First introduced in 2015, Cory Teunissen’s pro model from O’Brien has evolved to become one of the premier boat boards on the market. If you need evidence of that, look no further than Cory’s rise to the top of wakeboarding’s ranks. Granted, Cory could probably ride a two-by-four better than most of us can ride a wakeboard, but his riding has progressed by leaps and bounds since he got on the CTP, and much of that is likely attributed to a shape that suits his riding perfectly.
O’Brien CTP
Sizes: 135, 141 cm Tyler Soden
One of the first things you notice when checking out the CTP is the light weight and flexibility. O’Brien‘s Feather Core keeps the weight down while still allowing the board to maintain its shape up the wake. Because the board is designed for Cory and his boat-riding prowess, you’d expect it to be on the stiffer side of the spectrum, but O’Brien has designed its signature Feather Core in the CTP to be on the flexier side, which gives it a livelier feel behind the boat that is a lot of fun. When you first get up on the CTP, it just feels comfortable, which is always reassuring. Boards that are too fast or hunt from edge to edge can feel uncomfortable, and that’s not how you want to feel when you’re edging into a giant wake.
Even with its flexier characteristics, the CTP is stiffer where it needs to be, which is right in the belly for boat riding. Combine that with its three-stage rocker line and you’re looking at some solid hang time. The pop is easily the feature of that board. Of course, every board manufacturer is going to sell you on how much pop a board has, but the CTP isn’t built up around some marketing jargon, it’s just a board that really does have lots of pop. What helps provide some of the pop is the speed, which can be deceiving at first because the board is mellow when not on edge. Put it on edge though and the board takes off, thanks in part to O’Brien’s signature Delta base with the chevron pattern in the tip and tail. The pattern helps reduce drag, which increases speed and allows for a cleaner release off the wake.
The speed of the board also helps with landings, which isn’t the case for many boards that have an aggressive rocker line like the CTP. The ease of control of the board translates to both edging in and landing, but the additional flex of the board is where you can really feel the difference in landings. That extra give is a great cushion for the big air that can come with the speed and the pop.
Overall, the CTP is a great board for a variety of riding levels. It’s not a board you’re going to want to take into the park, but it’s not built for that. Whether you’re just learning behind the boat or progressing on to more advanced tricks, the CTP can handle it all.
