Words: Rob Corum Photo: Joey Meddock
Clay Fletcher is known as one of wake’s premier rail riders, but few people realize how ill he is behind the boat. His style transfers from rails to two-tower systems to wake riding with ease. As a result, building a single board to keep up with him was always challenging — until now. The all-new CWB Saber is the perfect fit for Clay and other riders who want to do everything without changing boards for each application.
Riding with Clay is always an experience. He’s an entertainer and one of the raddest people I know, so I jumped at the chance to take my first set on the Saber at his home lake near downtown Orlando. Riding flex boards behind the boat has always seemed like an oxymoron to me. I’m one of those riders who think stiff boards are made for the boat and noodles are made for rails, but the Saber is different than any other “park board” I’ve ridden. And even though it took me a minute to get used to a softer board behind the boat, I was blown away by the Saber’s performance. It’s poppier than any park board I’ve ridden and tracks just enough to keep a solid edge for cranking into tricks and stomping landings. The Saber is stiffer between your feet, which gives it solid pop off the wake, but it still maintains a super-playful soul reminiscent of the Vibe, its partner in CWB’s Park Series. A few days later, I met up with Clay at the park to give the Saber a whirl on the rails. Its detuned ABS rails and flat bottom design kept me feeling super-smooth and super-confident, and its extra-durable Xtrans base is designed to withstand park-loads of abuse.
Whether you’re at the park, winching a hidden spot or riding behind the boat, the Saber is a winner. In fact, it’s one of the most soulful and diverse boards I’ve ever ridden.
CWB Saber
Sizes: 139, 145 cm
$360
