Looks like some big changes to the new Kalama Barracuda Mark2....Seems like everyone is releasing new boards all over the 8'0" mark....Long & narrow seems to definitely be the go....Armstrong are talking 8'0" plus by 18" wide in production models...

Length requirements are mainly condition based. I spoke recently with one famous shaper who said over 8' was tried but everyone is going back to 8' and under already.

Stay tuned

Dave's been on the cream buns

Just spent 3 hours on one surfing, mind is blown.

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pohaku said..
Just spent 3 hours on one surfing, mind is blown.

Please share more!

As a 7'10 Barracuda Mk1 owner of 10 months I can't fault the build quality of a Kalama. It has been my go to board for downwind and surfsup. Keen to see what the next evolution is. I've heard longer more forward boxes. In Perth the original barracuda works great for me, not sure I really need longer. But some crew here are pushing the 8'4" size range and are happy foilers. If you are over 90kg why make it hard for yourself and go long IMO. Armstrong and Kalama are my current top picks of the production board market.

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Velocicraptor said..

pohaku said..
Just spent 3 hours on one surfing, mind is blown.

Please share more!

Soon. But for now you can watch the fun

www.instagram.com/reel/C4IUqyavPME/?igsh=ZjMxZnI1MTJzMmFz

?si=929LKgB95ipN7rUR

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baldy123 said..
As a 7'10 Barracuda Mk1 owner of 10 months I can't fault the build quality of a Kalama. It has been my go to board for downwind and surfsup. Keen to see what the next evolution is. I've heard longer more forward boxes. In Perth the original barracuda works great for me, not sure I really need longer. But some crew here are pushing the 8'4" size range and are happy foilers. If you are over 90kg why make it hard for yourself and go long IMO. Armstrong and Kalama are my current top picks of the production board market.

I'm looking to upgrade at some point , what makes you say the Armstrong and Kalama boards are the current pick atm ? I'm not arguing your view, just interested in your observations as I haven't ridden many different DW boards.

They are releasing production boards that for a while would be considered niche, elite race or "Hawaiian" style open ocean race boards, specifically long (>9') and narrow (<18").

What is not clear is where things settle for the average joe, but certainly the paddle speed helps immensely. See the Amos Bullet too.

This is the most important consideration:

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Thatspec said..
Length requirements are mainly condition based. I spoke recently with one famous shaper who said over 8' was tried but everyone is going back to 8' and under already.

Kobo, to keep this thread is about the barracuda. what I like about the V1 Cuda
paint job - looks amazing in real life and doesn't fade.
deck pad - durable, perfect amount of grip, good size for loading onto roof racks.
weight - less than 6kg
durable - seems to be a good balance of weight, strength - Carbon/PVC moulded
White bottom - reflects heat, reduce risk of delams.

what I like about Armstrong
Bag - give me a custom bag with my $3k board please Mr Kalama.
durable - they seems pretty strong with the innegra carbon skin
Forward Geometry - suits some foils better than others
Tracks - good size for range of adjustment
Colour - white reflect heat. West Oz is hot and these boards live on roofs.

If the new barracudas come with longer 12" tracks this should keep most Foil users happy. Again I am still not sold on the need to go over 8 foot in Perth, but I won't judge or comment further until I try it. If it means catching more waves with less risk of shoulder pain I'm all for it.

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baldy123 said..
Kobo, to keep this thread is about the barracuda. what I like about the V1 Cuda
paint job - looks amazing in real life and doesn't fade.
deck pad - durable, perfect amount of grip, good size for loading onto roof racks.
weight - less than 6kg
durable - seems to be a good balance of weight, strength - Carbon/PVC moulded
White bottom - reflects heat, reduce risk of delams.

what I like about Armstrong
Bag - give me a custom bag with my $3k board please Mr Kalama.
durable - they seems pretty strong with the innegra carbon skin
Forward Geometry - suits some foils better than others
Tracks - good size for range of adjustment
Colour - white reflect heat. West Oz is hot and these boards live on roofs.

If the new barracudas come with longer 12" tracks this should keep most Foil users happy. Again I am still not sold on the need to go over 8 foot in Perth, but I won't judge or comment further until I try it. If it means catching more waves with less risk of shoulder pain I'm all for it.

Thanks I'm looking at going from 7'3 x 23 Sunova to 8'1 x 20 Armstrong

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Downwinder said..

baldy123 said..

If the new barracudas come with longer 12" tracks this should keep most Foil users happy. Again I am still not sold on the need to go over 8 foot in Perth, but I won't judge or comment further until I try it. If it means catching more waves with less risk of shoulder pain I'm all for it.

G'day baldy123
I have always used the BIG MAMA Kalama 10"inch qb. For SUP surfing, unlimited SUP Downwind Paddling & now SUP foiling in the surf or DW. If your shoulders are hurting it just means you are just paddling wrong - when I paddle I use my core strength my obliques cope a flogging like doing a thousand sit-ups. I never get pain in my shoulders = use your shoulders as a hinge; as in like a Door Hinge

Know of any vids on using your obliques to paddle ? that's what's stopping me with the DW adventure due to some nasty bursitis in my right shoulder which just won't go away even after two cortisone injections.

Yeah fell your pain Kobo , I dealt with that for years so always had softer shafts and smaller head size with less offset. Finally gave and done shoulders done couple of years apart , best thing I ever did.

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Piros said..
Yeah fell your pain Kobo , I dealt with that for years so always had softer shafts and smaller head size

What operation fixed those issues ?
Were you (and your partner) happy with the outcome ?

I eventually broke the socket through a nasty dislocation Right shoulder. I was 55 when I had surgery I was carrying it for 2 years , bone & ligament transplant ( big screw )plus at the same time they clean up everything , bone spurs ect that rub on the bursa and they clean out your AC it actually grows back . Back in the water after 8 weeks back to full strentgh around 12. LH was done mid last year 59yr at surgery put up with it for 18 months ( stupid) , 3/4 tear rotator cuff , bicep tendond detached, AC removed internally had arthritis in it (grows back ) few other things done . Back in the water 8 weeks - 12 to full strength. Both shoulders are 100% with zero issues , I can do all weights/ chin ups and swim butterfly and freestyle in the pool , prone paddle & Sup. Don't waste your life nursing a shoulder that will never heal. Take 3 months out of your life to fix it permanently and get on with it at full throttle. Stem cells is the new thing , I looking into that for my knee . They are now doing it in Australia.

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pohaku said..

?si=929LKgB95ipN7rUR

At this point we have all seen people downwinding. What Dave Kalama did that was revolutionary was to get people on foil without:

1) Needing to catch a wave in the shorebreak
2) Without using a tow-in
3) Without using a motor

The latest evolution has been to go longer, than 8 feet, to get those who aren't 20 and 30 year old superheroes up and flying without using any of those assists.

What will be more impactful is to see people paddling up and how "easy" that is.

Once you're up and downwinding all you would want is the smallest shortest board possible.

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Piros said..
I eventually broke the socket through a nasty dislocation Right shoulder. I was 55 when I had surgery I was carrying it for 2 years , bone & ligament transplant ( big screw )plus at the same time they clean up everything , bone spurs ect that rub on the bursa and they clean out your AC it actually grows back . Back in the water after 8 weeks back to full strentgh around 12. LH was done mid last year 59yr at surgery put up with it for 18 months ( stupid) , 3/4 tear rotator cuff , bicep tendond detached, AC removed internally had arthritis in it (grows back ) few other things done . Back in the water 8 weeks - 12 to full strength. Both shoulders are 100% with zero issues , I can do all weights/ chin ups and swim butterfly and freestyle in the pool , prone paddle & Sup. Don't waste your life nursing a shoulder that will never heal. Take 3 months out of your life to fix it permanently and get on with it at full throttle. Stem cells is the new thing , I looking into that for my knee . They are now doing it in Australia.

mate good advice i need to follow. Stem cells in Aus hey .. about time !!

Info clip coming soon. Then full details in a few weeks. 13" boxes this round and further forward. Somehow he's made them just as light, strong and more stable yet faster than previous. Iv gone down 2" in width, 4L in volume but up in length. The thing is a weapon

?si=UkCmieKMo6icE8Vx

What the hell happened to this thread?

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Scotty Mac said..
What the hell happened to this thread?

Got spammed hahah

Dunno, I'm still waiting to hear about Piros "softer shafts and smaller head size"

What weights they coming in at?

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Spark said..
What weights they coming in at?

Keen to see all the dims of the whole range

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Scotty Mac said..
Keen to see all the dims of the whole range

All dimensions etc will come out shortly. The first shipment just landed in Maui and is going fast! Australian orders have been filling in since the clip was released. Exciting times ahead for the foil community

Ok well let me keep the threat on track?? (about the new production cuda) and post what I have seen so far happy for others to add any other dims they have seen;
8'10" x 18.5" @113 litre
8'6" x 17.5" @95 litres

8'3 x 21.5" @115 litres
8'7" x 24" @130 litres

7'10" x 18.5" @96 litres thanks Tomo