There were a couple of guys around here that were riding a thin Liquid Force board based on a wakesurfer. Can' remember the name offhand, but I tried them. Nice enough in flat water, very heavy though, and did not like to turn in small waves.
I've been reading a bit and heard a number of good reviews on the Underground Kipuna, but have never seen one in person, let alone ridden one. I'm looking for something versatile, not a high rockered surfboard with lots of toe-in to go real slow on. I'd like to have a fun light ride for flat water and smaller chop, and worry about a wave machine later. I'm not looking for a super flat lightwind door though, either. I want to build it light, to mess around with small airs and popping it out of the water.
So, on the Kipuna, does anyone know what kind of rocker line it has? Also, that board is made pretty thin, with thicker rails and a full EVA deck. I like the idea of a thin board, but it seems to me that if you want to build a board with some flex, the thicker it is, the less glass it needs to get the same flex, and the more stress you might have if you tried to make a board with a bit of flex if it had thick rails. When the board flexes the thicker rails would be in a lot of compression on top, carrying a lot of the load.
Or a board like this, or even on a thicker surfboard, is it possible to build enough flex into the board to noticeably increase the rocker when loaded in the turn, or does board flex mostly just help to absorb shocks and soften the ride? Also, I'm not sure how to sort out the fins, since the fin boxes need some board thickness, and also would interfere with flex. Maybe this is where compromise starts to kick in....
Thoughts?
Peter