What level do you consider yourself? Are you going wake to wake? Doing grabs? Doing inverts? Where do you want to be?
Bias towards a company?
A price range?
What boards have you been riding? Do you want something similar? Something lighter? Something tighter on the water?
Do graphics matter to you?
Is there a board shop near by that only carries one or two brands? If you want to demo a board first, I would find a shop and see what they carry.
131-137 is a good size for you due to do your height and weight. Try using the board wizard here on wakeworld.
http://www.wakeworld.com/Wizard/Boards.asp I am from Washington so I lean towards Hyperlite. I am your same height and weight. I care about having a 'female' graphic board. I just bought the 132 Syn and my friend has the 134 Blur. My old board is a 134 Blindside Flower (Assassin Model). Before that I had a 137 Mikala (Tara Hamilton's first board).
Look through the board guide and find a couple that you like, read the feedback on the board from previous years.
http://www.wakeworld.com/BoardGuide/ There are lots of places selling out 2005 boards still.
Then if you want help deciding which one to demo first, ask on this thread and we can help you there. There are alot of boards out there to choose from, all of them are good.
As far as bindings are concerned, that is a whole another ball of questions (which size, what have you ridden, etc). I ride the Hyperlite 2004 Temets because I can get them tight by myself easily. I tried 4 different pair of bindings before settling on them. They are for sale on Grizzly's den for $180 (
http://www.grizzly-sports.com/den/index.htm), but when you call, ask for Mike and say Laci sent you and I think they will give them to for $149.99 - $139.99.
Although I have to say, I tried on the new CWB Torqs and they are nice, no need for slime in them. But not high enough on my ankle to make me comfortable when riding.
Sorry for the long post.
(Message edited by tcluv85 on April 26, 2006)