I've been riding an '09 Nobile NHP (666) for the last 2 seasons and it's been sensational. Fast, huge pop, quick to plane and the best board out of the ~10 that i demo'd last time round. It's still a stunning board to ride but unfortunately i'm the weakest link in the chain and after returning from the physio with the news of fairly badly inflamed patella it's been suggested i make some changes to my kiting if i want to continue to enjoy it for years to come. So the easy part is remembering to strap my knee before every session, the hard part is finding another board that is going to be a little more accommodating in the comfort side of things.
I added some LF Comp Lace pads to the board towards the end of last season and found them to be really soft squishy and comfy, but i still end up in reasonable pain after most sessions so obviously not enough. With practice i'm smoothing out my riding but as soon as i start pushing to progress the knees start hurting again... and to be honest at 27 i'm far too young to be having knee problems. I'll probably keep the 2009 Nobile NHP as it's such an awesome board, so looking to add an additional board so that i might eventually like it more than the '09 NHP.
Rider: ~80kg 6'3"
Conditions: 40% flat water, 50% chop/slop, 10% surf
Current board: 2009 Nobile NHP 134x42 with LF Comp Lace pads.
Current kites: Naish Torches
Style/Experience: Freestyle, kiteloops, working on passes/mobes/etc atm
Anyone want to suggest i board so i can put together a shortlist and demo them all and pick the one that's right for me - just like i did last time. I'll probably be going for something a tiny bit smaller than the current 134 so ~130-132x40-41.
Any feedback on the boards i'm interested in:
- '10/11 Naish Momentum
- Xenon LaLuz (i like the 2010 graphics better than the 2011)
- '10/11 Nobile NHP
Is the 2010/2011 Nobile NHP any gentler on the knees with the increase in rocker?
Is a board with more rocker going to help my knees with the rough landings?
Am i going to be stuck with a soggy noodle of a board just to save my knees?
edit: Oh and Ewan, i was TRYING to behave myself and not smash my knee up too much last Saturday @ St Kilda so the encouragements of 'kiiiteloooooop!' were not ignored, but heavily moderated. 
The 09 555 was my choice for the exact same reason - My knees were killing me on my board at the time (North Mallory), I demo'd the 666 and loved it but just couldn't buy it because of the knee issues I felt within 5 minutes of getting on it.
The 09 555 is like a knife through butter in choppy conditions and the 10 666 is the same but with softer footpads. I'm also 80kg and 6'3" and ended up buying the 134 last year and am very reluctant to upgrade as I am still happy with it.
Try out an Ocean Rodeo Mako. You won't believe how smooth your ride will become. Also, get one of these.
Quality protection has never been so affordable now the US $ is worthless. These guys have a great web store>>http://www.btosports.com/p/EVSC100
Nobile boards are very forgiving and if your having issues with your knee riding a nobile board then you are going to have trouble on any board, well any board that is going to cut it as a freestyle or wakestyle board.
Some suggestions would be to change your fins to a smaller fin, my 09 NHP came with 55mm fins and would grip and ride strait out of a landing so if you were a bit off your knees/body would have to absorb it. The 2010-2011nhp has a lot more rocker which gives a softer landing and rides better through chop, it suffers from the same grip as the 09 model so can also benefit from the smaller fins around 35mm would suit.
definitely dot get rid of the 09 NHP, i regret getting rid of mine. When the new hadlow board rocks up in Aus i'm going to give one a go. They look like they have a good amount of flex. But will have to wait and see how it goes.
Really at your age you are not to young to be having issues, i have met lads a lot younger that have had serious opps. Your best bet is to take some time off, get it checked out, by a expert, i cant recommend Sports med enough they know there ****. They will take a look, clean out, operate, do physio to strengthen and suggest the best brace or action to keep you doing the sport you love for a long time to come. Nursing a injury will not build up any strength or heal its self, and can potentially cause damage that could be irreversible. If this happens you may get by using pain killers for a while but will eventually lead to you drooping out of the sport. Taking 12months off now may seem like a life time, but it could be worse. Look at Ruben, he has learnt his lesson the hard way and has spent a blody long time of the water now.
Try the new shinn monk.......... makes chopped up crud seem like a lagoon!!!
Im luvin this board in our UK slop
Try a Xenon LaLuz mate. Its looks after your knees like no other board out there. Shock absorbancy on it is incredible.
We got few guys in Melbourne riding the Xenons.
Go see Chris from Kite Republic, he has got a demo 132cm LaLuz.
Cheers
I had problems with one of my boards a couple of years ago where at the end of a session I could barely walk the pain in my knees was so bad. I thought it was just old man disease but it turned out that the foot straps were to far apart and by bringing them in closer together it stopped all the pain . I only moved them 20 or 30 mm and couldnt believe the difference it made.You might just need to adjust your board,I hope this helps.
its really easy to under estimate the importance of what jono just said I reckon.
Also, Yes, in my experience, more rocker is much better for my knees on landing.
i've mostly ridden pretty flat flexy boards in the past and recently moved to a much stiffer board with more rocker. Its way better for my knees. def riding with more pressure but landings seem way softer, I can come in much faster and land much harder and it feels sweet in comparison.
Hey mate ive got crud knees too from years of wake boarding. I kited on a twinny for two years and couldnt climb a set of stairs after a session so i switched to a surfboard and couldnt believe the difference... I ride both now and find that cruisin on a surfboard(no straps) helps build up the right muscles and tweaks the right tendons to take the punishment of boosting, jarring and flat landings of the good ol twin tip...
Im sure you could hit the gym or pay a physio for the same effect but ridin for it just makes more sense.... And I dont know if you stretch(hard when your frothin I know) but ya gotta stretch....
Man that knee brace thing from Gstar looks horrible...
I've gone to the 2010 cabrinha custom. 136. 29 years old 80kg and was also after soft landings this board is a little slowerthan my previous xride but the landings are soo soft.
Can't recommend this board enough.
An yes the angle of your duck and spread certainly affects the knees after a sesh. Try straightening the stance a bit. Worked for me.
Select to expand quotewaxman said...INTHELOOP said...
Try a Xenon LaLuz mate. Its looks after your knees like no other board out there. Shock absorbancy on it is incredible.
We got few guys in Melbourne riding the Xenons.
Go see Chris from Kite Republic, he has got a demo 132cm LaLuz.
Cheers
Sounds like someone has a **** load of these boards to flog off.
All 2010 boards are sold out lad - unfortunately no "loads to flog off".
Seems like the answer to every question in Xenons, at the moment.
with all the crap you post dude there is a little light at the end of the tunnel.
Now ride on sweetheart and maybe try one of the boards before you voice your opinion.
I have ridden a lot of different boards, and are just as excited that this board is a winner but give it a break all boards have good and bad points, at the moment its like Xenon is the perfect board for every one no matter what your skill level, ridding style age body condition or local conditions. As if.
rabble rabble
u still carrying on but you actually havent tried the board yet buddy.
enough said
And you are INTHELOOP KITEBOARDING,
So like i said, you must have a heap of these boards to move. I've never got the second login thing to make yourself look good, even the profile name in both is the same why did you change login details to have a go cant say what you think when you are loged in as INTHELOOP
Good luck with the new boards they look crap, i liked the look of last years but wouldn't touch this years with a stick.
If you want a review on one send one over to Whyalla and i will give one a go.
Painting is not a sport, and channels don't make a board slow.
You have been on the site for 10 months and never posted until now.
I think Intheloop will stop at nothing to sell these boards.
What are you scared of a honest opinion, on a board that you don't even ride.
I don't think i need a new login for people to take me seriously, when you are the one that has logged in under 2-3 different names in the last 2 hrs to make yourself look good.
I get it your trying to sell gear via this forum, you should realise the posting guidelines still apply. I hope you sell a lot of boards.
Thanks for all the feedback guys and girls.
Waxy- yeah i really do like the '09 NHP so i'll hang onto it. I'll try give the '10/11 a run and see if the increased rocker makes it gentler through the chop and on landings.
Ocean Rodeo Mako i have ridden in the past and just couldn't enjoy it. Just not my thing.
I did actually buy myself a surfboard at the start of last season and spent a bit of time riding that, but freestyle is what i enjoy the most.
I've never actually tried riding with the straps placed closer together. I figured as im on the taller end of the scale and found the stance width most comfortable on it's wider setting that was the way to go. I'll also try squaring up the stance. Happy to try anything!
I saw from a previous thread that Chris @ KR had a LaLuz for demo, and it is on my list so i'll go down for a session at St K and hopefully give it a run. The LaLuz does seem to be the wonder-board of the moment, but if it does what everyone says then i'll certainly try it.
Any idea's if the Naish Momentum is something i should bother demoing? I was told that it had a moderate amount of rocker and some good flex without going to the soggy noodle end of the spectrum.
Chris prolly has a Momentum as well, if not just hit up Ewan he rides them and will be happy for you to demo his board.
You just gotta try all the boards and see what you like best.
BTW personally i liked the NHP 2009 134cm best of all the 666s. Fast and no gimmicks.
cheers
There are "how to" websites that outline how to set up a snowboard for your stance width and angle. I think these tips could be crossed over to setting up the straps on your kiteboard.
1. your stance width should be roughly your shoulder width as a rule.
2. Your stance angle should be such that your knees push forward over your toes when you squat down.
There are a few tips on how to establish these parameters, like jumping off a stair and landing on both feet is supposed to give you your stance width.
Stance angle is a lot better these days - most straps have a range of adjustments you can make for this variable.
I know kiteboards are a little tricky, its not like kiteboards have masses of inserts to adjust your stance width to, but if you resort to buying a new board then maybe you buy one considering the stance width as well as the flex/ride characteristics of the board.
Don't underestimate the value of going to a physio and learning some strengthening exercises. The physio can work out if you have a muscle group that is over compensating for another's weakness and give you low impact exercises that target that muscle group. The trick is always to exercise some discipline and carry out the exercises in your own time.
After a ruptured patella tedon injury last year I also had to find a forgiving board to ride...... I rode a lot of boards thanks to kite powers huge range of demos and ended up with an underground styx I am 96 kgs and ride mostly in heavy chop so a good board is important. I will continue with the styx it provides excellent pop awesome board for boosting, lands well, rocks unwind and very smooth on the knees. Definitely give one of these a go I am on a 142 and ride it in all wind conditions ......it does not feel like a big board.
Koma, the Momentum is a great board, but, the best 2 I have found for my wrecked (replacement candidate) knee are the Cardboards FR and the North Jaime. Both a pleasure to ride and both smooth out the bumps and take the hurt away.
Koma, the Momentum is a great board, but, the best 2 I have found for my wrecked (replacement candidate) knee are the Cardboards FR and the North Jaime. Both a pleasure to ride and both smooth out the bumps and take the hurt away.
