Underground Kiteboards Pros/ Cons

Hi people,

Am looking at upgrading from Crazy Fly 137/41 to a new Underground Board as i have heard so much about them, can people out there tell me the for and against getting one,

not as good as cardboards
(though they are finished real nice)

a pro would be they or NZ's finest!

Couldn't agree more!

I can only think of one con, they could be a tad lighter. They are not particularly heavy but would be nicer if it was lighter. Other than that they are sweeeet!

cheers
mike

Well Steve Nobile Boards gives a 3 year Warranty against breakage!!

That is a bit more than 12months! 12 months is industry standard- most manufactures offer that!

Where are the Undergrounds shaped? In NZ


We got good winds up here atm )))

hang loose

Underground have moved their construction to China. Adrian Roper says build quality is as good or better. The reason he gives for the move to China is that the bulk of their market is in Europe and the US. He says it's pointless shipping the materials from China to NZ for assembly then back to the Europe and US and claiming the boards are made in NZ.

I've got a Cardboard and an Underground FLX. They're both good. The Cardboard was a custom build to my own dimensions. It works brilliantly.

The FLX is bullet proof. I ride it up on the beach and over shells and stuff. It gets minor surface scratches but no major damage. It is very fast and very grippy. Great for slashing waves. I've had Cabrinha Customs and the Underground is far superior to them.

The Underground might be a little more robust. It takes more of a beating than the Cardboard, which is a light-moderate wind board. The ptex base on the Cardboard seems to get deeper scratches than the Underground.

Thanks guys,

What is the between the nobile 555 / 666 and the underground, ? apart from $200 in price

not really keen on these boards. a month ago a mate snapped his brand new underground apparently coming down off a wave his foot just about went straight through it. looking at the snap on the board it looked like the construction was made for 2 bucks. it's turned me off them

Can't believe no one mentioned this as a con:
They have alot of water spraying in your face like a hose.Well they ironed it out a bit with the 2008 but it still does it, my 2009 custom is here in a week and can't wait to ride it , great boards.

Yes, my 128 ('07 model I think) does it, it's pretty annoying, sunnies are a must.
That's the only negative I can think of, I've had my 128 and 152 for 2 years and they still look brand new.

@Flux too

Spray in the face, I used to complain to Adrian about it and I was annoyed he never took me seriously, eventually telling me that it was me, or the way that I ride that was producing most of the spray.
Since I stopped edging so hard (leaning over) bingo most of the spray issues have gone (90+%)!!

I can ride faster with the board flatter and use the right size kite, so that I do not have to push the kite to the edge so much with my legs.
Its easier on my knees and and I can actually ride better and toeside is becoming a reality!!

The boards have changed heaps since 2006, wood core and the multi concave bottom and new top shape.
They flex progressively under load, and that flex gives them excellent pop, so in windier or more loaded conditions the ride auto adjusts to absorb the increased chop.
Often copied, never bettered in my opinion.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

The thread is not about my opinion, its about pros and cons of Underground boards.
My business's sell several brands of boards.
I ride Underground boards (and others) frequently, I have an opinion on them and a right, like you, to express my opinion in the forum, as a direct response to a thread topic.

Other brands have and still do copy Underground design features, its just a fact and one that I felt like stating, ok?
But a copied board, is just that, a copy, not an original and will not have the heart and soul or feel of the original.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Get taller.

(Sorry, couldn't help it).

I have had a couple of underground boards, and the older boards use to spray water into my face like a hose, the new ones are no where near as bad but it still does a little bit, I find it depends on the conditions on how bad it is. I have needed sunnies ever since I have been using underground, which is probaly for the better anyway

But there is another con that no-one has mentioned, I don't know if it just me, but I can't hold an my edge on a fast toe side turn, it was doing it on the old single concave boards(06 i think), I have the lastest board now and I thought it would be ok but I still can't hold it's edge. I have to always take it easy when carving toeside. I try to dig in hard but I always end up spinning out. Maybe it is just me.

Overall I do like the boards, they do pretty much everything well. and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another, I would like them to fix the above though.

heard of too many breaking, dodgy build, look pretty but theres better boards out there. they went down hill after wood core i reakon.

i use a board thats cheaper, stronger, more pop, better upwind performance.
keep looking and trying different boards i say.

good luck.