Hey gang,

just wondering if any one has some opinions on the new North Whip boards? I understand its similar to the Firewire Vanguard but I was wondering how the Whip is going?

Thanks for sharing,

Robbie

some heavy in weight and some heavy using it ,77 kg and 74 my friend .we are using also new and old proseries , that is why maybe feel whip "heavy.
anyway personally did not fall in love with it, but is yust a quick impression , I tried one time only cannot say much.
ciao

Puetz said..
Hey gang,

just wondering if any one has some opinions on the new North Whip boards? I understand its similar to the Firewire Vanguard but I was wondering how the Whip is going?

Thanks for sharing,

Robbie

Hi Robbie,

I have been having a blast on the whip! i'm not the biggest surfboard fan but i do enjoy getting out and playing around on one every now and again. I have found it to be lively and fun. Easy to get back up wind maybe with a smidgeon more front foot pressure than you would use on your traditional shaped surfboard. I did find that it had a narrow sweet spot for your back foot. so if you have you back foot a couple of inches to far forward then it made it hard to turn and felt like a pig until i moved my back foot just that 2 extra inches back and then it came alive.

Dl33ta said..
I demoed one in my search for a light wind surfboard, so the wind was pretty light (10-14 kts) when I tried it. It didn't fit any of the criteria for that purpose at all, not enough volume up front and too narrow. At 85kgs it sunk way too quickly for my liking not giving you enough time to drift out a lull. The demo board had a fair bit of heel compression going on but it could have had a fair bit of use, not sure.

Probably would have been a pretty lively board in the 17-30 kt range though.

D133ta what size did you demo? If you are looking for a light wind board you might be better off demoing exactly that a "light wind board" instead of a strapless freestyle wave board. Dedicated wave boards tend to have too much rocker and or the wrong outline for super early planing. Maybe try something like the nugget.

Dl33ta said...

Dl33ta said..
I demoed one in my search for a light wind surfboard, so the wind was pretty light (10-14 kts) when I tried it. It didn't fit any of the criteria for that purpose at all, not enough volume up front and too narrow. At 85kgs it sunk way too quickly for my liking not giving you enough time to drift out a lull. The demo board had a fair bit of heel compression going on but it could have had a fair bit of use, not sure.

Probably would have been a pretty lively board in the 17-30 kt range though.

D133ta what size did you demo? If you are looking for a light wind board you might be better off demoing exactly that a "light wind board" instead of a strapless freestyle wave board. Dedicated wave boards tend to have too much rocker and or the wrong outline for super early planing. Maybe try something like the nugget.

Hey Damo, it was the 24 litre one. With you on trying out a light wind board. I went into the shop and asked to try the nugget but they were convinced that the whip was the business so I walked out with that instead lol. I'm trying to line up a go on the timbertek sweet potato, apparently made from organic based resins and renewable paloma, at least tries to tick some of the green boxes.

If you can't get a demo on the FW, your welcome to try my 5'0 2013 Nugget, when Im back next. As far as I know it's pretty much the same as the SP. IMO it's one of the best light wind surfboards ever but for an all-rounder the Vangaurd handles bigger waves (I now have the 5'2). The VG doesn't quite have as good low end but has a way better top end.

I also plan on getting a FW TT Sweet Potato, once the Nugget dies.


@ Robbie, I know you already have a Nugget, a Whip should work well in your board quiver. The VG styled boards like to be ridden same as the Nugs - off the back foot.

Not sure why North didn't come up with a different name for this board. There is no resemblance to previous Whips of the concept behind them...

76kg on the small Whip. Feels really nice for me in normal windy conditions. Rode it once in 15kts still felt ok, good planing. I find the shape very forgiving for strapless wave riding, board pivots really well, carves hard or you can get it loose and doesn't catch the nose which some other boards with this shape can do. If anything - like Damo was indicating - sweet spot is way back with that blocky tail but also feels like the front foot pad should be brought back a few inches as well.

6,2 Pro Series would be a nice fit , let me know when your home ill drop it over...