Glad your happy with the 50 fifty,if anyone knows a good board it would be you as you have tryed nearly every good board there is and definatly demand a lot from them. I wont be trading mine in any time soon, going to give it a go in some surf hopefully tomorow. And I might even put the 50 fiftys fins on the NHP and see how much differance that makes. I will let you know how it goes.
Thank you Waxman for your tips, unfortunatly I don't live in Australia, but in Fuerteventura (Spain)...as soon as possible I'm gonna visit your country, in particulary I want to go to Perth and up to the north.
About the board I red all the topic (and also the topic about the pop) and think you convinced me to buy it (was very difficult chosing wich board because I have no chance to get any demo).
So I must believe what people like you say...but reading everything I have just anohter question...how can be so fast this board having all this rocker? Doesn't need more power to go? I knew more flat more speed (like windsurf boards).
PS: another thing is here (like in Italy) it's difficult to find this board: salers say it's an extreme wakestyle board, an experiment (they didn't order it!!) and to forget it....and all you surprise me saying it's so versatile and good on choopy.
Because it doesnt have a constant rocker and flattens across the mid section, combined with the new bottom conture and being that bit longer and not to wide. It gets up on the plane early and just accelerates fast but It seems to grip and go up wind efortlessly and even with the extra speed you feel like you still have full controll. I tryed a couple of speed runs the other day in some shallow flat watter and it really did fly when i went off the wind a bit and gave it just enougth edge to stay in controll not sure how fast i got but it took a while to slow down enougth to start going up wind again. Was a lot of fun(scarey fun).
Great board, so far it has handled everything i have throw at it and does it all so smoothly. Get your hands on one you will love it.
Some one in Italy must sell them, If not try the states maby? Or try to contact nobile to find the nearest distributor.
Ok...I'm about 80 kg and 1,93m...what size do you suggest 139x40 or 140x41? I want to use just 1 board
Bossstyle is around 85 kgs and has the 140, i am around 95kgs and really have no problems on the 140, so at 80kgs i would sugest you get the 139, you do loose a cm of width but you wont even notice it. Unless you plan on putting on a heap of weight.lol.... then get the 140.
Hey veli,
I think the channels help a little with the speed. I had a fone trax 4 before trading In for the fifty 50. They have had channels In them for years and are fast nice boards well rated by any that have ridden them and lovely smooth ride. The fifty is a similar ride to one of them with the channels now and definitly faster than the last two years previous nobile boards!
It may just be to do with the length but I think the channels actually help and whatever it is it works.
I don't really know the difference between wake style and freestyle? I been riding two years now and progressing reasonably well for the litmited time I get to go out!
I can't say that these boards ride to much different than any of the free style boards I have ridden at all really except I have found this to be the most fun in combination with the kites I ride!
(discovered the type of kite you fly can effect the fun level you can have with different makes of boards recently!)
mine are well matched now and won't change for a while as wicked fun (well not unless shinns boards are better when he releases them??? Ha)
Just found this thread classic read nice bit of banter made me laugh, getting a bit boring now though. Looks like a nice board if you want to ride straps in chop by the sounds of things.
No legit wake style board would have a grab handle WTF! 
The handle is more due to it being a board that can be ridden with straps. And that is in the same size. I dont know how many other boards can do that.
really if you bolt boots on a board and cant take out two screws to remove the grab handle than htfu.
Its not that hard and that is what makes this board one of the most versitile boards on the market. It can be ridden both ways on the same sized boart.
Try one and give your opinion.
Do you think with this "big" board it's enough just one 10m kite (Vegas) instead of the normal quiver 12-9(or 8m)? I'm about 80 kg
Or it doesn't change anything
One kite will never cover the full wind range! There will always be days where you need a bigger all smaller kite. Alway! Unless your prepared to dot on the beach and watch others kite Alot, that is?
Yeah your right it does look like an interesting board and when im up in Whyalla next I will have to give it a go and see what all the hype is about.
Do you have any pics it would be interesting to see how the boots fit on that deck? Just looks to me like you would have no end of trouble with heal lift and pull inserts on that bumpy deck
It doesnt seem to get much if any heel lift, but im sure that nobile would replace the board if there were any problems with the inserts as they have a 3 year waranty and it is designed for boots. I would hate to see the mess it would make if it did pull out the insert it would have to tear around a inch hole out of the board.
No problems on taking it for a ride next time your in whyalla, the boots are a size 12us which is around 9-10 aus sizing. Or i can put the straps on it for you. Let us know when you are comming down next.
Thank you very much for your useful replys, waxman.
What about the boards?...Do you use 1 or more in different sizes?
I do use different boards in different conditions to get the most out of my ridding, I ride the 50 fifty mostly with the boots as it is so much fun, i use my NHP for learning new tricks as it is a bit more forgiving when you are going to be crashing a lot and allso like using a board with straps for down winders. I would use the 50 fifty for this with the straps but because i have the other board its just easyer. In light conditions i have a 137 nobile 555 which works well and i allso lend it to learners as it is a verry easy board to ride, in really light conditions i have a nobile skim which is a lot of fun with a big kite, i use my old lunacy for sliders as it is one of the most bullet proof boards i have seen and its that scratched up its not worth selling, and i have a 5,11 surf board for the waves. Sounds like a lot of boards but i have collected them over the last few years just to get something a little different each year to extend my ridding time and style. If i could only have one board that would do nearly everything it would be the 50 fifty i absolutly love ridding it with straps and boots.
Has any one tried the 139 version yet? Or better still the 139 and 140?
I like my 140 it's a fantastic board. Kind of wish it was a tad smaller though but with the same width. Wondering if the 139 is beter even though it's thinner?
Oh and see the new shinn range is out. An the graphics on those newboards suck compared with the old style and class of his range whilst with nobile. Have to give the fifty 50 top marks in that department!
I wonder how long untill we see the schinn boards in Aus? I havent seen any pics yet but if they are as bad as you say hopefully they look better in real life. One thing for sure they should ride well.
well, shinnboarding.com has lanched its web site just recently. I must admit I kind of like the design. Simple and different that pretty much any other design...but...I reckon whether you like or dislike the Shinn design it is too personal.
I'm keen to check the performance of this board. Go and play a bit with The Player. My wife is set for Monokini haha (obviously). Have a go on The Duke or Luigi.
Can't wait to see what on earth mista Shinn has come up with. 1. I bet he has a lot of experience with designing boards (started with the first Thorn which BTW was made in Nobile factory haha) 2. The brand as new as ShinnBoarding in a seriously competitive market has to have a bit more than just the Name hence I reckon Shinn had to put some effort to make it well, reassuringly good 3. If he thinks the Shinn's will cost as much as they did while one Nobile, then I reckon he is lost. Therefore the price might be (better be) also competitive....hmmm let's wait and see.
haha Waxman - graphics are a personal preference and are a bit out side of non rhetorical, constructive discussion about Shinn's performance - which I am pretty sure you, as an experienced rider, is looking for. I would love to read your review when you will be able to test one Shinn. Till then ... I will have fun on my NHP and you have fun on your boards :)
You are right they may ride ok, and are all mainly aimed at freeride apart from the player which is the freestyle board and reminds me of old racecars with cigaret advertising on it black and gold. I dont know who would want to ride one, If i were to put all of my eggs in one basket and go out on my own making boards i would have used more modern designes it looks more like mark is trying to apeal to the minority not the majority of ridders that want a board that looks cool, these boards any way you look at them arent cool looking.
ha! you have been either reading shinn web site carefully or you are mature enough to remember '76 races :)
The Player has been designed based on the race car, sponsored by John Player & Sons hence the boards name :)
Waxman, "cool" is only a personal, aesthetics perspective, isn't it :) For you those boards don't look "cool", for me, they do. Especially The Player :)
I haven't done any major surveys with its questions based on shinn's design hence I cannot argue with your claim about the "minority of riders" thing. What I can tell you that my northern hemisphere mates - majority of them like it, minority don't. Southern hemisphere - majority of my mates don't like it :)
The analogy could come from clothing, cars, furniture design ex Rip Curl have a different design for Hong Kong market and our, Aussie market. Also, from kiting market perspective - look at Underground - boards have a different design for America and for Europe. FLX for me looks good in European design but it is ugly (for me) for the American market. My US mate loves the US, FLX design :)
Perhaps Shinn, in the future will come to the same point as Underground. Design a board for a specific market to increase customers satisfaction/sale. I don't know and I don't care to be honest. I just want to try one :)
the coolest board is the one with the most high vis orange on it so you can find the bastard in macking surf. The old 666 I have is bluey green on the top with black footstraps....what the hell were they thinking?
The 50 fifty over the Nhp both great boards but i like speed of the 50 fifty you dont have to build up speed to do tricks because you are allways going fast its ideal for anyone looking for a wakestyle board and wake style is what i like to ride the most. I have the straps back on it at the moment just because i have been kitting in some new areas but cant wait for some flat water back in whyalla to put the boots back on.
The Nhp is a good board but probably more suited to agressive freestyle riders as it has good pop and lands a lot softer on loops etc. But it has lost its freeride feel of last years board which i liked and makes the board a bit less flexible in suiting different riding styles IMO. But when the conditions are right for a good freestyle session i will allways grab it over the 50 fifty to save my knees. But its not that often in whyalla as the conditions are more suited to flat water wakestyle ridding 70% of the time.
I think that nobile could have 3 boards in there range of top end boards the 50 fifty, Nhp and bring back the 666 somewhere inbetween the two using the same rocker as last years board with the new 3d shape. I allso think the Nhp should have slightly smaller fins 40-45mm would be perfect the 35mm ones seem just a bit to small and the 55mm ones seem a bit to grippy( and cut through my back verry easily.)
So far i havent had any problems with the straps and the bottom of the boards are a lot more resiliant to damage i have smashed some big rocks on both boards and havent had any reall damage yet.
So all up i am verry happy with both my new boards but if i could only have one it would be the 50 fifty. all though i would like to try it in the 139 size just curious to see how it would ride. But the 140 does feel spot on for me and my ridding style.
Wow th enew Shinns are finally about. The trade expo page on Kiteboarder says some good things. I must admit the shinn pads look the dogs. memory foam in them hey? They must be the ultimate in comfyness?
Wouldn't like to get memory foam wet though. it rotts very well. intresting to see how long they last but sure would like to feel a pair.
Which boards are better now that is the question??? Shinn was in S2AS yest prmoting his boards in Poole in the UK and i knew nothing about it! How gutted am I, I would even of booked the day off work for that. Will be having words with my board supplier for not letting me know about that one!!!!! Doh.
Let the luigi and player review search begin!
One last point bout the Shinns, Wicked board sizes at last!! Got to try them.
I finally have the shinn player and the new shinn luigi on demo.
The player I've been sent is the 135x42. The boards finish is stunning and the yellow bottom makes it great for finding it In the water. The high gloss finish is really shiney and nice.
This really is a tastefull sweet and stylish looking piece of kit!
The pads also add to the flayer and style. They are really smart! The pads feel quite firm and I wasn't a fan when mark was making the nobile ones or even the ifs type. But these I really liked. I found they locked my toes down a little better and straps sat slightly further forward to aid that which is how I like to the straps so top marks for them!
They absorbed impacts very well indeed and once moulded to your feet I would imagine very comfy indeed.
As for the ride. It is very efficient but it is very freestyle orientated and very flat with it. I am only just into the intermediate catagory as a rider and don't really posses the skills or ability to be able to give any real comments on this boards performance or characteristics. It certainly rockets up wind with ease though and the pop for normal jumps very very good.
I was also lucky enough to have been sent a luigi In the 130. My instant thoughts before riding this board was that it was going to feel to small and that I wouldn't like it because of the small size. I was extremely suprised!
Again the high gloss finish is nice on this range. The colours of the luigi arn't really to my taste and think the luigi's brother is more me.
The pads are the same as the the player ones. I love the subtle yellow stripes on the player though matching the colour scheme of the board. Can't really do that with the luigi colours so they are just White stripped but still look smart.
As for the ride. Well I am impressed. The board is incredibly efficient more so than the player i thought but again that's probably due to my lack of skills on the player. I just found the luigi easier, so much so that I actually found it very comfortable to ride at that small size which I have never found with a board smaller than a 132. It actually felt more like you had a 132 underfoot. It screams up wind and is extremly controlable. It felt stiff under foot which I like, stiffer than an old 555 board and the shinn pro 09. The centre of the board felt very similar to me to the last 666 before they went to the 3d shape. (think it was 09 666 nhp) which was my favourite of the 666 boards but it has flex in the tips which gives it a little more all around ability and softens the board through the chop, it has more rounded tips on the luigi which make it better for carving. For me the luigi is a bit of a cross between the shinn pro 08 (my favourite of the shinn pro's) and the 666 1st nhp. A great combination and a wider range than both of those.
I have only had one afternoon on this board and the wind wasn't the best so couldn't jump it hard due to lack of kite power but pop seemed very good and you can certainly through this board upwind to get great pop fr the surface.
I definitly want one and if you were a fan of the shinn pro's you will probably love these! I wish they had sent a 132. The 130 didn't feel to small but at my size and height I know the 132 will be the most fun for me.
I wouldn't swap my fifty 50 for one I don't think as the fifty will still be the best through the chop and in messy conditions but I really really want one for my second board.
Waxi you said you thought there was a gap between the fifty 50 and new nhp for a board that was like the old nhp. Think Mr Shinn has just filled that gap. Check out the luigi!
Sounds good, I realy liked the 09 666 NHP great board, so if it is anything like that i think i would love it. Cant wait to give one a go.
