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Rider: Weight 75KG ,Level Advanced
Style: Wake, Freestyle
Weather: 15 -25 knots
Build Quality: 10 /10
Satisfaction: 10 /10
Disclosure: shop/team rider
My Comments:
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North Gambler 2014
One of this seasons most hyped twin tips has finally arrived on Australian shores. Leaked photos and Instagrams have been dropping sneak peaks for the past few months but finally its here and looks rad in its banana yellow skin.
The all new North Gambler 2014 coined the ???BANANA??? makes a statement on and off the water. There???s an overwhelming sense that this board was built to be brutally caned.
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Designed for boots (Matching North Banana boots are available but can be ridden with any boots you care to bring to the party)
It sports a ???huge??? amount of rocker hence the ???Banana??? nickname.
Slick base construction provides a tough skin to protect the board on sliders, kickers and general beach wear and tear
Carbon beam construction with a Wake bottom
Aggressive flex + pop
FLEX
The special shape of the 3D cap allows torsion of the long axis of the board. This gives them more grip on the heel-side edge, rich and smooth landings, a direct drive and better upwind performance.
POP
Buckets! This board pops huge. I was going massive right off the bat with minimum effort. Again this excels when powered up but it will still take you to the moon.
UPWIND
This board excels when powered up no doubt. I did find upwind ability a little lagging but what do you expect! Its a wake style board designed for aggressive riding and Hucking large. The fact that you go for a larger size when riding boots increases surface area so you will find it rides upwind fine. I had no issues myself.
BASE
Deep rails combine with a wakeboard like base offer up excellent grip with or without fins. It comes with 3.5cm fins as standard.
COP OR NOT?
COP! The Banana is a belter of a wake style board. Finally North have delivered a board tailor made for boots, park style riding and throwing down large in kickers, flat water and even the chop.
On my third session on the Banana I am getting the board dialled in. For me this is the best North Gambler yet.
Sharp, invigorating, full of life and charisma the Banana will not disappoint.
Organise a demo from your local North dealer.
Get your Potassium fix.
Rode mine for the first time today, I was so happy with last years model although they were a bit weak. I actually like this one even more.
The board is much thicker and stronger and I've heard that the tracks have been beefed up too so they shouldnt rip out. Compared to 2013 the bottom of the board is very different and I thought was going to be too grippy due to the channels, but I actually think its the oposite using 15mm fins it's perfect for what I like.
I was riding in under 15knots and going upwind easily against the tide on a 2014 12m Vegas, the wind then came up and I was able to do a few tricks, pop is awesome as I expected from last years and landings are smooth. Compared to other wake boards I wasn't bounced off the surface when landing.
Things I hate about wakeboards also include the feeling of never being fast enough to pop and the fact that so much energy from the kite is used to keep you moving that once you leave the water you are yanked by the kite, not in a good way.
I also have two stuffed knees and have not once come in from kiting with any pain from chop or landings. I honestly can't see any reason this wouldn't make a good all round board either as it is comfortable and goes upwind easy even with boots.
Troyrotor I am sure you will agree the Gamber 2014 is a different beast. I look forward to hucking this board in the kickers.
Heres is a video overview from Craig Cunningham.http://thekiteshow.tv/index.php/feature-archives/bonus-features/item/213-north-surf-expo
Yer sure is. Got some solid riding in yesterday and still love it. I'm getting awesome pop even when underpowered
Select to expand quoteBig eeeZeee said..
board looks like a noodle from some of the clips. mass flex!
at least someone knows their ****!
Mass flex? Have you even tried it lads?. I would not say its as stiff as a wake board but its definitely not soft. Unless you have ridden it how can you begin to comment?
Big Ez is that that going to be the depth of your opinion on the board "It looks like?"
Oh will you blow me Troyrotor
Only if you support my chin Sci...
How about a double dutch rudder for you both with your north gamblers..
