I'm looking for a big air twin top that can also handle a bit of freestyle and is not too uncomfortable for riding in the usual choppy bay swell I get.

I am thinking of the north Atmos or similar. Is this any good? Any other ideas?

Also is it passable to use a big air board such as the Atmos as a kind of poor man's light wind twintip? I'm a bit cash strapped and can't afford two boards (ie a big air and a lightwind twintip) but if the big air board is also a fast board I'm wondering if it can work light wind too?

I went through that recently, my final top 3 was between the airush apex team, the crazyfly raptor extreme and the duotone jamie SLS (I'm not ready to spend 2k+ on a carve imperator).
I did a demo of the apex and the raptor (gave up on the jamie because it was a fair bit more expensive), both were good, ended up going with the raptor because there was a 30% discount on it at the time so the price was a few hundred bucks lower plus it's bright red making it easier to see when I lose my board.

If there wasn't that price difference, I would have scratched my head for a while to make my choice, as the sensations were pretty close.

I don't think any big air board would be good for lightwind as you usually want a board on the smaller size for big air (easier to hold your edge overpowered, and better pop), and for lightwind you mainly want a bigger board.

I would not be considering a big air board for light wind
Rather buy a board for your average conditions.
And make a board for light winds. There are plenty of plans and methods for making a plywood board. You don't really need high performance concave and shapes for a light wind board just surface area and a small rocker

Nobile NHP is an excellent board for both styles and conditions.
It's fast, can munch chop and land freestyle big air moves easily on the knees..
Don't forget - king of air guys are on freestyle boards Not short flat water speed boards..

I think Aron Hadlow got the biggest jump 34m in the Euro cold Hawaii big air comp on a Duo Tone Dice and freestyle board..

Mainly he was on a 9m kite in 50kn, and there were small waves as kickers, I don't think the board had much to do in his record.

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LePhasme said..
Mainly he was on a 9m kite in 50kn, and there were small waves as kickers, I don't think the board had much to do in his record.

and that just answers the question - its skill that gets you going big, anything will work if you know how to.
Did Kevin ride a speed TT or XR kite when he won 3 years in a row - No

Yeh but who here will ever be at Hadlows or Kevin's level ? So gear is more important for us. Don't use pros to make a point. It's pointless. Vouch for the Nobile NHP - although she is a heavyish board. Which can be useful.

Something a little narrower and a bit smaller than usual will help you boost big when the wind is strong.

My latest board is a North focus which I am finding just a tiny bit too wide in the tips to get the amount of edge that I want when overpowered, but in saying that I got a new PB on it the other day. Been eyeing up my mates atmos which I probably should have gone with.... narrower in the tips, guys getting good scores on them. The focus good for general free riding and stuff as well though, so a good purchase. Would recommend either. If you got the extra cash go for the carbon option for a stiffer ride, the hybrid is a bit too flexy for my liking however I think Jesse took the 2020 KOTA on the focus hybrid

Most of the recent freeride, quad concave boards will have a wide wind range, go one size larger. Sty away from Freestyle boards if you want lighter wind performance.

The North Atmos looks very similar to the Cabrinha Ace.

I was given a 139 Ace Carbon, badly cracked, repaired it out of curiosity, rode it on the bay...Super impressed with this board... just bit a too stiff for me.

Anyone tried the Ozone Torque V2?

Hi all , hoping someone might be able to recommend a new board for me. Currently riding a liberty axis , 145 x45 ( I'm 195cm ,95 kg) last season I started doing some decent jumps and landed a few back rolls etc so hoping to build on that this season. It did feel like the board was too heavy so just wondering what board/ size I should look at next ?

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Madda said..
Hi all , hoping someone might be able to recommend a new board for me. Currently riding a liberty axis , 145 x45 ( I'm 195cm ,95 kg) last season I started doing some decent jumps and landed a few back rolls etc so hoping to build on that this season. It did feel like the board was too heavy so just wondering what board/ size I should look at next ?

That would vastly depend on your targeted wind range. For example, if you plan on focusing on a wind range of 25+ knots then you would benefit from going to a MUCH smaller and narrower board i.e. 133-136cm - Yes even at 95kg. If your target wind range is around 20-25 knots, then you shouldn't be going too small and maybe go for 138-140cm. If the wind range is around 15-20 knots then your current board size is ideal. With a good technique you can still do decent jumps on a larger board (i.e. 145cm) provided you are not overpowered.

High performance carbon boards such as the Airush Apex Team V7 that LePhasme mentioned above weighs in just a tad over 3kg fully kitted with straps on.

If you can demo boards that would be your best option. Not sure where you're located but feel free to contact me if you're in Perth and want to try some Airush boards.

Christian - KiteBud

Appreciate the response and offer mate! Yeah I tend to go when it's at-least 19-20knkts. With my biggest (12m) I struggle with anything under 18knots.

I will look at getting something slightly smaller than my current one, I'm sure even the slightest difference in size/weight would make a big difference

Surprisingly, no one has asked the most relevant question. What are the water conditions you are riding in? This massively changes the recommendations for boards.

Usually, big air is done in strong powered to over powered conditions, so sea state is absolutely critical in determining the best board for jumping XL. If you ride somewhere like Augusta river, Woodies beach 3, or The Pond, then a medium flex and medium to low rocketed board that can hold speed is the goods, a single concave would work best in these conditions. if you ride at a location with small waves and clean smooth water in between like Dongara, then similar applies. However, if you ride where the water is rough or choppy, the best board would be something with a bit more rocker, a soft flex and a fast single concave with thin rails. Ultimate jump height is determined by the release from the water and the control at speed one second before the jump. The soft flex gives control to setup the edge at high speed. Control is everything! Freestyle boards are terrible in chop. Go a Shinn Monk or Duotone Select standard model, you don't need Carbon. We have demo boards available from all our suppliers. My big air weapons of choice this season?Flysurfer Soul 2, 10m with Flysurfer Radical 138. Send it!
DM

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hosh said..
Anyone tried the Ozone Torque V2?

Yeah I got a V2, the quad concave grips the water and really let's you load up, my legs know about it after a session, one hitch is if you hit the edge hard on anything solid it may peal

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Rootesy said..

hosh said..
Anyone tried the Ozone Torque V2?

Yeah I got a V2, the quad concave grips the water and really let's you load up, my legs know about it after a session, one hitch is if you hit the edge hard on anything solid it may peal

Ozone has a 2 yr warranty on all their products, any that have peeled (only a few did it, they were early production ones) have been replaced no questions asked.
But if you bang your board down hard on the tips on a hard surface (any brand) thats not going to be covered by warranty. Its still fixable with some super glue or good epoxy and some sanding but no board will survive being dropped or banged hard on a tip.

Great board for grip, even in choppy conditions.

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ActionSportsWA said..
.......We have demo boards available from all our suppliers. My big air weapons of choice this season?Flysurfer Soul 2, 10m with Flysurfer Radical 138. Send it!
DM

Hey DM, may I ask about your jumps with the FS Soul2? I am thinking of getting the 12m (was going for the 15m but everyone up here reckons it's too big for me being only over 82kg, even in 15knots). My question is, do you loop it much when jumping or is it "made" for parachuting back down? I am not afraid to loop, but I won't if it's a foil kite (currently looping SS Fuel only). Just curious how it handles jumps and if it's easier to land using the Soul2 rather than a LEI. Cheers

V2= big air, sorry I forgot to mention the Ozone Torque V2 is by far the best board I have ridden, I have been boosting for 20 years now and the grip level of this board is through the roof, all I do is big air and I love the V2 the load and control you can hold in overpowered conditions is awesome and it cuts through chop like a hot knife through butter, thanks Ozone truly awesome board, I agree with you and true to your word you did replace mine so cheers. 10/10 as a big air board, just ride one.

The Axis Carbon is quite good and blazingly fast. I've hit over 37kts on it.

If your ramping into kickers and using waves to launch, the faster you can survive the ramp, the higher you will go. Does depend on the conditions, but that board is very comfortable going fast in small chop.
If the waves are stopping you from getting up to speed and are too tightly packed together- pick any board you won't be jumpting too high.

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NorthernKitesAUS said..

Hey DM, may I ask about your jumps with the FS Soul2? I am thinking of getting the 12m (was going for the 15m but everyone up here reckons it's too big for me being only over 82kg, even in 15knots). My question is, do you loop it much when jumping or is it "made" for parachuting back down? I am not afraid to loop, but I won't if it's a foil kite (currently looping SS Fuel only). Just curious how it handles jumps and if it's easier to land using the Soul2 rather than a LEI. Cheers

Hey mate,

Sorry, I don't get the chance to hang around on SB forums these days. The Flysurfer Soul 2 is different to ride than a tube kite of course. You can absolutely loop them for continued loft and soft landings. I tend not to as I am concerned about buggering my knees on a hot fast landing in very choppy water. If I was on flat water, different story. The Soul 2, 10m that I fly is very easy to jump but the technique is slightly different to the tube kite. You get more power from it often by sheeting it out a bit and allowing it to run with speed which creates the apparent wind and subsequent power. You can allow it to overfly you a fair way before looping it with a heli loop to parachute you down.

The size thing: I know that at 20 knots at 90 kilo's its getting really powered on a 12m. Running shorter lines allows an increased top end but for big air, I wouldn't go much bigger than the 10m due to its speed and turning circle. The 12m is indeed a beast and pulls like a truck.

Although this clip is a Sonic3, the Soul2 is even easier quicker and more forgiving than the Sonic3.

Never mind the board u need a woo ????

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NorthernKitesAUS said.
Hey DM, may I ask about your jumps with the FS Soul2? I am thinking of getting the 12m (was going for the 15m but everyone up here reckons it's too big for me being only over 82kg, even in 15knots). My question is, do you loop it much when jumping or is it "made" for parachuting back down? I am not afraid to loop, but I won't if it's a foil kite (currently looping SS Fuel only). Just curious how it handles jumps and if it's easier to land using the Soul2 rather than a LEI. Cheers

Just adding - if you want to throw real loop, megaloops... its the 7 or 8m Souls that you want.
You mention 15 knots and the 12m Soul 2, Heli loop yes but near death experience if you try a real loop...
Landings on the 12m foil can be feather soft if you time it correctly..
Your SS fuel would probably be close to the 7m soul in the midrange so you really need 2 different kites...

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Rootesy said..
V2= big air, sorry I forgot to mention the Ozone Torque V2 is by far the best board I have ridden, I have been boosting for 20 years now and the grip level of this board is through the roof, all I do is big air and I love the V2 the load and control you can hold in overpowered conditions is awesome and it cuts through chop like a hot knife through butter, thanks Ozone truly awesome board, I agree with you and true to your word you did replace mine so cheers. 10/10 as a big air board, just ride one.

Had the V2 for a couple of weeks now. I agree with your comments Re grip and load it does perform extremely well. I've come off years on the Duotone Select the transition to this board was quick as. Moved the bindings from the inside to the centre holes and couldn't believe the difference in the way it handles. Very configurable depending on how you want to ride. Next tweek will be the widest stance and see how that goes. I'm assuming even more grip with the extra weight on the rear.

Early days ATM, both great boards for boosting but I feel the edge control this board has puts in above the select. Now I need a supermodel to complete the package. Got a friend with this setup and his16.4 meters is good jump inho.