Five years of the North Gambler...

Back in 2012, North went out on a limb and released their first every wakestyle kiteboard, the Gambler. 5 years on, North pro Craig Cunningham is still riding one, and loves it dearly. Of course it's not the same Gambler that he first helped design back in 2012, North have continued making Gamblers through to 2016, and will most likely continue well into the future. One thing has stayed the same however, and that's the badd-ass, no compromises design philosophy used in creating one of the worlds best wakestyle kiteboards. "Cant believe it's been 5 years!" Told Craig Cunningham on social media this week. "Couldn't be happier with how the Gambler turned out for 2016... New outline, new bottom shape, new top shape and most importantly the flex pattern is on point! Tom Court, Colleen Carroll and myself put a lot of time into making sure each size was just right for 2016. Trust me, you wont be disappointed!" To celebrate 5 years of a great board, we're shedding a little light on what makes a wakestyle board, just that.. Good wakestyle boards have sweet graphics... Depending on who you ask. Wakestyle kiteboarding is about as lairy as it gets in the graphic department. Norths 2012 Gambler started a trend of bright colours and and strange themes that continued throughout the line. It's got to last, despite being abused... If it won't handle being dragged down the beach, over the rocks and then slammed into a solid piece of PVC for hours on end, it won't cut it as a wakestyle board. Norths 2013 Gambler, and all generations thereafter had a "Tuff Skin" layer on the bottom to protect the goods inside. They're all shaped like a banana... Huge amounts of rocker in wakestyle boards give them the pop required both behind a kite, and cable system. With such huge changes in shape for 2014, North painted up their board to look like a giant banana! Boots are mandatory... Strapping bindings on a twintip allows kiteboarders to load them up hard before popping. To help with all that, wakestyle kiteboards are made stiffer than your average twintip. "This Gambler's got POP". So it says on the 2015 Gambler. And they must have curves... Take one look at the bottom of any good wakestyle board and you'll find deep channels. Directing water along the board, instead of sideways allows kiters to ride with no fins, making it possible to hit sliders and kickers!