds on 100 dollars shipping and 20 percent tax.

On the bonus I have 3 cable parks within 40 minutes and 6 within an hour and a half of me. I just have to sell a kidney to ride them all :p

Sagittorious · Posted: Mar 07, 2011 6:23 pm Post subject:

As long as we have air in our lungs and water to ride on it'll never die.