Hi
I started KS in 2006. Due to unrelated injury I've been out since 2007. Back into it this year and loving it although I'm still pretty inexperienced.
Weight - 98 kilos
Kite - new switch 12
Style: don't really have one - just farting around and going fast with a few pops. Twin tip.
Conditions: usually choppy. 20 knot kind of gig.
I'm having a good time with my old cabrinha board from 2007. It feels a little heavy though. I'm getting the itch for a new board.
Could someone in the know bring me up to speed with board tech or ref. a link to the right post as I couldn't find one? Still have a few questions:
Is there a big difference in board tech over the last 6 yrs? Will I notice a big difference.
What should I be looking for in a new board? is weight a major factor? Flex?
What size should I be looking at given my weight? 144?
How much rocker?
Anything in particular I should know re. pads?
Cheers
Try the shinn speed ball w18.Its wide with flattish rocker .Its great for heavier dudes.
Im 83 pies and I have been flying a 7 for most of the summer where on a normal size TT I would need a 10.
The speed ball has rounded edges for carving so it great in the surf too.
Shinn also so the king gorge which will give you even more bottom end ,but you will loose performance,
I take it you will be free riding so you dont really need pop or a hardcore free style board which are generally more ridged.
To flexy and it will be sloppy in the surf.
The speed ball has medium flex a really comfortable.
Not much rocker makes it plain quicker and it gather speed quick allowing you to get apparant wind in your kite and go faster in lighter wind.
To answer your first question there is a huge difference in board technology between now and 6 years ago. The major shifts have been in core materials (wood is now the standard, no more foam), channeling, and acceptance of the benefits of rocker. A few years ago most boards were either "freeride" lifeless noodles with no performance but were okay through chop OR cookie cutter "freestyle" boards which were stiff as all hell, square, no bottom shape, and no rocker.
Now to the present. There have been huge advances in board efficiency as a result of the use of channels and innovation in shape. It sounds like what you're after is something with good speed, pop, soft landings, and goes well through chop (with added some size of course).
Here's what I would recommend:
Axis Limited 140x43 - Quad concave, great spine shape with moderate rocker, super light, great pads and straps, amazing pop, soft landings, fast board
Axis Vanguard 139x42.5 Same shape as above but no carbon resulting in a more freeride oriented board, still soft through chop with good pop and smooth landings
Crazyfly Pro LTD 140x42 - Softer double concave coupled with a moderate rocker, butter through chop yet tons of grip and lots of potential for high-end freeride and freestyle
Cheers
Thanks for both of the replies.
Could I ask, whats the deal with the actual shape? The above looks fatter and shorter than what I'm used to. Does the fat factor give you a quicker plane?
I'm currently ridding a cabrinha 144 icon with a small amount of rocker - maybe an inch / inch &half. Per above it's an old board. It would be good to get something that contrasts this although if the changes are significant, maybe it's obsolete and I will end up selling down the track. Here's a pic plucked from Google.
www.kiteforum.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28661
Love the concept of cutting through chop and reducing the spray due to concave factors etc. - spray in your face when fanging it gives me the sh$ts....
is it worth paying the extra bucks for the carbon?
Speedball looks interesting. A little more radical. Does anyone now a Melbourne vendor that demos this bad boy?
Cheers
Hey Rolls
I've been going through the learning process for a new board too. Have a look at these 3 vids, this should explain what different board qualities will provide. Then go looking for the design features that will suite your intended style, which I'm finding is not easy to get from the manufacturers' sites.
Select to expand quoteRolls said..
Thanks for both of the replies.
Could I ask, whats the deal with the actual shape? The above looks fatter and shorter than what I'm used to. Does the fat factor give you a quicker plane?
I'm currently ridding a cabrinha 144 icon with a small amount of rocker - maybe an inch / inch &half. Per above it's an old board. It would be good to get something that contrasts this although if the changes are significant, maybe it's obsolete and I will end up selling down the track. Here's a pic plucked from Google.
www.kiteforum.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28661
Love the concept of cutting through chop and reducing the spray due to concave factors etc. - spray in your face when fanging it gives me the sh$ts....
is it worth paying the extra bucks for the carbon?
Speedball looks interesting. A little more radical. Does anyone now a Melbourne vendor that demos this bad boy?
Cheers
That surface area helps you get on plane faster in lower winds. For me, I'd prefer width to length as you can make a bigger difference to the overall feeling and planing ability on the board with that little bit of width. The good thing about these shapes (especially the Axis) is the heel channel allows for you to have a lot of bite when the wind picks up, even though the board is bigger. I think the 140 Axis will have significantly better range and feel than the current board you have as that shape is quite old. For me, Carbon is worth it as long as you're not someone how rides over rocks and up onto the beach all the time. The only downside is if you go through the glass and into the carbon, otherwise it's all upside.
I demoed a heap of boards this season
Got rid of my beloved FLX and bought the Shinn DUNDEE
beware the Shinn Speedball it's a love it or hate it kind of board.
When you're a competent rider demo a few, you'll know the right board for you when you ride it.
They're all roughly the same price range but well worth it
I have the speedball w18, use it with my edge 11 in small waves and mush as my light wind combo, the board has insane low end and carves nice, like it because it's a bit different and a nice change from my monk forever board, w 18 goes really early also, doesn't need much power and builds apparent wind quick.
The newer boards appear to have a wider middle section. Does this mean that I won't need the same length as I used to have? I.e. Can I knock my 144 down to a 138?
Speedball sounds good but not sure if any Melbourne stores demo it.
Give kitesurfsup a call, speak to Phil and he will sort you out, always makes demos available for crew, just had a blast on the mako 150 from Phil, always good service!
Wa but sure he will point you in the right direction.
I'm down in tassie, with often choppy conditions as well.
I'm 95kgs, bought myself a xenon la luz in 135. You could go for the 138 if you want. Very light board. And good in the chop. Worth a demo if you can?
Bought the new axis limited from XU.
Nice light carbon board with wood core. Carves a treat. Good upwind. Takes a bit of getting used to coming off such an old board.
Thanks for all the advice. Appreciated.
Surely this post should be immediately re-filed into the newbies' section?
Some great advice here from regular contributors and some great newbie video, but for heaven sake let's put it where it belongs (before someone bumps it to the top of our most recent post list some months down the track).
Great to see good input from our good contributors... But from here it'll just become a pimp-festival of people recommending the boards they get at cost or less than the rest of us regular punters.
