Greetings.
I currently have a Slingshot SX 139. It's not bad, handles well, but... I recently got a new kite and it just pulls me down wind... so I tried this fat air rush and went up wind with no issues.
My new board wishlist, an all rounder ie 1 board with:
Good pop/upwind (flat rocker)
Good chop and landing control (tip curve rocker, neutral flex & double concave)
Rocker: Flat in the middle curved at the tips.
Flex: Neutral; my current board is a little stiff.
Width: 40-45cm
Length: 135 - 139cm
Shape: fairly rectangular
Rails: Thin
Concave: Not sure... current board is flat previous board had channels. I noticed cardboarding Tempo has Quad Concave... any one know how this handles? I guess double concave sounds good for less drag.
My stats:
90kg; 185cm. I like jumping and the occasional backflip. Don't kite in big swell but I want the option of being able to.
So I've narrowed my choices down to:
Nobile 555 '09 137cm (www.powerkiteshop.com/surf/nobile55507.htm)... I can't see what kind of profile it has. The website just blabs marketing crap without showing me the board profile. But the shape looks good. The rails look good. The size seems right. Everybody says it's awesome. Elliptical Progressive Concave sounds good.
Freeride and Tempo (www.cardboarding.com/content_build_board.php).
Freeride 138 has the right size and rocker....
Tempo 135 gets all the praise. I could go 140, but that's a little big.
Plus I can choose my design and the company is Australian.
Anyone know the weight of all the above?
Thanks
This is best posted in the review section. I have never ridden a better board than the tempo and have only heard good things from others. Plus the ability to customise your ride, seems a clear winner to me (very happy with mine 137x41). The quad concave is great, board doesnt suck to the water to much.
Spacemonkey! thanks for your reply. This is not a review. They only do 135 and 140 now. I read the freeride has much better upwind, and the rocker looks like it would. Which was your previous board?
Flysurfer
I have only ridden Cardborads so I cant compare with other boards.
I use to ride a custom Freeride 138x41 and thought it was great, it
use to rocket upwind. I passed it on to my lad and "upgraded" to a
new Tempo 135x41 after reading good reviews. What a board! It carves
soo smooth, light as a feather and makes landing jumps a breeze. I
have found it goes upwind pretty much as well. I havent let my son
ride it yet though cos I know he'll want one- (what a prick of a father
am I).
I have a 137 555 and let people that are having trouble going upwind take it for a spin most go out and buy one as they are one of the best freeride boards on the market you almost dont need to edge and they go upwind. But apart from that i find they handle chop can be ridden fast or slow have a lot of flex but pop supprisingly well. at 90kgs i find i can ride the 137 and my 8m bandit dos in 15 -18kts easily. cant coment on the other board sorry.
Thanks for all your replies.
Are cardboards or nobiles tip flexible... ie do they have a dynamic rocker?
I also have a 137 x 41. They will still do 137 for you if that's what you want. That's the beauty with dealing with Cardboards, they will customise for you. I love the rocker and flex. I have no probs going upwind. I have never ridden the nobile.
Try a smaller 555. the 134 should be a good size for your weight. Im 95k and ride a 130x39 555, yes its a little bit small, I have tried a 666 132x41 when I couldnt get going upwind on mine and went upwind ok. 137 may be a bit big,I was supprised to be on a 130 due to being heavy(fat). Never thought I would ride a board that small but its not often I cant get going. Never tried cardboard so cant comment on them. see if you can try before you buy. I went from a sx137 to my nobile and found nobile much better in the chop, waves. And supprisingly easy to ride, felt nice from day one. Good luck with your choice.
Forget all the techno babble and go and ride whatever you can get your hands on - you're in sydney, so it should be easy.
I'd go Nobile - hands down, the best boards i've ever ridden (haven't had a go on a cardboard yet, though)
they're expensive - but over the lifetime of the board you won't mind paying the few hundred extra.
And nickloop is right, i'd be looking at the smaller end of the spectrum - 134 should be plenty.
I have both...
I'm now selling my 2008 Nobile 137x42 555 and keeping the 2008 137x42 Cardboard Tempo (140x42 cut down to fit in my car)
Background. I'm 104kg and for two seasons I have ridden the 555's.
Nobile 555
Wonderful board, very forgiving, hold an edge incredibly well. Very comfortable to ride in chop. Feels light on your feet. I had lent it out to a few friends and many of them went out and bought one for themselves. I had upgraded from a 2007 FLX Underground that I lost in the Ocean (never get a Green board, or any dark color for that matter).
Oh, and it is for sale :)
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing/Boards/~r9pps/2008-Nobile-555-137-cm.aspx
together with my 2007 10m and 14m North Rhino's kites
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing/Kites/~g8ai/2007-North-Rhino.aspx
and my 2008 9m Bandit kite
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing/Kites/~r9ppp/2008-FOne-Bandit-9-metre.aspx
Cardboard Tempo
This thing has greater rocker, but actually rides faster and cleaner. The quad concave locks it in like it is on rails. Handles chop pretty much the same as the 555. Better pop, can carve turns cleaner, and the Tempo is physically lighter than the 555. Overall it just feels more lively to ride.
Summary
You would be happy with either board. The 555 is more forgiving to ride, the Tempo more exciting and I think will advance my riding further. It is also an Australian company, you get custom graphics and your contact details printed on the board...
Other considerations
Consider two boards. It is a lot easier to leave an extra board on the beach, ride in, drop one on the beach, jump on the other. I always have Dan's 2007 Cardboard 145x45 Light wind board with me, so together with the Tempo 137x42 a 2009 Bandit 9m and 12m, I can kite from 12 - 40 knots :) Note: if I had limited funds, I would get a second board before a second kite...
BTW: I have an association with Dan at Cardboards. I organised competitions for sourcing the kiteboard designs now available at cardboarding.com
www.deviantart.com/angrykoaladownunder/favourites
angrykoaladownunder.deviantart.com/favourites/#2007-Cardboarding-Entries
like alot of the above i have not ridden a 555 but i have nothing bad to say about the cardboards
great boards just make sure you keep the fittings tight as mine seem to work them selves loose a bit