^^^ thats good to hear mate. You have to get some shops in the sydney area on board(pardon the pun)
Select to expand quotewindtzu said...
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 suggestion
Hey windtzu, i road the north cross-ride for the last two seasons and have recently puchased a shinn monk and the difference in ride comfort and performance is very noticable. I doubt if im qualified to give you a technical appraisal between the two but suffice to say take cauncy and eppo' word on it...you wont be dissapointed
p
Well then, it sounds like the Monk is good upgrade to the X-Ride :) Thanks!
Cauncy, you talked about engaging the rail more on the Monk and how well it responds. This sounds like something that would work well with the AR Lithiums, especially the 12 meter; it can pull me off my edge in the upper wind range of the kite. I was told that is the downside of low aspect kites in the bigger sizes for smaller riders. It's not a big issue but something like the Monk sounds like a great fit for the Lithium's power.
Again I have no basis of comparison but my rear leg does get tired at times on the X-Ride; from what I read this is less of an issue on the Monk.
The X-Ride does seem to do the chatter thing when you push it at times. Perhaps this stiffness translates into better lower wind efficiency vs. the Monk? I do seem to be able to ride in some lighter winds but it's still not a light wind board by any stretch. Perhaps it's a function of my weight and a powerful kite.
Other riders at my beach recommend the Ocean Rodeo Mako as a nice smooth board through chop. I spoke with someone online who has both the Monk and the Mako, and likes both, but prefers the Monk for all the reasons you guys mentioned.
Well I have the latest 2013 king mako and a shinn monk. The king is an unreal board, feels so much smaller underfoot. I'm throwing all I normally do on it. Rides in light winds but can also hold itself in high winds. Also really bites on the rail and believe it or not you can boost this board really well. Very smooth.
But...
Doesn't come close to the shinn in terms of comfort, grip and control. Once the chop really increases the mako does find its limit. The shinn. There is no limit and I can't overstate this enough.
The mako King excels in the surf through as it should given its finnage and Farq me if it doesn't ride strapless so well.
Today the monk and the edge played again in a refined symphony of speed and speed and speed and.....height.
Thanks for sharing Eppo! Unlike some reviews with differing opinions, the feedback about the Monk's character is pretty much the same from everyone. You don't see this very often about a piece of gear. I will have to buy this Monk by the creator called Shinn. :) I assume the 132 x 41 should work well with my hefty 72 kg frame.
I enjoy the Australian forums, along with the Brit forums when I was a windsurfer. They tend to have good analysis (never a shortage of that - lol) and a fair balanced review. In the states, for some reason the forum's get personal at times. There's more pimping of products and less objectivity, not to mention some personal attacks from time to time > Cabrinha owners vs. Slingshot, etc. Cab. products seem to be the prime target of most attacks. Yes it gets silly in this way.
Thank you all.
kiteboarder.co.uk/kitesurfing/shinn-the-new-thread-47485-315
This is the most comprehensive shinn site that have come across
Take a look
My friend is also offering to sell his Dundee 133 x 42. I read description on the Shinn website, does anyone have any experience by which to compare?
It's case of being happy with either board (monk or dundee) and I'd like to have my quiver of boards complement each other and my level of skill >
Replacing the North X-Ride 135x39
I don't need a TT with low end so to speak. I'm usually on the Airush Cypher or North Skimfish in the lighter conditions > 12-17 mph. 72 kg body weight
I get on the TT in 15 plus mph > 12 m Lithium to 7 m Cab Vector.
Learning to ride toeside, carving turns, just learning to jump, etc.
It's unlikely I'll be into boosting massive air or acrobatic tricks > I'm self employed and need to keep my body fully functioning for the next day ;)
Things I like about the North X-Ride > good upwind, planes fairly early for it's relatively small size (perhaps flatter rocker helps), relatively smooth, little or no spray.
Don't like the rear leg fatigue on long cruises (I hear the Shinn's have less of this), and it can be harder to hold an edge when really powered up (again the Shinn is suppose to be better at holding an edge).
So this board is for 17 knots plus right? Personally at 72kg, a 42 wide board is a bit to big mate. Although if you are not into boosting big and just want to cruise, freeride then it is the right model.
You blokes have talked this board brand up so much I had to buy one to try. Get it next week.
So I am in the dog house again with the wife.
If I don't like it will be for sale in the buy and sell
All things Shinn are available here in WA/SA at Kite Surf SUP.
We have all models & various sizes of each for demo.
Stock levels of specific boards & sizes varies but the board you want is never too far away (usually just a few weeks tops).
On the MONK or DUNDEE debate....
direct from Mark himself.............
"the feedback on the 2012 range was overwhelmingly favouring the Luigi for waves. As we hadnt done a completely wave oriented board we took the Luigi and moded it up to make it more of a surf specific design"
It still rates amazingly as a middle of the range free-ride board with loads more pop than many others claiming to be in 'freestyle' class.
Awesome boards!
Seems many Shinn riders are also mentioning the Ocean Rodeos as another option.
KSS are the WA agents for Ocean Rodeo as well. Kites here for demo now.
Boards arriving soon.
A few comments and ?'s here on the loading of the Shinn boards.
This is one of their standout features.
I first spoke to Mark Shinn straight after my 1st ever ride on the Luigi. I too was as gob-smacked as many others Ive demoed to since. He explained the fairly radical new build technology. During the conversation he made the comment that 'you will find you just cant bust out an edge'.
Sounded like hype if ever Id heard it so decided to put him on test.
It was 24+kts. I pumped a grunty, mid aspect, Delta type 10M kite that I knew would be right up at my top end. I powered up, dug in & prepared to hang on.
It was a battle, to say the least, but despite thinking my arms would be pulled out at the shoulder, I held that edge through way more speed than I would ever normally ask for.
End of story was when the kite pulled right up to the edge of the window & stalled.
I was an agent for Shinn the very next day.
New Monk arrived last week.
Was away using another board so as soon as the wind is back i will let you know my thoughts after a couple of rides.
Foot straps seem good and soft so i don't see where that issue is coming from.
My Monk Forever 134/42 arrived today, spent a couple of hours on it this afternoon at Woodies. I'm somewhere between 80 - 85kgs and went out with my 2012 C4 9m and was well and truly fully powered. I'd call myself an advanced beginner and i have mostly been riding a chopstick. I had huge expectations for this board after reading so many positive reviews. I was pretty impressed that the board even managed to surpass my expectations, amazing piece of kit.
First thing that amazed me is how smooth the board is, it really cuts through chop well (and it was quite choppy this arvo). I have dud knees and this board is really kind to them, ill never be touching the chopstick again (and i really didn't mind that board). The whole "no spray in face" thing is 100% legitimate, no spray the whole afternoon. So nice not to be wiping sunscreen / water out of my eyes every few seconds.
The second thing that impressed me was the fact that i could not lose my edge. If i had been on my chopstick in these conditions i would have been losing my edge all over the place and skipping across the water. I probably would have spent 30 minutes on the water before i would have needed to get off. I was extremely overpowered at times and the board didn't even threaten to lose its edge once, just carved harder upwind. Tacking on it is great fun too, has so much grip. Super stable board that gave me the confidence to try some new things.
Found myself carving on it (first time), catching little waves, going straight downwind easily, effortlessly upwind and landing jumps i probably shouldn't have landed. Overall i am extremely happy with it, highly recommend it.
Oh and i find the sneakers super comfy. 
Hi guys & girls
Not a gear review, but I just wanted to share my experience with Shinn regarding a cracked board. I purchased a 2011 Shinn Monk back in April 2011, and it has been ridden for probably 75% of my kiting since then (love that board!!). Recently I had a hard crash, and noticed afterwards it was cracked. Possibly during the crash, maybe not I cant be sure. Anyway, I purchased the board through SeaBreeze Buy & Sell from a guy who held the WA rights to Shinn Australia at the time. Made contact with the point of sale, however no joy there as he has since handed in the rights and sold his stock to KSS in Scarborough. Being in Brissy, I then contacted Justin at Darkside Surf (East coast distributers) and after passing on some pics of the board, a few details of my riding style, experience etc I got the following response;
"Good news.
Mark Shinn has agreed that your board will be replaced under warranty with a brand new Monk Forever which will come in with my next shipment. He apologised and advised that the failure was a 1 in 10,000 and was not related to your riding style. He also advise that the board is unable to be repaired for this type of failure and is confident you will be happy with the new board when it arrives.
Please keep your footpads and straps as only the board will be replaced under warranty.
I am waiting on advice when the next shipment will arrive and unfortunately I do not have a Monk Forever or even a Monk in your size in stock at the moment. I will advise once I know when they will arrive."
Warranty on Shinn Boards is actually two years despite what I was told by local kiteshops who stock Shinn......and I can now confirm they are pretty good at honouring their warranty. So happy days here.....going to miss my old Monk, but cant wait to get my hands on the new Monk forever!
Great boards, great service, a very happy customer!
Great to see all these unsolicited reviews backing up everything I say in the shop.
Sometimes I think I sound like a used car salesman but I honestly dont have a bad thing to say about the boards and the good stuff I blab on & on about it is exactly what you read here from others.
Cauncy.
Was that you up at Dongra after new year and was talking to a bloke on a choptop and tried to give him a go on your shinn.
Have had mine shinn out twice and got a bit of a traveller and then lent it to a mate to try. He is refusing to give it back so xxxxit had to order another.
have to work in dongara, some people are blessed,heh the winds looking great tomorrow ill be down around 4 usually the prime wind time, ill be out on my red yellow edges, for sure have a session have a cold one and talk **** sounds great c u tmoz
Bought the monk this morning from KSS, spent a solid 3 hours on it this arvo at meville.
130x40, 67kg, 9m naish park
I won't dribble on because il just be repeating what everyone else has said but the eye opener for me was how smooth the board is, the edging was incredible and not one bit of chop in my face.
Landed a few back/front rolls and a few good boosts, super comfy and will only get more so with the memory foam.
Must buy for anyone wanting a new board
Monks on its way, with great thanks to KSS in WA.
will be good to finally get on one and see what all the fuss is about... 
Kitch.
Well, i had 2 sessions (crap underpowered conditions) on the 2012 Monk today with the 11.5m kahoona V3. 15-20kn, 88kg
To say the least, what an improvement on my last ride and i won't be getting sick of it anytime soon.
I set it up on the wide stance. thought it would give a more secure feel on landings. Don't know how you guys set up for free ride. setting up in wide stance i did immediately feel the straps rubbing on the little toe as some people have mentioned on SB threads before. But once up and riding forgot all about it.
I haven't ridden too many boards but I found the handling vey confidence building and super smooth through chop and on smallish jumps (underpowered)
Another thing I really liked was how controlled the board slid around through the gybe or if you drive the board through the turn hard, it just asks for more speed.
I can see what the edge boys are saying with how well monks control speed with edging. This was the hardest thing for me to get use to. It is so good at washing off speed with edging, im still not use to it. BUT get the right balance and it feels very fast like it's on a foil or something.
Im not the best kiter (don't get the time on the water) and not interested if this gets red thumbs thinking im pimping. Im just super stoked with my new girl and some people have asked for what I thought about this board…. Ok here's a pimp… thanks heaps to Phil at KSS in WA
Love is blind
Oh and thanks SB guys for your help
Kitch
Having spent some time on the Shinn Dundee in varying conditions, I can agree that is is one fine board.
Compared to my North X-Ride (which is a great board as well) it's smoother - wow, and the X-Ride is a smooth ride; goes at least as well upwind - better as the wind gets stronger and you drive the edge in harder; easier to ride through chop and waves - I can ride it with my weigh more equally distributed and no more back leg fatigue; doesn't stuff in chop and waves like the X-Ride would if I wasn't paying attention; holds an edge when powered up - the X-Ride would skip out when overpowered; carves turns better; planes up slightly faster but handles more wind - it's bigger than my X-Ride (133 x 42 Dundee vs 135 x 39 X-Ride).
Downside: to my surprise, none. I usually expect compromise with all designs but I can't come up with any. Again the North X-Ride is a nice board and for the riding I'm doing at my current level of progression: cruising, carving turns, playing in small waves, swell riding, I was perfectly happy...until I bought the Shinn.
I'm on the lighter side at 72 kg / 158 lbs so the Dundee 133 x 42 isn't an ideal size in a blow or so I'm told, but I had it out in 25 mph plus and no problems with control. Whereas I expected the X-Ride's smaller size to be superior, it wasn't.
Dundee 133 x 42
im 89kg and have the same size board as my preferred board
just shows you the range
