If you can't afford the airfare to ride in the snowy half of the planet this summer, consider the snowboard-inspired Roam Wakeboard from Hyperlite. Unlike traditional wakeboards that use molded fins, the Roam has a flat base. Essentially it's what Hyperlite calls a 'flexboard'--you bend your knees and use the board edges to set your turns. This innovative torsional flex approach to riding is also great for wakeboarders who are seeking riding diversity with great rail-riding potential. Hyperlite designed the Roam with a flexible E-core construction designed with nylon to let you flex the toeside edge differently from the heelside edge. This creates an effective edge along the Roam that emulates snowboard characteristics on the water. Despite the obvious differences between the Roam and other wakeboards (no fins, for one), Hyperlite dedicated the exemplary attention to detail in the construction. Like Hyperlite's best wakeboards, the Roam features a layered glass construction that doesn't use woven glass fibers. That's because woven glass fibers tend to separate over several seasons, reducing a wakeboard's lively snap. The Roam also has the jib-friendly ABS sidewall construction also found in Hyperlite's Premier and Murray Series. What's completely different is at the core--a 100% wood core (E-core) design that effectively emulates the same torsional flex found on snowboards. And you don't have to hike up a glacier to have fun this summer.
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