CrazyFly Raptor Pro 132 x 41cm 2010
Reviews / Twin Tips
41,705
At A Glance
Crazy Fly have been spearheading the use of carbon constructed wood laminate kite boards for some time now and 2010 sees them bring out a range as fresh as the day is long! 9 Twin Tips and a Surfboard make up a range that includes two women’s specific models! The Raptor Pro has been a popular freestyle and freeride board in the line up for some time and for 2010 this looks set to continue. The board has a full wood core with full carbon laminate construction, ABS rails and a concave bottom shape. The rocker is fairly flat and the board has differing flex sections with added stiffness in the middle of the board. The straps and pads are excellent, leather straps are a nice touch and the board is supplied with quality G10 fins.
On the Water
Responsive would be a word we would associate with the Raptor Pro, the board feels so connected to your feet it is a pleasure to ride it, no matter what the conditions. Carbon boards in the past have suffered in choppy water and being a comfy board to ride all day long, but the Raptor Pro transcends that old mantra. There is enough flex to make it smooth through the chop, yet this doesn’t detract from blistering performance on flat water. The board has a very simple shape and this echoes the way it rides, it is just easy to get on and get going. In light airs it has plenty of willingness to plane and it can still hold its edge when the wind blows through. The pop on the Raptor is very impressive too, the stiff mid section enabling you to displace lots of water as you come in for take off, and the tips helping to launch you into the air. The wide tips also enable you to stomp those landings and the concave bottom goes some way to suck up the harshness of a big kiteloop. The thin rails carve well upwind and although the board can be quick and agile it is still easy to ride.
For
A freestyle weapon that for once still provides the rider with a comfortable ride rather than a bone shattering one! Really stunning finish, not only on the board but also with the pads, straps and fins.
Against
Don’t be tempted by this beast if you like rail to rail carving, while it is easy to ride this sits firmly in the freestyle corner.
Overall
A great board from Crazy Fly that will no doubt be very popular amongst riders during 2010! Easy to ride, bags of pop and plenty of top end speed when you need it.
This review was in Issue 18 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit CrazyFlyRelated
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!
