I've been riding an '09 Nobile NHP (666) for the last 2 seasons and it's been sensational. Fast, huge pop, quick to plane and the best board out of the ~10 that i demo'd last time round. It's still a stunning board to ride but unfortunately i'm the weakest link in the chain and after returning from the physio with the news of fairly badly inflamed patella it's been suggested i make some changes to my kiting if i want to continue to enjoy it for years to come. So the easy part is remembering to strap my knee before every session, the hard part is finding another board that is going to be a little more accommodating in the comfort side of things.

I added some LF Comp Lace pads to the board towards the end of last season and found them to be really soft squishy and comfy, but i still end up in reasonable pain after most sessions so obviously not enough. With practice i'm smoothing out my riding but as soon as i start pushing to progress the knees start hurting again... and to be honest at 27 i'm far too young to be having knee problems. I'll probably keep the 2009 Nobile NHP as it's such an awesome board, so looking to add an additional board so that i might eventually like it more than the '09 NHP.

Rider: ~80kg 6'3"
Conditions: 40% flat water, 50% chop/slop, 10% surf
Current board: 2009 Nobile NHP 134x42 with LF Comp Lace pads.
Current kites: Naish Torches
Style/Experience: Freestyle, kiteloops, working on passes/mobes/etc atm

Anyone want to suggest i board so i can put together a shortlist and demo them all and pick the one that's right for me - just like i did last time. I'll probably be going for something a tiny bit smaller than the current 134 so ~130-132x40-41.

Any feedback on the boards i'm interested in:
- '10/11 Naish Momentum
- Xenon LaLuz (i like the 2010 graphics better than the 2011)
- '10/11 Nobile NHP

Is the 2010/2011 Nobile NHP any gentler on the knees with the increase in rocker?
Is a board with more rocker going to help my knees with the rough landings?
Am i going to be stuck with a soggy noodle of a board just to save my knees?

edit: Oh and Ewan, i was TRYING to behave myself and not smash my knee up too much last Saturday @ St Kilda so the encouragements of 'kiiiteloooooop!' were not ignored, but heavily moderated.

Thecopterdr said...

The 09 555 was my choice for the exact same reason - My knees were killing me on my board at the time (North Mallory), I demo'd the 666 and loved it but just couldn't buy it because of the knee issues I felt within 5 minutes of getting on it.
The 09 555 is like a knife through butter in choppy conditions and the 10 666 is the same but with softer footpads. I'm also 80kg and 6'3" and ended up buying the 134 last year and am very reluctant to upgrade as I am still happy with it.

So the '10 Nobile 666 softened up a bit with the increased rocker?
Did they soften up the board at all as well?

Nobile boards are very forgiving and if your having issues with your knee riding a nobile board then you are going to have trouble on any board, well any board that is going to cut it as a freestyle or wakestyle board.

Some suggestions would be to change your fins to a smaller fin, my 09 NHP came with 55mm fins and would grip and ride strait out of a landing so if you were a bit off your knees/body would have to absorb it. The 2010-2011nhp has a lot more rocker which gives a softer landing and rides better through chop, it suffers from the same grip as the 09 model so can also benefit from the smaller fins around 35mm would suit.

definitely dot get rid of the 09 NHP, i regret getting rid of mine. When the new hadlow board rocks up in Aus i'm going to give one a go. They look like they have a good amount of flex. But will have to wait and see how it goes.

Really at your age you are not to young to be having issues, i have met lads a lot younger that have had serious opps. Your best bet is to take some time off, get it checked out, by a expert, i cant recommend Sports med enough they know there ****. They will take a look, clean out, operate, do physio to strengthen and suggest the best brace or action to keep you doing the sport you love for a long time to come. Nursing a injury will not build up any strength or heal its self, and can potentially cause damage that could be irreversible. If this happens you may get by using pain killers for a while but will eventually lead to you drooping out of the sport. Taking 12months off now may seem like a life time, but it could be worse. Look at Ruben, he has learnt his lesson the hard way and has spent a blody long time of the water now.

Try a Xenon LaLuz mate. Its looks after your knees like no other board out there. Shock absorbancy on it is incredible.
We got few guys in Melbourne riding the Xenons.
Go see Chris from Kite Republic, he has got a demo 132cm LaLuz.

Cheers

its really easy to under estimate the importance of what jono just said I reckon.

Also, Yes, in my experience, more rocker is much better for my knees on landing.

i've mostly ridden pretty flat flexy boards in the past and recently moved to a much stiffer board with more rocker. Its way better for my knees. def riding with more pressure but landings seem way softer, I can come in much faster and land much harder and it feels sweet in comparison.

Hey mate ive got crud knees too from years of wake boarding. I kited on a twinny for two years and couldnt climb a set of stairs after a session so i switched to a surfboard and couldnt believe the difference... I ride both now and find that cruisin on a surfboard(no straps) helps build up the right muscles and tweaks the right tendons to take the punishment of boosting, jarring and flat landings of the good ol twin tip...
Im sure you could hit the gym or pay a physio for the same effect but ridin for it just makes more sense.... And I dont know if you stretch(hard when your frothin I know) but ya gotta stretch....
Man that knee brace thing from Gstar looks horrible...

waxman said...

INTHELOOP said...

Try a Xenon LaLuz mate. Its looks after your knees like no other board out there. Shock absorbancy on it is incredible.
We got few guys in Melbourne riding the Xenons.
Go see Chris from Kite Republic, he has got a demo 132cm LaLuz.

Cheers

Sounds like someone has a **** load of these boards to flog off.


All 2010 boards are sold out lad - unfortunately no "loads to flog off".

Seems like the answer to every question in Xenons, at the moment.

with all the crap you post dude there is a little light at the end of the tunnel.
Now ride on sweetheart and maybe try one of the boards before you voice your opinion.

rabble rabble
u still carrying on but you actually havent tried the board yet buddy.
enough said

waxman said...

I have ridden a lot of different boards, and are just as excited that this board is a winner but give it a break all boards have good and bad points, at the moment its like Xenon is the perfect board for every one no matter what your skill level, ridding style age body condition or local conditions. As if.

Its great that you have ridden alot of boards, congrats. I myself have also ridden a few boards and have actually tried the laluz. In fact I swapped off my 2010 Nobile NHP and opted for the Xenon Laluz. I found the nobile to be a nice smooth ride but it was slow from the drag created by the channels that make it so smooth. The laluz was just as smooth and forgiving but it was lighter, faster and had more flex.

The graphics are simple and clean, but for me a board is more about the ride then it is about looks. Personally I like the simple approach they have taken and am so over the 80's metro designs some brands go for, its gay!

waxman said...

And you are INTHELOOP KITEBOARDING,

So like i said, you must have a heap of these boards to move. I've never got the second login thing to make yourself look good, even the profile name in both is the same why did you change login details to have a go cant say what you think when you are loged in as INTHELOOP

Good luck with the new boards they look crap, i liked the look of last years but wouldn't touch this years with a stick.

If you want a review on one send one over to Whyalla and i will give one a go.

haha you are a funny one. good you doing your research lad. maybe you should consider getting new login so people start taking you seriously again.
i wonder if you gonna come back again on this, hopefully not!

p.s. sorry you havent really convinced me to send you a demo board but i might if you are becoming a bit nicer on this forum or back up your expert knowledge riding at nats..

Peace*

thanx for the wishes waxi. its great to have you here!
bye now

Chris prolly has a Momentum as well, if not just hit up Ewan he rides them and will be happy for you to demo his board.
You just gotta try all the boards and see what you like best.
BTW personally i liked the NHP 2009 134cm best of all the 666s. Fast and no gimmicks.
cheers

INTHELOOP said...

Chris prolly has a Momentum as well, if not just hit up Ewan he rides them and will be happy for you to demo his board.
You just gotta try all the boards and see what you like best.
BTW personally i liked the NHP 2009 134cm best of all the 666s. Fast and no gimmicks.
cheers

I completely forgot that Ewan rides a Momentum! Muahaha.
St K is a good place to test boards as the conditions are everything from butter flat, nasty multi-directional chop & slop, and a little bit of swell out the back.
Now we just need some consistent wind in Melbourne. Last weekend was good fun albeit gusty, now we've got nothing!

LostInLondon - thanks for the pointers. I've set up plenty of boards but it's possible i just need to tweak the setup a bit. My knees are definitely moving out over my toes when i bend them with my current setup so i don't think i've got anything dramatically wrong. It took my GF laying into me about the physio to get me to go. The advice i've got from the physio (Richmond Sports Physio - Church St) so far seems solid and at least i know there's no significant permanent damage yet.

koma said...

INTHELOOP said...

Chris prolly has a Momentum as well, if not just hit up Ewan he rides them and will be happy for you to demo his board.
You just gotta try all the boards and see what you like best.
BTW personally i liked the NHP 2009 134cm best of all the 666s. Fast and no gimmicks.
cheers

I completely forgot that Ewan rides a Momentum! Muahaha.
St K is a good place to test boards as the conditions are everything from butter flat, nasty multi-directional chop & slop, and a little bit of swell out the back.
Now we just need some consistent wind in Melbourne. Last weekend was good fun albeit gusty, now we've got nothing!

LostInLondon - thanks for the pointers. I've set up plenty of boards but it's possible i just need to tweak the setup a bit. My knees are definitely moving out over my toes when i bend them with my current setup so i don't think i've got anything dramatically wrong. It took my GF laying into me about the physio to get me to go. The advice i've got from the physio (Richmond Sports Physio - Church St) so far seems solid and at least i know there's no significant permanent damage yet.

Good to hear mate - at the end of the day you are carrying an injury and there is no board which will help you cure your injury. That will only be achieved through rehab and training. You're definitely a better rider than me, but maybe you need someone to watch you and comment on your technique? Even Warnie had to change his technique after his shoulder gave out... Sportspeople change their methods all the time when they find what they are doing is damaging them.

Koma, the Momentum is a great board, but, the best 2 I have found for my wrecked (replacement candidate) knee are the Cardboards FR and the North Jaime. Both a pleasure to ride and both smooth out the bumps and take the hurt away.