Has anyone been able to compare the 2012 North X Ride vs. 2012 Crazyfly Shox Custom? I understand they are both really good in chop. How do they perform in flat water? Which one is better as an allround freeride board?

Can only comment on 134 North X Ride which having 2.5 years use and loved it in waves and especially at my home site renown for it choppy conditions. Flat water was a dream. Easy carve good all rounder.GB

Thanks a lot for your comment.

Me:

A few too many pies at 85kgs

I like freeride downwinders, boosting and wave riding (and pina coladas ).

Demo-ed the 2012 136 X-ride on the other day on a 4km downwinder with small waves.

Unfortunately the wind on the day was poxy and around 15-18kts at best

Having said that, although I was a bit caught out on my 9m Nano (super good low end for a 9m) the X-ride surprised me and got going very well in the dud winds for a 136 x 40cm board. I really expected to be teabagging but the board did well.

Wish I had the chance to try in better winds but my impression was over all very good all the same.

Fins (North 5.3 FR style?) are a winner. I expected them to be tricky to break out when switching from natural-toeside-natural, as i like to on wave mush faces at times. Not really. Just the right amount of extra grip accross the wave, but not too tricky to transistion etc. Noice

Pulled in tips and tail shape feels great. Personally I have always loved this style tips on boards. You may sacrifice a tiny bit of low end (but the X-ride surprised me in low end anyway) but the pay-off is better tracking/wave riding.

In comparison I tried the 136 x 41 Cardboard FR (in stronger winds) a day or so before and it was a very nice board for freeriding, but with such wide tips it had a definite tendancy to 'pop out' on a heavy slash.

The X-Ride tracks better and more confidently. I also tried the Airush X-over a couple of seasons ago (so not entirely a fair comparison but aimed at same riders all the same) and there was no way they were remotely in the same ball park.

The X-ride has really nice pads. To be honest after getting the shop speil (nice one Todd ) I thought they looked a bit over engineered and fussy. Well, I'm happy to be wrong and they felt the comfiest pads - above and below the foot - I have had for some time. Nice, and if you can't get them to fit your feet - something is wrong with your feet!

Board flex, ride through chop and landing etc felt promising but winds were well below my preferance for 22-30 kts.

There is almost no bottom concave and that had me wondering.. Goes against the grain and unlike any board I have ridden for years. Really wish I had the op to fang in higher winds. Impression was it would be a ripper!