Loving that shape. There was another thread, Piros mentioned 5.9Kg I think for the 120L. Not an eggshell and should hold up well during the shuttle.
Select to expand quoteThatspec said..
Loving that shape. There was another thread, Piros mentioned 5.9Kg I think for the 120L. Not an eggshell and should hold up well during the shuttle.
I just got my Hands On One, Thanks to the Guys at SURF FX. The Best Downwind Foil Shop on this Planet. I would Not Shop Anywhere Else.
AXIS 8'6'' x 17" @ 120L she's a GAME CHANGER, Super Stable as well (me very impressed, heavyweight)
Like how fare have these Downwind Foilboards Progressed; in say the last 18 months already. It's like the Shortboard Revolution of the 70's. I still love surfing; Snapper Rocks was just PUMPING yesterday.
Surfing Snapper Yesterday Morning "Round Two, Paddle Out" on my Sam Egan twin-fin with MR fins - surfing my shortboards is still my number one Sport.
Burleigh Rocky; Absolutely PUMPING.
I made this point in another thread. What a strange mast track to trail design outline and bottom contour design. Weird subtle bump from the mast track creating a subtle hip - stubby tail outline but to a sharp point. These boards are getting more Alien !
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
I made this point in another thread. What a strange mast track to trail design outline and bottom contour design. Weird subtle bump from the mast track creating a subtle hip - stubby tail outline but to a sharp point. These boards are getting more Alien !
Well Said eppo, I agree. What will DW SUP foil boards look like in the next 18 months, interesting Times. I just went for a surf foil out at Kirra this morning so much water moving around e.g. "washing machine" feel a few times to get started, BUT once I found my feet on the 8'6" x 17" Frank AXIS. THE PUMP to catch the BUMP was too easy (Game Changer) hoping to get a DW foil in later today the wind is looking good.
These boards are around 5.9kg and totally changing the game for downwind foiling. It seems like an interesting new design.
Particularly like the stand area design. Looks like I could get the same width stance on this 17" that I currently get on my 19".
Select to expand quoteDownwinder said..eppo said..
I made this point in another thread. What a strange mast track to trail design outline and bottom contour design. Weird subtle bump from the mast track creating a subtle hip - stubby tail outline but to a sharp point. These boards are getting more Alien !
Well Said eppo, I agree. What will DW SUP foil boards look like in the next 18 months, interesting Times. I just went for a surf foil out at Kirra this morning so much water moving around e.g. "washing machine" feel a few times to get started, BUT once I found my feet on the 8'6" x 17" Frank AXIS. THE PUMP to catch the BUMP was too easy (Game Changer) hoping to get a DW foil in later today the wind is looking good.
The designer explains the his design objectives and how he came to them really well on a generic foiling podcast if anyone is interested.
Curious to get more feedback and analysis of the design of these boards...lots of superlatives being tossed around about this being a major advancement, but I'm not seeing what makes this radically different - for example, is the rocker and tail cutaway that much different than other boards out there?
I'll be psyched if this lives up to the current hype, but would like to learn more (both about this design, and where things are headed and why in downwind board design in general)...
Select to expand quotekook123 said..
Curious to get more feedback and analysis of the design of these boards...lots of superlatives being tossed around about this being a major advancement, but I'm not seeing what makes this radically different - for example, is the rocker and tail cutaway that much different than other boards out there?
I'll be psyched if this lives up to the current hype, but would like to learn more (both about this design, and where things are headed and why in downwind board design in general)...
Agreed Kook 123!
The marketing speaks about a "revolutionary rocker line designed to increase board speed and effortlessly release from the water surface for extremely smooth takeoffs"
In regards to the revolutionary rocker line design KT was doing boards that look very similar in 2022.
All the youtuber reviewers who likely get deals on the boards rarely seem to be able to explain how this design actually works, just a recital of the marketing talk.
Hank1 the Frank is very different to the KT's it really is a unique shape in the flesh and the rocker profile is like a slung hammock
Select to expand quoteHank1 said..
"effortlessly release from the water ..."
That sounds just like my paddle ups...no effort required
I think there are more similarities than differences.
Frank is the first brand to radically minimize volume on both the tail and particularly the nose just like Kalama but still not as minimal in the nose as a Kalama.
Its only the excessive frank rocker that makes it look a little unique but the KT's had that rocker line but with a bulbus nose. The frank looks like a child of a Kalama design and KT for its rocker for easier pump up.
Another case of the only way to know if its good for you and your bumps and technique strategy is to take the reviews as tainted and try it yourself. With its extended supply strategy at least it might be possible to demo. It looks a lot better to me than almost all popular brands out there but it will be just as unstable as any board with comparative width and length.
For reference i am an old punter (58) who needs all the help i can get. I learnt on a V1 barracuda and then test paddled a KT, Code, new Armstrong, Sunova, Takuma and then went and purchased a 9'x 16" v2 barracuda. It feels much smaller than the other brands in their much smaller lengths. The crunch for me was how well even my v1 barracudas planed on my extended paddle ups compared to what i tried.
I've seen a barra V1 and V2 next to the frank. Very different in all aspects. It's a truly unique board. The extreme banana rocker i've only seen in person on another board is the black bird by AFS. But very different bottom shape and it has an extreme cut out on top to reduce the board depth from your feet to the foil. Another really nice board hey.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
I've seen a barra V1 and V2 next to the frank. Very different in all aspects. It's a truly unique board. The extreme banana rocker i've only seen in person on another board is the black bird by AFS. But very different bottom shape and it has an extreme cut out on top to reduce the board depth from your feet to the foil. Another really nice board hey.
Select to expand quotePiros said..
Hank1 the Frank is very different to the KT's it really is a unique shape in the flesh and the rocker profile is like a slung hammock
Piros, I am not talking about the production KT that you may have seen. Prior to that shape in 2022 KT was doing boards in Maui that had a very similar rocker profile.
My point, its likely not an innovational rocker as suggested in the marketing as its been done already by KT and more likely an adoption of those design elements that has been refined.
Good stuff...thx...
So the next question is what the other companies are going to do in response...about time for some spring product releases for the N. hemisphere...
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
I've seen a barra V1 and V2 next to the frank. Very different in all aspects. It's a truly unique board. The extreme banana rocker i've only seen in person on another board is the black bird by AFS. But very different bottom shape and it has an extreme cut out on top to reduce the board depth from your feet to the foil. Another really nice board hey.
Look at the Frank board from the side and note the volume distribution and thickness profile and where the majority of the thickness sits. This is the first board that i am aware of to share a similar thickness profile and volume distribution with the V2 Barracuda. Its close enough.
KT downwind boards have a pretty extreme "effective" rocker which is why they bounce up so well not to mention the cut out deck on so many brands. Unique no. Yes the Frank rocker is the most extreme example we have seen on a DW board that i am aware of and it should deliver great pop but the offset is paddle speed and planning speed. Stability comes for me as water moves over the foil and board so paddle speed has become my friend. We have planning vs easy bounce up and the jury is out for me in understanding at what point the average joe with his high aspect foils needs planning vs pop and bounce or can you have both?
It needs it own thread but you won't find much discussion on this anywhere as everyone including the pros are still in contradiction over it and are completely compromised.
It looks like a great board agreed and better than most other in my opinion.
Funny thing though is that someone mentioned a Banana floats on its side. That will mess with your head Eppo. 
Anyone know the weights?
