Does it exist? Basically even a board with a surfboard nose and a twin tip tail/rail/fin array.
You mean a mutant?
I'm sure i've seen some of the older Naish mutant boards that are exactly as you described; mostly pointed front end with a 'TT' style tail and the straps biased to the 'TT' end.
There's also a couple of TT style sparrow tail boards with the triple fin array.
This onehttp://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/product_17262_Underground_Freewave_cat_351.html
Hey Steve,
I haven't read a review on these boards yet, have you ridden one? If so tell us about it, I ride a 2004 Underground TT and love it, I hope these wave boards are equally as good. I am still in transition period between jumping and stuff and wave riding, I would like a wave board board that is light, has flex, great on waves, but also good to jump with. Am I asking too much?
Catcha
I have not ridden the latest 08 version, which is stronger and has even better flex, but the previous version was amazing to ride for such a big board, it goes very well in chop and several customers swear by them for strapped and untrapped wave riding.
Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve
toxic wave from rrd perhaps?
I own an underground as in the posted link..when compared to a tt they are no way to ride the same feeling. but you can pop and jump if that's your main thing your looking for in something to ride waves with other than a surfboard. otherwise try the toxic its still a mutant but LOOKS to have the surfboard nose and the tt dynamics.. demo one as I'm just dribbling sheet.
Rode my Toxic Wave at Augusta on the weekend and it was awesome - I was able to still ride waves at times with little to no kite power - also I had to change the fins and straps - the 3 fin setup I had to increase the fin size and put better quality straps on - now it works a treat - great board and a lot of fun - still does good jumps - not as much pop as a TT - but still thats not its purpose...
doesn't exist(without comprising significant features).
i.e. surfboard feels great for surfing because it has thick rounded edges and a twin tip has a sharp flexi feel for pop. The closest i have ridden(briefly) was the toxic wave with the skull and bones(i think). Other manu's do similar stuff, but nothing feels like a board made especially for the conditions.
Save up and buy one of each.
i have an rrd toxic for waves when strong onshores mess up the swell
works really well to carve the wave heel and toeside when the kite is depowered and as a tt for old school boosting off the ramps (IMHO getting air on a strapped surfboard looks clumsy)
doesn't get upwind quite as quick as a surfboard
i've kept the shorter fins for the reefy shallows at cott (surfboard length fins catch too easily)
if the waves are clean and the wind is light then a surfboard can't be beaten 
The Spleene Zone may do the job... have read a lot of good things about it. It is a directional board with a snowbaoard type of construction, thin like a TT.
However, if a directional board cannot have the pop of a TT, it has fins, which allows to better hold the edge before the jump, it is a good compensation to pop. And in addition, you might be able to adjust the flex of the fins (by changing them) to improve the pop: in 'real' surfing some pretend the flex of the fins makes a difference.
Everything you want from a TT works against what you want in a directional, and vis-versa. This is why Mutants have all but disappeared. A board like you are asking for is like a Jack of all trades but master of none! (Boards that do everything ok, but nothing well) These lost momentum a few years ago, it seems the majority of consumers want to buy specific boards for specific conditions and styles.
I personally love(d) the whole mutant thing, and preferred them for freestyle also, but I am pretty old skool.
The so-called "Wake style" killed directional freestyle!
Regards,
JB
Get a twin tip and get a surf board...
I don't take my porsche 4WD'ing and neither should you expect your Old landy to whip an SS' ute at the lights. (although i tried, just to help him with his self esteem)
I think the term is "horses for courses"
Echo,
Have a look at the SlingShot Fuse.
Its pretty much what you asked for.
If want let me know and I can hook you up with a test ride on one.
Other board that I reckon you would love is the North X-Ride its a TT but loves the waves and has waveish style fins and nice round tips and rails.
There are a few local guy's riding and loving these up at Maroochydore.
They are great if you are in and out of the waves.As far as a TT goes they are as good as any if not better and they carve up the waves well.
Cheers
Luke
Most of my popping so far hasn't been intentional, and usually leaves my board some distance behind, so I don't claim any expertice here, but isn't the "poppiness" of a board just a matter of how quickly you turn its direction 90 degrees so that your lines go tight? And if so, why couldn't you do this just as well with a surfboard whose rails taper at the back to the same hardness as a TT? Thge trade off would be that it would be a little less forgiving to stear, but going down waves you'd normally be weigthing further forward where the rails are softer anyway.
You are just going one step closer to the dark side. Before you know it you will be riding a surfboard.
My guess is that there will be a lot more R & D on wavekiting boards with some departures from the 6ft shooter design.
The mutt is dead but there's a heap of work to do on twin-tips for wavekiting.
The twin-tip waveboard will probably end up not having 'twin' 'tips'.
The problem with the 6ft shooter is footstrap placement.
If the straps are set-up for waveriding, their placement won't be ideal for non-waveriding.
So there's the rub.
And for many wavekiters, the simple solution to the paradox of placement was to just remove the straps,
and go naked.
I was thinking about the strap placement dilemma too - when I do a hard bottom turn on my 134 TT, the board tends to skate out a bit so I had to change my style on waves compared to when I go surfing.
Me and echo are both surfers before kiters however we both prefer TT style kiting in the surf and a bit of wakestyle on the flat which is probably only 5% of the time. I don't see myself going to "the dark side" even though I surf a lot.
So I understand echo's dilemma however I don't know if you could get a board with good enough foot placement to do a huge bottom turn and also be able to ride switch or blind.
I might try the fuse before I decide - the pics didn't show fins or foot placement - does anyone have fuse pics with fins and footstraps?
Ocean Rodeo's MAKO 150x35 and the new 2008 MAKO 150x40(wide - for bigger guys) are the closest thing I've found so far ... 18mm concave and 6.52cm rocker ...
I've only had my 150wide for 2~3 weeks now it its been absolutely a revolution for me ... I can 'pop' it & get good air, back-rolls not a prob and in the so far smallish (only up to 3~4') mushy surf I've used it in it goes really really well ...
Here's a 15 page link (with some photos) which is 95% positive feedback on 'em:http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2332906&sid=036144eed51100f8a4a96b47167a227a
They DO rip upwind, DESTROY chop and carve so smoothly ... I'm finding that because of the 'cushioning' effect you get from the huge concave I'm riding for longer periods because less stress on the legs.
The only negative I can find, is that when landing jumps - when doing freestyle, because of not so much flex (due to the huge rocker and concave) IF you don't land correctly can be a bit hard on the knees (but this only a matter of getting used to 'em I hope) .... can't wait to try mine in some serious waves !
Splene zone took it out in 25- 30 kt se the other morning, feels like theirs nothing under your feet and super fast, dig the rail and release it just pops off the water and up you go and easy to control and easy to land both heelside and toeside,tried a frontroll but landed nose first into shallow water hard thought i might of done some damage to it but not a sign just myself. love it going to ride it all the time
Did someone mention SPLEENE ZONE ?
Check my review on this link. www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31971
These days I am pretty much focused on wave riding, but can't see why this amazing board wouldn't pop like a good TT (and I've popped a few over the years ). Have to agree with Quirky on this topic.
Does anyone have a spleene zone board so I can have a quick test on the north side of sydney?
Rob Quirk's your closest at this stage -he's @ Woolongong
Kitepower might get some in if there's enough interest
