CrazyFly Raptor Pro 132 x 41cm 2013
Reviews / Twin Tips
41,705
At A Glance
The Raptor Pro is one of the most popular boards that CrazyFly make, aimed at the freeride and freestyle market it has been in the line up for a few years now and has many devout followers around the world. It features a full wood core and carbon layup construction, something CrazyFly are famous for. The board is pretty simple, no double concaves, step cap construction or anything fancy, just a solid outline and a slight dome to the deck shape, there is a slight concave underneath. The fins are ultra thin PVC ones, watch out for the edges as they are sharp, the straps are easy to fit, the pads take a little wearing in as they are quite hard at first. The overall finish of the board is exceedingly high, as we have come to expect from CrazyFly over the years and we love the way the carbon laminate shows through some of the graphic.
On the Water
The flex on the mid section of the Raptor Pro is quite stiff with flexi tips, this coupled with a flattish rocker line adds up to some impressive speed. The Raptor Pro is no slouch and it also gets up and going quickly. Pop is very impressive, if you put the effort into the move. The stiff nature of the mid section means an experienced rider will get lots out of the board, a novice will find it unforgiving. Upwind is really good, the sharp rails really bite and you can set the edge and let the kite fly to the edge of the window and haul ass back upwind after busting some big jumps. Rail to rail carving is a joy; it’s certainly a fun board to ride, the lightweight nature allowing you to throw it about underfoot with ease.
Overall
Stunning looks, blistering speed and plenty of pop for the intermediate to advanced rider looking to get the most out of a board. You won’t be disappointed…
Videos
This review was in Issue 37 of IKSURFMAG.
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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!
