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Gear: Editor’s Pick | Words: Brandon Judd | Photo: Bill Doster

2014 Raph Hybrid by Liquid Force

This isn’t just another run-of-the-mill cable board — although, at first glance, I could see why you might say that, but let me explain. Liquid Force has been in front of the cable boom for years with its wide array of hybrid boards. Since the Raph Hybrid’s construction and visual appearance is similar to other boards in its line, one could write it off as just another hybrid board. Let me assure you that there is more to this board than you might think. I have ridden some of Liquid Force’s cable boards in the past, but after my first lap, I realized this one was different.

Right off the bat, there were a few features that made a noticeable difference in the board’s overall performance and feel. First, the entire perimeter of the board — especially in the tip and tail — is surprisingly thin. Most of the board’s mass is located closer to the center of the board, which resulted in less swing weight and an overall lighter feel on my feet while I rode. The thinned-out edges made me nervous about catching an edge at first, but that fear was quickly rendered groundless when I put it to the test. After taking a closer look, I noticed that this was because the rails are lifted slightly above the wear point on the base — just enough to prevent me from getting hung up on an imperfection in an obstacle, but not so much that it affected my edge control. The tip and tail are also dished out with a mellow, single concave arc and a catch-free, featureless surface — which made this board very jib friendly.

The flex pattern on the Raph made it really fun in every aspect of the park. The board was flexible yet responsive. When I stepped hard on the tail, it snapped back. When I locked into a press, it held. The flex pattern was very soft, but not so damp that it held no rocker while riding straight. It made for some fun corners at the cable too. I could fully lean past the tail and practically lay down on the water without the tail skipping out on me or standing me back upright too quickly.

The Raph is a relatively fast board with very little drag. I could rail into kickers and air tricks as fast as I wanted, and the board had no problem keeping up. Air tricks were fun because of how edgy the board was. Liquid Force added subtle edge channels near both edges to help the board feel grippier when edging through the belly of the board, and then fade away to nothing in the tip and tail to keep it jib friendly. This feature really helped the board lock in when finless. I could load up a short hard edge with ease and release cleanly with no hang-up or delay.

Overall, I had a great time riding the Raph. The folks at Liquid Force mean what they say when they refer to the Raph Hybrid as “a no-compromise park board.” Try one out, and you’ll feel right at home on the cable.

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It’s VOTM time again! Raph Derome’s Non-CGA Signature Competition Vest by Billabong has been selected as our June Vest of the Month. I know a lot of riders that swear by it. It’s definitely one to check out if you are looking to step up your game while competing this year.

Vest of the Month: Raph Derome Comp Vest by Billabong

Weighing in at just 1.36 pounds, Raph Derome’s signature comp vest is built with simplicity and mobility in mind. The tacky texture on the vest’s exterior allows it to dry quickly and keeps the neoprene from stretching out too much over time. This is important with comp vests this flexible. The super stretch neoprene generally gets pretty sloppy after a season of entry and exit, but the elastic properties of the almost rubberized matte material on the outer shell keeps it returning back to its original dimensions after use. It also features a front zip so it’s much easier to put on and off than a pullover, but it equally as thin and light as a pullover comp vest once it is zipped up.

MSRP: $115

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For all of our Wallpapers, click HERE.

|320×4801024×7681280×8001280×10241600×1050|iPhonestandard desktopstandard laptophi res desktopwidescreen| |Kaesen Suyderhoud | Photo: Rodrigo Donoso| ||

|320×4801024×7681280×8001280×10241600×1050|iPhonestandard desktopstandard laptophi res desktopwidescreen| |Rusty Malinoski | Photo: Joey Meddock| ||

|320×4801024×7681280×8001280×10241600×1050|iPhonestandard desktopstandard laptophi res desktopwidescreen| |Raph Derome | Photo: Chris Garrison| ||

|320×4801024×7681280×8001280×10241600×1050|iPhonestandard desktopstandard laptophi res desktopwidescreen| |Kaesen Suyderhoud | Photo: Rodrigo Donoso| ||

|320×4801024×7681280×8001280×10241600×1050|iPhonestandard desktopstandard laptophi res desktopwidescreen| |Dean Smith | Photo: Chris Garrison| ||

|320×4801024×7681280×8001280×10241600×1050|iPhonestandard desktopstandard laptophi res desktopwidescreen| |Chris O’Shea | Photo: Jason Lee| ||

|320×4801024×7681280×8001280×10241600×1050|iPhonestandard desktopstandard laptophi res desktopwidescreen| |Chris Abadie | Photo: Chris Garrison| ||

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The method is a difficult front-hand grab, but it’s also one of the most stylish grabs you can do, so it’s well worth the work to add it your arsenal. Here are a few tips that make a method easier to learn, and then a few things you can do to take your method to the next level. — Raph Derome, Malibu Boats team rider

Boost Your Consistency

A method is one of the hardest tricks to do with a curly wake. Fortunately, I don’t ever have to worry about that with my Malibu Wakesetter MXZ, because it has by far the most consistent wake there is. It will never curl on you no matter what you do. It’s a confidence booster to try new tricks when you know the wake will be the same every time you hit it. That said, I still can’t say I nail methods every time. It’s a tough trick and it’s easy to get it wrong, but every now and then I’ll get one that feels perfect and the MXZ helps me make my method look like I want it to more consistently.

Position Proper

Handle placement is the biggest key to a good method. You want to position the handle towards your front hip as much as possible — this will keep you stable and ensure you don’t start unwrapping in the air. At the same time as you lock the handle in position, grab your board and tweak your hips towards the back so your upper body still faces the boat.

Tweak It

One of the best ways to learn this trick is to work on the method motion without the grab. Tweaking your tail without worrying about the grab will still give you a good idea of how the trick will feel, where you need to place the handle and how much you have to tweak your hips — all without having to fully commit right away.

Evolve It

My method has evolved a lot over the years. It progresses naturally, I guess. I learned it flat then glided it out a little over time and now it’s usually somewhere in the middle. But I think I want to change it a bit and make it more flat. It all depends on what you think looks good and how you feel on the water — a trick doesn’t have to remain constant year after year.

Grab, Land, Repeat

A method is a great trick to put your own style on. To make it your own, I think you just have to do the trick over and over and just do it like your body let’s you do it. A look or a style is not something you should have to labor over — it’s just the way you ride and what feels and looks good to you.

Go Next Level

The next step is to take your method out into the flats. Or if your knees are tired, try a method backside 180. Either way, just make sure to get a consistent pop and keep your handle in at your front hip. If you don’t do that, you’ll never get anywhere with a method.

	## 2013 Malibu Boat Guide
Get more Malibu with the 2013 Malibu Boat Guide. Explore Malibu’s 2013 ski boats, meet the Malibu Boats team, and see Malibu’s latest innovations through video, full-screen photo galleries and more. See Malibu Boats’ commitment to innovation, performance, style and quality in action, and get all of your questions answered by Malibu Boats experts. Once you’ve found the best ski boat for you, book a test driver with the built-in dealer locator. Experience it now.

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