Blade Kiteboarding Sanchez 134 x 42cm 2012
Reviews / Twin Tips
24,111
At A Glance
The Sanchez is a freeride offering from Blade, built at the famous Elan factory in Austria the board packs a fair amount of tech into it. 3D Moulded to incorporate WaveFlex a technology from their ski and snowboard know-how to ensure smooth longitudinal flex for easy turning and torsional stability for improved edge grip on the water. These are the only kliteboards to be made in this way and it is a first for Blade and Elan to create these moulds for kiteboards. The Sanchez has a deep central concave that washes out towards the tips to a V and moulded stepped double concave. The deck is 3D moulded and the board has a medium flex in the middle with a medium flex in the tips. The rails are sharp and the board is finished with 5cm G10 fins and a decent strap and pad combo.
On The Water
The pads on the Sanchez are a little stiff compared to some of the ones we have tested, the straps are great though and while there isn’t much contouring on the pads they are quite grippy and allow a good connection to the board. Upwind the hard rails really bite and the fins help to drive the board to windward well. Through the chop the concave bottom and double concave tips combined with the medium flex make for a smooth ride. Edging the board hard for boosting you’ll find plenty of grip, the rails stick like glue to 4 year olds fingers and the medium flex really pops the board off the water when you release. The tips are slightly rounded to improve rail-to-rail turning and ultimately we were impressed with the speed of the Sanchez through the water, it is fast and spritely underfoot.
Overall
Packed with tech the Sanchez delivers where you would expect it to, fast, comfortable and more pop than a kids balloon party!
Videos
This review was in Issue 34 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit Blade KiteboardingRelated
By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
