Rider: 85kgs,
Level: intermediate,
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Downwinders
Weather: 15-30 knots
Disclosure: I love ol' school round railed boards and hate typical square ABS rails

Suggestions for a good allround TT - must have rounded rails.

Have been riding LF Proof boards for years and LOVE the way the well rounded rails handle chop, waves and have controlled slide. Only thing i don't like is too much weight and would like more flex for tired ol' knees.

I really don't like sqaure railed boards at all. Even those that have slightly rounded (but essentially still thin and sqaure) rails.

Proof and Jimmy Lewis boards are about all I'm aware of the have truly rounded rails (mid section) and sharper tips.

The rails are curved up on this to give an effect like thicker rails.

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing-Boards/~a1nnc/2012-Underground-Srf-Surf-Twin-Tip-148-cm.aspx

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getfunky said...


Rider: 85kgs,
Level: intermediate,
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Downwinders
Weather: 15-30 knots
Disclosure: I love ol' school round railed boards and hate typical square ABS rails

Suggestions for a good allround TT - must have rounded rails.

Have been riding LF Proof boards for years and LOVE the way the well rounded rails handle chop, waves and have controlled slide. Only thing i don't like is too much weight and would like more flex for tired ol' knees.

I really don't like sqaure railed boards at all. Even those that have slightly rounded (but essentially still thin and sqaure) rails.

Proof and Jimmy Lewis boards are about all I'm aware of the have truly rounded rails (mid section) and sharper tips.

yo funky, get on the shinn monk around 135 for 80 to 90 kgs, if it aint the smoothest board youve ridden ill buy you a carton, disclosure as long as you dont lie, if youre lighter or heavier ill let you do the maths, no affiliation with shinn just trying to stop you wasting money

He tried the monk cauncy didn't gel. Square tips catch compared to say the proof he rides. I understand this after getting on the mako. Still love the monk and nothing loads like it, but Ian's not a big edge loader booster guy like us, he free rides in the surf on the Perth metro beaches. The mako would be much better for this type of riding and I have ridden both. I miss the monk load and pop to boost, but the mako kills it stone dead in the surf. Serious it does. It is also in that smooth spectrum.

Have heard on kiteforum something about a type 3 or something in the jimmy Lewis, can't remember the model.

Actually there is a whole post on free riding boards which makes interesting reading on the kiteforum.

Ah here it is...

kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2379420

I did like the Monk and it's a great board but eppo is right, tips were a tad too wide and it's a little bit too freestyle oriented maybe?

I know it's not fashionable but I do like a longer board with rounded rails and more tapered tips. For me that is the right balance of surface area versus length for good tracking.
I readily concede that TTs like mine don't load up and release for big air anywhere near as good as square railed, wide tip boards.

IMO most peeps (and companies) are obsessed with TTs offering you low end planing in the smallest length possible. Hence too wide generally and in the tips.
For my $$$ the LF Proof 151 old school outline is unreal. I also liked the Cardboards Wave, which has similar dimensions.

BTW - I tried the UG Surf 140. Good suggestion. Nice board but maybe a little too mushy/slidy. The rails are not truly rounded, but rather a sqaure rail rolled up for semi round effect.
The rails on the Surf are rounded up all the way to the end of the tail/tip from memory.
IMO this board would be improved by bringing the rail to a more sharp/flat finish about 15-20cm from the end of the tail (kinda like the Proof - and maybe JL boards?).

Can anyone vouch for the JL MkIII boards? Flex/comfort?

Think I need to get a demo on a Mako 150 or JL MkIII (140?) by the sounds of the KF thread. Ta eppo.

For the record I started on LF Drop 136. Great board! Proof was basically a replacement but the thinned and stiffened the mid section so Proof 141 model was not as good for my weight etc and ended up loving the 151.

BTW - I believe JL shaped the original LF Drop.

Yep 150 mako Ian. Mate of mine just got one. I got the 140 and king so if ya wanna try all three when time frees up come on down buddy.

I had a go on the king and the 140 marko of eppo's.

I can see the king being awesome in bigger surf. If was abit to surfboard slappy in the chop for my liking.

I really did like the 140 such a chuckable little board. but a tad twitchy at speed.

The 150 would probably be my choice. I haven't tried that size.

I found the marko's to be pretty smooth. A little catchy when running foam grind/floater I put that down to the massive concave.

I like my boards to be a little more slidy.

Overall they are awesome off the shelf wave mutant/TT.

Would I buy one? Yes if I didn't make my own boards. I still prefer my own build over the mako's. But lets face it. My board is built for me and my own weird style. So it should be better for my style than any off the shelf board.

Remember Plummett you rode them both with the mutant fins in.

Take those side fins out and she really does ride differently, with more slide as you said. Had an awesome session (two actually) at wedge island set up like this...thing that make this board so good in the waves (for a TT of course) is if you do happen to find a decent wave...it can track very nicely down the line and hold its form. The King is especially good at this...but need good waves and right wind direction.

In-fact the board is better in the surf just as TT for that sliding ability when wanted, but I have the side fins in for load and boosting purposes.

The dude with the 150 will be going TT fins only.

try that. your fins were bigger than whan i use in mine. I still think the sideways slide catchyness was something to do with the concave,,,,,, but the advatage of that was awesome locked in carves on the wave face.

I think i'm going do the track or less grip more wakeskaty they hard out rail grip..... but then when i'm on a massive face i want that grip....

I'll build the skim then i think my next mutant will be small, slidy and chuckable like your marko 140.

try that. your fins were bigger than whan i use in mine.

I still think the sideways slide catchyness was something to do with the concave,,,,,, but the advatage of that was awesome locked in carves on the wave face.

I think i'm going do the track or less grip more wakeskaty they hard out rail grip..... but then when i'm on a massive face i want that grip....



Yeh Have been thinking of dropping fin sizes, don't get the size swell like you do.

And ya probably right about the catchyness...will drop fins, take out the mutant fins and see. But yes locked in carves are awesome on the mako which suites my style...

maybe build in a little less concave me thinks.

well the thing with boards is that theres allways a compromise. make something with better at pop then it suffers in chop. .. make it carve well on the wave face.... perhaps sacrifice upwind....too big and its bulky.. too small and its twitchy.

you always have to rob peter to pay paul....

its an interesting tug of war.

Just had a go on the 150 for the first time. I can see why they say this is the best size for this boards design. It redefines smooth and I was sloppy on shore mush. Ian you have to at least try a 150 before you purchase something else!

is mako number 3 on the way eppo?

Only if I want a divorce! Lol. No at my weight I wouldn't be able to hold down the edge in the winds I ride in. This blokes about your weight, which is about get funkys weight. And I know that Ian prefer longer boards to. The length width and concave are perfect for this size though. But not at easy to chuck around as the 140. Kind of like they say the monks perfect size is the 130 for the design. Just suites it. Can't justify the king, 150 and the 140. Or can I?

sorry funky should of read your post a bit better, check out alkita.fr if this is the kind of shape your looking at then check franz on vimeo franz olry kitesurf corsica, watch how fluid he is around the 5 min mark on the film im seriously thinking of having a board made for these conditions by him, let me know what you reckon, cheers

Hey Cauncy is that the guy who had a custom made board with some mako built in, but less of a concave plus a few other changes. Yeh I think it is. He had a post about it a while back, made for interesting reading.

The Alkita custom boards seem to be designed along the lines of what you want, but I guess they are quite expensive.

I think this is a particularly nice looking one.

I have a JL Mark III. Great board for surf and chop and I reckon still goes ok unhooking. They are pretty stiff though and not really light. I actually really like the dominatrix hull shape - single, deep concave with a flat running down each edge - you'll see what I mean if you take a look at one. Rails are pretty round in middle and quite sharp on ends. You should be able to pick one up pretty cheap. Also there was an Airush Hammer for sale on SB a couple of weeks ago?

Yeh that alkita looks the go hey. Ta for the vid.

Hey BJ,

Yes from what I have seen the JL Model III is basically the same shape as the LF Proof/Drop series. Dominatrix large concave and rails are so good in waves/chop compared to square tipped boards with ABS rails (IMO).

I'd assume slightly better construction and hopefully a tad lighter on the JL tho?




Now those Alkita boards look like the biz!

The dude in that vid rides like I like to (ahem.. maybe a tad better than I tho )

Good to see some shapers go for function over fashion. Do all Franz's boards feature stepped tips? Unfortunately the shaping info page is all in French.


Ta for suggestions folks.

Surely one of the best TT in the waves clips.
http://m.zapiks.fr/oups-creations-kitesurf.html
Marc Gondard does Oups boards out of Samoa/Morocca same design as Franz Olry, I have one, happy to let you guys try it. Kite at Swanbourne, so maybe we could tee something up. Need good seabreeze.

Looks like Marc's site is no longer active? www.oups-creation.com/
Franz may now be the only source?

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getfunky said...
Hey BJ,

Yes from what I have seen the JL Model III is basically the same shape as the LF Proof/Drop series. Dominatrix large concave and rails are so good in waves/chop compared to square tipped boards with ABS rails (IMO).

I'd assume slightly better construction and hopefully a tad lighter on the JL tho?




Now those Alkita boards look like the biz!

The dude in that vid rides like I like to (ahem.. maybe a tad better than I tho )

Good to see some shapers go for function over fashion. Do all Franz's boards feature stepped tips? Unfortunately the shaping info page is all in French.



Yeh that's what I figured when I watched it Ian. That slide thing going on.

Use google translater.

yeah that dude in the vid is full on agressive tt/mutant action in the waves. I like to think i ride a little like that. tho i'm not quite as good dammit.

I think alot of guys that go from tradtional TT straight to SB would miss out of the extra run a wave TT or mutant can provide.

That vid inspires me to make a smaller mutant. for more aggresive powered riding.

im waiting for a reply on cost, soon as i hear back ill let you know, i was put on to these by a mate in the uk who also put me on the shinn monk, hes on a mutant style tt , they are a custom board with your requirements built in, theyve a silly warranty like 5 yrs so he must be confident of the build, my mate says they aint cheap but theyre an unreal ride making pretty average swell and conditions a hoot.

@ Ian.
We have the Mako - all sizes - as well as 1 only JL mk111.
Sounds like its time you dropped in to do some testing.

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cauncy said...
im waiting for a reply on cost, soon as i hear back ill let you know, i was put on to these by a mate in the uk who also put me on the shinn monk, hes on a mutant style tt , they are a custom board with your requirements built in, theyve a silly warranty like 5 yrs so he must be confident of the build, my mate says they aint cheap but theyre an unreal ride making pretty average swell and conditions a hoot.

That's what it comes down to. Perth surf slop is not charging Pipeline, is all over the place and really suited to the boards like JL/Proof etc IMO.

Horses for courses.

Ta for the offer Bermand. : )

Hey Phil - have sent you a msg re: Mako and JL III

Hey funky, let us know what you think after the demo.

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terminal said...
The Alkita custom boards seem to be designed along the lines of what you want, but I guess they are quite expensive.

I think this is a particularly nice looking one.

just heard back from franz, a board shaped to how i want it with graphics is around 1500 not cheap but ill still go with one i think, he gave me a pretty impressive description of how he shapes and uses volumes in his designs, the guy in the video is riding the dark cadillac 138 model , love the way it switches looks effortless, but then looks like it really edges in when reqd, i want to really start pushing my wave riding but still want to throw in a few huge boosts, so this style of board will be the go,

This ia another video of an Alkita board - this time with Franz Olry on board. It gives some idea of how the board does in these conditions.
You can skip the first 3 minutes if you only want to see the kitesurfing.

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cauncy said...

terminal said...
The Alkita custom boards seem to be designed along the lines of what you want, but I guess they are quite expensive.

I think this is a particularly nice looking one.

just heard back from franz, a board shaped to how i want it with graphics is around 1500 not cheap but ill still go with one i think, he gave me a pretty impressive description of how he shapes and uses volumes in his designs, the guy in the video is riding the dark cadillac 138 model , love the way it switches looks effortless, but then looks like it really edges in when reqd, i want to really start pushing my wave riding but still want to throw in a few huge boosts, so this style of board will be the go,

If your going custom then get the board mutantable.
So.... Have the options for 3 fin thruster set up and one end and the ability to go from center to 60-80mm off set. The you will be able to tune your wave ridability to backwards boostabilty to the conditions.

The further offset you go the the more you can drive the board in the turns like a surfboard on the wave face. However the more rearward you go the worse your backwards riding. So you find a medium of wave performance to backwards boostage. My medium is about 60mm offset from center. it gives you good wave perfomance with only a slight change in technique going backwards.