Review Of Cardboard Wave

Finally got to have a crack on this board today from Darren at AKS at scabs using my 7.5m Kahoona. Thanks Darren!

Background: 85kg – normally ride Jimmy Lewis Lithuim TT, North freestyle Fish and Strapless SB (albeit not very well).

Superb build, great footstraps, a little heavy (helps in chop – reduces the flex).

Having gone back to a seat harness without sliding spreader bar as yet, only rode toeside in the waves so spent 2 hours basically riding backwards. Not a problem a weird 'feel' at first – 'tighter' than a traditional TT, but never once caught the front fins and was riding into small but decent cross/onshore swell lines back into shore. In-fact it almost become easier to ride this way than out to sea using the thruster finnage. Of course needs a lot more foot pressure to turn board around but technique limited the strain on legs eventually. Was able to jump / surf / and front and back roll transitions no probs – loads really well – almost better than the other thrusters driven way. Having ridden many mutant style boards this surprised the hell out of me.

On thrusters, can ride flat (which a TT won't very well) and in flat water sections the rail can come into play reducing the effect of the fins. Takes a while to learn how to load up with more grip from fins but after a while no worries. Once again jumping/transitions no probs. Cuts through chop well. Rides on toeside really well – the 10 or so tacks I did into shore.

In the surf it was sooo great being able to come in backwards, surf the wave then flip the board over to toeside to get through a faster section, then turn back out and have the option of either carve jibing or switching the board onto the smaller fins across the face of the wave as TT's can do. So much more freedom than a SB!

All those that fly Kahoonas know they have a sharp power spike when turning across the wind window – too much at times, and towards the end of the session I tried my absolute best to try and skip the thrusters fins out on a jibe carve by throwing the kite across the window and they stuck every time. I have a feeling this board could hold a decent size wave and with a better rider than me, could really push the limits of what people think a TT can do. Those that know kahoonas will appreciate this point because the power spike can at times be enormous. But fins held. I was waiting for usual TT slide out with my back foot skiing out behind and up my ass, but no go. Cool – although I actually like doing that at times.

Albeit kahoonas are a decent park and ride kite (not so good at fly and follow), this board actually rode the waves surprisingly well. Not like a SB, but you only needed a little power and by the end of the session I was actually pumping waves for momentum – leaving kite wherever it felt like sitting(as kahoonas can do). The fins were enough to grip and guide on the face of the wave.

The board also carve jibed well onto your toe-side goofy side, so the permutations are endless.

Conservative at the start the last 15-20 minutes was spent riding extremely aggressive and fast (my style normally on a TT) and the board handled it well and actually lit up – it likes a little more aggression.

Overall , this board is everything they say it is. Takes a while to get out of your 'TT Head' and get used to the more tighter feel, but I truly believe all those that are looking for a wave riding TT – this will suffice and as Pornstar said - there are things you can do on this board that you can't on a SB.

As far Perth is concerned wasting your time on a SB in my opinion – get up to Gnarloo/green heads/south passage/margs/bali etc but in Perth this board kills it. Only my opinion of course as I'm no surfing guru...

Once again ta Darren for the Demo lend appreciate the pump lend as well (drove all the way from mandurah without a pump!!)

Would you add anything to it that i missed? Only had it out for two hours - appreciate your feedback.

Yeh really surprised man. What surprised me more was how it 'lit' up when ridden aggresive and it didn't change it's feel - it handled whatever i gave it.

Wouldn't mind tryin it with even smaller finnage for even more tt feel in mushy onshore slop...oh yeh perth conditions.

Completely different, not even comparable really. You can ride the Wave just like a TT - footstraps set up middle-ish, or more surf style with heavier emphasis on the thrusters.

Can't do that on the fish. Can't ride backwards, (well a good rider probably could for fun if they tried), doesn't cut through the chop - more bouncier - and I reckon they would hold the same swell just about.

For getting into surfing style, learning gibe - switch stance, the fish is great, really forgiving, stable and fun in the waves. Gave a dude a go who normally cuts sick on a cahbrina (is it just me, but spelling that damn brand right gives me the ****s - where does the h go?, does it have a h) on the fish (i.e. someone who can actually kite-surf - instead of my dribble down the wave kite-surf), and he really made it sing. A board is only as good as the rider man.

But as far as my style, the wave rocks and i want one as soon as I can afford one - well convince the missus anyhow.

PS That being said, I found the wave far easier to carve gibe, the thrusters/rails stuck - while the fish skips out if you really throw the kite.

If you are a TT surf man - the wave. If you are getting into traditional surf style kite or you are already and want a really fun board for onshore mush, traditional - the fish.

Wave any-day for me....

Just need some cash baby!!!

Make sure you post something here once you have given it a whirl, appreciate your feedback - if you agree/disagree with my findings. cheers.