NW this week

[LeopardSkin]

Locarno osr. 12 knots. Concession stand is closed

[Roxstock]

Another 12m day at kits. A little more wind than yesterday for the first hour 3:45-4:45 and still decently powered until 5:45 then it started to drop off. A busy day for kits, about 10 kites, 2 of which ended up downtown.

[tweegster]

Got out in WR 530 to 700, was lit on a 17m. Wind was gusty and side offshore but very warm

[bandito]

ferry tsawa was good , 11till 6 ,lots of 12m ,nice sunshine.

[adam2]

I too scored a sweet after work session 6:00-7:30 up at the west concession. 4 other non-foilers on 10-14m kites there too.

Wind was a bit on the light side, about 14g20 but lots to work with during the gusts.

I was on 12m + Wave Bandit Performer 4-10.

The Wave Bandit delivers yet again! Such a versatile board. I wasn't sure how well it would kite after wake surfing it but it did very well. It's a bit slow and a bit wobbly when adjusting your feet, but lively to ride and goes up wind well.Seeing as it's only 5.6 lbs it's quite decent for strapless airs, even in the lightish winds tonight. On the flip side because it's so light it tends to chatter unless you ride with your front foot quite far forward. Also at such low weight and high volume it might get away from you downwind in 25+ knots. Super easy to catch and hold during airs too. Because of the light weight I was able to catch the board with my feet in the air and save jumps that I wouldn't have landed with my other boards.

It rides a bit different that all my other surfboards and took a bit to get used to. It has crazy soft rails so it rides very differently on the rail vs. on the fins. It rides very well backwards, better than every other surfboard I've tried except the Shinnster. Goes upwind backwards at Shinnster levels too.

I didn't get a chance to surf it at all tonight because the waves were small and the wind was too light and onshore. I already know it surfs well though so I'm not too worried.

Overall the board is very comfortable and forgiving, it makes you want to really push the board to it's limits. Also super nice being able to hit any random flotsam and not give a shit or let the board wash up on a rocky beach while focusing on landing your kite.

I'm not sure how well it will hold up to kiting, I put some decent sized heel dents in it today and it only has 2 wood stringers as opposed to the 3 that the adult boards have. At $150 USD though it doesn't have to last forever. My sissy feet sure did like the soft landings though.

Comparing the board to the OR Jester they fill similar roles, the Wave Bandit being able to kite waves is a big plus but the OR Jester has that chop eating concave perfect for Squamish to save my old man knees.

Comparing to my Cab Secret Weapon this is more of a fun board to fool around on vs. a serious surfboard.

Comparing to my skim, not much to compare as they are very different.

Comparing to the Shinnster they are both comfortable and casual, Shinnster is just way smoother and easier but it can't do airs or surf waves.

No option for weed fins either. I guess I could grind the plastic fins, might work.

I think this is going to be my air travel board for sure, checks so many boxes and not too many drawbacks. 148 cm, 5.6 lbs, can't ding it.

The wax is a bit annoying in the car but the softtop + wax combo is very nice on the feet.

Nice!