pretty sure mr hadlow is all Flexi, foil that is!!
I bet he doesn't ride a flexi board strait off the shelf though. At his level of riding a lot of guys ride custom boards dressed up to look like a production board. They may only have small mods, different stance, different rocker, custom flex basically a board that suits them 100%. The closest the rest of us can get to that is a cardboards board, or something from a local board shaper. But then again we do get to choose boards from a lot of companies so most people can find a board that best suits them. Mr hadlow cant do that.
Im not saying he doesn't have a strong influence in the production boards, i think they would just be a cheaper version of what he rides but aimed more to suit every day kiters.
your not entirely right waxman, people like Hadlow get new products to test all the time,
Im sure in a perfect world a pro would have his favourite board built 100% the way they like each year same board, but factors of sales, marketing, costs of production & materials also play their part. As well as sponsors.
But the fact is a pro can ride on any board and make it look good. I dont think a company would like having to make extra models just for one of their pro's cuz he doesn't like riding his own 'pro model' - i might be wrong?
I would not be happy though as a pro to have my own 'pro model board' that is nothing like the one i actually ride. (changing fins & boots/bindings is a different story though)
I don't really like to admit this but it's probably time. I'm sure flexi won't be happy but about me telling people this but Aaron doesn't use off the shelf boards. I custom build the boards for him based on specific requirements and then the flexi graphics are sub-laminated onto the boards along with all the other sponsors logos.
The latest board he's riding is a 132.5x42 I built specifically to handle the heavy chop found In tarifa where he's currently training. He also rides a 139x42 with bindings which was custom built with a 2" rocker and steel inserts to handle the strain from the bindings.
The boards are constructed by me using sandwiched wheatbix with oreo crossbeams for extra strength. If you ever seen sandwiched oreo's and dipped them in your hot chocolate, you'll understand how stiff oreo's can be. I then glass them with a combination of syrup and epoxy, the syrup helps give the exact flex pattern needed on the board.
Hope this helps you in your quest for Aaron Hadlow perfection.
dude! nobody uses the weet-bix/oreo construction anymore, its all about vegemite salada and iced vovos this year
I've experimented with vegemite salada sandwich construction and it works for weekend warriors but its just not strong enough for the power loops hadlow does. Naish has put in vegemite salada and iced vovos on their 2011 line up and watch how many of their boards break this year. Its so typical of the big manufacturers, mass production in sweatshops without thinking about the consumer. I guarantee my Weetabix construction boards against breakage for at least 3 breakfasts (milk dependent)
I have heared North are still sticking (or not sticking) to their bees wax valve construction.Warrenty disclaimer...not to be used in over 25 degrees or they may come off.
Cost of production is cheap for a one off board, its just material if you already own the machine, wood, glass, carbon etc. The new cnc machines can cut out almost anything. The only extra cost would be in time, which i am sure sponsors would spend on a ridder like Mr Hadlow
FYI, all the latest boards use a neutrograin carbon core surrounded by honey comb. Served with cold milk, can't be beat
I have heared North are still sticking (or not sticking) to their bees wax valve construction.Warrenty disclaimer...not to be used in over 25 degrees or they may come off.
Sadly Colin McCulloch passed away last year, but I have it on good authority that in the past, Aaron would only ride custom boards made by him. Who shapes his current boards I do not know, but Oreos and syrup and wheatbix sound delicious
i cant think of any GOOD pros that ride customs with fake graphics put on. both kite or wake that i have met.
hadlow always rode lost cause boards until Colin passed away. Pretty sure he's doing boards with flexi now.
everyone i met so far are generally always on some form of a prototype of the next year's board or on the normal production boards. Only person I can say I met that rides a board that wasn't a production for the company he's sponsored by was Joe from airush a few years back.
i cant think of any GOOD pros that ride customs with fake graphics put on. both kite or wake that i have met.
hadlow always rode lost cause boards until Colin passed away. Pretty sure he's doing boards with flexi now.
everyone i met so far are generally always on some form of a prototype of the next year's board or on the normal production boards. Only person I can say I met that rides a board that wasn't a production for the company he's sponsored by was Joe from airush a few years back.
Are we talking the same level, are all the pros you have met been riding PKRA with Mr Hadlow? Do you think these pros would cut there own throats to tell you they are using a dressed up board, remembering there job is to promote the factory gear?
yes u clown. most of those said pros ride my local every summer, andy rides production boards, ruben, dre, duno what hadlows doing now but everyone knew he rode lost cause customs.
Yeah Charl is right, Hadlow used to ride colins board and had done for the last 5 years or so.
Funny thing is that it suited Colin making boards for him, because he never had to finish them off as they then went to Flexi for graphics and the like.
Only problem is that when you got your new board Colin would make you finish it off yourself, which was part of the great thing about getting one of his boards. Time well spent with a mate.
