Rider: 70kg, advanced
Style: Wake, Freestyle
Weather: windy
Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfaction: 10/10
disclosure: shop rider but in no way specific to this brand

I have ridden almost every board out there looking for the perfect combination to suit boots for kiting and after riding last years cardboard tempo I was more than content. But I decided to try the new north gambler thanks to aks and am in love with it.
Pros:
-I usually ride a 139 wakeboard but found most kiteboards this size feel to big for my tiny frame. But this board feels surprisingly smaller when under foot and still can rocket upwind where I would struggle on the 135 tempo.
-I found the rocker perfect for smooth landings but not overdone as to take away from the boards upwind ability.
-It looks mint with the new graphics and green/black base and its not to overdone like some of the other products in the north range that make a straight man look gay
-Very solid and durable construction
-Has really smooth edges that wont catch for slider action and the combination of them and the outline provide a really predictable ride.
-Handles choppy conditions alot better than so many other boards I have tried this and last year, with minimal spray to the face.
-Its a very light board even with the bidings on it and would weigh as much as most strap boards, popping off the water so well I almost got caught out a few times on my first woodies sesh!
-The small fins that come with still provide enough grip when edging or loading but also allow u to slide the board around when u have under rotated the trick or misjudged the landing.

Cons:
It took a solid 2hour session and alot of fiddling to find the my proffered stance as the combination of the sliding inserts and the adjustable bindings makes it hard to reference where your boots are placed on the board.
Also took me a while to size down the perfect screw length for my boots but have got it sorted now... I use the newest version of the ronix kai boots

Thanks Abel. I've been waiting for more reviews on this board. It seems nobody is going to have one for demo.

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong but I haven't been able to find one to try.

Yeah I recon a demo is out of the question cause aks is the only retail shop to bring a few in.
Ur welcome to try mine when I get back to Perth next wkend..

Hi Apatheticend,

I'd love to put one into demo, but this board suits such a small number of riders and we only have a few in to sell that we just can't afford to put 25% of our stock into demo for such a niche crew, sorry. It's the same with most niche boards such as Team Series, Select and such. No doubt the size we select would also only suit a couple of riders of the niche so we just can't please everyone.

I brought the boards in because I liked the design of the board and liked it's appeal to be a good park/cable/wake/kiteboard. Maybe that's why it's called the Gambler, you need to take a gamble .... as I did.

Hook up with Abe on his return is the best I can offer.

DM

Interesting that you found the Tempo hard to go upwind. I had an extra set of inserts put in my Tempo towards the heel side from the standard. Feels easier to get the weight onto the edge and get cranking upwind - Tempos are pretty wide.

What's the base construction look like for sliders?

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1likeBJ said...


What's the base construction look like for sliders?

The bottom is a bit like the P-Tex bottom but tougher, rails are softened just slightly to allow for imperfections in the rail so you don't catch a rail and faceplant.

Drop in and have a look if you like. It's a tough lookin' board

Dm

Really?? North have released a board called the 'Gambler'. Pretty sure Wainman have that name for one of their boards already. Perhaps someone at North can grab a dictionary and find a name nobody else is using. What happened to originality?

pretty sure iv seen them in wa surf??? theyd have demo boards

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doonut said...

pretty sure iv seen them in wa surf??? theyd have demo boards

yeah I found that out yesterday...

I didnt say the tempo was hard to go upwind on just not as easy as the gambler!
I do agree for boots the smaller sizes needed extra inserts to give a wider stance

nice Review Abel. Any photos?
2012 will be the year of boots and Gamblers..

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doonut said...

pretty sure iv seen them in wa surf??? theyd have demo boards

Phil Said he wasn't going to get one in for demo last time I spoke to him. If that's changed I'm stoked.