In Focus: North Kiteboarding Directional and Foil Boards 2018 Overview
Features / Mon 4th Dec, 2017 @ 1:30 pm
The 2018 North Kiteboarding Directionals are here…
Legend wave rider and longstanding North Kitebaording International Team, Sky Solbach has done it again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSVZ842947o
Pro Wam
Strapless Pure Surf
First time this year the new Pro Wam has been added to the range, replacing the Pro Surf and been tweaked to improve the performance even further. Sky Solbach added 1/8” to the width of the board and also pushed the wide point further forwards. This has created a fuller nose and increased the surface area of the board. The result is improved handling in light winds and smaller waves, while still retaining the impressive high speed and sought after big wave performance that riders love. The Pro WAM is a high-performance all-round traditional shape that excels in most conditions from small to large waves. It is the go-to competition board for our team riders in most conditions. A new grab rail, optimised volume distribution and double concave deck finish off one of the most impressive boards in the North Kiteboarding range.
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Pro Whip CSC
Small to Medium / Strapless Freestyle
The new Whip Pro replaces the Pro CSC from last year; the board has been redesigned with a new bottom shape and tweaks to the outline and rocker. A deep twin channel runs from the nose to the tail giving the Whip incredible directional stability. This allowed Shaper Sky Solbach to put more curve in the outline and the rocker to increase the overall maneuverability of the Whip Pro. The result is a modern board with remarkable control, balance, speed and the ability to carve smooth arcs on the wave as well as top to bottom vertical snaps. The board also features a double concave deck shape, optimised volume distribution to aid control and a subtle grab rail for strapless tricks. The Whip Pro utilizes our Light Team Construction and is the ultimate weapon when you want to shred small to medium sized waves and pull off the latest strapless tricks.
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Pro Session
All Round, Carving Machine
The Pro Session is suited to all types of waves and loves to carve hard, fast turns. It excels in larger, hollow and more powerful waves, the grip and drives off the front foot will be sure to impress you, even in the most challenging of conditions. It’s a fantastic all-rounder for the strapped or strapless rider looking for exceptional carving abilities. The Pro Session will inspire confidence in every bottom turn, just set the rail and look for the critical section to hit. For 2018 there have been some small changes to the thickness and foil of the board. However, the overall template and rocker remain the same. A subtle grab rail has been added for this year to improve control during strapless tricks. The volume distribution has also been optimised in critical areas to aid control, and the board now features a double concave deck profile. The carving machine!
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Whip CSC
Small to Medium Waves / Strapless Freestyle
The Whip is a modern high-performance compact design aimed at performing in small to medium sized waves. It’s the perfect board for the everyday wave rider looking for the best all-around compact tool for nearly all conditions. The board shares the same shape as the Whip Pro, featuring the all-new deep twin channel bottom shape, which offers exceptional directional stability. This has allowed our shaper, Sky Solbach, to increase the rocker and also the curve in the outline. The result is vastly improved rail-to-rail performance, increased control, balance, and speed. The board is happy carving smooth turns or performing more aggressive maneuvers in the pocket of the wave. The new Whip will be able to handle anything you throw at it, whatever the conditions it’s got your back.
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Wam
Pure Surf
The WAM is perfect for the riders out there looking for a high-performance board that works in all conditions. An updated shape, which is identical to the Pro WAM, for 2018 features a slightly broader profile with the wide point shifted further forwards. This has increased the surface area of the board and improved its performance in smaller waves and light winds. The new WAM offers more drive off the front foot, making it more forgiving and easier to ride. The board also features a double concave deck shape, optimised volume distribution in key areas to aid with control and a new subtle grab rail to help with strapless tricks. For 2018 we are replacing the Woohoo with a scaled down board in WAM line-up, this new smaller size will be perfect for the lighter riders out there.
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Nugget CSC
Small Waves / Light Wind
The all-new Nugget CSC is based on the new Whip shape for 2018. The board features a new, deep double concave bottom shape. This adds extra grip while also channeling water through these flat surfaces directly into the quad fins, offering a superior lift for maximum light wind and upwind performance. This new design platform makes the 2018 Nugget CSC much more stable, especially at speed than ever before. It also allows the board to turn on a tight axis with good control. Vertical snaps and smooth carving arcs on a light wind, small wave day are now within reach! Built in our tough Bamboo Tec Construction with a new grab rail it is a great board for strapless tricks too. When the wind and waves don’t show up, you’ll have more fun on the Nugget CSC than anyone else at the beach!
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Nugget TT
Small Waves / Freeride
The Nugget TT has been a hugely popular board in our range for many years now. Designed to perform in small to medium sized waves it is exceedingly forgiving and easy to ride. Thanks to the wide outline it’s a great board for learning to gybe on and also works exceedingly well in light winds. The flatter rocker line generates lots of power in small, weak waves but also when the wind isn’t up to full strength. Built using our TT Construction this is the toughest manufacturing process we use. The board is almost impervious to dents and dings and can withstand the tough demands put on it by freeriders looking to boost some airs as well as ride waves. This construction also keeps the price of the board down, making it a great value and an easy decision to add the Nugget TT to your existing quiver of boards.
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Quest TT
Freeride Wave
The Quest TT offers a truly classic surfboard shape and as such becomes one of the most versatile boards in our range. Built using our TT construction, which is both exceedingly durable and offers great value, the board can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. Perfect for freeriding and for tackling small to medium sized waves the Quest TT is designed to be as forgiving and as easy to ride as possible. If you are just starting your wave-riding career, this is the best board to take with you on that journey. The classic shape and thruster set up give a confidence inspiring feel on the wave and when learning your first turns. Control comes easily, and the stability of the board makes it a very smooth ride, even in heavy chop on windy days.
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North Kiteboarding Foil Boards
Free Foil
The Free Foil Board is aimed at the riders looking for easy to ride board; the rubber and cork deck also reduce the risk of injuries during a wipeout.
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Pro Foil
The new Pro Foil is a modern all-round hydrofoil specific kiteboard suited to all riders from intermediate to expert.
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Speedster Combo
The Speedster Combo is an easily accessible foil and the ideal tool to quickly improve your hydro foiling skills. The main characteristics are a huge speed range and excellent track stability.
Huge speed range, suitable for many levels for riders
Unique winglets for immense track stability and an improved turning radius
Unique and incredibly durable carbon compound wings and fuselage
Winglets improve not only the directional stability but also helps the foil track smoothly through turns
Included back wing wedge which exerts less force thus helping beginners to control the lift of the foil
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For more information about North Kiteboarding directional and foil boards, please click here
By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.
