Select to expand quotetomasjoad said..
Where could I take a Shinn Dundee for a test drive in Victoria?
dongara
Thanks for the Dundee/Mako comparison Eppo are you saying in your opinion having both is a good option as well as a SB? Is the Dundee a better option over the Monk for ocean kiters???
wind, swell, and water dependant, really liked the dundee in normal conditions but when it really fired up and you had to put the hammer down the monks the go, my kite has a big say in this though, had some epic rides up north recently and found myself choosing the dundee, however the monks been my board of choice back home, ive been on the smaller fins making a bit more slick which is great on the waves, if you lay it next to the monk its not that much different, but on the water they are completely different, the comfort and spray element are the same but thats about it, ive had the dundee on demo and passed it around a fair bit, if id had a few in the ute i think i would of sold some, hoping to get some solid time over the weekend just gotta leave the monk in its cage
If u want to loosen up your Dundee just swap the fins. It becomes more like, but not the same as, the monk.
Thought I'll add my thoughts on the Mako 150. Thanks to Eppo's informative reviews on the Makos sometime ago in this forum, I decided to take the plunge without the opportunity to demo and got the 150. I really like this board when the wind is up and surf good, it carves beautifully wide or short arcs and it is just an effortless ride over the swell and chop that I find I ride it for much longer sessions without getting tired. It's the nearest to a surfboard feel I found without going to a full surfboard but a Mako 165 would be even nearer to it than a 150. But I like the 150 for it's lighter weight and can flick the thing around. i did not get this board as a lightwind board and to do big jumps, but it can be boosted enough with the right technique I'm sure. The best thing is to demo if possible to see if you like it or not and suits your speciifc riding needs. I don't think one board can do it all, hence why I also have the Shinns in my board quiver as well which are a great ride depending on the mood i'm in. However, i have yet to demo a Shinn Dundee but will be able to soon and I'll compare it to the Mako but they will be two different things and have their pros and cons in my own opinion. Just my 2 pence thoughts..
Select to expand quoteWeta said..
Thanks for the Dundee/Mako comparison Eppo are you saying in your opinion having both is a good option as well as a SB? Is the Dundee a better option over the Monk for ocean kiters???
Well cauncy has spent much longer on both boards than me and I would say he is spot on with the difference as this is the one defining characteristic that I noticed straight away. At normal speeds, but fast enough and indeed at slower speeds the Dundee is similar, they all have that shinn feel anyhow, which ultimately came from the original monk. But the monk wants a lunatic on it, loves speed and gets better the harder you ride it. Cauncy is on edges remember and they also allow, want you, to go fast. Cannot break that monks edge, it just starts to crab crawl, well it held as much as I could throw at it.
They are both great ocean going boards depends on what you are after.
If you really want to get some verbal description unparalleled about these two boards, then search for Mike Birt in the UK through google or find him on the kiteforum. Or look for John B. or even better go back to the UKkiteboarder forums and find the shinn threads. Both these guys ride exclusively shinn boards, Mike sells them and really is almost the principal marketer or them with his Airush line ( he is a close buddy of mark shinns). They discuss these boards like nothing else and Mike has been there from the start, on the monk, then the Dundee (and he explains why and the differences really well).
Right now they are all discussing the ultrasonic, from what I've read I don't get it. No more super shinn,a board with no monk in it? Weird.
Anyone got a super shinn I can try, its the one I always wanted to and never got a chance!!
suppose if ya hell bent on unhooking etc its a good choice though.
Ive got a couple of Super Shinns here eppo.
Also have the Utrasonic but no feedback yet.
Back-to-back them if you like - Id like to get your take on it.
Im thinking Mark may have just thought that the Super Shinn was too similar to the Monk to be worth another whole slot in the range.
From what Ive read the Ultrasonic has some basic differences in the build to either the Monk or Super Shinn ?
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Cannot break that monks edge, it just starts to crab crawl, well it held as much as I could throw at it.
Bedtime Story ....
I first spoke to Mark Shinn straight after my 1st experience on the Luigi & Monk. Mine was the typical mind-blowing reaction. I was frothing. When asking what the hell he was doing to make them such a stand-out one comment he made was "you just cant break the edge". Impressed as I was I immediately thought - "that sounds like a challenge to me".
So I organised another demo. Rigged a 10M BWS in about 24kts - thats huge for my diminutive 70>75kgs. Strapped into the Luigi 132 - which I had already decided was 'my' board. Being a bit more comfortable and a bit slower than the Monk I thought it would make for a tougher test than the unstoppable Monk.
All prepared to hang for grim death I powered up, set the edge & gritted my teeth. I was super powered with this combo. Held on & HELD on & HELD ON through some crazy pressure & speed. But true to Marks claim it didnt even look like breaking out.
Story ended about a km & 1/2 later when the board pulled the kite - a mid/low aspect delta if you dont know them - right through to the edge of the window & stalled.
We took on the Shinn kites that very day.
I am 6' 2 - 100kg & have recently purchased a 2013 Nobile NHP 137 x 44cm - Insane board - does it all - great on flat water & rides so smooth in chop & waves - I am looking forward to getting my hands on a Shinn Speedball soon though
Weta,good descision
Spent the last 10 years in Wa on both twinnys and SB , moved abck to QLd and just bought a 2014 North wam ,where i live at margate the conditions are similar to Wa , and this board rips in the small sloopy stuff , had a ride on it at Coolum the other day in clean 2 m high waves and did the job there as well.
Hit your shop up today Puppets and took the monk out on a test run, I guess not the best day to test its choppy water handling as it was a bit on the light side but the chop that was around it just ate it up, great feel in carving turns and motors upwind, very nice indeed and thanks for the demo!.
I am going to sell off my Airush Switch and come order one!
I thought Perth was the best kiteboarding place in Australia. Why do I keep seeing posts about choppy mush?
Select to expand quotefingerbone said...
I thought Perth was the best kiteboarding place in Australia. Why do I keep seeing posts about choppy mush?
kiting restricitons :D
Just bought a Xenon Laluz 135,powers upwind and cuts through chop unreal,should get to really test it out in a few days as the strongest typhoon ever comes to Vietnam 
Select to expand quotefingerbone said...
I thought Perth was the best kiteboarding place in Australia. Why do I keep seeing posts about choppy mush?
Imo,.its wicked for wind however on small swell days it more than ordinary, like tonight high twentys with no swell leads to choppy mush, add a couple of meters swell with similar wind and your in windy wonderland
