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genek
Since 21 Jul 2006
2165 Posts
East Po
KGB
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 Fri May 15, 09 10:11 am Liquid Force Varial Skate and Influence |
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Got to test out both boards for the first time yesterday at Lyle. Had a killer session that's got me super stoked for the season. Chooch did too, especially since he nailed a Raley to blind. 
The Varial Skate was sweet! You need to be fairly powered to ride it, but not more than you'd need for a powered session on a regular twin. Just don't ride it in the lower range of a kite. I stayed upwind on it even in the shallows without help from the current. It planes pretty easily and holds a solid edge. Pretty much felt like riding a skateboard out there. The kick on nose and tail felt good and the edges aren't sharp in case you botch a kickflip and land on em. Still working on figuring out flat water ollies with some height, but got a little shove-it after a few tries. Chooch was pretty stoked after riding it too. Definitely gonna be an awesome addition to the board quiver for those days when you wanna work on something different or when it's too gusty to ride anything else. Can't wait to take it on some sliders. This is just the beginning. I think there's gonna be a lot more kite skates in the future.
Also, rode the Influence with a pair of Watson boots and it blew my mind. After riding a wakeboard at the cable park I've been craving the same load and pop feel (if you've tried it you know what I'm talking about). Full power all the time. Being able to drive the board as hard as you can without killing the momentum followed by a clean explosive release. It just felt like I was throwing everything harder even when I wasn't going big.
Yesterday was the first time I felt like that behind a kite. As soon as I rode the board I noticed how hard I could load it without killing the pop, and how clean the release was. It felt really responsive so throwing stuff was easier and the pop was ridiculous.
Anyway, I'll stop ranting now, but I wanted to give a quick review and share the stoke. I think anyone that saw me during/after riding yesterday will confirm how pumped I was.
I know user experience will vary so feel free to ask for a test ride (especially on the skate since foot size won't matter).
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chanson
Since 31 Jan 2006
1874 Posts
WISCONSIN
Chimey
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| Fri May 15, 09 10:18 am |
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fuck yeah gene...and chooch!! 
Influence sounds nice.... what's the bottom like...? any channels or is it smooth?
I am thinking Concept Grind or maybe an Influence for my boot board... maybe I'll hit ya up on a demo when my ankle finally f-ing heals....
Varial....SWEET! gotta try that out too....How's the weight on it compared to other wake-specific skates...?
Were you riding it sans-fins..Does it even have fins? gonna be pretty epic on teh new funbox for progression!
stoked for summer!!  |
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genek
Since 21 Jul 2006
2165 Posts
East Po
KGB
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| Fri May 15, 09 10:30 am |
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| chanson wrote: | fuck yeah gene...and chooch!!
Influence sounds nice.... what's the bottom like...? any channels or is it smooth?
I am thinking Concept Grind or maybe an Influence for my boot board... maybe I'll hit ya up on a demo when my ankle finally f-ing heals....
Varial....SWEET! gotta try that out too....How's the weight on it compared to other wake-specific skates...?
Were you riding it sans-fins..Does it even have fins? gonna be pretty epic on teh new funbox for progression!
stoked for summer!! |
Bottom is similar to the '09 Concept so it's smooth with I think a double concave that goes to a quadruple concave at the tips. No more channels like the Mission used to have. I rode it across the sandbar to rescue Adam's escaped kite and there's no marks on the base so I'm guessing it should hold up fine on the sliders although not as well as the Grind. I also have a Grind sitting in the garage so I'll be able to give a comparison of the two once the wind comes back.
I think the Varial felt pretty similar in weight to a wakeskate with similar shape/construction. It came with 4 small fins on the corners so I rode with the fins, but would take em off for sliders.
I did ride the Influence without fins however, which is why I was even more surprised by the pop. Can't wait to try it with some fins, although I'm not sure it even needs em at this point unless you're riding lots of chop.
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Fri May 15, 09 10:53 am Re: Liquid Force Varial Skate and Influence |
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| genek wrote: | | a clean explosive release |
That's definitely what it looked like when you showed up to Double Mountain!
I'm on the Concept Grind for now, but we'll see if I change it up once I get a ride on the Influence. |
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genek
Since 21 Jul 2006
2165 Posts
East Po
KGB
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| Fri May 15, 09 11:12 am Re: Liquid Force Varial Skate and Influence |
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| Forrest wrote: | | genek wrote: | | a clean explosive release |
That's definitely what it looked like when you showed up to Double Mountain!
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Is that some kind of beer shits joke? 
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