DUOTONE Jaime SLS 139 x 42cm 2023
Reviews / Twin Tips
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At A Glance
If you're looking for the ultimate board that ticks every box out there, then the 2023 Jaime SLS does not disappoint. The SLS is a perfect fit for riders who enjoy Big Air, Freestyle or even simple freeriding. With the Jaime coming in two construction options, the SLS is the premium version, offering ultimate performance. This board is jam-packed with new design features that see the Jaime have its biggest changes to date. The 2023 model has had a massive Big Air influence in its design, which coincides with the popularity of that discipline of kiting skyrocketing.
Jaime is arguably the most popular twin tip to ever grace the kiteboarding scene and is certainly the most popular within the Duotone range. The all-new double rocker line ensures locked in grip when ripping through the water. With enhanced grip, you're able to generate impressive pop to perform those Big Air manoeuvres.
The SLS twin tips in the Duotone range are very light yet super solid, making them incredibly durable. The mix of carbon and Innegra makes up the SLS construction. Innegra is a high-performance fibre which enhances that smooth and dampening feeling you get when riding this board. Innegra mixed with the carbon gives the board its lightness and precise feedback. With it being super durable, the Jaime really can withstand anything thrown its way, whether that's coming in from some hard Big Air landings or throwing it down when busting out those freestyle tricks.
Grab rails feature along the rails of the board, making it more accessible when performing board offs. Flexible tips and a medium flex allow this board to adapt to a range of riding conditions, and a new feature for 2023 is the angled fins. This helps improve the grip even more, allowing the rider to really load power onto that heel edge, get a better pop and go even higher than before!
What can't go unnoticed is the bold colourway we see on this year's 2023 model. In recent years Duotone have really pushed the boat out there with their graphics, and with a stealthy look on the base yet colourful top layer, this year's Jaime sure will get those heads turning at your local beach!
Sizes: 133 x 40cm, 136 x 41cm, 139 x 42cm, 142 x 43cm
On The Water
It's up there with one of the best twin tips I've ridden… especially for Big Air! The new design features really benefit the rider who wants to go big and add a few metres to their jumps yet have a smooth ride from start to finish.
The new double diffuser bottom helps break through the water when landing your tricks, giving the rider a super soft landing. With the all-new angled fins and double rocker line concept, you really can blast your way back upwind after sending it to the moon! We all know how much distance can be lost downwind when jumping, so it's great to have a board that can get you back to that take-off zone quickly!
Being the SLS version, the board definitely has a more explosive pop, and if you've been following any of the Duotone Big Air athletes, you would've seen them sending it during the winter in Cape Town. Lorenzo Casati used this weapon to take his first King Of The Air title back in November 2022, and Liam Whaley is also a massive fan.
"With the new Jaime SLS, I can land harder and faster than before with the confidence of knowing I'll ride away from heavy, heavy landings. The grip and upwind ability from the new channels are amazing. You can hold an edge for way longer, especially useful in crazy strong conditions where I'm just trying to hold an edge for as long as possible before shooting up into the air." - Liam Whaley
As for footstraps, the Entity straps offer plenty of choices to get the perfect set-up. Two straps on each binding allow you to get a perfect fit around the lower and upper part of your foot. Duotone also provides a Soft, Medium and Hard heel foot pad that you can customise to your choice and with plenty of toe padding, the Entity offers a very 'locked in' feel.
Overall
The 2023 Duotone Jaime SLS is a monster! A brilliant board for twin tip Big Air yet also capable of throwing down in multiple disciplines, this board is a great choice for plenty of riders. Obviously, the SLS does come in at a higher price point than other twin tips, but the great news is, if budget is a factor, the standard construction of this board is also top draw.
If you're a rider that wants a twin tip to do it all, the Jaime is a great choice. If Big Air is your thing, you might as well go to the shop and get one now! For a smoother ride, the Select SLS is a great option for those who prefer a more freeride feel. If you're a beginner to intermediate level kiter, I would say the Jaime is a great choice. With the new design features, you will likely see your kiting improve quicker, especially if you want to go high in the sky!
Videos
This review was in Issue 97 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit DUOTONERelated
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!
