Hey all, im looking at getting a 2006 underground flx 132. Any of you had experience with underground boards?

I like the look of them, never ridden one. But i hear they handle chop well, which is what im after for when i ride in my home town...orewa.

Just wandering how tough they are, they seem really light compared to other boards of similar sizes. and how do you find they ride???

guys...???haha

someone must have an underground or have used one.

Beautiful boards, you can't go wrong. I don't think you'd ever find anyone who'd try to talk you out of it. They have heaps of flex for a smooth ride, but if you're heading out in light conditions go for a bigger size. The nice thing about say a FLX152 is their versatility; whilst it has enough surface area to make it a great light wind board, you can easily hold an edge with it in heavy winds if it picks up. Some people tend to buy a smaller size, when they would get better value for money out of a larger board because it increases your wind range. Smaller sizes tend to be more 'fashionable' which is sweet if you want to hold down a bigger kite, that way you can boost bigger air.

Thanks very much, yea all the reviews ive read rate them really well for chop and everything. I normally only get out when its fair blowing anyway....so i was thinking the 132 would be good, and ive got an old short board i use for lightwind, but was also looking at A schimter???is that how you spell it.....from Decay....

ahh the options....so with flex, is there any downside over a stiffer board??

Not for what you want, beacause it's the flex that makes it so comfortable to ride in the chop, just like any form of suspension. Stiffer boards may very well track upwind better; eg, the new underground 147 light wind board, but while it get's going in a breeze the strength of a gnat's fart, it is really uncomfortable to ride.

so is a stiffer board better for going upwind???

Hey

I'm from Germany and i come to Newzealand in November for half a year.
But to the FLX. I recently get the 2006 flx 132. I could use it only a few times, but i realy like the board. Going upwind is realy easy with it and it is very nice for choppy water.

Greetings from Germany
Asta

A stiffer board can be easier to ride upwind when you're lit but it's not the deciding factor when compared to wider tips. Balance is where it's at and matching that with your style and technique is what will give you the best enjoyment in the end of the day. The only real benefit from a stiff board is being able to load up for jumps and not loose any speed through increased rocker. Otherwise a stiff board with good rebound will perform well with wakestyle tricks but you'll be straining your knees in the chop and have a hard time keeping the board down when you're riding fast as it will rebound of every ripple. With Auckland being gusty and choppy most of the time that can often make for a short tiring session.

If you're in Auckland I'd definitely suggest you go make some new friends and ask to try a few different boards if only to get a feel for what you like.

BTW a Scimitar is the ultimate light wind weapon and real fun to ride in real surf with a bow or 5th line kite. A better buy than a ~20m kite IMHO.

Hey to Germany from New Zealand, i was up your way about a month ago, in Norway, its an awesome area.....

Yea I would like a slighlty softer board, becos i normally ride in chop. Also i found with an old board i had, when i edged hard the back of my legs were always hitting the tops of the chop, well everynow and then, and you would lose heaps of speed....prob just a technique thing but i found when i got a wider board it was a bit better.

Thats why i looked more towards the underground than the DVNT, cos they seem to be wider than the DVNT.

Sorry...i correct myself.....the dvnt boards are as wide, think they have a wider board to..... but the tips seem a bit skinnier..

Maybe that would be better for chop??

Hi Sam,

Everything else being equal narrower tips give a better ride in chop and much smoother/snowboard like carving - but also reduces your 'pop' for wake style moves.

This is why the flat water freestylers all ride square outline boards and guys like Franz Orly who rides TT's in waves have boards with a lot of curve in them.

You can push this a round a little tho - a square outline board with soft rails and more flex will be better in chop than the same outline built super stiff with sharp rails. However it still won't carve like a board with more outline will - also soft rails and more flex reduce the light wind ability of a given board size.

What are you really wanting to do?

Replace your current board with one that will work OK in all conditions OR add a second specialist light wind board to your quiver to extend your range?

Most experienced kiters would agree that a two board quiver of freestyle TT/light wind board gives you the largest range from your kites.

If you like you can send me a text on 021 654 149 and I'll call you back - then we can discuss this in more depth.

Cheers,

Dave Kay

Yes the current DVNT has narrower tips than the FLX making it a little easier to carve and railing when lit a lot more forgiving in chop. The FLX will have a little more bottom end, easier to drive upwind and a bit more rebound.

Again it's a matter of personal choice and compromise on the rest. You also learn to ride a board the way it was designed. Otherwise have a custom made to suit you or simply ride different boards for different conditions.