Quote Originally Posted by wolfeman131 View Post
Trayson,

I have purchased my Soulcraft boards, so I don't know that a "disclaimer" is necessary. I've offered up my opinion many times to folks, based on personal experience (I've sold more boards than you've ridden), on different board brands and I don't recall that I've ever directed anyone to buy a Soulcraft. Frankly, I don't appreciate your insinuation that my response to the OP provides me with some sort of personal benefit.

Besides, my direction to the OP was to read the reviews after the wake9 event, not to purchase a Soulcraft. You keep talking about/pushing and purchased a board model you've never ridden based on it being "supposedly better." As I stated in my post, I like facts.

So, a few other facts for you: Soulcraft does not have deep sponsorship pockets. There are very few deep sponsorship pockets in the competitive wakesurf world. The point of the podium shots is that, while those riders very well may have gotten there on any board, they chose Soulcraft.

Back to the OP - in the end, it doesn't really matter what people think of a board or board company as your riding style is unique. If you have a chance to demo boards then do that before dropping a few hundred bucks. If that isn't possible, check out the reviews from the wake9 Polar Bear and Southern Surfest.
Ya know, based on your explanation, I better understand. Accept my apologies. I jumped to come conclusions and I'm sure that others did too. So now that you've responded to my friendly calling you out, everyone is better informed and your stuff now comes across even more credible then before.

As far as the decision tree that led me to ultimately choose my board:

I rode Mike's custom soulcraft. immediately after it I rode Steven's Doomswell Drone. Everyone on the boat saw me come alive on the Drone. I pretty much said that the Drone needed to be my next board.

I later had some lengthy conversations with Micah Harper who has personally ridden all the various Doomswell boards. based on his review I decided that I would take a chance on the Nubstep vs the Drone. Like you said, if you don't have a chance to ride a board, then do your best to get reviews. Micah is a better rider than I'll ever be, and said that the Nubstep was faster and spun quicker and was overall a better board. It was a tough call. In the end, I'm very happy.

Also, I had to pinch pennies to get this board. We sold my Ronix Koal and I did without my primary board for a while so I could justify ordering a Doomswell. A soulcraft would have been more money, so financially there was another reason why I went the way I did.


Anyway, I'm all about communication and I really, genuinely love to know where other people are coming from. So I hope that we're cool and please know that while I provoked you a little, that I really do respect what you say and in the end I'm glad we have a cool community here on Moomba forums where we can have this kind of info get out there.

If you're ever in my neck of the woods, you've got an open invite to ride with me and share any of my toys!

-T