Traqua prides itself on generally being a NO techspeak or gearfreak zone. But we do have ties to some product and sometimes its cool to know that Aussie made is first grade. This independent review of Australian made M8 kiteboards is a timely reminder that you can support Aussie enterprise and get a better quality ride at the same time.
Kiteboard testimonial
M8 brand, model SS2seven 141x41cm tested at Altona beach VIC.
For those who don’t know Altona. It is onshore wind with shallow water over a series of sandbars that can dry out at low tide. The waves are only forming on the outer bar and at best about 2ft high and very close periods, it’s possible to pop of one on the way out and clear the next. Outside the sandbars is just wind driven chop but you can manage to run along some long swells but it’s rough.
Used the board mainly with a F1 Tribal 13m, but a guy also gave me a go of his Torch3 12m. Wind was gusty and way up and down, the Tribal regularly going through the full range of it’s depower ability on the strap. So I’d say 13kts-30kts.
The Board should have been too big for the high wind but strangely it held it’s edge all the time. In the low winds it was a very easy cruise. The carving ability is pretty sweet but likes a more flowing turn. The extra planing surface seems to help when you need to quickly stomp on the tail to finish a turn, keeping some form of planing happening. The Pop off the water is very good although you do notice the extra size just as you leave the water (I usually ride a 125x39.5). The landings are absolutely sweet. A bit of tail first touch down uses the extra length and tail flex to really cushion the touchdown and balance you for edging. The rocker and flex at the tips, combined with the size of fins allows this board to go very shallow, shallow enough to ride ripplets of water over sucked dry sandbank.
On the other hand the extra size of the board made for some harshness over the worst of the sharp chop, and along the face of the outer swells. This is me comparing the waves of Torquay here and I feel that this board would really make for some insane TT wave riding, as the tip flex and extra size would be a big advantage, plus it seems to have sacrificed no Popping ability, so jumping incoming waves on the way out will be as easy as it gets.
This would also be a great board for places like St Kilda both for riding the gusts and crap as you go from the outer harbour past the Newbies and Yachts into the inner harbour. At Pt Danger it would be insane, at high tide, for both riding the waves and boosting in the flatwater over the reef against the Cliff. Of course I’m a bit biased, selling M8’s and Having ridden them for about 3 years, but these boards are every bit as good as the best you can think of.
The very experienced riders may have very personal preferences about rocker and flex, but those who are not yet at the level of noticing the very finer points will not make a better choice on a board that will help them progress and be with them for years.
Tony.
