I'm buying a surfboard and need some advice on what to go for. I've shortlisted

Shinn Duke
North Whip (or perhaps the Wam)
F One Signature

The Whip 5'8 is in pole position, seems to be a good all rounder. Its got volume, width, 4 fin set up and should be good in small to medium waves. Signature is a little heavy. Duke is brand new design so untested and so not sure how tough these will be.

The board will be used along the coasts of Sydney, so average waves. I weigh 92k and although I like riding powered up, I intend to learn how to use the power of the wave more.

Any constructive advice, considerations or recommendations gracefully received, thanks!

Hey mate,

ive been riding the WAM for the last year.

Great board, bit straighter outline then the Whip.
and has the 5 fin option.

To be honest if you like being powered up and like long fast turns id go the WAM.

the whip is for mushy small tight turning surf.

Im currently riding the Xsurf, which is a blown up 5'11 WHIP.
The WAM is far better for powered surfing.

The north construction is amazing. my old WAM, looked brand new after a whole year of riding it.

try some if you can.

3 very different boards my friend, so you are not comparing apples with apples.

Shinn is closed to twin tip riding and (furtherest away from surfboard shape)
Whip is all rounder
Signature is more good surf orientated

Based on what you said however (and the typically average Sydney waves - no offense intended as I from the home of poor metropolitan waves) Whip might be best option, especially as a starter.

I wouldnt worry too much about trying before you buy as it will take a few weeks to get used to your new board, what feels good on test may not be good after 3 weeks. Sure do it but dont let it be your only decision point

Think more about how and where you see yourself riding and choose a board to suit you and the conditions.

Sounds like you are thinking of buying new as well. Better advice might be to buy 2 boards second hand rather than expect 1 board to do everything. This is simply an impossible dream (ie like performance v fuel economy).

And remember what Gandhi said "The more toys have the better person you are!"

Try grab a demo of them and see which one suits you the best.
The signature and the duke are big wave tri fin boards whereas the whip is a small wave cruncher, so it will probably compliment your riding in small-medium waves.

for a 5'8" at 92kg, definitely demo this first to see how it feels.
might be fine fully powered up, but once the power drops or the wind is light might not be enough float?

Im 90-95kgs and ride a 6' Wam. They are great with 5 finbox option. I reckon they best as a thruster setup as quads feel draggy - which i think is because of decent tail rocker. Sensational board but at my weight i need to be powered up.

I think the whip is too small for someone your weight. Go the Wam.

Thanks for the feedback guys. About the Whip 5'8 versus the Wam; I was told that the Wam is concave & less wide, so less volume. Apparently a 92kilo rider would need a 6ft Wam, or a 5'8 Whip. I guess what it comes down to is what waves I'll be riding in. Wam is an all rounder & more suited to medium sized waves, the Whip is for small waves conditions...

As I'm moving to Sydney, I'd say the waves are small near the shorebreak to medium a fw hundred yards out in some of the kite spots. Is that a fair assessment?

Anyone here ride on an F One surf board? They look damn sexy.

i rode a friends wam set up with the quad fins, and I really liked the board. But, the board didn't flex like the surfboard I was riding at the time (Hayden Flexfoil which I picked up 2nd and had seen better days but really loved!!!) and from a surfing background the wam felt stiff. Still, in the short time I rode it I enjoyed it.
Recently I purchased a 6'1 zennon vidra, (I am 80kilos give or take a taco) and have found this board to be quite sensational. Much softer flex, so as I crank hard on a rail it curves more like a surf board and has the little rebound afterwards that I like so much in a conventional surfboard. (the wam is a fair bit stiffer in that regards) 18 inches wide, 1 7/8 thick. A very nice board that I am finding that it can work well in small onshore crap and excels in bigger and better surf. Single concave, nice little tail lift, rounded pin tail. If you can demo one, they are worth a look...

Anyone know anything about the Shinn Duke: http://www.shinnworld.com/site/boards/board/72/The+Duke.htm

I need to place an order for a surf board this week, and am still undecided. Local surfshop is urging me towards the 5'8 Whip, SB forum advice for NSW at my weigh is a North WAM 6ft.

Shinn Duke looks tasty. And the F-One Signature is liked, too.

Cant test ride them... cant make up my mind.

i got a north x-surf and after two strapless sessions theres a heel ding already? but the board does go good

They all suck for surfing, if you want to get a surfboard for kiting, buy a surfboard, not a heavy, epoxy board with straps and no flex.

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DutchRooster said...

Anyone know anything about the Shinn Duke

There are a few reports by people who sell them.

This comment by a customer (Ade G) in England.

"I have just taken delivery of a 5'6", was out in west cumbria last Sat & Sun with it, beautiful board, turns really quick, tried both with & without straps, haven't got used to the shinn straps yet as they are broader than the dakines on my other board which seems to make it a bit harder changing feet when jibing but absolutely love the board.Strapless is perfect, waves were small but great for getting to grips with strapless riding."

A report in German on the 5' 10" quad fin.

gleiten.tv/index.php/video/video/action/view/v/96/?SGL_CMS_SESSID=bbqd2fq5j9836bt2131620u7a1&;/1/

yo dutch,my mates been riding on surfboards for 8 years reckons the duke is the nicest board hes ridden i was out the point watching him tonight at our local wave spot , he was ripping it up ,hes been on the board for approx a month in some pretty harsh conditions we get here and the board is unmarked , check out the video on shinnworld

i'm 95kg and have a 5'5" whip. plenty of float.

Thanks for the feedback lads. Coin toss between the Duke and Whip. Will let you know what I end up with and how I get on!

Was in the same boat, trying a surf board for the first time this year and looking for something that would suit small to medium sloppy conditions. After trying a few including the underground kipuna and the cabrinha squad I have settled on the north whip 5.5

This board was like chalk and cheese, felt like I had been using it for years as soon as I stepped onto it, now if only I could jybe the thing...

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Smithy said...

I have settled on the north whip 5.5

How much do you weigh? Cheers

I have to recommend the Shinn Duke it's has to be the best surfboard for kiting yet. Rides great strapless, they havn't skimped on the onstruction like some other brands.... the extra weight is great as it wont blow away in jumps.

Sorry thought I had included that, 80kg dry

i've got dodgy knees, and the Kipuna 5'8" is just terrific in shorebreak slop like you get in Perth. Turns on sixpence. There's probably better boards out there, but probably not if your knees are on the way out. If there's another good one that's good for your knees, give me a squeal.

Dazza

i recently watched an article on mark shinn, he openly admitted his board isnt for everyone but if the conditions are, and your riding style is, then its the one,the worlds top 30 surfers dont use the same surfboards so surely its a matter of preference, refreshing to see someone not pimping his own brand, so ill pimp it for him, wicked boards,

I am 90 kgs and purchased a secondhand 6' thruster off ebay , put some straps on and it has been an awesome kite board. Nice cheap way to add a surfboard to your kit. I chose a board with fin boxes so i can change the fins around depending on the conditions.

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Paul1 said...

They all suck for surfing, if you want to get a surfboard for kiting, buy a surfboard, not a heavy, epoxy board with straps and no flex.

i dunno what kite board you've been riding but my new WAM is lighter then my polyester surfboard.

The North Xsurf does actually sure pretty good for a "kite board".

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JBFletch said...

Paul1 said...

They all suck for surfing, if you want to get a surfboard for kiting, buy a surfboard, not a heavy, epoxy board with straps and no flex.

i dunno what kite board you've been riding but my new WAM is lighter then my polyester surfboard.

The North Xsurf does actually sure pretty good for a "kite board".

Your polyester board must be glassed very heavy then. My surfboards weigh just over 2kgs and all the kite surfboards I have seen weigh around 3.5kgs to over 4kgs. Why ride something that surfs good for a kite board, just ride a surfboard.....

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Paul1 said...

JBFletch said...

Paul1 said...

They all suck for surfing, if you want to get a surfboard for kiting, buy a surfboard, not a heavy, epoxy board with straps and no flex.

i dunno what kite board you've been riding but my new WAM is lighter then my polyester surfboard.

The North Xsurf does actually sure pretty good for a "kite board".

Your polyester board must be glassed very heavy then. My surfboards weigh just over 2kgs and all the kite surfboards I have seen weigh around 3.5kgs to over 4kgs. Why ride something that surfs good for a kite board, just ride a surfboard.....

The problem is with standard boards is that they just get destroyed. I have never ridden straps and I managed to put so many heel dents in my standard surfboard it looked like an egg carton within a season.

I switched to the North WAM 5,10" and I am 95kg 187cm. Love it....really fun board to ride and you can certainly throw it around in the small stuff, yet it holds a good edge in the bigger stuff.

Apart from carrying it to the water, I am not even aware of the weight. I have been riding it for two seasons now.

BUT.. it is stiff (ie tough, durable etc), you don't get the same flex as a standard surfboard. But it's hard to get it all.

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dafish said...

i rode a friends wam set up with the quad fins, and I really liked the board. But, the board didn't flex like the surfboard I was riding at the time (Hayden Flexfoil which I picked up 2nd and had seen better days but really loved!!!) and from a surfing background the wam felt stiff. Still, in the short time I rode it I enjoyed it.
Recently I purchased a 6'1 Xenon vidra, (I am 80kilos give or take a taco) and have found this board to be quite sensational. Much softer flex, so as I crank hard on a rail it curves more like a surf board and has the little rebound afterwards that I like so much in a conventional surfboard. (the wam is a fair bit stiffer in that regards) 18 inches wide, 1 7/8 thick. A very nice board that I am finding that it can work well in small onshore crap and excels in bigger and better surf. Single concave, nice little tail lift, rounded pin tail. If you can demo one, they are worth a look...

I own the board (WAM) in Dafish's post above. I gave his Xenon a quick go and I agree 100%, it has that same surfboard feel and flex. It's a nice board. Time will tell if it holds up to the stresses, but half a season down and it still looks new (and he is far from easy on his boards ).

I am impressed and will certainly be having a closer look at Xenon at the end of the season.

If you are prepared to compromise on performance for durability then buy a kite specific surfboard, but they are very expensive. Fortunately my mate shapes boards, so I can get 3 boards for the price of a North Wam, most people should be able to buy 2. Personally, I would prefer 2 different size surfboards to 1 North Wam. If you go the standard surfboard and don't like heel dents, get your shaper to chuck a 6oz patch on the deck.

I suppose Paul that some people want a board that lasts, will jump with straps etc. Not so worried about the performance aspect and probably just glad to nail a couple of turns on a wave anyway.

Yes PU is cheap and I have a 5'9" which I paid $120 for. But I've lost fin plugs, got massive heal dents, lost the nose and the thing will snap sooner rather than later. Plus it's old PU so the flex/feel isn't really there anymore anyway!

No point harping on about how everyone should ride PU boards because it really won't suit everyone who wants to ride a directional.

Harping on? Personally I would call it friendly advice to help people that don't want to waste money on premium brand kite surfboards, that are a rip off. I don't ride PU boards, I ride stringerless, custom epoxy boards, that have the same flex as a PU board and similar strength to a kite surfboard, without the weight and lack of flex issues. Buying a garbage PU board for $120 is pretty pointless, unless you are a complete beginner.

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Paul1 said...

Harping on? Personally I would call it friendly advice to help people that don't want to waste money on premium brand kite surfboards, that are a rip off. I don't ride PU boards, I ride stringerless, custom epoxy boards, that have the same flex as a PU board and similar strength to a kite surfboard, without the weight and lack of flex issues. Buying a garbage PU board for $120 is pretty pointless, unless you are a complete beginner.

Hey Paul1, tell me more about the flex of the stringerless epoxy boards. I always thought epoxy equalled stiff. (ie no better than the WAM)

I agree with what you are saying in regard to it being a compromise. It is exactly that, I traded performance and feel, for strength and durability.

Who is making good epoxy customs?

Cheers

Placed my order on a North Whip.

Plus 2 Evos an 8m and a 13m. Keeping my Rebel 10m for another season.

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jboz said...
Hey Paul1, tell me more about the flex of the stringerless epoxy boards. I always thought epoxy equalled stiff. (ie no better than the WAM)

I agree with what you are saying in regard to it being a compromise. It is exactly that, I traded performance and feel, for strength and durability.

Who is making good epoxy customs?

The fact that a board is glassed epoxy does not mean it will be stiff, quite the contrary. Many PU or EPS surfboard blanks are now glassed in epoxy, but these look and feel entirely different to the stiff kiteboard/surtech/tufflite boards, and actually look very similar to an ordinary poly glassed surfboard. Just go to your local surf shop and take a look at what's on the rack.

There is a good discussion in the shortboard forum on epoxy:

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Surfing/Shortboards/Glass-jobs-on-JSs-and-Al-Merricks/?page=1