Kite Surfing

Hi

I´m gonna buy a board and i was considering seriously about getting the new bhoot 2010 of zeeko.

Could any give some information about this board? I have`nt found any test of it. Several opinions about zeeko kites but really few about their boads.

Another point is that zeeko now is selling the new 2011 kites, ¿do you know if they are going to offer any new board for 2011? If so i´would be outdated really soon.

My otherchoices were Airush Protoy 2010 135x41 or nobile 666 ¿any advice?

thanks a lot

The Zeeko dealer in WA has imported a few and was just on phone to me singing their praise.

"best board ever", he says.

I know that's a statement readers here should take with a grain of salt, But knowing his credentials It has meant I will be officially importing these boards.
http://docs.zeeko-kiteboarding.com/docs ... 0%20UK.pdf

I also have a friend in Europe who originally put me onto Zeeko, and was proved right about how great they are, who equally sings the praises of the Bhoot Board.
Essentially what they say on the website is true.

They will retail in Australia for $999.00 and we have our first shipment due in a few weeks.
Like with the Zeeko kites, they are made in limited numbers so all shipment numbers are small.

those interested in a demo or ordering one should contact us through our website.

PS: they are 2011 boards we are talking about.

We're going to have to run through the usual questions i'm afraid.
- How much do you weigh?
- Where and what conditions do you ride?
- What level of experience are you at, and what style do you want to pursue?
- What do you ride now? What do you like/dislike about it?
- What have you test ridden? What did you like?

The only board of the three you mentioned that i can give feedback on is the Nobile NHP 666. I'll probably be a bit biased as i'm riding a 2009 134x42 at the moment as my main board. It's a sensationally high performance board with very little compromise to comfort. The 2010 model is a different beast as they increased the rocker in it so it's a little slower and a little more comfortable but still the sort of board you want on your feet if your throwing freestyle tricks in flat water. If your usual conditions are choppy or rough then you might want to consider something with a little more flex and/or rocker.

I weight 80-85
I like traveling so conditions can be differents, but most of the time i´ll be in Mancora so... choppy water. There are lots of waves in that place but i´m not good enough to ride them yet.
I go down and upwind. I jumped, but i broke my leg 2 years ago (first railey atempt) and now it´s like new start. So i´will like to get a polivalent and confortable board which let me to improve not only freeride but also waves.
My actual board was a fanatic bronson (it was 2005 board!!!) so i guess many things have changed in during this time...

Thanks for your help.

P.S: In other forum Nicolau wrote that they are not going to get new boards for 2011, they consider this like the first 2011 product, cause it started selling 2 months ago. i don´t understan!!!

If you've broken your legs previously then i'd be opting for one of the boards with a bit more rocker and a bit more flex at the expense of lightwind riding. A stiff no-compromises freestyle board has a high chance of giving you pain and problems in the long run. Case in point - i had no knee problems until i started riding the 666... now i'm attempting to strengthen my knees to take the abuse i've been giving them. Could've just been my progression and how hard i was riding, but i think it's at least partly due to the board.

I'd be looking for something a little less aggressive.
Without brand bias and just throwing a few idea's around i'd suggest trying to demo...
- Naish Momentum (freestyle but with a bit more flex. Apparently great for freestyle in light chop)
- Nobile 555 (the 666's more freeride brother, but a sensational board by itself. Fairly smooth to ride, but its got the same style sharp handling as the 666)
- Xenon LaLuz (i haven't ridden one but they're supposedly one of the better boards recently with good comfort but still a real performer)
- Find Riot (i found it to be quite a well composed board that rode very smoothly. Enough flex to be comfortable but ample rigidity for great pop)

... i'm sure theres more but they'd be my recommendations for a starting point.

Hi koma:

Thanks a lot for your opinion, I really apreciate it.

I think i have to think twice about the zeeko bhoot, cause as you said the most important point for my next board must be my leg, i don´t want to suffer or to get pain again in it.

I heard that the bhoot was very flexy but everyone sais the best of their products, so as independient kiter i ´ll consider more your point.

Thanks again

I was fortunate enough to test the 135x40 Bhoot in smoking 22 knots on Thursday it was the first strong sea breeze for the season , the location was Seperation Point Geraldton ,
conditions were dead flat water on the inside to large ocean chop ans 2m swell on the outside , the board performed perfect in both.
As the Bhoot has more rocker then any other twin tip I have ridden I thought it might be down on top end speed , this is not the case , the Bhoot Stings along .
First impression was its the most loose twin tip I have ridden , so the board challenged me a bit at first but then I found my groove and described the feeling as the board feels alive.
As anyting Nicolas does his attention to detail is what stands out , the board looks sick , the graphics are hot , followed by a gloss finish on the deck.
Another bonus is the foot straps fit so easy , you can fully dismantle them and with the L shaped plastic screw plate incert the screw with ease ( reducing risk of cross threading ) and put the strap back together , as they are fully ajustable you can tweek them while on the beach flying the kite.
I have the Krush on its way will post a report soon

Powerplay - you said the Bhoot was one of the loosest TT's you've ridden. What size fins were you riding with? What boards could you compare it to in terms of ride characteristics. It's just that every review ends up sounding the same unless you can compare it to other boards.

Hi Powerplay

first of all thanks for your opinion, but the question is easier ¿do you think it´s a good board to someone with a damaged leg?

Anyway i´m with kona, you just put 1 post and you are saying that you have the krush when it´s not available yet.

A question ¿do you have business with zeeko? If i´m wrong i really apologize.

Anyway as i said thanks for your point

regards

Mageri,
I suffer with a left knee that has been bad for 15yrs, a right knee i wrecked the ligs last year and a left ankle joint that floats in and out.

So Boards that are easy on my legs are important. The Fact is it is harder to find a bad one than a good one.
But going for a board aimed at freeriding will be better than one aimed at freestyle.

In answer to the 2011 question, there was a 2010 board but this was updated about 2 months ago to the new Bhoot and so is now the 2011 model.
Although the Model run of the boards is not really coinciding with Calendar years.

Jesus ralkite!!! You are worse than me, and i thought it was difficult!!!

Thanks again for your answer, i had received two offers and i didn´t know the difference of price between them. Now i think it´s regarding the update you mean. I guess that the design will be diferent too ¿isn´t it?

Now last question (i promisse) you that have suffered a lot of lessions and keep kiteboarding ¿which is your opinion of that board to people like you and me with damaged legs?

thanks in advance

It's all about the right flex, Not about too stiff or too flexy. too Much flex makes a board skip about over chop, load up and gain rocker during start off, which puts pressure on knees during acceleration.

Too little flex and the ride roughens and you get like a vibration effect that works at ankles and knees.

stiffer in middle, with a flatter rocker helps board both plane easier and cut through chop. More flex at tips smooths out landings taking some jarring away.

The under shape of a board is not so important, but edge shape both profile and in cross section is very important.
The Board I ride currently is dead flat on bottom with a moderate curved profile, and sharp thin rails.
My knees need help during direction change so a profile that allows easy carving and smooth transition from heel to toeside.

Some boards are marketed on twist features, in theory it sounds good but for the life of me I can't notice during riding whether a board is good or bad in twist, Just as I get no good vibes from all these elaborate under side shapes.

The Asymmetrical outline of the new Bhoot is the part that gets my attention, I love the feeling of a powered bottom toeside turn on a wave and I see the Bhoot profile being a big plus for that.

I also go for light weight and short (130cm) boards to reduce swing weight and load on my legs in the air.

Hope this helps and I hope you keep asking questions.

Tony

Hi Tony:

Thanks again for your answers. i just ordered my bhoot board!!!

I´ll receive it in 3 weeks, when i try it, i´ll write my impressions.

Regards

I now have the 131 & 140 wind comming in the next few days , will give a report soon.