RRD Bliss V5 Wood 136 x 40cm 2018
Reviews / Twin Tips
21,639
At A Glance
The Bliss has been in the RRD line up for many years now, and 2018 sees it get an update. Don’t panic though, if you are a huge fan of this board already, and there are plenty of those around the world, the updates are subtle and designed to improve the performance.
There is a new LTD version in Carbon which offers a slighter stiffer and more tuned up ride. The Wood version we tested features the same shape with the updated tips, these have been tweaked to improve the upwind performance and the way the board cuts through the water. The bottom channels have been made a little deeper to improve the grip and bite the board has.
The flex is still a little softer than say the Poison V5 and the Bliss is all about one thing, a “blissful” ride. Smooth and comfortable the board is perfect for advancing beginner and intermediate riders looking for a freeride and freestyle board that can deliver a smooth ride with bags of performance. There are also two Bliss Kiss versions for the girls to ride too!
Sizes: Bliss V5 135/39, 136/40, 137/41, 138/42 139/43.5, cm
Bliss Kiss V5 135 x 39, 136 x 40cm
On The Water
If you’ve never ridden the Bliss, you are missing out, synonymous with comfort and performance every time we have ridden one we have come off the water marvelling at the smooth ride offered. The V5 is no different, and it became our go-to board during our early summer trip to Mauritius. It’s so easy to ride it makes you a better kitesurfer every time you put your feet in the straps.
When you are learning new tricks, or just improving your riding you need a board that works with you to make things easy. The Bliss V5 is that board. It rides upwind with aplomb and cuts through the chop with ease. Dig the edge in for some pop, and you’ll be impressed with the snappy water release and the height you can get from the board.
Landings are simple, with the wider platform tips offering plenty of stability and the channels in the base helping to disperse the water and soften the impact from fast landings. Lighter and stronger than in previous years the build quality is of a high standard, and the Rad Pads are comfortable and give you a locked in feel to the board.
Overall
Easy to ride, forgiving and able to deliver some impressive performance if you want a board that will make you look good on the water and improve your riding while offering a comfortable, smooth ride, this is it. Beautifully made the Bliss V5 Wood ticks a lot of boxes for us, great for freeriding with some solid freestyle performance too it should be on your radar.
Videos
This review was in Issue 67 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit RRDRelated
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!
