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Darts Creek, QLD, 4695
  Search for a Location
  Clear Recents
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South West
Central West
North West
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Safety Bay Camera
Metro
North
Mid North
Illawarra
South Coast
Metro
West Coast
East Coast
Brisbane
Far North
Central Coast
Sunshine Coast
Gold Coast
Hobart
West Coast
North Coast
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Recent
Western Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
South Australia
Queensland
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Forums > Kitesurfing Gear Reviews

NEO/REO/NEXUS/SST Final Shootout Overview

Reply
Created by AndreC > 9 months ago, 9 Mar 2019
Adam''KiteRepair
NSW, 104 posts
12 Mar 2019 4:45PM
Thumbs Up

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ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Smook,

I'm not questioning your experience, however, a kite surfboards volume has nothing to do with how it rides. Volume is very important in a surfboard as you need the volume to float you a bit higher to make the take off a bit easier and give you a little more paddling power. As you don't paddle to take off on a kite board, the volume is irrelevent.

Surface area, tail width and shape, rail shape, rocker, tail lift, length, width and channels all effect the ride. The Kipuna from Axis and the Spleene surfboards are all testimony that volume doesn't make a lick of difference. So long as you are planing, the volume matters not.

Surf boards, SUP boards and wind surfers all rely on volume to help when you are not planing. When these boards are planing, the volume becomes inconsequential too.

FWIW

DM


Volume may not be as important as when paddling in but it still plays a huge role. Not as much for powered riders but alot of us are riding a kite as small as possible so that we can be on a board as close to what we paddle. Enabling the ability to surf a wave as proper as possible while attached to a kite.
This doesn't discredit low volume boards but that doesn't mean that volume makes no difference. It still makes a world a difference to a rider looking for it.

EastCC
QLD, 355 posts
12 Mar 2019 6:55PM
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shi thouse said..


eppo said..




Yeh I'm not so sure myself of this REO / neo sizing difference...well it depends...

The Neo has more obvious plug and play power... It will chase the windows edge a little more...it therefore feels a little more grunty - well obvious grunt...

The reo requires a little more rider input, a little more active flying and hence can seem size per size less powerful...especially when there is a current running etc.

But from my experience you can cut off that reo power far quicker than the neo...for a more traditional down the line surfing feel with cross on ....Reo was better from my perspective...

I also found the Reo with its much lighter build and sitting back a little more in the window drifted far easily than the neo...

But there is a bees dick in it.

But this being all said if I was to buy a wave kite I may choose the Neo because I'm a tragic North rider... notice I said North.

So it comes down to personal feel. I've watched crew rip on Reos, Neos, RRD's, BWS, SST's, even Wainmens. ...no nexus as yet but its in its first gen'.




Actually the Nexus is not in its first gen. The Nexus is a re-named (version 2) of Core's previous "Free" kite.



Totally different kite, so not so.

Cygnify
QLD, 125 posts
13 Mar 2019 8:51AM
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Select to expand quote
Adam''KiteRepair said..
Volume may not be as important as when paddling in but it still plays a huge role. Not as much for powered riders but alot of us are riding a kite as small as possible so that we can be on a board as close to what we paddle. Enabling the ability to surf a wave as proper as possible while attached to a kite.
This doesn't discredit low volume boards but that doesn't mean that volume makes no difference. It still makes a world a difference to a rider looking for it.


I'm curious. What volume board do you usually ride?

Adam''KiteRepair
NSW, 104 posts
13 Mar 2019 10:15AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Cygnify said..

Adam''KiteRepair said..
Volume may not be as important as when paddling in but it still plays a huge role. Not as much for powered riders but alot of us are riding a kite as small as possible so that we can be on a board as close to what we paddle. Enabling the ability to surf a wave as proper as possible while attached to a kite.
This doesn't discredit low volume boards but that doesn't mean that volume makes no difference. It still makes a world a difference to a rider looking for it.



I'm curious. What volume board do you usually ride?


I'm 74kg on a heavey day. 5.10 and I mostly ride a 5'10" 26 liter board from BlackSheep Boards traditional shape. Roughly 24l if I'm on my tomos but those boards plane heaps early.
Wave riding is NEVER definitive. It cant be any one thing as everyone is so different, so while some may find low liter and sharp rails the go, others may hate it, and find something different the go. Doesn't mean any one person is wrong.
I personally look for a more paddle able board so I can ride a heaps small kite, then I'm able fully **** it off and surf a wave. I'd rather have to pump my board than engage my kite.

Cygnify
QLD, 125 posts
13 Mar 2019 10:08AM
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Select to expand quote
Adam''KiteRepair said..
I'm 74kg on a heavey day. 5.10 and I mostly ride a 5'10" 26 liter board from BlackSheep Boards traditional shape. Roughly 24l if I'm on my tomos but those boards plane heaps early.
Wave riding is NEVER definitive. It cant be any one thing as everyone is so different, so while some may find low liter and sharp rails the go, others may hate it, and find something different the go. Doesn't mean any one person is wrong.
I personally look for a more paddle able board so I can ride a heaps small kite, then I'm able fully **** it off and surf a wave. I'd rather have to pump my board than engage my kite.



I'm the same weight as you and pretty much exclusively ride my evo 24.5L. I love it, and was thinking for my next board I wouldn't want to go any smaller, and could handle a little more volume if it wasn't an early planning shape like the evo. Good to hear that I'm not alone - I too prefer my kite to be undersized as well. I don't think my surf skills could handle a 26L board for the ideal crossover kite and paddle surf all in one board unfortunately. Besides I much prefer kiting with a full deck pad.

weebitbreezy
628 posts
13 Mar 2019 8:18PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
shi thouse said..

eppo said..




Yeh I'm not so sure myself of this REO / neo sizing difference...well it depends...

The Neo has more obvious plug and play power... It will chase the windows edge a little more...it therefore feels a little more grunty - well obvious grunt...

The reo requires a little more rider input, a little more active flying and hence can seem size per size less powerful...especially when there is a current running etc.

But from my experience you can cut off that reo power far quicker than the neo...for a more traditional down the line surfing feel with cross on ....Reo was better from my perspective...

I also found the Reo with its much lighter build and sitting back a little more in the window drifted far easily than the neo...

But there is a bees dick in it.

But this being all said if I was to buy a wave kite I may choose the Neo because I'm a tragic North rider... notice I said North.

So it comes down to personal feel. I've watched crew rip on Reos, Neos, RRD's, BWS, SST's, even Wainmens. ...no nexus as yet but its in its first gen'.



Actually the Nexus is not in its first gen. The Nexus is a re-named (version 2) of Core's previous "Free" kite.


Have you heard that confirmed anywhere by someone from Core? The profile between the free and the Nexus is very different (free looks more like the XR5 at the wingtips and Nexus much closer to the GTS). Looks a different enough kite to be a new model to me anyway

BrendanRobb
WA, 79 posts
15 Mar 2019 3:33PM
Thumbs Up

great stuff Andre, thank you.

Ozone Kites Aus
NSW, 884 posts
Site Sponsor
19 Mar 2019 4:33PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Adam''KiteRepair said..

ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Smook,

I'm not questioning your experience, however, a kite surfboards volume has nothing to do with how it rides. Volume is very important in a surfboard as you need the volume to float you a bit higher to make the take off a bit easier and give you a little more paddling power. As you don't paddle to take off on a kite board, the volume is irrelevent.

Surface area, tail width and shape, rail shape, rocker, tail lift, length, width and channels all effect the ride. The Kipuna from Axis and the Spleene surfboards are all testimony that volume doesn't make a lick of difference. So long as you are planing, the volume matters not.

Surf boards, SUP boards and wind surfers all rely on volume to help when you are not planing. When these boards are planing, the volume becomes inconsequential too.

FWIW

DM



Volume may not be as important as when paddling in but it still plays a huge role. Not as much for powered riders but alot of us are riding a kite as small as possible so that we can be on a board as close to what we paddle. Enabling the ability to surf a wave as proper as possible while attached to a kite.
This doesn't discredit low volume boards but that doesn't mean that volume makes no difference. It still makes a world a difference to a rider looking for it.


Totally agree with Adam on this volume thing. For the last 6 years I've ridden surfboards in surf 99% of the times I've kited, and I've experimented with boards like the Axis Freewave, and Smook low volume 21.7ltrs traditional shape. They just don't work well for me and what I call proper (kitesurf assisted) wave riding. The Axis in particular feels boggy for me, this could be compounded by its basically flat bottom, I don;t know the volume but it would have to be about 15-17ltrs max. The Smook is a beautifully made board, but the low volume means I need to have more kite up than needed compared to a higher volume board.
I've got 2 Blacksheep boards that have become the two favourites, they are both around 25ltrs and I weigh around 75kgs. I've experimented with dozens of boards over the last 6 years and have found that 25ltrs is the magic number for me. You can see from the 2 they are very different in outline and every other dimension, yet they are both 25ltrs and work extremely well for riding waves with minimal assistance from the kite (smallest kite possible). The Evo shape is 5'1" and great for small waves up to head high, the traditional shape is 5'5" and suits everything else and I also have a Delta Designs revamp that is 5'7" and excellent too in larger waves and is also around 25ltrs. This is my 3rd Delta and I got rid of the others because they were too big, the others were 5'9" and were vamps (without the V on the tail)











smook
VIC, 202 posts
19 Mar 2019 9:18PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Ozone Kites Aus said..

Adam''KiteRepair said..


ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Smook,

I'm not questioning your experience, however, a kite surfboards volume has nothing to do with how it rides. Volume is very important in a surfboard as you need the volume to float you a bit higher to make the take off a bit easier and give you a little more paddling power. As you don't paddle to take off on a kite board, the volume is irrelevent.

Surface area, tail width and shape, rail shape, rocker, tail lift, length, width and channels all effect the ride. The Kipuna from Axis and the Spleene surfboards are all testimony that volume doesn't make a lick of difference. So long as you are planing, the volume matters not.

Surf boards, SUP boards and wind surfers all rely on volume to help when you are not planing. When these boards are planing, the volume becomes inconsequential too.

FWIW

DM




Volume may not be as important as when paddling in but it still plays a huge role. Not as much for powered riders but alot of us are riding a kite as small as possible so that we can be on a board as close to what we paddle. Enabling the ability to surf a wave as proper as possible while attached to a kite.
This doesn't discredit low volume boards but that doesn't mean that volume makes no difference. It still makes a world a difference to a rider looking for it.



Totally agree with Adam on this volume thing. For the last 6 years I've ridden surfboards in surf 99% of the times I've kited, and I've experimented with boards like the Axis Freewave, and Smook low volume 21.7ltrs traditional shape. They just don't work well for me and what I call proper (kitesurf assisted) wave riding. The Axis in particular feels boggy for me, this could be compounded by its basically flat bottom, I don;t know the volume but it would have to be about 15-17ltrs max. The Smook is a beautifully made board, but the low volume means I need to have more kite up than needed compared to a higher volume board.
I've got 2 Blacksheep boards that have become the two favourites, they are both around 25ltrs and I weigh around 75kgs. I've experimented with dozens of boards over the last 6 years and have found that 25ltrs is the magic number for me. You can see from the 2 they are very different in outline and every other dimension, yet they are both 25ltrs and work extremely well for riding waves with minimal assistance from the kite (smallest kite possible). The Evo shape is 5'1" and great for small waves up to head high, the traditional shape is 5'5" and suits everything else and I also have a Delta Designs revamp that is 5'7" and excellent too in larger waves and is also around 25ltrs. This is my 3rd Delta and I got rid of the others because they were too big, the others were 5'9" and were vamps (without the V on the tail)












Yes I was bit shocked when told volume dose not matter And agree with above But for my conditions and my type ridding I go for lowest volume/ Lts and use my kite. For me I won't to hit it as hard as I can and have no issues with bigger kite from 6 to 12 m V4 or V5 they all turn fast Use my 12 m a lot in INDO and one eye and at home waves Re above yes it is low Lt board but it is custom board and have made 25 + Lts for number of riders but they all seem tobe same type riders use the kite All down to your preference and your conditions you ride in

AndreC
WA, 512 posts
20 Mar 2019 6:04PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
smook said..

Ozone Kites Aus said..


Adam''KiteRepair said..



ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Smook,

I'm not questioning your experience, however, a kite surfboards volume has nothing to do with how it rides. Volume is very important in a surfboard as you need the volume to float you a bit higher to make the take off a bit easier and give you a little more paddling power. As you don't paddle to take off on a kite board, the volume is irrelevent.

Surface area, tail width and shape, rail shape, rocker, tail lift, length, width and channels all effect the ride. The Kipuna from Axis and the Spleene surfboards are all testimony that volume doesn't make a lick of difference. So long as you are planing, the volume matters not.

Surf boards, SUP boards and wind surfers all rely on volume to help when you are not planing. When these boards are planing, the volume becomes inconsequential too.

FWIW

DM





Volume may not be as important as when paddling in but it still plays a huge role. Not as much for powered riders but alot of us are riding a kite as small as possible so that we can be on a board as close to what we paddle. Enabling the ability to surf a wave as proper as possible while attached to a kite.
This doesn't discredit low volume boards but that doesn't mean that volume makes no difference. It still makes a world a difference to a rider looking for it.




Totally agree with Adam on this volume thing. For the last 6 years I've ridden surfboards in surf 99% of the times I've kited, and I've experimented with boards like the Axis Freewave, and Smook low volume 21.7ltrs traditional shape. They just don't work well for me and what I call proper (kitesurf assisted) wave riding. The Axis in particular feels boggy for me, this could be compounded by its basically flat bottom, I don;t know the volume but it would have to be about 15-17ltrs max. The Smook is a beautifully made board, but the low volume means I need to have more kite up than needed compared to a higher volume board.
I've got 2 Blacksheep boards that have become the two favourites, they are both around 25ltrs and I weigh around 75kgs. I've experimented with dozens of boards over the last 6 years and have found that 25ltrs is the magic number for me. You can see from the 2 they are very different in outline and every other dimension, yet they are both 25ltrs and work extremely well for riding waves with minimal assistance from the kite (smallest kite possible). The Evo shape is 5'1" and great for small waves up to head high, the traditional shape is 5'5" and suits everything else and I also have a Delta Designs revamp that is 5'7" and excellent too in larger waves and is also around 25ltrs. This is my 3rd Delta and I got rid of the others because they were too big, the others were 5'9" and were vamps (without the V on the tail)












Yes I was bit shocked when told volume dose not matter And agree with above But for my conditions and my type ridding I go for lowest volume/ Lts and use my kite. For me I won't to hit it as hard as I can and have no issues with bigger kite from 6 to 12 m V4 or V5 they all turn fast Use my 12 m a lot in INDO and one eye and at home waves Re above yes it is low Lt board but it is custom board and have made 25 + Lts for number of riders but they all seem tobe same type riders use the kite All down to your preference and your conditions you ride in



Board Volume/Rocker/Outline
Body weight/height/ability/back ground
Kite size/flying style/etc etc
Wind conditions/Wave power/strapped unstrapped/foot placement
......All make subtle differences...but yeh the better a board planes the less volume is going to affect the other peices.

smook
VIC, 202 posts
20 Mar 2019 10:00PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
AndreC said..

smook said..


Ozone Kites Aus said..



Adam''KiteRepair said..




ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Smook,

I'm not questioning your experience, however, a kite surfboards volume has nothing to do with how it rides. Volume is very important in a surfboard as you need the volume to float you a bit higher to make the take off a bit easier and give you a little more paddling power. As you don't paddle to take off on a kite board, the volume is irrelevent.

Surface area, tail width and shape, rail shape, rocker, tail lift, length, width and channels all effect the ride. The Kipuna from Axis and the Spleene surfboards are all testimony that volume doesn't make a lick of difference. So long as you are planing, the volume matters not.

Surf boards, SUP boards and wind surfers all rely on volume to help when you are not planing. When these boards are planing, the volume becomes inconsequential too.

FWIW

DM






Volume may not be as important as when paddling in but it still plays a huge role. Not as much for powered riders but alot of us are riding a kite as small as possible so that we can be on a board as close to what we paddle. Enabling the ability to surf a wave as proper as possible while attached to a kite.
This doesn't discredit low volume boards but that doesn't mean that volume makes no difference. It still makes a world a difference to a rider looking for it.





Totally agree with Adam on this volume thing. For the last 6 years I've ridden surfboards in surf 99% of the times I've kited, and I've experimented with boards like the Axis Freewave, and Smook low volume 21.7ltrs traditional shape. They just don't work well for me and what I call proper (kitesurf assisted) wave riding. The Axis in particular feels boggy for me, this could be compounded by its basically flat bottom, I don;t know the volume but it would have to be about 15-17ltrs max. The Smook is a beautifully made board, but the low volume means I need to have more kite up than needed compared to a higher volume board.
I've got 2 Blacksheep boards that have become the two favourites, they are both around 25ltrs and I weigh around 75kgs. I've experimented with dozens of boards over the last 6 years and have found that 25ltrs is the magic number for me. You can see from the 2 they are very different in outline and every other dimension, yet they are both 25ltrs and work extremely well for riding waves with minimal assistance from the kite (smallest kite possible). The Evo shape is 5'1" and great for small waves up to head high, the traditional shape is 5'5" and suits everything else and I also have a Delta Designs revamp that is 5'7" and excellent too in larger waves and is also around 25ltrs. This is my 3rd Delta and I got rid of the others because they were too big, the others were 5'9" and were vamps (without the V on the tail)












Yes I was bit shocked when told volume dose not matter And agree with above But for my conditions and my type ridding I go for lowest volume/ Lts and use my kite. For me I won't to hit it as hard as I can and have no issues with bigger kite from 6 to 12 m V4 or V5 they all turn fast Use my 12 m a lot in INDO and one eye and at home waves Re above yes it is low Lt board but it is custom board and have made 25 + Lts for number of riders but they all seem tobe same type riders use the kite All down to your preference and your conditions you ride in




Board Volume/Rocker/Outline
Body weight/height/ability/back ground
Kite size/flying style/etc etc
Wind conditions/Wave power/strapped unstrapped/foot placement
......All make subtle differences...but yeh the better a board planes the less volume is going to affect the other peices.


Yes AndreC this topic Re Boards has so many variables and since I started making boards with East cost Vic surfboard ledgend who has been producing surf boards here for 40 years I have experimented with a lot of different volume and shapes of boards Traditional and cut off nose boards And still learning and experimenting

DJMWA
WA, 345 posts
22 Mar 2019 1:00PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
smook said..



Ozone Kites Aus said..




Adam''KiteRepair said..





ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Smook,

I'm not questioning your experience, however, a kite surfboards volume has nothing to do with how it rides. Volume is very important in a surfboard as you need the volume to float you a bit higher to make the take off a bit easier and give you a little more paddling power. As you don't paddle to take off on a kite board, the volume is irrelevent.

Surface area, tail width and shape, rail shape, rocker, tail lift, length, width and channels all effect the ride. The Kipuna from Axis and the Spleene surfboards are all testimony that volume doesn't make a lick of difference. So long as you are planing, the volume matters not.

Surf boards, SUP boards and wind surfers all rely on volume to help when you are not planing. When these boards are planing, the volume becomes inconsequential too.

FWIW

DM







Volume may not be as important as when paddling in but it still plays a huge role. Not as much for powered riders but alot of us are riding a kite as small as possible so that we can be on a board as close to what we paddle. Enabling the ability to surf a wave as proper as possible while attached to a kite.
This doesn't discredit low volume boards but that doesn't mean that volume makes no difference. It still makes a world a difference to a rider looking for it.






Totally agree with Adam on this volume thing. For the last 6 years I've ridden surfboards in surf 99% of the times I've kited, and I've experimented with boards like the Axis Freewave, and Smook low volume 21.7ltrs traditional shape. They just don't work well for me and what I call proper (kitesurf assisted) wave riding. The Axis in particular feels boggy for me, this could be compounded by its basically flat bottom, I don;t know the volume but it would have to be about 15-17ltrs max. The Smook is a beautifully made board, but the low volume means I need to have more kite up than needed compared to a higher volume board.
I've got 2 Blacksheep boards that have become the two favourites, they are both around 25ltrs and I weigh around 75kgs. I've experimented with dozens of boards over the last 6 years and have found that 25ltrs is the magic number for me. You can see from the 2 they are very different in outline and every other dimension, yet they are both 25ltrs and work extremely well for riding waves with minimal assistance from the kite (smallest kite possible). The Evo shape is 5'1" and great for small waves up to head high, the traditional shape is 5'5" and suits everything else and I also have a Delta Designs revamp that is 5'7" and excellent too in larger waves and is also around 25ltrs. This is my 3rd Delta and I got rid of the others because they were too big, the others were 5'9" and were vamps (without the V on the tail)













Yes I was bit shocked when told volume dose not matter And agree with above But for my conditions and my type ridding I go for lowest volume/ Lts and use my kite. For me I won't to hit it as hard as I can and have no issues with bigger kite from 6 to 12 m V4 or V5 they all turn fast Use my 12 m a lot in INDO and one eye and at home waves Re above yes it is low Lt board but it is custom board and have made 25 + Lts for number of riders but they all seem tobe same type riders use the kite All down to your preference and your conditions you ride in




+1
If I want to ride a wave like I'm surfing then I'll go surfing. When I'm kiting I wanna smaaaaaaash that section as hard and fast as my kite (and ability ) will allow (with the exception of surf over double head). I find having a lower volume board than I would paddle, with fairly low rails and a pulled in tail works a lot better in this instance.
Lucky for me that's the type of board the majority of the Australian population were surfing in the late 90's early 2000 so I'm just using a few of my old boards that I just didn't want to part with. I look at them now though and can't beleive I used to be able to catch waves with them
However, I do like ove my 5'1 evo but as soon as it's nuking or over head high I can't lay it on rail as hard as I would like to (great for boosting though).

Each to their own and as long as you're having fun you're winning at life!



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Forums > Kitesurfing Gear Reviews


"NEO/REO/NEXUS/SST Final Shootout Overview" started by AndreC