2013 Shinn Dundee 131x41

Rider: 75kg, 180cm, Kooky Intermediate
Style: Freeriding
Weather: 15-28 knots, chop/flat/small surf
Build Quality: 9.9/10
Satisfaction: 10/10
Disclosure: None, no affiliations

My Comments:

Had enough of mowing through chop on the same 134cm freestyle board I'd had since day one, and updated to a 2013 Shinn Dundee 131x41 based on reviews here on SeaBreeze and Shinn's hype. It sounded like exactly what I wanted in a board. No Shinn dealer here in Sydney (yet), so I bought it without a demo. Regrets? Zero.

Noticed how light it was before it was even unwrapped. Still can't believe how much lighter it is than the old board. I got out the microscope and found 1 or 2 imperfections in the finish, hence the -0.1 on build quality. Yeah, I know.. I dig the simple, classy graphics; I wasn't sold on the pink stripe to begin with, but I think it makes it go faster. The dark colours can be tricky to spot in the water, unless it's floating with those red fins up. Footstraps are comfy and give good control, but I'm still experimenting with angles and tightness; I got mashed toes the first couple of sessions, and I've almost lost the board in the air a couple of times. There are only two stance width options, so that narrows things down a bit.

First session was in 25 knots, fairly wild chop and a hint of swell. The first thing I noticed was how the board grips the water; the edge just sticks in and stays there without much effort. It was smoother over the chop, and boosted higher thanks to that solid edge. Once I got comfy, I put the foot down and found myself going quicker than I'd ever gone on a kiteboard, but still feeling fully in control. Huge novelty. In those conditions, on the old board it would be mostly survival mode, and I'd be knackered from holding that edge. On the Dundee, survival comes naturally, so I can get straight down to the fun part. It has a very carve-y feel to it, and it goes upwind like crazy. It's not designed to pop, which doesn't stress me because if I think I'm ever going to unhook and pop a quick handle-pass, fair dinkum, I'm on some fun drugs.

10-12 sessions later, I gotta say the Dundee totally lives up to the hype of "comfort and control". There's been times where I've been powered up and going flat-stick with what feels like barely a tip in the water, still effortlessly in control. It really is freaky. Also, I can't count how many times I've kooked it, and still managed to keep it together, much to my surprise, because I know if I'd done the same thing on the old board I'd be taking a swig of Botany Bay. Highlight so far was a session in small surf; I'm no surfer, sadly, but the board felt right at home. I'll be in the surf as much as possible for the rest of the season.

Anyway, I realise this reads more like a stoke-rant than a review, but yeah, just a happy camper wanting to throw my 2 cents into the piggy bank.

I've got the 133x42 Dundee - have to agree with the review. This board flatters me and gets me out of potential wipe out regularly. Eats chops, great in small surf (haven't tried it in large) and really smooth. Probably the most happy with this bit of kit and can't rationalise an excuse to change it!