Rider: 180cm, 75kg, Advanced
Style: Surf
Weather: Gusty side/Offshore 20-30knots
Build Quality: 10/10 (its brand new, only time will tell)
Satisfaction: 9/10 (lost 1 point due to the fact i'm now in a 3 way love affair)
After feedback regarding my NORTH KONTACT 6"1 review i decided to ride the WHIP 5"8 and give a review and comparison.
The WHIP is a short, stout little bugger.
It comes in
5'4" X 18" X 2"
5'6" X 18 1/4" X 2 1/16"
5'8" X 18 3/4" X 2 3/16" ( i rode the 5"8)
The weather conditions today were definitely not suited to the WHIP. (well according to north)
It was gusty, choppy and super windy in the gusts.
Wave surface was clean (ish) but small, and quiet hollow so again not suited to the WHIP.
Due to its short wider profile, the WHIP actually held the chop (jumping) pretty well, you seem to be able to control strapless airs better on a shorter wider board rather then on a narrower longer board.
Sure it was a bit sketchy trying to ride upwind, with a pretty solid wide stance needed to keep the fins in line and the nose down. But it wasn't to bad.
The same was needed for wave riding.
To drive hard off the bottom, you needed to take extra care to make sure the fins stayed locked in and the same was when smashing off the lip or off white water.
Sure if you want to slide the fins out then your at home but if you want solid power turns then it was a bit slippy and slidey.
So cutting to the chase, after riding the KONTACT for the past 10 days i was pleasantly surprised as how well the WHIP did, for such a different board (to the KONTACT) it was still a whole lot of fun.
So how do you decide which board to go for???
If you:
- Like riding (or your local is) small mushy flat formed waves.
- You also use your surfboard for light wind flat water riding.
- You are into the skate style strapless trickery.
then the WHIP is for you.
If you:
- Like surfing hard, fast, often overpowered and sometimes with straps.
- Are lucky enough to have good quality hollow waves to ride.
- And are using the board for surfing and pretty much surfing only.
Then the KONTACT is for you.
now you just need to work out which size.
Sorry, i cant help you with that.
cheers
good luck
happy slashing.
