anyone tried out these boards yet for kiting and just surfing would love to hear thoughts about it.


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or try this link

The Drifter is up on the BWS website now...looks like a great small wave groveler.

www.benwilsonsurf.com/

I'll be interested in an independent review of this board and not the promo marketing hype around it, any takers on trying this board first and posting up a review?

I managed to get my hands on an early prototype of this board about 18 months ago, I had taken a 6'4 kite surf board with me to Indo and had creased the nose.
I borrowed, then because I loved it so much, bought a drifter board off Ben that was the same specs, shape and size wise, but possibly a lighter construction. (I am on it in my avatar)
The board got going very early, went upwind like nothing else I had ridden and was very smooth through the chop.
It is has very little rocker, especially in the tail so it does take a while to get used to the way it turns and I preferred the way my firewire turns when actually on decent size waves but found that because I love the speed and upwind ability of the Drifter (and I live in Perth home to small grovely waves) I would always use it.
It holds quite a bit of width and volume right through so it is very stable and easy to learn gybes, tacks,floaters etc on.
Although I had another couple of boards this was pretty much the only board I used for the next 12 months....loved it.

I eventually snapped it when learning to do strapless jumps (not uncommon for me I have snapped tufflites, converses etc so not a fault of the board), I managed to get a lot of air one day and because I was holding the board in one hand, I didn't control the kite very well and came down very hard.

I tried to get another one but BWS wasn't selling them at that stage so I had a custom board made that is a similar size, shape etc with a few personal tweaks.

I love it for kiting but at my age, paddle fitness (or lack of) and weight I usually surf a much bigger board.
I tried to surf it in Mauritius because it was all I had with me but struggled to catch waves, I was probably near on 90kgs at the time so was surprised I actually caught anything.
For people lighter and fitter I think it would pick up waves easy and could be used for kiting and surfing for me I will stick to having a 5'9 kite board and a 6'4ish+ surfboard.

^^^^^ thanks for your input tightlines

Looks like it might be easy to duck dive it

heres some more info. this board was actually suppose to be the first board released by BWS over 18 months ago but has now taken about 2 years of refining and testing the best construction for durability while maintaining the best performance and feeling.

Specs:

5'9” x 18'3/8” x 2'1/4”

2 x 6ox deck, 1 x 6oz bottom, 4oz feet and fin patches

Polyurethane Blank (PU) Standard surfboard density

4mm Stringer 3-hole extruded PVC block inserts (metric thread)

FCS Fusion fin boxes

FCS Ben Wilson Fins

I have also managed to get hold of a proto Drifter & have had it out a few times now both kiting & surfing.
Seems to be the prefect board for me, surfed it this morning in a crappy 1-2 foot beach break & kited this arvo at the same break & it surprised me how well it goes in both disciplines. Might be a bit big for me in high wind but I have a smaller strapped board for that.
I,m 45 YO & 72kg.