Hi had a few sessions on a cab custom 2014 144x44 after coming off an old crazyfly. I'm 95kg and have been struggling on the board because of the high rocker, seem to always be fighting the board to go upwind. Board can land soft and at any angle tho which was good.Thinking I should have got a mid rocker freestyle board rather then a wakestyle one as am just doing sent jumps and bankrolls. My old board just seems so much more comfortable to ride and goes upwind so well from 15 kts. Thinking maybe xenon laluz anyone recommend them and a size? Or should I just keep fighting the custom hoping my sessions will be overpowered?

yeah bud Luluz are great , Im 65kg using 132luluz . Keep the custom for flat water bliss.

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littlewing said..
Hi had a few sessions on a cab custom 2014 144x44 after coming off an old crazyfly. I'm 95kg and have been struggling on the board because of the high rocker, seem to always be fighting the board to go upwind. Board can land soft and at any angle tho which was good.Thinking I should have got a mid rocker freestyle board rather then a wakestyle one as am just doing sent jumps and bankrolls. My old board just seems so much more comfortable to ride and goes upwind so well from 15 kts. Thinking maybe xenon laluz anyone recommend them and a size? Or should I just keep fighting the custom hoping my sessions will be overpowered?

Try the new Cabrinha Ace. It is in between Custom and XCaliber. I am 100kg and use 139x42.

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littlewing said..
Hi had a few sessions on a cab custom 2014 144x44 after coming off an old crazyfly. I'm 95kg and have been struggling on the board because of the high rocker, seem to always be fighting the board to go upwind. Board can land soft and at any angle tho which was good.Thinking I should have got a mid rocker freestyle board rather then a wakestyle one as am just doing sent jumps and bankrolls. My old board just seems so much more comfortable to ride and goes upwind so well from 15 kts. Thinking maybe xenon laluz anyone recommend them and a size? Or should I just keep fighting the custom hoping my sessions will be overpowered?

Is it the Custom CBL or the regular Custom? I rode the regular custom (136cm) a lot last year and found it was fine going upwind when nicely powered, didn't have to be overpowered at all. This is with fins and without also used with straps and boots. The CBL however is definitely a lot slower and harder to stay upwind if even slightly underpowered.

What is your biggest kite?

Hmm, I weigh the same as you and ride wakestyle. I'd say if your riding a 12m your on the low end on the power zone at 15knts, you might have found it a lot easier if the wind was 18knts. Wake style boards require some decent power to stay up wind. The custom out of all the wake style boards has probably the most rocker. After demoing the custom and some other wake style boards, I chose the 142 Tona pop. If you get the chance check out the Pop and Flow.

Is it fair to say you are riding 140+ to compensate for the upwind/planing factor? And is this something people have overcome with experience and style adjustment?
I ride moneyshot but dont like fins so just use the thin little sliver fins. Most people ride the board and struggle with the lack of edge, but I ride upwind as good as the next guy, I assume I have adjusted stance etc and overcome this factor.
the 2014 custom looks less rockered than the 13 as well this might help?

Ps 2015 is fugly.

Thanks, I ride a 12m rally normally love the kite and kite se qld but find I need to be lit to go upwind well on the custom (not CBl) and find I'm constantly trying to fight the board and as soon as you jump the fight starts all over again. Soft to land and forgiving if the angles not great but not a comfy board when riding around heading back upwind and I've tried all stance widths. Hopped on mates 135 misfit and felt much better then even the 144 custom. Custom just feels slidey on the very curved outline and tried fair few sessions now. Think I should have gone a more mid rocker board something more then my 138 crazyfly all round but less then the custom. Or maybe bigger then 25 mm fins but dont think that will change the feel of the board that i need to fight it. Don't see myself doing much more then unhooked raileys and back rolls so a more comfortable mid rocker board may be the go, anyone got recommendations on board and length? Thanks, you may see my custom on buy and sell in good cond only 4 sessions from new bought like a month ago

Exactly right. If you go smaller the board will sit deeper in the water, less water contact to surface of board for buoyancy thus requiring more power to get up and riding. You also run the risk of getting pulled off your edge in gusty winds. Some of the guys in the scoop have posted some board rocker sizes if you want to consider some boards inbetween http://kitescoop.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10332

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littlewing said..
Thanks, I ride a 12m rally normally love the kite and kite se qld but find I need to be lit to go upwind well on the custom (not CBl) and find I'm constantly trying to fight the board and as soon as you jump the fight starts all over again. Soft to land and forgiving if the angles not great but not a comfy board when riding around heading back upwind and I've tried all stance widths. Hopped on mates 135 misfit and felt much better then even the 144 custom. Custom just feels slidey on the very curved outline and tried fair few sessions now. Think I should have gone a more mid rocker board something more then my 138 crazyfly all round but less then the custom. Or maybe bigger then 25 mm fins but dont think that will change the feel of the board that i need to fight it. Don't see myself doing much more then unhooked raileys and back rolls so a more comfortable mid rocker board may be the go, anyone got recommendations on board and length? Thanks, you may see my custom on buy and sell in good cond only 4 sessions from new bought like a month ago

Hey mate. If you're finding that board a handful to get upwind, I would look at the 141 XCaliber. I ran two boards last year, a CBL for windy/choppy conditions, and an XCal for flat/lighter conditions. This worked really well and you'll notice a pretty big difference in upwind ability. I find there is a technique to riding high rocker boards in lighter conditions. It's harder for sure but not impossible. I'd look at the XCal though for sure, should be a better fit for you.

hi thanks for the replies going to try once more on the weekend with the narrowest stance to see if my stance is a little more comfortable if its still a power hog/i still suck at it i will be putting it up for sale and looking for a more versatile/freeride board with mid rocker rather then a more wake orientated board. Thanks for the board suggestions.

Anyone know if a 138 laluz would be big enough ive heard the rocker is not quite as extreme and a bit more of a versatile board? A 138x43 crazyfly allround was my normal board and gets me going from 15kts thats why i thought the 144x44 custom would compensate with the longer size but the rocker just seems too extreme, a mate who is same level but lighter loves the 144 custom. Will see if i can demo a few boards, xcal like drury suggested maybe even a cab tronic? If anyone else similar weight kiting 15/25kts most of the time has any more suggestions would be good cause seems like i got it wrong before.