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Underground Kiteboards Pros/ Cons

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Created by kiteup > 9 months ago, 4 Jan 2009
kiteup
QLD, 15 posts
7 Jan 2009 10:25PM
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hydra said...

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.


So what boards do you use and recommend ? And what boards should I be testing ?

hydra
SA, 254 posts
7 Jan 2009 11:24PM
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its hard to pick a board after just a few minutes of even hours, but if your keen on a board, the shop should let you test it.

i always liked the north boards, the jamie pro is sweet and so is the crossride.
personally though i use a blade scalper 126x40 might be worth checking it out,
cant seem to break it. if you want to go upwind then this board will suit.

8 Jan 2009 2:57PM
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kiteup said...

This question is for Steve @ Kitepower,

How many boards have you had come back to your shop like the photo's that "WALSHD"has posted, yesterday ??
That looks like a very poorly made board. Have they changed them since that model

Thanks in Advance



In total, since Underground went to wood core I have replaced 4 or 5 boards out of around 150+ that we sold, not an unacceptable failure rate.
All were replaced, but 2 were older than 12 months and/or were suss claims in some way and were offered a new deck at a low subsidised cost similar to what was offered to ksanti's mate.

The pics of the board that walshd repaired and that then subsequently broke again are not an indicator of an inferior quality board.
The board broke, as was stated, we do not really know the circumstances. However it was replaced under warranty for no cost.

BUT the shop that handled this warranty really screwed up big time, because they handed back a broken board to the customer when they would have been instructed to destroy it.
Warranted products in any industry are never given back to customers WTF!!!
(and predominantly for this reason)

Now the REPAIRED board has reappeared and it is very unfair to use those pics to judge Undergrounds quality.
The pics are only an indicator that the repair did not work, and that water had been entering the board over a period of time until a total delamination of both sides of the board occurred.

The broken deck should never have been handed back to the customer, and it should not have been repaired and the pictures should not be posted on here as a representation of the quality of Underground boards, especially since the owner is presumably riding around on a replacement deck that is still performing to his complete satisfaction.

No I have never seen a new or unrepaired board delammed like this.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

ruffryder61
QLD, 470 posts
8 Jan 2009 2:08PM
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kiteup said...

hydra said...

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.


So what boards do you use and recommend ? And what boards should I be testing ?


Try Airush FS Pro and Protoy, the whole North Pro-line, Nobile NHP and 555.

They are the best boards out there and look good- very glossy and kewl graphix as well.

Paul1
QLD, 1011 posts
8 Jan 2009 3:25PM
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My 07 Underground FLX132 split on the rail in between the fins, both ends and both sides, unfortunately it was out of warranty.

tightlines
WA, 3501 posts
8 Jan 2009 2:49PM
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Kitepower Australia said...

In total, since Underground went to wood core I have replaced 4 or 5 boards out of around 150+ that we sold, not an unacceptable failure rate.
All were replaced, but 2 were older than 12 months and/or were suss claims in some way and were offered a new deck at a low subsidised cost similar to what was offered to ksanti's mate.

The pics of the board that walshd repaired and that then subsequently broke again are not an indicator of an inferior quality board.
The board broke, as was stated, we do not really know the circumstances. However it was replaced under warranty for no cost.

BUT the shop that handled this warranty really screwed up big time, because they handed back a broken board to the customer when they would have been instructed to destroy it.
Warranted products in any industry are never given back to customers WTF!!!
(and predominantly for this reason)

Now the REPAIRED board has reappeared and it is very unfair to use those pics to judge Undergrounds quality.
The pics are only an indicator that the repair did not work, and that water had been entering the board over a period of time until a total delamination of both sides of the board occurred.

The broken deck should never have been handed back to the customer, and it should not have been repaired and the pictures should not be posted on here as a representation of the quality of Underground boards, especially since the owner is presumably riding around on a replacement deck that is still performing to his complete satisfaction.

No I have never seen a new or unrepaired board delammed like this.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve




Yep have to agree with you there Steve, I have had two boards of another popular brand, break on me on both occasions the boards were replaced but the shop took the originals.
My last two boards have been Underground FLX's an 07 138 and now a 08 135, I love the FLX's and have had no problems at all with them despite the fact that they have copped more abuse than the other two boards ever did. This time my fibula broke on a hard landing instead, perhaps it would have been better if the board gave way .

Re water spraying in your face, I found this happened a bit with the 07 but the 08 is much better and not a problem at all.
I have also heard comments that they slide around a bit, whilst they do to a certain extent I actually like this as I think you can control it fairly well and get them to slide easily if you want to by keeping them fairly flat but if you really dig the rail in they turn hard and fast

walshd
SA, 601 posts
8 Jan 2009 5:39PM
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My apologies to everyone mixed up in this broken board shambles.
Those pictures have since been deleted and I had no intention to get anyone in trouble over this or cause a stir.

The boards ride beautifully. That 132 flx is still the best board I have riden to date, and that compares to the new naish thorn, north jamie and cesar, crazyfly and slingshot boards.

The pads and straps are the best I've used and that even includes the syncs.

The boards themselves are a work of art and the warranty is second to none.

Not to mention the fins are bulletproof and dont catch seaweed unlike most other fins on the market.



laurie
WA, 3858 posts
8 Jan 2009 6:17PM
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walshd said...
Not to mention the fins are bulletproof and dont catch seaweed unlike most other fins on the market.


Nothing wrong with a bit of weed?

A picture from the early days of board design (check the side fins!)



jdogg
QLD, 4 posts
9 Jan 2009 3:43PM
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what date do the new 2009 Underground boards come out?

montey12m
3 posts
9 Jan 2009 3:04PM
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my flx 128 is killer tough as nails tons of pop, loves the choppy stuff and i surf it a bit as well. best investment i ever made

tobes
NSW, 1000 posts
9 Jan 2009 5:39PM
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jdogg said...

what date do the new 2009 Underground boards come out?


From the gear reviews section....

Adrian Roper said...

Official release of the 09 boards is 23rd January at the La Ventana kite event in Mexico. Shops will have all the info soon after and we will be shipping volume by mid February.
Thanks Adrian



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"Underground Kiteboards Pros/ Cons" started by kiteup