OB4 used/resale/trial?

[Than_Bogan]

I'm pretty interested in trying out an OB4 system, but I'm fairly pessimistic that it's actually going to feel right for me because I had a completely failed experiment with hard shells some years ago.

 

So I'm trying to think of some way to give this a try without breaking the bank. I fairly directly asked OB4 about a trial, and while I got detailed answers to most of my questions, I got no response to the trial idea, so I am assuming they are not currently doing trials. (And I can't fault them at all -- I wouldn't be offering a trial in their situation either.)

 

But maybe some third party does? H2osmosis has sometimes done things like that for me.

 

Or what about the secondary market? Could I pick up a used one somewhere and/or resell mine if it doesn't work out? I don't see a single one on Ski-It-Again, so it's hard to guess at that option.

 

Other clever ideas?

[Horton]

@Than_Bogan‌ I would not give you a trial either. You have already stated that you struggle with hard shells. OB4 is a premium release product that uses off the shelf hard shells... if you already don't like hard shells it seems like a poor bet that you're going to keep the system

[Than_Bogan]

@Horton. Yep. But I prefer to be honest.

 

But perhaps I should have mentioned why I want to try this at all! I got a chance to try on some of the rollerblades that OB4 offers as an option. They are very different from the hard shells I tried (old Fogmans). They flex front/back very easily. The lateral flex is much stiffer, but the boot does still bend laterally.

 

That sorta seems like the combination of characteristics that I love about my T-Factors.

 

I don't think the odds are much better than 50-50, but this gave me some hope. And I personally feel an OB4 system would be non-trivially safer than my dual-boot T-Factor setup. So if my performance were even equal, I'd be willing to shell out the cash for the OB4s.

[Horton]

this should probably be a different thread but I am 100% sure that VERY stiff laterally is not better

[chris_logan]

@Than_Bogan I would assume that being able to pick up a used OB4 system anytime soon would be about as easy as finding a Vapor with a handful of sets on it. Are you currently in rubber boots? If not, bolt up your current setup to an OB4 system and run with it.

[mmosley899]

@Than_Bogan‌ , come to Whitestone and we will get you on a set to try out... We have not established a trial program at this point, but we will discuss it at the next BOD meeting. We will be at numerous water ski events this summer, including Nationals.

[Than_Bogan]

@mmosley899 If I haven't come up with an ingenious plan before then, I'll definitely bug you at Nationals! Actually, I'll plan to talk with you no matter what!