- Location
- South Florida
The only thing worthwhile on Facebook is the Florida Freeriders group but we have been quiet lately there too.
What killed the forum? How can it be revived?
- Thread starter Jhucke
- Start date
WFO Speedracer
A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
- Location
- Alabama
This forum probably just needs some really cool hats.
Midlake Crisis
Site Supporter
- Location
- Bakersfield, CA
And a "laugh" button
- Location
- colorado
as someone who just got into pwcs about 2 years ago i was lucky xh20 is still as active as it is. i was able to research everything i needed to know about the 650sx and the waverunner 3 project i bought. i found most answers by searching and anything i had to resort to asking about received a quick answer and/or suggestions.
being landlocked i am far away from any get togethers or groups so i dont have much to add to those subjects and am still a newb so not much to add other than my limited experience with 2 specific skis, but i pipe in when i can.
i guess i am just lucky that the x was still here
2nd vote on the hats though
being landlocked i am far away from any get togethers or groups so i dont have much to add to those subjects and am still a newb so not much to add other than my limited experience with 2 specific skis, but i pipe in when i can.
i guess i am just lucky that the x was still here
2nd vote on the hats though
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
You hit the nail on the head, 100% with this post. I couldn't agree more with everything that you said!
I havent had a ski in almost 8 years at this point but I still check in here daily because one day I will get another one or build something cool and I try to keep tabs on whats what anymore. My time is consumed work kids and every now and then a bike ride or the boat in the summertime. Skis remind me of unlimited free time I no longer have.
Vumad
Super Hero, with a cape!
- Location
- St. Pete, FL
I haven't been here as much because I got injured. Some people moved on but not everyone sold their skis.
Also the superjet went 4 stroke. Over 70 pounds heavier and a price increase. You can't go finance a cheap 2 stroke anymore.
Low supply, high prices. Can't find a junk superjet and a junk couch and put them together. When you do, some flipper with an abundance of free time is scooping up the parts and shipping them out of the area.
More population, more swim zones being cut down. Daytona shut down some beach driving. Local to me, Gandy beach did the same and it's not even a nice beach. A lot of the beaches are swim zones only, you have to find a sandbar maybe. They charge to park at the lakes and are not maintaining them.
Housing has gone insane, so has everything like food and vehicles. Young people can't get into the sport. The older crowd often already knows the answer or is less motivated to innovate like young people who think it hasn't been done before.
Etc, etc. Unfortunately the world has not been kind to our sport.
Also the superjet went 4 stroke. Over 70 pounds heavier and a price increase. You can't go finance a cheap 2 stroke anymore.
Low supply, high prices. Can't find a junk superjet and a junk couch and put them together. When you do, some flipper with an abundance of free time is scooping up the parts and shipping them out of the area.
More population, more swim zones being cut down. Daytona shut down some beach driving. Local to me, Gandy beach did the same and it's not even a nice beach. A lot of the beaches are swim zones only, you have to find a sandbar maybe. They charge to park at the lakes and are not maintaining them.
Housing has gone insane, so has everything like food and vehicles. Young people can't get into the sport. The older crowd often already knows the answer or is less motivated to innovate like young people who think it hasn't been done before.
Etc, etc. Unfortunately the world has not been kind to our sport.
- Location
- deland fl
I think now days you’re in the minority if u don’t flip. I’m in the minority btw
Mike W
Infidel
- Location
- North Florida
Been in this sport a long time. I don’t post much about ski’s anymore and post dumb $hit in the meme thread but really like to see new riders post build threads and ask newbie questions. Just don’t blast these guys. That definitely keeps people away from posting on the forums.
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WFO Speedracer
A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
- Location
- Alabama
Over-moderation by certain individuals didn't help, whew I am glad that is over with !
When I was on the forum years ago we had plenty of know it alls that knew better way than I did exactly which way the sport was headed and which way it should go, the flak I got over that first 300SX build was absolutely ridiculous and uncalled for, just because someone comes up with a new idea doesn't mean go Defcon 4 on them , thankfully a number of those people found other interests to pursue, time and the number of 300SX builds since mine have proven I made the right call on that one BTW.
I am bringing this up to reiterate what Mike W just posted, help these new guys along if you can , after all they are the future of this sport.
When I was on the forum years ago we had plenty of know it alls that knew better way than I did exactly which way the sport was headed and which way it should go, the flak I got over that first 300SX build was absolutely ridiculous and uncalled for, just because someone comes up with a new idea doesn't mean go Defcon 4 on them , thankfully a number of those people found other interests to pursue, time and the number of 300SX builds since mine have proven I made the right call on that one BTW.
I am bringing this up to reiterate what Mike W just posted, help these new guys along if you can , after all they are the future of this sport.
wydopen
onthepipe
- Location
- Goleta the Goodland
I feel like it isn’t just forum participation that’s dropped but rider participation is way down also, at least around here.
When I started in ‘05 there was quite a bit more people riding/posting but I feel like there was a huge boom around ‘07. Back then you could get a cheap superjet and Bpipe and were set. It went from a couple people riding around here to quite a few. Just in my town and the town to the south there was prob 15-20guys and then up north there was at least that many..
When the aftermarket hull/backflip craze started allot of those people went crazy with 30k$ skis that didn’t ride as good and I think they got burned out. Out of all those people only a couple still have skis or ride at all..also I feel like everyone either thought they needed to be a pro rider because they could do flips or make a business of some sort out of it and that kind of killed the fun also.
I’m guilty of it also I didn’t ride for 7years. I definitely miss the days of 30skis on the beach every weekend, now the only person I have that will ride with me is my 10year old son and now he’s racing motocross so that takes up all of our time.
When I started in ‘05 there was quite a bit more people riding/posting but I feel like there was a huge boom around ‘07. Back then you could get a cheap superjet and Bpipe and were set. It went from a couple people riding around here to quite a few. Just in my town and the town to the south there was prob 15-20guys and then up north there was at least that many..
When the aftermarket hull/backflip craze started allot of those people went crazy with 30k$ skis that didn’t ride as good and I think they got burned out. Out of all those people only a couple still have skis or ride at all..also I feel like everyone either thought they needed to be a pro rider because they could do flips or make a business of some sort out of it and that kind of killed the fun also.
I’m guilty of it also I didn’t ride for 7years. I definitely miss the days of 30skis on the beach every weekend, now the only person I have that will ride with me is my 10year old son and now he’s racing motocross so that takes up all of our time.
WFO Speedracer
A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
- Location
- Alabama
This is pretty much what happened here also, everyone was chasing that next level of HP and they all got burned out and left the sport, those guys spend a lot of money then they are gone, us guys with stock skis or skis with minor mods are the ones that stay in the sport long term, I have seen riders come and go several times now, the riders around my area now area a much younger group, thankfully with me being in the business in the area I know most of them.
- Location
- South Florida
We have become less and less mainstream. We are a super niche sport now. Rec riders get scared off by what good freestylers and freeriders are capable of now.
It seems there arent many people even wanting in anymore. My local crew in South Florida used to be at the ramp almost every weekend and constantly pulling in new liabilities but not anymore. The liabilities make it a PITA for the experienced riders and then they drop off too and then we are left with just a few guys or maybe even no one willing to go ride some good surf when it shows.
It seems there arent many people even wanting in anymore. My local crew in South Florida used to be at the ramp almost every weekend and constantly pulling in new liabilities but not anymore. The liabilities make it a PITA for the experienced riders and then they drop off too and then we are left with just a few guys or maybe even no one willing to go ride some good surf when it shows.
OCD Solutions
Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
- Location
- Rentz, GA
I don't ride anymore but still post from time to time. I still read most of the threads but stopped posting on the technical side because no matter how carefully you craft a post, somebody aways has to chime in and school you on one or more points you failed to properly iterate, mention or detail correctly. I just don't care enough to endure the banter anymore but mostly I just don't have the time. I used to have hours of time to kill in a day that I just don't have anymore so if I can't get in out quick, I no longer engage. Plus, everything has been asked and answered so many times now, how can you just keep reciting the same answer over and over again?
I stopped riding because it became more work than fun for me. I've always juggled a heavy work schedule with what I do for fun but work has always been the priority. We've moved 5 times in the past 14 years and even when we moved 2hrs closer to our ride spot, the spot moved too and we always seem to maintain a minimum 2-3hr drive to water. Driving 5-6hrs round trip for a couple of 20-35 minute riding sessions just gets old, especially when you aren't home all week and already put 500 miles/week on the truck. The riding groups really changed too and if you weren't into flipping, you were old and tired. I really missed the days of slashing waves for hours with the OG crew but suddenly it's not a popular skill to hone and you find yourself sitting in a corner by yourself.
I still identify as a stand-up rider though and that will never change. We don't currently live by any water but if that ever changes, I'll own another stand-up.
I stopped riding because it became more work than fun for me. I've always juggled a heavy work schedule with what I do for fun but work has always been the priority. We've moved 5 times in the past 14 years and even when we moved 2hrs closer to our ride spot, the spot moved too and we always seem to maintain a minimum 2-3hr drive to water. Driving 5-6hrs round trip for a couple of 20-35 minute riding sessions just gets old, especially when you aren't home all week and already put 500 miles/week on the truck. The riding groups really changed too and if you weren't into flipping, you were old and tired. I really missed the days of slashing waves for hours with the OG crew but suddenly it's not a popular skill to hone and you find yourself sitting in a corner by yourself.
I still identify as a stand-up rider though and that will never change. We don't currently live by any water but if that ever changes, I'll own another stand-up.
WFO Speedracer
A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
- Location
- Alabama
I stopped posting here when I got life-banned, does that count ?
You are correct on several points OCD , there are always people who know or think that they know more than you do or a better way to do it , it does get old after a bit.
You are correct on several points OCD , there are always people who know or think that they know more than you do or a better way to do it , it does get old after a bit.
@OCD Solutions I know you dont ride anymore but do you still do the ebox services and all that stuff? Or did you back off of all that stuff too? I know with all your capabilities you had some cool stuff goin on back in the day.
MarkWalker
Site Supporter
- Location
- Buffalo NY
Stand ups are such a small community. The x will always be my go-to for info. I do feel very lucky to have the group we have here in WNY. On a Saturday morning you can post on our group text that you are riding at noon and 8-12 skis will show up.