Love the image with the skate shoes! That's how I'm riding my DV8 6'1" and loving it, looking to get a 5' 7" too. I wear the wakeskate series from DVS and my old Vans and DC's. I've always been very flat footed, so wearing shoes to ride, boosted my performance 100%. Plus it makes getting around "Stinky's" a little easier on your feet. Looking into the Ocean Minded "Board shorts for your feet" slip on's, they are a comfortable/stylish option for riding shoe'd and strapless, just haven't wanted to get them dirty yet. Also scoping out the O'Neill 3mm Freaksneak high-tops, looking like a sick option for winter wave skating.

Trying to talk Dave into making a DV8'ish twin tip, i.e. a large, LW Wakeskate.

Cheers,
trxdude

Took the fins off my DV8 and replaced them with the set of kite skate fins from a Naish board. The DV8 was loose, but not much different than a skate. Had some fun riding switch, tail first, to get off the beach, then doing a quick revert to carve down the line (jibe free). I've been looking for a higher volume/larger wakeskate, and now I've found it! I'd recommend not using a surf specific kite, as you'll want direct power if you want to do blind floaters, revert down the back side of waves and keep this low volume board moving upwind, especially in the lighter stuff. (I found when my 14m Rally Drifted I lost a lot of power, mostly in the flats when making hard toeside transitions) Ditch your straps for the DVS Sandbar series and kick this board around like your favorite skate.

#DV8SURFSKATE

late...