Hi all
today going to talk about the new tomo style or surftech
vanguard slingshot trex angry swallow- style kite surfboards
recently there has been allot of new kite surfboards that
have a "chopped nose" and they are available in quads, five fin and
thruster setups.
I hate to say it but these boards are bordering back to the
traditional "mutant" style made popular by Robbie Naish and Flash
Austin back in the days when kiteboarding just started.
There are still some "directional" mutant style
boards some people like the option for the surf.
They also like the way that you can boost big with a smaller
board that still goes upwind and is fast.
I tried the Slingshot 2014 Trex (now angry swallow)for a season, great up wind
fast and very good fun in the surf,
The 2015 version is called the angry swallow and uses the
new FCS2 fin system
These boards follow the tomo or vanguard style shape
parallel rails
wider tail
Front nose is squared off about 10-11" back
A 5'4'' is close to riding what a 5'10 would feel like
and usually work best quad fin setup.
Of course the surfboards and the kiteboards are varied in
the dimensions
The kiteboards may have less rocker and a big concave
throughout the bottom
This helps planing and upwind too.
If too much rocker is added it may not be as good noticed
that the vanguard has little if any rocker in the tail and nose.
So rider feedback?
There are some people that think that these are the greatest
shapes ever. I guess it's all about preference of course.
The chop nose board has less size so will work good for
those un strapped airs where you are grabbing the rail and throwing down some skim
wakeskate inspired moves.
How do they fare in the waves?
They surf pretty good and if you transfer your weight to the
back (back foot)for the turns are snappy
and fast, they also float good on floaters and snaps.
Going up wind? No problem move your back foot to the middle
of the board just in front of the back foot strap a bit or push down on your
front foot more.
In my opinion if the wave is clean and not too choppy they
work just as good at the larger counterparts that have a nose.
Even in windy conditions the face of the waves are usually
fairly clean.
There are times when the chop is on it and in the way out or
into the waves it is sure choppy sometimes so have to be careful not to
"pearl" or nose dive with the short squared off boards
They do have some nose rocker and the nose has a
"V" see picture so that helps
They also do go upwind very well and are super fast, I was
flying on my 2014 Trex very fast with nice epoxy carbon fins too so that is
exciting to be flying upwind 20+ !
In bigger waves and or choppy conditions you may want to go
back to the more traditional shape kite surfboard. I prefer quad fin setup and
like the future fin boxes too.
The FCS are okay easier to fix sometimes just stay off the
reef with the futures for sure, if you hit too hard you can break the fin box
out.
Your results may vary.
Ride what you like
but try different styles shapes and boards for a change to widen your riding
skills.
Remember with surfboards you generally don't want too much
volume for your weight it's a delicate balance.of {weight-volume-surface area}
unless you are a bigger guy or riding light wind then more
volume or "floaty" may be
better.
2014 Slingshot T Rex board above
Five fin setup with FCS fin boxes
Ocean Rodeo traditional kite surfboard surf series 2015
model
Five fin setup future fin boxes
Circa 2006 Naish Mutant Kiteboard classic piece of history!
still rippable
