Kiteforum.com

Any thoughts on which board is better for chop? WAM or Whip or Kontact

Both are great in Chop , The Wam is thinner and If bigger waves are your program it is the board of choice, Plus with the 3 or 4 fin set up it has some character change.. It likes a little more power in the kite but rewards the rider with quick turns that have some snap..The Whip is super fun and playfull skate style, and likes to go a little bit slower then the wam so if you want a nice playful board for smaller waves and lake style chop and to ride a smaller kite then it is a blast...


This Year I went with a Nugget and a pro 5'11 and am beyond happy...!

Ya thanks. Really im looking for a high wind board, but debating what shape would work best in my conditions. We get all lot of chop and I've got a bad knee so if one board were smoother that would tilt my decision I guess. Sometimes hit great lakes waves, so up to 10 feet wind produced.

Looking at the 5 10 WAM or 5' 6 whip.

Bigger waves wham. Smaller or mushier, whip. A slimmer board cuts through chop better, so the wham for your knees. Both have a bit of flex. Your knees won't get better by hammering through chop though..

Got the wham,nugget,underground free wave,along with another 4 or 5,wham is a great wave board one of the best.bad knee you will suffer one hour on wham,five hours on underground.off all the surfboards i have underground is the best for joint problems,its also the best all round fun board,almost as much low end as nugget and as good as high end as wham straped or strapless chop or 15ft waves its good,check out the kiteworld test,on kipuna,as tester says cant understand why there not more popular,hope this helps TONY

My favorite board is neither one............. for the conditions you describe

I go for the 5'9" Kontact...it is a chop killer...the EZiest there is for the knees

Nothing tracks through chop like that board...with minimum bounce due to it's narrowness and shape

Works like magic for me at 75kg/165lbs with my 10-8-6 and 5 Rebels...from 20 to 40 knots

Ocean surf chop......intracoastal river chop.....that board rips it...and keeps the knees happy for more

........................................... ......................................................................................................

I had an Underground 5'8" Kipuna. Nice board until it broke after 10 months. It was replaced with an 2011 5'8" WAM. I could not believe how much nicer the WAM felt compared to the Kipuna. I ride the WAM with my 6m, 9m, 13.5m quiver in all conditions. It has turned out to be an awesome one board quiver for me. The Kipuna was also a good one board quiver, but the WAM is just that much better for me.

I ride Whip (5.6) and Kontact (5.11)
It's a killer combo. Kontact is great for chop and larger surf and more speed.
While whip is super fun on smaller waves or no waves to throw around.

You cannot have everything in one board. But if you go for only one board it depends on your conditions and riding style, i guess...wham

I have wam 5.8 2012 used all summer ,bought now kontact 5.11 2012 with rebels.I am 77 kg.
I do not use wam anymore ,it is on selling,much softer the kontact and keeps speed better.,wam is an hammer in chops but turns faster
if your concern is knees try kontact 5.11 before buying. a friend got 5.9 but needs bigger kite compared to wam 5.8
ciao

piccio wrote:I have wam 5.8 2012 used all summer ,bought now kontact 5.11 2012 with rebels.I am 77 kg.
I do not use wam anymore ,it is on selling,much softer the kontact and keeps speed better.,wam is an hammer in chops but turns faster
if your concern is knees try kontact 5.11 before buying. a friend got 5.9 but needs bigger kite compared to wam 5.8
ciao

I'm surprised about all the suggestions to try the Kontact for chop!

I never would have considered it as gun shapes are always marketed as down the line, big wave stuff.

You guys are sure its easy on the joints? and not too hard core?

Would it be too hard to ride strapless, I'm still a bit of a beginner for surfboards, but loving them so much I'm looking to add a high wind board.