underground 132 07' Vs UG 135 08'

[Davepalu]

Would love some comments from the freestyler/Wakestyler experts as I do all diciplines- surfing being my background.......................
rider: 36 yrs, kiting 4 yrs, IKO accredited instructor, 90kgs(not fat/cant lose any more weight), 178cm tall, part shop sponsorship riding fuels/ Rhinos( for light wind)............................................all old school moves, wakestyle good but just doing airborne handlepasses this season....

Got an UG 132 07' and has been a fantastic board easy to edge, great on the knees, fast, forgiving and responsive.
Interested and tried a 08' UG 135 in light shitty wind as the West Aust. season is finished. The extra couple of cm and extra width/different tail made a difference of about 2-3 knots and also felt a difference in the load and pop characteristics....
my question is, is it worth spenting a couple of hundred dollars on an upgrade now as Im travelling soon and this wakestuff is more my focus???? Anyone changed over???
N.B. Wakestyle rocks, freestyle rocks, old school rocks, and a kite on the shitty waves of Perth certainly rocks, keep up the stoke...............

[baller]

I am your size, but more of a wakestyler than old school. I found the 07 132 had a nice feel, but some spray in the face, and I found it hard to throw tricks from toeside in anything but flat water. My new 135 ROCKS! It lands to blind and toeside soooo much easier. The little extra area makes an amazing difference. If you ride chop, upgrade!

[MarcusH]

Very interested in this thread as I'm in pretty much the same position. I have always ridden Underground boards and currently own the 07 132 FLX. I love the 07 but it is quite skatey/loose and I'm looking for something with a bit more grip this year. The test reports so far on the 08 Underground talk about a lot more grip so it sounds promising but which size to go for? I'm 80Kg, 6' tall and am just getting into unhooked wakestyle but also love the old school stuff. I need a board which is fast, pops very well, has good grip but still carves and turns and which works ok in the chop (we get a lot of chop here). I'm thinking about going for the 08 135 FLX.

I had also shortlisted a Liquid Force Recoil Comp 134 for the task but they are all sold out here in the UK.

Anyone else gone from 132 07 to 135 08? I'd be very interested to read your opinions.

[kitenb]

Interesting..I found my 07 Underground to have more grip, compared to the 08 I bought. I had the 138 from last year, and went with the 132 for this year. Both great boards, but for me, I could definitely lock in the rail better in the stronger winds with my 07 board.

[MarcusH]

That must be because of the size difference? A bigger board will usually have more grip than the same board in a smaller size.

[Frank Rosin]

Just a pic of the Underground FLX135 with bindings using the new inserts (setup of one of my customers):

[amplatzer]

More feedback on the 08 135 UG would be great. I am 90 kg/200lbs and am finding my 132 07 UG to be too small except in higher wind. I want more pop for low powered tricks. I have heard the 08 UG are a little less stiff, have a little less pop for a give size (there was no 135 last year, just comparing 132). Could others comment on this? Not sure why they would do this.

I want big pop, and good upwind relative to my 132 07 UG, but do like the soft landings and rideability in chop when it is there, however not willing to sacrifice too much for decreased pop. Also considering 08 Ouija 134 x 41.5 and 08 Lunacy 132 x 41. Tired of spending time getting upwind insteading of throwing stuff when smaller riders are TDing.

Thank You for your help in advance.

[Frank Rosin]

New FLX are stiffer in the middle between your feet, maybe bit more flexy in the tips.
Finding the right flex was a big part of the R&D, as it makes a big difference.
My personal feeling (and customer feedback I get a lot sums up the same) is that the 2008 FLX are the most 'powerful feeling' Underground boards ever build. Most grip and tracking and best edging control makes you able to get a lot of power into your jumps, especially loaded jumps without moving the kite, wakestyle.
The three sizes 128, 132 and 135 I would rate as the allround freestyle boards size S, M, L for light, middle and heavy riders. Just choose the right size to suit your wait.
Roughly I'd say to choose the size like this:
-75kg FLX128
70-90kg FLX132
85kg+ FLX135
I am like 83kg and would choose the 135 if I had to choose just one board, but also got quite a few customers with more than 90kg which ride the 132 and love it, in the end it is all personal preference.
Definately try to demo them!
Once again I am very impressed by the work of the Underground R&D team, it is like this almost every year, that is what makes it so much fun to ride and work with Underground.

[amplatzer]

Any more reviews by non-team/dealers?

[Davepalu]

Slingshot are also making the lunacy in a 135 for 09'...........
The UG was way better than my 07 132' for pop and rideability and gave me an extra 2-3 knots, but Im yet to test the lunacy, 129 was a "little" limited last season and will try before I buy.
I live in perth. WA so the waves are on......
BTW. just bought a SRT 08 and couldnt be happier..... a surfboard isnt necesarily a kite surfing board.