Rider: 80kgs advanced
Style: Freeriding, Freestyle
Weather: 12-15 knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: Nil

My Comments: Bought this board yesterday without having test ridden it prior - and coming off a very stiff, smaller freestyle board (131 by 40)

Tested the 134x40 in light winds with the medium sized fin ( around 45 ). With that sized fin, the board was slippy enough for me to spin from heelside to toeside and back again all day long as slow as I wanted without any of fins catching enough water to do something. If you want to track a little straighter and not slide so much - I would go the larger fins.... I imaging it would ride like a board with no fins if it was smaller.

Footpads seem comfy - a little tricky to extend by hand but I found you have to shove your foot in there and lift up and down while holding the velcro perfectly in line with the gap - or else it catches and no size change. board is very light for it's size, board offs should be no issue. So far only in light winds - but the tip flex + board length meant no spray in the eyes, and it rides very smoothly through the chop. and goes upwind well also.

I won't comment on the pop until I get a chance to try a few different pop techniques, and my foot pads break in, I was a little too underpowered on the 12 to really do any popping.

In summary - nice board, soft, cruizy, slidy,light, so far good on landings.

Thanks for the review. Good tip on the pad & strap system too. Mark's done a fair bit of testing and they think those 43mm fins are the best allround, sounds good!

Looking forward to part 2 Appreciate you waiting to comment on the pop instead of just throwing something random/generic in.

Went out again, this time 18-22kts, board has good high speed ability- I was unable to overpower it in those wind conditions, soft landings and medium loaded up pops no problems, still need footpads to settle more before I can really throw it around ... So far very nice