Rider: 87kg, beginner/intermediate
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Freestyle
Weather: 9-35kn
Disclosure: mud-duck
My Comments:
Hey early in the new year im looking at getting a
new board. I mainly freeride, bit in the waves, trying a bit of freestyle in flatwater.
I tried the Crazyfly Raptor LTD carbon and found it much better than my current board. Very nice through the chop, good pop and landed very soft. My board is very hard on the landings.
Everyone raves about the Shinn Monk so thought I will head down that path. Super Shinn could also be an option.
I have a quiver to suit 9-35kn so I need to try work out what size board to get
Monk sizes: 135x42 & 135x44
Super sizes: 135x41, 136x42 & 137x44
Cheers
Kitch
Pm cauncy, he is the same weight as you.
Also find Mike Birt on the kite forum, he actually got mark shinn to send me his recommended sizings per weight on the monk and do you think I can find it!!
135 by ? For sure on the monk. You wanna really hold an edge, and ride really fast 42.
But cauncy is the person you should talk to.
Cool thanks.
Yep I was thinking to go with the Monk, and my current board is 135x40 which might be a bit on the small side but its good when the wind is cranking so 42 looks promising.
Ill pm him.
cheers
Kitch
Are you going the 2013 monk forever? Meant to plane earlier. Sounds above you ride similar to us.
Hey what kites you using man.
9m 2010 nemesis
11.5 2011 v3 kahoona
17 2011 core LW
Nobile 555 board (older?)
I just got a shinn pdf, so ill check out the forever. Thanks.
Oh so you like to booost at high speeds then! Then the Monk is for you my friend, on your Nemesis you would farqin fly. Kahoona, mm well it does go big, but the Monk loooves higher aspect kites. It thrives on them.
Looking at replacing the kahoona with 11 or 13 edge. But that is a bit further down the track. Thinking of going the 13 cos they dont feel as "grunty' as the kahoona but make their power after a bit of speed.
Trying to keep around 9m as high wind kite. I think 11 edge will overlap too much. Then I have the 17m too.
But for me its a work in progress to get the perfect quiver. The kahoona has been a really good kite, but now looking to move on.
Have been riding the Monk Forever in 134 x 42 and it's an awesome board, lots of edge grip, carving and it's butter smooth in the chop and nice pop. Have not ridden the older monks but the the forever has good bottom end I reckon
Hey eppo, bring the Monk, Edge's and Wave and I'll look after them whilst you are out on your VX! 
has anybody had a go on the new shinn board the "dundee", it looks like a sweet board for peeps like me who like a bit of everything but aren't really into full on freestyle.
Hey, yep I was thinking of the Dundee too, but because its new I don't think there is too much feedback on them yet, compared to the rave reviews on the other models. Plus there is no chance of getting a demo in Wollongong or even Sydney
Jumarcil you are making the decision even harder with your review. Both boards sound really good, I think I'll go with the Monk
Cauncy recommended I go with the 135x42.
Thanks heaps for your input.
Cheers
Kitch
107kegs and ride 135x44 monk (2011 model)
Love it!!!!!!!!
Being lighter id go the 135x42
I have the 135 x 42 and I'm am 85 kg
It a great allrounder as I use it in surf, flat water and crappy chop. It really goes well in WA with a 10 m kite covers most seabreeze conditions.
It's ability to plane earlier means its forgiving when all goes pear shaped... You seem to be able save yourself easier on these boards..
The Dundee replaced the luigi which was a great board and KSS Phil's fav board. I found it a bit too skatey but a good board...
So if its your main board like me the monk 135 x 42 is the go.. But if you have a surfboard or light wind board I'd go down a size .... Enjoy
IM 87 kg intermediate
bought the dundee 135*44 and found it amazing
only it felt a little too wide
changed it for dundee133*42
now Im happy in 15 to 30 kts in the ocean
on Kahoonas 7.5,9.5,11.5
try one out
Yeh that would be a good choice for a delta style kite with grunt. All the shinn boards have the same feel as they share the same DNA. Just depends on your riding style and kite selection. For me the monk is perfect as I need to ride very fast on the edges. Fast means speed means speed of kite as well which means height. super shinn for load and pop. The street sits in between the super shinn and the monk with the Dundee the real all round performance free ride board.
Good to see some more exposure on such a good board. took a while but it is getting out there!
Anyone know any stores that have the Monk Forever in Australia? Google isn't really helping me.
No there isn't any. Next production run is nearly finished KSS should have then in the new year.
There was an initial run which all sold out for obvious reasons. 
Its a pity no stores on the east coast stock shinn, I will only buy a board that I have demoed first. Guess I'll have to stick to the big brands
Really no stores at all? I know the main distributor is over there. Try and contact mark shinn himself, he may know of one about.
availability is a big problem with the shinn boards, heaps of people email me about the shinns , then ask where do you buy them,they are a super popular brand in the uk and europe with most shops stocking them, its a crying shame these boards arnt readily available for people to demo in aus as they are such a wicked board, as a customer it would be great to turn up at your local and be able to try a few boards and kites, as a freeride board goes the monk makes everything else feel plank like,
Agree entirely. The mako is known for its smoothness due to its concave hull and rocker etc.
But today, coming from the mako in lighter winds to a shinn. The shinn can be ridden at such high speeds and yet still so smooth. And speed equals height on the right kite!
I'm hearing lot's of positive feedback about the Shinn Monk. Someone offered to sell me their's - 2012 Shinn Monk 132 x 41. I have an 09 North X-Ride 135 x 39 and like it well enough. Being my first full season kiting, it's the only board I've ever ridden, so I have nothing to compare it to.
I'm wondering if the Monk would be a step up from the X-Ride...pro's & cons?
My other boards are directionals > North Skimfish & Airush Cypher 5'6. Like most of us, I let the conditions and my mood determine which board to ride.
Albeit on the small side, I can get going on the 135 cm X-Ride @ 13 -15 knots on a 12 m (Airush Lithium). I weigh 72 kg.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Hi guys, Darkside Surf are the East Coast distributors for Shinn, we just wanted to respond to the questions of demo boards and the stores that stock Shinn,
for those of you in SE Qld you will find Mike at Kitethrills on the Sunshine Coast has a shop full of Shinn, the boys at Kitepower in Brisbane hold a few also.
We're hoping the Kitepower Sydney store will come on board too.
If any of you are in the Northern NSW area over christmas PM me and we will happily arrange a demo.
Also we intend on doing a demo run once our next shipment arrives in February,
south from Brisbane to Melbourne with or without new stores onboard.
