Rider: 80 Kg
Style:Wake
Weather: 15-35 knots
Build Quality: 8/10
Satisfaction: 10/10
Disclosure: Pay for all my gear

My Comments:

About me:
I've been riding wakestyle now for over 12 years, but as Im now in my mid 40's it does not come as easy as it used to, I have to work hard on my fitness and flexibility, but I still just enjoy doing what I can do.

I've had my Pop now for 4 months now so thought Id try my hand at doing a review on it.
I needed another board, and when Tona announced they were doing a wakestyle board it immediately got me excited. It was in fact the most excited I've been about a board since LF built the Picklefork.
I picked it up from Jason at WOK and for the price it seamed like excellent value. The board comes without foot straps, as it is supposed to be ridden with boots, with or without fins.
When I first saw it I thought it looked quite chunky, with the thickness in the centre almost carrying through to the tips. The board feels noticeably stiffer and slightly heavier than most mass produced production boards. The weight in fact is about 500g more than other boards I looked at. It has big channels and small fins showing its wakestyle heritage. The deck is high gloss but scratches easily. The base is a very hard plastic and shells and small rocks don't even mark it ,even when running it up the beach. Perfect for rails and kickers (later this summer). Even though its called a 138 its actually 139.
The first few times out on it were in the middle of winter in gusty on shore conditions, with a big dumpy shore break. With it small fins and big rocker I was a bit worried about getting out through the shore break in onshore winds, but it got out just as easy as anything else Ive ever ridden. After about 5 mins it felt like I'd been sailing it for years.
Flat water unhooking is where this board really comes into its own. I could notice the difference when popping straight away. The stiffness really helps and I have changed my technique slightly now to take advantage of this, I have found I can pop more off the tail of the bored and I can feel the boared actually springing me off the water, kind of like doing an Ollie on a stiff snowboard. This also gives me more slack, and I need all the help I can get to make a pass.
Last time I went out I broke one of the fins trying a board slide along a bank of seaweed, so I took all the fins off. Without fins the bored certainly managed to go upwind just as well, and it even seemed slightly faster, although a bit more skateier. I recon I could also pop a bit harder, not too sure how that works though. So Im going to leave it finless.
The rocker and channels in the bottom really help cushion hard landings, believe me with a reconstructed knee I can feel the difference straight away.
I have not noticed the weight of the board at all, and really, if weight is an issue for you, then a wakestyle board is probably not what you are after.
A very forgiving board, faster than I expected it would be, and it goes upwind very well, but loading it up hard is where its at.

Great review. Has anyone ridden it back to back to the LF DLX 2013? I'm in the market for a new board and unfortunately haven't been able to find a demo of the Tona in Melbourne...

I am currently looking for a more suitable board to put boots on. Would a 70 kg rider be better off with the 133 or the 138?

McSalty said...
Great review. Has anyone ridden it back to back to the LF DLX 2013? I'm in the market for a new board and unfortunately haven't been able to find a demo of the Tona in Melbourne...

Fluid over in Altona should be stocking them soon, but any of the shops down there can order them. We sold out of the 1.38, more on the way (within 2 weeks now I hope) and the new 1.42 as well, still have 1.33's for lighter weight riders in stock.
Anyone who is into wake style and who has ridden this board has nothing but good things to say about them. Price, quality and warranty are excellent too.

Kitepower Australia said...

McSalty said...
Great review. Has anyone ridden it back to back to the LF DLX 2013? I'm in the market for a new board and unfortunately haven't been able to find a demo of the Tona in Melbourne...

Fluid over in Altona should be stocking them soon, but any of the shops down there can order them. We sold out of the 1.38, more on the way (within 2 weeks now I hope) and the new 1.42 as well, still have 1.33's for lighter weight riders in stock.
Anyone who is into wake style and who has ridden this board has nothing but good things to say about them. Price, quality and warranty are excellent too.

Steve are u saying that the 142 is in the next batch coming or just the 138's

Awaken said...

Kitepower Australia said...

McSalty said...
Great review. Has anyone ridden it back to back to the LF DLX 2013? I'm in the market for a new board and unfortunately haven't been able to find a demo of the Tona in Melbourne...

Fluid over in Altona should be stocking them soon, but any of the shops down there can order them. We sold out of the 1.38, more on the way (within 2 weeks now I hope) and the new 1.42 as well, still have 1.33's for lighter weight riders in stock.
Anyone who is into wake style and who has ridden this board has nothing but good things to say about them. Price, quality and warranty are excellent too.

Steve are u saying that the 142 is in the next batch coming or just the 138's

Yep as far as I'm aware the 1.42's will be in the next shipment along with plenty of 1.38's

united said...
Hi there these boards sound sweet,just wondering if a 138 would be big enough for some one about 87kgs keen to grab one cheers.

You might be OK I recon they feel a bit bigger than their size would suggest. Best to give them a go. Ask WOK if he has a demo, or I can let you have a quick go on mine if you fit a size 10.

united said...
Hi there these boards sound sweet,just wondering if a 138 would be big enough for some one about 87kgs keen to grab one cheers.

142 Tona's will be landing @ kitepower in roughly a week. that would be a great size for your weight.

simonp said...
Brad,
Do you know of anyone bringing them into NZ? If not, how much would it cost to send one over?

Hey Simon!

You may have already gathered but its Brad ( ex Assault ) Hope your having a good season Sup-ing and kiting, There is no one i know of thats doing them in NZ, to send to NZ its roughly $100AUD with insurance.

Bradkit3r said...

united said...
Hi there these boards sound sweet,just wondering if a 138 would be big enough for some one about 87kgs keen to grab one cheers.

142 Tona's will be landing @ kitepower in roughly a week. that would be a great size for your weight.

i tried the 138 today and is AWESOME in the flat water, oh and im 120Kgs, fit tho not fat, found it really good just a little short for the larger chop

1.33 for you for sure, boards are well priced and easy to sell when/if you need a bigger one.

rowdy's the man to ask. All i know is that the base will hold up just fine in comparison to a dlx. I didn't have any issues with it a cable but i'm only a newb. If money is no object i'd get a dedicated cable board man and double up on the boots ;)

Our team go out to the cable park at Penrith frequently and they rate the Tona's for use out there, I'll get Elliot Drury to reply.

Rowdy is working with Axis on a new board called the Bootleg, its almost in production or has commenced production and we will have some in approx 3-4 weeks. Rowdy is on the Ozone Int'l team and is now supported for board by Axis, Elliot is Ozone Nat'l team and Kitepower, same for boards.

Just a quick question, does anyone know if this board works with the hyperlite process boots with system bindings?

Yep, we have guys running that combo here.

Charl dv said..

it should do, hyperlite system bindings are no different from any other standard 6" bindings and should fit on any board that can fit standard bindings.

Have to disagree. While the Hyperlites mightbe ok with the Tona, they are actually slighlty different to standard spacing. Works well on Axis boards. But does tend to pull sliding rails up (bend them on my Gambler). And on the Joke as well as LF boards I could only fit it at very straight angle but not duck stance. So definitely try it on the respective board before buying.