I'm trying to get my head around whether channels make any real difference to a twin tip and if they do then what?

Anyone got a view?

Back in 2007 I was riding around on an 2004 underground 132cm which had a completely flat bottom. I used to get really sore ankles til one day whinging to a friend about my sore ankles when he said to try his board. It was a 2005 underground 132 which looked like the same board except with a single concave. Immediately it rode much smoother and my ankles felt better. I swapped back and forth, one run with flat bottom then the concaved board. Each time the concaved board was much smoother and my ankles loved it. I ordered a new 132 and it had a double concave. It rode smooth and my ankles loved it but it wasn't as lively as the old 2004. Landing jumps were better as the board gripped better with out grabbing too hard like big fins would and bucking you off.

Little, or subtle shapes make a difference, proberly not in normal riding, as in, just edging along, but when you do stuff with your board, the water flow is changed and controlled at different points on the hull, gripping and making the board resist sliding, such as landing hot from a big jump or changing from heal to toe in a high speed gybe, grippy but not biting or grabbing and throwing you off!

cheers for now,

Robbie

Channels will make a board structurally stronger.

They allow the board to edge better with less imput,way better toeside riding with a channeled board and they make the landings way softer ,also helps deflect spray away from the rider,to date the best board i have ever ridden would be the Cardboards FR 131 ,it has a four channel concave,and you can toeside it hard out without it even looking like spinning out.

Channels help you get from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

14nce said...

concaves and channels do very different things. Concaves disperse water making landings and riding through chop more comfortable. Much like the hull of a boat.

Channels will provide more traction on the water for better edge hold.

Pretty much all boards have concaves to the bottom, few kite boards have channels.

Do concave and channels get used together? So, are the channels carved onto a concave surface to get both effects or is that overkill?

Concaves are built into the board by putting it in a rocker jig at the wood/divinicell stage. Concaves make the board faster and stronger, as having a flat section through the middle of the board reduces drag, but allows the rocker to be constant on the edge to help with edging.
Channels are either epoxy or some are then are carved in. Some boards channels are made in the wood stage eg Noble NHP.

Hi Peeps,

The channels help control Yaw movement. They help align the board with the direction of travel when landing jumps/tricks and enable the fins to bite in earlier which gives better control.

DM

Channels give you grip but also slow you down. If you want to ride a board without fins they are especially good. I also like the feel of channels on a surfboard like on the old shortboards.

Thanks everyone. Much appreciated.