Kiteforum.com

Having owned all iterations of the Monk from an original 130cm version which was a tad too small for me at 77kg which meant when the 132 came out it felt like a custom ride to me. Since then I have had all versions and dabbled with a SuperShinn and a Street in between but kept coming back to the Monk as it is exactly what I want in a board.

To some it might seem power hungry and not have much of a low-end and this is partially true, but I think a lot of it is perception as the board really comes alive when the wind is cranking. That said the new Monk Forever has solved a lot of this as it definitely has better low-mid range power and somehow does manage to keep the 'Monkness' so even though it feel a little stiffer underfoot it still excels in crap conditions and never sprays - don't know what board Rich was on but it does not sound like a Monk.

I have also spent a fair bit of time on a 138 Wainman Joke (plus many other boards) which is a very good board and although both could be classed as freestyle boards they are very very different boards to ride. The Joke glides over chop compared to the Monk cutting through it and so they both feel comfortable in different ways. The Joke is a better flat water freestyle board for static pop and it does let you away with some sketchy landings; however the Monk is a better hooked in freestyle jumping machine (nothing comes close) as the edge bite, control and acceleration of it IMO are unsurpassed.

They will both do a bit of what each other does, but if you want all out, balls to the wall, set your hair on fire riding in the worst possible conditions then the Monk takes it.

So good I said it twice!

Can someone who has these boards give me the actual measurements for the stances? I'm going to order one of them and want to make sure. Thanks

John-B wrote:So good I said it twice!

Go a third john I dare ya!

Monk is an excellent all round board, especially for choppy conditions. It may not have as much pop as some boards but it makes up for this with control and speed. Havent tried the Monk Forever but I hear it has more pop.

Oldnbroken wrote:Really depends on whether you have steady wind or not.
With steady coastal winds, it just becomes a question of kite size.
If you have the right kite, the 132X41 is awesome.
In the lakes, with the gusts and lulls is where the 132X41 was a challenge when not lit.
The extra length of the Joke 138 is good to cope with that.
I would not sell it before trying.
After three rides, if you are careful, it will still be as new.

Biggest kite is a 12m 2012 Park and I probably wouldn't bother driving over to the coast unless it was approaching 16knts.

I do have a Nobile XTR for light wind which I'm yet to try though!

I ride the 142 Joke, weigh 72kgs, height 5.10. I ride ronix bindings, I could get away with the 138 but I find the 142 is heaps better as it plains easy, smashes upwind and through chop, really nice for pop and on landings.

The real benefits are that for trying handle passes you don't need as much kite, therefore its easier to pass in the air. Boards that have more rocker than your typical flat boards like slingshot lunacy, require a bigger size. That's the case with the Joke and other models like Cabrinha custom which are for wake style.