New Surfboard?

Post general kiteboarding discussion topics here!
Yoda
Resident
Resident
Posts:746
Joined:Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:55 pm
Location:Northern Hemisphere
Contact:
New Surfboard?

Post by Yoda » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:45 am

I've narrowed down my options and I thought I would see what fellow BAK'ers are liking these days.

My criteria is a kite specific surfboard between 5'5-5'8x17.75"-19.5" with a 5 fin box so I can switch it from a thruster to a quad. I only ride strapless and like to do airs, so durability is key. From my research these are my best options...

Airush Cypher 5'6 & 5'8
Epic Reef ATV 5'7
Firewire KHF 5'6
Naish Global 5'5
North Wam 5'8
Wainman Gambler 5'7
Amundson Airflow (custom)

User avatar
Aloha
Old School
Old School
Posts:1514
Joined:Sat Dec 04, 2010 11:45 pm
Location:the beach
Contact:

Re: New Surfboard?

Post by Aloha » Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:48 pm

In the kiting completely powered grom sized directional game to me all the boards seem to be fairly interchangeable

If I were in your shoes I'd pick whichever one fit your 5 finbox criteria and was within my budget

User avatar
recoprianto
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
Posts:213
Joined:Mon May 14, 2007 10:29 am
Location:Haiku, HI
Contact:

Re: New Surfboard?

Post by recoprianto » Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:02 pm

+1 for the Wam. I had a 5'10" last year, a 6'0" this year. Rides well.

User avatar
sloughslut
Resident
Resident
Posts:909
Joined:Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:15 am
Location:Benicia
Contact:

Re: New Surfboard?

Post by sloughslut » Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:38 pm

I would get a Naish Sky Pirate.
Riding used and closeout kites and boards from e-bay,craigslist,ikitesurf, and local surf shops.Now riding home made foils

User avatar
kitenaked
Old School
Old School
Posts:1836
Joined:Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:57 pm
Location:Nor Cal
Contact:

Re: New Surfboard?

Post by kitenaked » Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:43 pm

Wainman Gambler and Passport might be somthing to check out this weekend. At least one was on your list...

Gambler comes with full pads and straps. Fins can be setup as a thruster or quad setup, Passport only comes with rear pads, no straps and is strictly a quad.

Gambler is probably the best choice. Passport was designed to be paddled or kited...
Chris

Kite Naked
Benicia Kite and Paddle Sports
4562 East 2nd Street, Unit J & K
Benicia, CA 94510

209-304-2200

http://www.kitenaked.com
Slingshot

Yoda
Resident
Resident
Posts:746
Joined:Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:55 pm
Location:Northern Hemisphere
Contact:

Re: New Surfboard?

Post by Yoda » Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:22 pm

sloughslut wrote:I would get a Naish Sky Pirate.
This is exactly what I'm looking for... shortest length @ 6', 3-fin box only, & dual front-foot straps. Perfect! ";

Yoda
Resident
Resident
Posts:746
Joined:Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:55 pm
Location:Northern Hemisphere
Contact:

Re: New Surfboard?

Post by Yoda » Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:33 pm

Aloha wrote:In the kiting completely powered grom sized directional game to me all the boards seem to be fairly interchangeable

If I were in your shoes I'd pick whichever one fit your 5 finbox criteria and was within my budget
I was thinking mostly the same thing, but any feedback to narrow down my options would great. I'm currently riding an UG Freewave, so anything I purchase I know I can get used to since it's such a different feel. So far I've only demo'ed the new Cypher in the 5'8 which I liked a lot.Does anyone know where I could demo some of the other boards on my list?

Chris - I plan to be there on Wed. I would be psyched to try the Gambler 5'7 if you have one available. ;-)

User avatar
kitenaked
Old School
Old School
Posts:1836
Joined:Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:57 pm
Location:Nor Cal
Contact:

Re: Re: New Surfboard?

Post by kitenaked » Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:00 pm

Yoda wrote:
Aloha wrote:In the kiting completely powered grom sized directional game to me all the boards seem to be fairly interchangeable

If I were in your shoes I'd pick whichever one fit your 5 finbox criteria and was within my budget
I was thinking mostly the same thing, but any feedback to narrow down my options would great. I'm currently riding an UG Freewave, so anything I purchase I know I can get used to since it's such a different feel. So far I've only demo'ed the new Cypher in the 5'8 which I liked a lot.Does anyone know where I could demo some of the other boards on my list?

Chris - I plan to be there on Wed. I would be psyched to try the Gambler 5'7 if you have one available. ;-)


It will be there waiting for you Mark!
Chris

Kite Naked
Benicia Kite and Paddle Sports
4562 East 2nd Street, Unit J & K
Benicia, CA 94510

209-304-2200

http://www.kitenaked.com
Slingshot

User avatar
sc-surfer
Resident
Resident
Posts:740
Joined:Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:19 pm
Location:Santa Cruz
Contact:

New Surfboard?

Post by sc-surfer » Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:19 pm

You can try my hellfire if you want. I'm out for a couple of weeks for surgery. I love it. Super strong, 5 fin option, short and a little wide. Turns super fast.

User avatar
Bulldog
Old School
Old School
Posts:1783
Joined:Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:23 pm
Contact:

Re: New Surfboard?

Post by Bulldog » Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:51 pm

Just wondering why the need for a quad? Everyone I know who used to ride quads is now riding thrusters with the rest of us. %$

Not to be a brand whore -- I rode Amundson boards for years but recently switched to SS because their new boards matched the colors of my Rallys (joke) -- but the new 5' 11" Tyrants are getting "best directional" reviews right and left.

I don't have one. I have a 2010 BWS Pro 6'2" that I love and a 2011 Tyrant 6'2" that I really like. I ride exclusively strapless, as do many of the pros that ride these boards.

I'm hoping SS sends someone our way this summer so we can demo the new boards.
Paul
aka Pablito
It says 10M, but it's really a 9.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 48 guests