Kanga

GENERAL GOAL | THEME OF THE BOARD:

A performance board for those of us a little older, a little weight challenged, or a little inexperienced.

WAVE TYPE | SIZE IT'S WORKING BEST:

All wave types. From knee high up to head and a half. 

MANEUVERS IT DOES BEST:

Snaps, Cutbacks, Floaters. 

SKILL LEVEL IT'S BEST FOR:

Novice to Pro.

PADDLE POWER:

SPEED: Average.

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL: Quite good.

OVER WHITE WATER: Great due to the fuller nose.

WAVE CATCHING ABILITY: Very good.

WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF WHEN YOU DESIGNED IT?:

Designed in conjunction with the legendary Ian ‘Kanga’ Cairns this board is the ultimate nexus between stability and performance. Kanga wanted a board that performed well for aging surfers yet had accommodating features built in to keep them ripping at the top level for years to come. 

WHAT IT POSSIBLY COMPROMISES ON THEN?:

Not the highest performance board on the market, but a comfortable performer that will suit the masses. 

OUTLINE:

Fuller nose, clean bump free outline into a rounded pin. The generous area up front gives the board great paddle ability when stroking hard for a wave. Whilst the clean bump free outline makes the board super maneuverable from the middle enabling it to surf very radically on both the forehand and backhand. 

RAILS:

Pinched in the middle, low in the tail. The pinched rail allows more volume to be packed into a more compact package and allows the deck line to be relatively flat in the standing area, adding comfort. Throughout, the rail line is low enough to offer great hold and penetration of the face so you can feel super confident in any conditions. 

ROCKER:

A clean banana style curve all the way. The goal is to have the board feel free, workable and loose no matter where you're standing. Also allows the board to be thrown into high speed hacks and power turns in tight parts of the wave.

BOTTOM:

Single concave up front and through the middle V. The concave upfront helps initiate a turn earlier, keeps the board responsive, as your rail will engage the second your mind decides to. The V kicks in before the fins and flattens out towards the tail, when somewhere critical it offers that bit more hold and control helping to bed the tail in.

DECK:

Relatively flat in the standing area through to roll in the tail. Being flat in the standing area adds a level of comfort and stability to the board, whilst keeping the roll towards the tail means the rails can stay nice and low giving you great penetration.

FINS:

5 Fins. For top to bottom surfing, the thruster will be the better option. As the waves get a little steeper and faster, switch out to the quad to hold a higher, more direct line, or if the waves are flatter and more open with little chance of top to bottom surfing, the quad is also an option.

FINAL STATEMENT:

This really is a great board for aging surfers chasing comfort or novices and intermediates looking to improve their skills. One of the easiest surfing performance boards in the range by far and a real crowd favorite (only if you’re the one surfing it, the rest of the guys in the lineup will be filled with envy)