2011 137x 43 raptor pro
I previously rode a 135x41 bulldozer which I think is an awsome freestyle/freeride board but is a little stiffer ride which some may not like for freeride in the chop.
Having not ridden any previous raptor pros this is not a comparative review.
First of all the board is a beauty. At first glance it appears to be a pure freestyle board. It is very flat in the midsection and has a smooth progressive scoop rocker that I measured to be about 3cm of rocker. So, very little rocker which makes this board fast and great for jumping.
The concave is completely tip to tip not just the section under your feet which made the board feel very locked in on edge. During the first ride I wasn't sure if I liked it better than my bulldozer, but once I got dialed in on this board it is has a very nice feel and is extremely versatile. The crazy flex tips are apparently a new design for this year and are the stand out feature IMO on this board. The flex is incredible and NOT flimsey at all, it is the type of flex the doesn't slow the board down and increases potential energy for pop better than any other flex characteristics I have tried on a twin tip. The flex allows for great carving with excellent control. A board with more rocker and that is stiffer would feel more skatey and less locked in on a carve. if you want a board that carves heel to toe with superb control this is it. It took a few rides to get dialed in; the potential is a little more technical than say a slingshot sx which is very skatey and slippery.To push the raptor into a carve requires weighting your back foot more and really powering through a turn. I love the locked in control and drive through the turns as there is very little loss of speed because the board flexes where it is loaded and conserves momentum very well.
The Mid section is quite stiff and when the board first arrived I was wondering if the ride was going to be any softer then my bulldozer. What I found is the board still has the solid fast feel of a stiff board with very excellent upwind ability and shock absorbtion where you want it without any flimsey feeling. When I say flimsey I mean a flexability that can be too flacid and has very little recoil properties that slow you down and damper pop. The flex on this board increases pop and allows speed to be maintained when loading and the board reamains stable will not get away from you when loading for a jump. although it can be technically tapped into the raptor is very stable and easy to ride for a new kiter and the type of board that you will grow into and never need another twin tip in my opinion. The concave all the way to the tip gives good torsion control too, which means there is less twisting along the heal to toe axis at the tips which contributes to overall board control.
Bottom line: this is the board that does everything and is super easy to ride. For my weight 185lbs dry, this is the perfect all around size and never feel over powered on it. I had it out the other day at Ocean beach in San Francisco and there was an occasional gust to 50mph and I was never over powered on the board with average speed at or near 30 mph.
Now for the negative: : The STRAPs and pads have an overall great fit and they are comfortable. A little less cushion than the previous 09 pad but better for board offs. The straps fit great and require very little work with your toes to hang on to the board and they are a great fit for my 10.5 inch feet. Here is the bad part: The velcro sucks.... in fresh water you will probably be ok, but in salt water the velcro will come undone as it did 5 times with me in a 2.5 hour session, each time having to return to shore and park the kite on the sand depowered in pause mode to reset my straps. What a dissapointment from an otherwise awsome near perfect board and straps. I have a friend who is an out door gear sales rep and said crapy velcro will come undone when lubricated with microorganisms in salt water. So, this must be crap velcro because the 09 straps never did this and the adhesive properties of this velcro is less tacky and easier to undo even when dry. Bummer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crazyfly FIX THIS. and yes the straps are installed properly I already confirmed this.
My idea to fix this is to sew in a piece of industrial strength velcro and see how that works.
Great board and strap/pad setup just watch out for the velcro.
Hope this review helps and please email any questions.
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