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Any one who has ridden this? I know it is just about the same as the mikes lab (cobra factory in Thailand )??

I would love input if it rides better in the front inserts, middle or rear inserts. Or perhaps centered on the pattern with the width of your choice??

I can't ride for several weeks and am just staring at it dreaming...

You can see at least where Maxime places his and maybe where the others do too by setting this to 1080.

Billy B. wrote:Any one who has ridden this? I know it is just about the same as the mikes lab (cobra factory in Thailand )??

I would love input if it rides better in the front inserts, middle or rear inserts. Or perhaps centered on the pattern with the width of your choice??

I can't ride for several weeks and am just staring at it dreaming...

The placement depends very much on your weight, your skill level and water conditions.

Here are some pointers:

Back Straps: The Farther back, the more leverage you will have on the fin, eg less pressure. This works if the wind is strong and the water is flat. The lighter the wind you want to move the strap father up to be able to push the board harder on the upwind

Front Straps: The farther forward you go, the more stable (less jumpy)the boards gets, but also slower.

Rule of thumb. Start in the middle, and see how the board rides. Then adjust accordingly.

--
Gunnar

I had my first day on my new North LTD today and it seems really nice. I made almost all my tacks today which is rare for me.

But I can't understand the 6 footstrap arrangement. The extra two rear footstraps hit your back foot toes constantly.. I just can't ride with the two extra straps. The promotional videos show most of the team riders riding with only four straps and that is certainly the way I will try next. Too bad they didn't put inserts in the rear center area for a fifth strap like most race boards do.

On the plus side the straps are very nice.. comfy but firm enough so they hold their shape.

On the negative side I was disappointed that the fin boxes were all too large and very crude. I have spent several hours with epoxy and sandpaper building up the inside of the Tuttle fin boxes so Tuttle base fins fit properly.

On the plus side the stock North fins feel great. I have two 42cm and one 40 cm. I have no idea how they compare in performance to my Rista fins.

Chris Glazier

cglazier wrote: The promotional videos show most of the team riders riding with only four straps and that is certainly the way I will try next. Too bad they didn't put inserts in the rear center area for a fifth strap like most race boards do.

Can you just get longer rear fin screws and put a 5th foot strap there?

davesails7 wrote:Can you just get longer rear fin screws and put a 5th foot strap there?

I wish it was that easy. Tuttle fins have screws about 4 1/8" apart and footstraps usually mount with screws about 6 1/4" apart. Also the North board fin screws are deeply recessed into the board (this is actually very nice). It would take installing at least one new insert to mount a fifth foot strap. The best riders don't often use the fifth strap so maybe I will just force myself to get by without it.. going downwind fast is going to be scary.

Incidentally, I mounted the basic four footstraps in their middle positions and they feel fine.

CG

I have repositioned the mounting holes in straps before to get a better fit - usually for length. It might work to drill and burn offset holes so the outboard strap is more outboard and the inboard strap is more inboard?

From how it rides the straps should be all the way forward, otherwise the board bounces pretty much.
They also should test the boards befor production - not all the riders have small footsize, mine is euro 47 and its hell f***g uncomfortable for the front foot as the board is very canted on the outline, the back foot seems OK.
Otherwise great board, good build quality and fast, if you choose the right fins (I assume the original NKB would work very well). Don't let some "big names" to sell you absolutely inappropriate fins though...

davesails7 wrote:

cglazier wrote: The promotional videos show most of the team riders riding with only four straps and that is certainly the way I will try next. Too bad they didn't put inserts in the rear center area for a fifth strap like most race boards do.

Can you just get longer rear fin screws and put a 5th foot strap there?

hey dave, how did you get the chicken strap for your board?
cheers

adamharr wrote:

davesails7 wrote: Can you just get longer rear fin screws and put a 5th foot strap there?

hey dave, how did you get the chicken strap for your board?
cheers

I don't have one. I was hoping there was a way to set up a strap just using the fin screws, but doesn't look like it is that easy.

I have a US size 9.5 shoe and my foot fits between the rear fin screw holes, but it's tight. Also the screws are recessed into the deck.