Getting the inside scoop on the new twin tips and bindings with Lars Moltrup
Twin Tips
1) How do therocker, flex and outline affect the board’s performance?
In general, these features have a great influence on the ridingcharacteristics of the board and all work in relation to each other. Rocker,flex, and outline must all be adjusted and balanced to the target conditionsyou want the board to perform in. If you arelooking for comfort in choppy conditionsand soft landings, a higher rocker will be optimal, provided that the board hasthe right amount of flex.
If you want a board to plane out earlier, a low rocker board withnarrow tips will work best. The low rocker will also need to have a lowervalue of flex so that it will not collapse on hard landings.
The outlines also play a big part in optimizing the board for theriding style and level of the rider. Wider tips give you more radical popand better flatwater freestyle performance, where narrower tips give you a moreforgiving and comfortable ridingexperience.
To make it easier to understand and compare, we have started todefine the flex and rocker with quantifiable values. Stiffer boards havea lower flex value, for example, the dub = F32.Softer boards have a higher value, for instance the Hero = F45.
To make the rockers easier to understand and compare, they have beendefined in three stages of tangent radii creating a continuous curvature.The radii is defined in the board specs and havedifferent placements and sizes.This givesthe boards differentriding characteristics.
Specifically to the Monarch:
Low rocker, low flex and wide tips (which give a slightly straighteroutline than the typical freeride board), provide the Monarch with radical pop,maximum control, early planing and speed. The beveled edges give the board acomfy ride in choppyconditions. The low flex of the Monarch has allowed us tohave a low rocker.The rocker is highestat the stance area and relatively flat in the center section.Due to the wide tips, the rocker is increasedto give the board a lively feel.
Specifically to the dub:
High wakeboard inspired rocker, medium stiffness, and forgivingoutline allow the dub to eat chop like no other board. This means the dub hasgreat absorption ofthe force during hard landings and a forgiving, comfortable ride in allconditions. The dub has a highcenter rocker which declines at the stance area anda very low, almost flat, section at the tips for back foot stability. The boardperformsexcellent with the Apex binding and can be used with boots as well.
Specifically to the Motion:
Medium rocker, low stiffness, and narrow tips make the board handleextremely well in chop. The rocker is highest in the stance area for handling chop, low in thecenter for early planing and almost flat in the tips for directional stability. The medium rocker workswell with the low flex and narrow tipsto give a forgiving, comfortable ride. The Motion hasslightly extra length to it, which also makes it thetwin tipof choice for people who want to go playaround in the waves.
Specifically to the Hero:
High rocker, low stiffness, and narrow tips make this board the mostforgiving, easy-to-ride board in the lineup. The rocker has almost flattip sections for back foot stability, a flat center section forearly planing and a higher rocker in thestance area for handling chop. Thetips are narrow for easy riding and the high flex for medium/slow riding speedsprovidesmaximum comfort.
2) How does thebottom and deck shaping contribute to the performance?
The different contours and features on the bottom of the boards givevarious characteristics to the board. When designing the deck of the boards,it is overall a matter of reducing weight, but also very much an efficient wayto stiffen the board up withminimal use of materials. The tip shapes providesan I-beam effect which gives a much stiffer tip than if it was a flat or singleconcave.
Specifically to the Monarch:
The quadruple concave bottom gives the board directional stability and softlandings. The beveled edges help disperse the water on landings and also add impactabsorption. The tunnel in the beveled edges also increase directionalstability. The Hexa-tunnel Tips provide unmatched edging for solid grip and work as a structural arch to increase stiffness inthe tip area with a minimum use of materials.
Specifically to the dub:
The 3D trapezoidal skid plates allow for superior edging, drive andgives the rider the option of riding finless. The beveled edges disperse waterefficiently for forgiving landings. The flat center provides clean waterentry at the bottom and optimizes thewater flow. The water flows through the V and the deep double channels giving the board superbgrip at speed. All this shaping in the tips creates structural trapezoids, whichincreases stiffness without the use of extra materials.
Specifically to the Motion:
The triple concave 3D bottom gives the Motion incredible drive,control and soft landings. The beveled tunnel edgesdisperse water on landings and increase tracking, which makes the ride smooth andadds to the shockabsorption on landings.
Specifically to the Hero:
The Hero has been designed with simplicity in mind and featuresa single concave 3D bottom for easy edging and a superb grip.
3) What is the philosophy behind the construction?
The design objective is focused on making the boards as light aspossible. For this reason, we are utilizing high tensile gradated laminates,which means that the largest amount of fiberglass is at the stance area andin-between. This also means we canreduce the amount of material applied to thetips to save where less reinforcement is needed.
All boards also have impact reinforcement zones, which arefiberglass patches that disperse impact forces throughoutthe board, thus increasing durability.
Specifically to the Monarch:
The Monarchhas two strips of carbon fiber on the deck and one widestrip on the bottom to strategically control how the board flexes andmaintain an optimal weight-to-strength ratio.
Specifically to the dub:
The dub has one wide carbon fiber strip on the deck and one on thebottom to add stiffness in the center section of the board, control flexandmaintain an optimal weight-to-strength ratio.
4) What does therail shape do for the board?
Throughout the twin tip line, all the boards have step rails. Thisconcept was implementedto reduce weight by reducing the overall wood core volume andincrease grip on the water.
5) What is FlexTorsion Control?
The Flex Torsion Control is added on the high performance boards toincrease stiffness in both the axial and torsional axis, specifically in thearea where it is needed. Without adding excess weight to the board, theFlex Torsion Controlgivesthe board a better response anda more dynamic ride.
6) How does finpositioning affect the board?
For the new twin tip line, we have found the optimal position for the finsthrough vigorous testing. Testing criteria has been upwind ability, edging,comfort and release from the water.
Specifically to the Monarch:
The angling of the fins is related to the bottom shaping and desired characteristics of the board. On the Monarch, the fins have been angled3 degrees in order to improve the grip and upwind ability.
Specifically to the Motion:
The angling of the fins is related to the bottom shaping and desired characteristics of the board. On the Motion, the fins have been angled 4degrees in order to improve the grip and upwind ability.
Apex Binding
1) Why is the newApex binding so unique?
The binding designs have evolved steadily over the last fewyears. However, the level of adjustability, comfort and quality of the bindings on the market had largeimprovements yet to be made. This is why we took it to the next level with Apex andmade a premium bindingthat isavailable for everyone, everywhere.
2) Where did you getthe inspiration for the Apex?
We are constantly looking at different sports and how they utilizetechnologies. Not only how the products work and how they are shaped, but alsohow the production process enables them to innovate. When looking at thesnowboard industry, their bindingscan be adjusted in a limitless number of settingsand this is what we were aiming for when designing the Apex.
3) What is thebenefit of the multi-adjustment settings of the Apex?
The Apex can be adjusted in numerous ways. The specific locationsofadjustmenthave been tested, tried and optimized, making the Apex the most diverse fitting kiteboard binding ever produced.
The duck/angle of the binding can be adjusted within 2 degrees andwill fit any kiteboard from any manufacturer.
X-factor ergo strap is the first ever,fully molded strap with 4-point adjustment. This means you can adjust it both in the front and the back on the strap itself. The adjustable side wings allow the four points of the strap to beindividuallyadjusted lengthwise for the desired angle,position and size of the specific rider.
4)How does the Apex perform in cold water?
The Apex has been tested extensively in cold water environments. The durometry (softness) of the footbed and strap have been designed to work optimally in coldwater conditions. Furthermore, the strap has maximum adjustment to accommodate neoprene booties forpeople riding allyear round.
5) What else is there to say aboutthe Apex?
The footbed has been shaped ergonomically to fit the contourof your foot, such as the arch and the toes to make the pad stick to your feetand become a part of your anatomy. It takes anthropometry, which is the study of humandimensions, into consideration in order to ensure the most comfortable fit forthe most diverse spectrum of foot sizes.
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