What to look for in a board

Hey all

Looking for advice, I have been kiting since 2001 and ij that time I have had a whole three twintips. My most recent TT I have had since 2009. Its time to upgrade however I am suddenly at the stage where as I have not looked at boards I don't really know what to look for?

I am 95Kgs and I guess my style is "performance freeride" My kites consist of 2012 North Rebels, 2017 North Evo and Core XR5. I love my current board which was the top of the range Crazyfly back in 2009 its a 132X40 so quite a small board and I tend to ride powered using a larger kite than most other people on the beach, the only thing I don't like is the amount of water that hits my leg and then comes up into my face.

What do I look for in terms of rocker, flex, concave, even size. I would like essentially a board that can boost high, but can also be used in surf.

Let me have you knowledge

nah boards much better since 2009.

Demo a nobile NHP if you can, carbon version. Plenty of other great options. Sounds like you ride similar to me.

i would save the hassle and grab a buzz stinger board. Either that or out of the boards i have had and tried from mates (crazy fly included which i really liked) best no spray, comfortable, good to ride powered, boosting, which will be good in the surf/chop (not riding waves) i have ridden is a shinn monk. At your weight i would get a 135 at least but they are a bit wider than what you ride at 42, the 133 is 41 but may have a bit more rocker than your crazy fly.

Depends on your conditions a lot, beach breaks chop n whitewash imho you want decent rocker and flex, been through a few brands and for me the shinn boards have great qualities in said conditions and powered riding, the xenon laluz and infra are also worth looking at
along with the nobile and new crazyfly Ltd, the last 2 lack enough rocker for me , the shins give off zero spray and I mean zero , I had some North boards that drove you mad with the volume of spray off you back leg, the new bronq and crazyfly Ltd are weighing in at 2 kg which gives a real spring in your step after long sessions, these are carbon so up there on price, bit of a compromise on waves as imho that'd come down to rider skill on a tt, if you want a 50/50 board then a small mako/ jimmy lewis / nomad wave/ etc are worth checking out, I'm currently in the same position and like the look of xenon infra, crazyfly Ltd, but I've always been stoked with all my shinns I've owned, no quibble warranty is also great if needed( never have), demo I'd say

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Intheozone said..
Hey all

Looking for advice, I have been kiting since 2001 and ij that time I have had a whole three twintips. My most recent TT I have had since 2009. Its time to upgrade however I am suddenly at the stage where as I have not looked at boards I don't really know what to look for?

I am 95Kgs and I guess my style is "performance freeride" My kites consist of 2012 North Rebels, 2017 North Evo and Core XR5. I love my current board which was the top of the range Crazyfly back in 2009 its a 132X40 so quite a small board and I tend to ride powered using a larger kite than most other people on the beach, the only thing I don't like is the amount of water that hits my leg and then comes up into my face.

What do I look for in terms of rocker, flex, concave, even size. I would like essentially a board that can boost high, but can also be used in surf.

Let me have you knowledge

You really need a few different boards.
The 2 bronq heritage on the left have high flex high rocker great for boosting and holding down big power... super soft landings..they are fun in the surf but take power out of the kite ....on the flipside line tension is much higher so once you boost its on.
Pop is on the lower side but improves if your more aggressive.
Carving turns are tight.
No spray on legs at all.
smooth atomised spray pattern looks great in photos.
Side by side the Shinn Monk Ghost has the same high rocker and slightly more flex.

On the right side 2 bronq Qs have less rocker and less flex so pop is good and have a real dual concave bottom and stepped tail which gives extreme grip also great for boosting ...good in the surf.
These give a very controlled feel when carving and are less agressive board .... no spray on legs.
I have a 41 for top end wind
And a 44 for teen knot wind.
The 44 keeps me from riding my King gee too much.

Lastly once you ride a mako...
Youll probably want one.
High fun factor.
Very efficient with good bottom end , rides on the faster side.
Smooth carving awesome in the surf eats chop and rides up over the white wash easily .
Not the best for boosting but can be fun still ....give extremely good pop being a very stiff board...landings can be bone rattling if you land flat.
Land tail first is much smoother.
The rear end can slideout a lot so loading for an edge before boosting can be funky at times.
It can be dialed in to a minimum and youll notice it more on flat water...not so much in the surf.
Riden best with much more front foot pressure.

You can put bigger fins on and this helps a little.
Very adictive board.
Took me a while to work out my board quiver and realise some boards can hold you back.
So feel free to demo demo demo......... hope this helps.

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Greenarrowz said..

a mako...
[..]
Very efficient with good bottom end [..]

I have never found that to be the case :(

What size you using?

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Kamikuza said..

Greenarrowz said..

a mako...
[..]
Very efficient with good bottom end [..]

I have never found that to be the case :(

What size you using?

150... gets going in 14knts maybe less 90kg rider 13m edge.

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froghoppa said..
The 165 Mako king is a amazing board. If you ride in lumpy surf side waves there's very few boards that could compete with all that this board offers. It goes up wind second to none , It rides over chop second to none. It carves very well but this is about ability maybe more than the board. It allows you to surf on the wave not just get pulled along the wave. It is a heavy board but this you only notice on the beach however once you are riding it's bliss. This opinion is mine based on having many boards including the smaller mako's and the best naish has to offer with a few shinn and cab's in the mix. "Not a free stlye first pick".

Totally different category, certain boards suit certain conditions and suit windstrengths,

TS I'm deleting from my choice, the r n d on this board must of been in butter flat water, nice feel but highly frustrating constant spray coming off your back foot ,
just got a xenon infra, on loan really looks the goods, progressive rocker nice single concave flex in the tips , rounded outline, for me it looks like it'll tick the box for our conditions

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froghoppa said..
The 165 Mako king is a amazing board. If you ride in lumpy surf side waves there's very few boards that could compete with all that this board offers. It goes up wind second to none , It rides over chop second to none. It carves very well but this is about ability maybe more than the board. It allows you to surf on the wave not just get pulled along the wave. It is a heavy board but this you only notice on the beach however once you are riding it's bliss. This opinion is mine based on having many boards including the smaller mako's and the best naish has to offer with a few shinn and cab's in the mix. "Not a free stlye first pick".

I have had two Mako Kings and a 150..... all got replaced by a Nomad Wave (non carbon, 150x50).

Brilliant surf TT.

the mako is very inefficient , but great fun in mutant setting on downwinders. I had mine for about four seasons and have to disagree with it been an excellent carver. Maybe it's me but compared to my model 3 when I'm coming real hard out of a turn I've got a bit of a tendency to skip out the back end
i know I am pretty heavy on my back foot due to surfing most my life.
Anything you guys are doing different, style wise or setup .

NOMAD Team wave titanium to your door is around $1400 aud

The full carbons 1800 - 2100 TYD
Then top of the line is 3k-3.3k TYD

Plus recently as of 1/7/18 we now have GST added to all imported purchases.

All the same shape just different carbon layup.
2 kg. Slightly more for the poverty pack team wave.
Very customised board built to suit you and your weight exactly.

Probably a great board but where does the spending stop...
Pick your color included and for $95 have your own grapics on it.
They ride nothing like a mako with only 11mm or so concave.
Very tempting to go a team wave though.

The mako is good bang for buck.

A carbon Mako King , now your talking. Provided they could keep the plush ride through flex going this would be the best average kiters board out there. I do agree with Big tone that his Nomad is a awesome board as I have riden it. That thing carves so easily and flows on waves so well but is it better than a Mako? Don't know!

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Yep just like I have experienced good as a mutant but very average carver as a twin tip. The best fin setup I've found is the standard 55 mm fins , 1 top and 3 as the thruster

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Nathe said..
the mako is very inefficient , but great fun in mutant setting on downwinders. I had mine for about four seasons and have to disagree with it been an excellent carver. Maybe it's me but compared to my model 3 when I'm coming real hard out of a turn I've got a bit of a tendency to skip out the back end
i know I am pretty heavy on my back foot due to surfing most my life.
Anything you guys are doing different, style wise or setup .

Yep found the same Nathe.

I just didn't enjoy the zero flex pattern and also the heaviness of the board in the end.

The concave is almost too big I reckon.

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Intheozone said..

cauncy said..
Depends on your conditions a lot, beach breaks chop n whitewash imho you want decent rocker and flex, been through a few brands and for me the shinn boards have great qualities in said conditions and powered riding, the xenon laluz and infra are also worth looking at
along with the nobile and new crazyfly Ltd, the last 2 lack enough rocker for me , the shins give off zero spray and I mean zero , I had some North boards that drove you mad with the volume of spray off you back leg, the new bronq and crazyfly Ltd are weighing in at 2 kg which gives a real spring in your step after long sessions, these are carbon so up there on price, bit of a compromise on waves as imho that'd come down to rider skill on a tt, if you want a 50/50 board then a small mako/ jimmy lewis / nomad wave/ etc are worth checking out, I'm currently in the same position and like the look of xenon infra, crazyfly Ltd, but I've always been stoked with all my shinns I've owned, no quibble warranty is also great if needed( never have), demo I'd say

Thanks for that.

I had a go on a mates 2018 Shinn Bronq, I loved how smooth it felt and the lack of spray was fantastic, however I felt it lacked a little pop to get some real boost to my jumps, although that could be me just needing to adjust my technique a little. I am trying to find a CrazyFly Ltd to try out.

Needs to be built up for popping you off the water unlike some boards which flick you up with a stomp on the board, I've been on the infra for a few days, really thought this might be an option but was punishing in the chop, did feel very connected, the new TS felt great but still that annoying large volume of spray the more you edge, shame as it was a cracker apart from that