Shinn Bernhard 160 x 45cm 2019
Reviews / Twin Tips
10,413
At A Glance
The Shinn Bernhard is a large light wind board designed to increase your days on the water in those super light winds. Measuring in at 160 x 45 cm it is a lot of board!
Designed, engineered and built to the highest quality in their own factory in Poland, the board is made with a full Paulownia wood core. This offers an optimum strength to weight ratio for longevity and performance. There is a split concave on the bottom for improved grip at speed and during landings, while bilateral flex tips, which smooth out even the smallest lump of chop underfoot.
Shinn have some stunning footstraps and pads, and we opted for the Sneaker SRS system, which locks your foot in fantastically with an easy to adjust ratchet system.
Size: 160x45cm
“The Bernhard offers super easy planing, while also being surprisingly manoeuvrable”
On The Water
We first tested the Bernhard in pretty unrealistic conditions; kite just staying above your head but not much more. We certainly could not get planning on a regular sized twin tip. So we jumped on the Bernhard to see if it would work.
Initially, of course, it feels huge. However, before you know it you are cruising, and then going upwind, while the wind meter reads less than double digits. It is impressive to say the least.
This ability on its own was pretty mind-blowing, but for someone who has yet to start foiling, could this be the answer to your light wind prayers? The Bernhard offers super easy planing, while also being surprisingly manoeuvrable. The fins are situated on the heel side like normal, and then also in the centre of the 2 tips so ensure contact with the water.
The board rides extremely well upwind and the large surface area keeps your forward momentum going allowing you to keep going in the lulls. The Bernhard feels lively underfoot, allowing you to not just cruise up and down, but start to throw down some moves too. You soon get used to the oversize nature of the board and low level tricks become something you will become a master of.
Of course this is not a freestyle board so trying some sort of popped handle pass will most likely not set the world on fire, however you will be kitesurfing in some of the lowest winds you could imagine and there is nothing bad about that. If you’re not at a level to learn to foil, or you don’t want to go down that route, but still want a light wind option then this is a good choice.
Overall
Never have we been more impressed with a large ‘door’ style board. Insane low wind ability which still performs once the wind kicks in. Manoeuvrable enough to entertain the days of mowing the lawn are over. The Bernhard also opens up light wind riding to those who are yet to start hydrofoiling.
Videos
This review was in Issue 71 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit ShinnRelated
By Robin and Sukie
With years of kite sport experience combined, you can be sure you’ll be receiving the highest quality of knowledge on the best equipment the industry has to offer.
