F-ONE Kiteboarding Mitu Pro Flex 5’8 2021
Reviews / Surfboards
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At A Glance
The world’s most popular kitesurfing board is back, Mitu and the team at F-ONE really hit this shape out of the park all those years ago, and it has remained popular ever since. It’s a board that seemingly does the impossible, offer everything Mitu Monteiro needs to perform at the very highest levels of the sport, while still offering novice wave riders a forgiving, comfortable ride. It’s this winning formula that has made the board so popular.
This year there Mitu comes in three constructions, Carbon, lighter and aimed at the strapless freestyle market, the Pro Flex, which uses the HD Foam Flex technology to offer a smooth yet snappy ride and the Bamboo version which is heavier, but exceedingly durable. The construction also affects the price, the idea being there is a Mitu for every budget and every style of rider.
The board is a compact shape, with the wide point forward, unlike the other “no nose and tail” shapes the board retains the point on the nose and the fishtail, but because of the compact nature still has a reasonably parallel outline. Underneath there is a double channel under the nose which runs into a concave midsection that washes out towards the tail.
Available in 5 sizes from 5’2 to 5’10 there should be a size to suit you, the larger sizes are geared towards early planing, and the smaller sizes are focused on manoeuvrability—the board ships with a full deck pad for comfort and inserts for footsteps too.
Sizes: 5’2”, 5’4”, 5’6”, 5’8” and 5’10”
On the Water
Fans of the Mitu will not be disappointed with the 2021 model, all the character is there from the boards that have gone before it, yet the shape is more refined and up to date to give you the most bang for your buck. It’s an easy board to ride, stable and forgiving even at low speeds it’s a board a lot of riders will learn to gybe on, and that is still going to appeal with this new model. It’s easy to ride, and the forward wide point allows plenty of mistakes as you switch your feet in those early days.
While it is an excellent board for cruising and learning gybes, the Mitu Pro Flex is much more than that. Crank it up a gear, and the speed and pop are impressive, it’s easy to get air, and the board feels locked to your feet as you throw a rotation or trick. The lightweight nature of this construction and the large plan shape helping here.
Strapless freestyle aside though it is the waves where this board is destined. It’s like an old friend who’s come to visit after years apart. You settle into the familiar routine, and the predictable nature means you rarely put a foot wrong. The board is happy with long drawn out carves, and if you get your weight back over the tail and really push with the legs, you’ll find plenty of vertical performance in the pocket too.
The construction offers a smooth ride no matter the water state, this inspires confidence in big waves when they are moving fast, and you are hitting mach ten to stay on the swell before it hits the reef. It’s also very durable, a few knocks here and there from crashes and being thrown in the back of the van have left the board unmarked.
Overall
Light, packed with performance but also with plenty of forgiveness this board will appeal to a wide range of riders from beginner to expert. You’ll never feel like the board is holding you back and if you push it hard, it rewards you with dynamic performance, both in the air and on the wave. If you want a great all-round surfboard that can handle anything you throw at it the Mitu Pro Flex is a great choice.
Videos
This review was in Issue 84 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit F-ONE KiteboardingRelated
By Liam Dredge
Liam fell in love with all Watersports after completing numerous seasons aboard, he then picked up kiting whilst in the warm tropics of the Carribean and has been obsessed ever since! Anyone that knows him would say it's near the only thing he talks about (which drives some crazy), and he loves to keep up to date with all the latest news, equipment and events that kiting has to offer. Liam also runs his own Watersports Centre along the south coast of the UK, LOOP Watersports, which is where our IKSURFMAG Test Centre is located!
