HI, looking to get myself a new board (around 80-90l) and seeking a bit of feedback on build quality for the different brands before I spend my $.

For reference I am based in Queenstown nz, so limited (mostly) to axis, armstrong, smik, ppc, sic.

Any brands out there that are stand out quality or anything to avoid?

Cheers

PPC are solid boards and local to you. Probably worth having a look at the 82Litre soar if you can find one. Smik, Sunova, Kalama and One are also great. Just make sure foil track box location suits the foils you ride.

Of all the boards I've seen I think PPC is at another level. So second above.

If they sell Starboard stuff you can probably can get AK as well. The AK5.8, now 5.6x90l is light strong, really fast on the foil and agile.Lovely board.

Hi Has anyone ridden the PPC Soar 82 or 68l ?? they've got rid of the tail kick so interested in how well that works in the real world (rather than advertising blurb). I know the PPC glides are fantastic so expect these to be good too.

Starboard takeoff is next level. Used Smik, ppc, Naish, fanatic, etc. not close to starboard.

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Mangawhai said..
Hi Has anyone ridden the PPC Soar 82 or 68l ?? they've got rid of the tail kick so interested in how well that works in the real world (rather than advertising blurb). I know the PPC glides are fantastic so expect these to be good too.

Sorry, not a completely useful answer, but I have been riding the Soar for the last 6 months... but it is the pre-production prototype made by Primal, not the factory built production model. Mine has the kick tail still not the flat tail, I am riding AXIS Art foils with it at the moment, and have found no problems at all with the board design flying HA foils, I do feel like it would be marginally better with the flat bottom for board speed.

I am getting the production model in a few weeks (or whenever they actually get into the country) so will be able to give you a full answer and a fair comparison, aside from the tail kick the are pretty much the same board. Design wise it feels a good step up from the Glide and is much more stable. The built quality of the Primal prototype is awefull though, so many soft spots and repairs after only 6 months. To be fair it only a prototype, and the PPC factory boards seems incredibly well made.

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hilly said..
Starboard takeoff is next level. Used Smik, ppc, Naish, fanatic, etc. not close to starboard.

What size have you ridden Hilly? I went for the 4'9 Starboard Wingboard and wondered how it compares to the 70L TakeOff. Wingboard is great and much easier to live with than I anticipated so wondered if the narrower TakeOff might be a little faster for getting up on HA foils, you know, grass is always greener .

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hilly said..

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Starboard takeoff is next level. Used Smik, ppc, Naish, fanatic, etc. not close to starboard.

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Wow, just checked out the Starboard, must be the most

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complex yet. My mind and life experience indicates simply is best. Having said that a friend has the Triton monofoil and just as complex in shape, amazing

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how they designed it. 110kg friend loves it for kitefoiling in regard to speed and manouravability. So who knows?

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