Duotone Magazin No.01 2019

T wintips are a funny breed. On the one hand they’re extremely versatile; most kiters have one or two in their quiver that they use for many different types of riding, and to a beginner they all look quite similar. On the other hand, a well-designed twintip suited specifically to your parti­ cular riding style can significantly raise your game, whether you’re a beginner trying to go upwind the first time, an advanced freerider focused on jumping to the moon, or a freestyler looking for every ounce of pop. The right board can make all the difference. There are a variety of design elements the Duotone twintip design team uses to create boards that will maxi­ mize performance for a particular riding style while still maintaining versatility. The most important factors are outline, rocker, flex and channels. SE LECT classic freeride board ridden with straps TEAM SE R I E S competition freestyle board generally ridden with boots NARROW & STRAIGHT The angle when riding is rather steep with most of the pressure on the edge behind the back foot. The tail sits deep in the water to create edge hold even without deep channels or large fins. The steep ride angle prevents the tip from cutting into the chop. BROAD & ROUND The angle when riding is flat – almost parallel to the water surface – and the pressure point of the edge is between the legs. The center of the board sinks in the water and raises the tip to avoid stuffing the nose and splashing from the chop. TIPS Especially at the tips, flex tuning is crucial. Soft tips are a key element for good freeride boards. Our pri- mary goal with our freeride-orient- ed boards was to find a technical solution to produce an extremely soft yet stable tip. We were able to take this to a new level with the new Space Flex Tips. FLEXIBLE When gliding without loading up the edge, the extremely soft tip stays down and makes the rocker more flat. This ensures a clean water break for a faster, less resistant ride. When powered and edging hard, the tip flexes up and holds more power, essentially increasing the rocker for more edge control. This also helps when sending the kite for huge jumps. The flexible tips allow you to hold tons of power without losing the edge and then pop cleanly off the water. STIFF For unhooked pop-based freestyle tricks the tips have to be more rigid and provide much quicker and more explosive feedback when popping. OUTLINE The outline depends largely on the angle at which the board sits in the water as it is being ridden. This is especially true about the angle of the central axis of the board to the water surface. CHANNELS Channels can be used to influence how water flows under the board. Basically, one can say that the deeper and sharper the channels are, the more drag is generated, which initially has a negative effect on performance and top speed. However, there are many positive aspects of different types of chan- nels, so the tradeoff is beneficial in different ways for different bottom shapes. FEW The straight outline and flat rocker generate almost enough grip. The tip channels allow the rider to use smaller fins and thus achieve more maneuverability without sacrificing edge hold. MANY The double concave with the center channels in the edge area pull the board at a shallow angle to the water surface and create additional hold. The deep tip channels allow extremely small fins to be used, making it easier to pull off a messy landing without spinning out. In addition, the double concave helps break up the surface tension during a hard landing, damping the harshness and preventing the board from skimming sideways after landing. D E S I G N ROCKER / FLEX The rocker line may have the big- gest impact on board comfort and performance. A flat rocker glides quickly and runs well, but can feel hard and cumbersome. A steep- er rocker generally slows a board down, but is playful and reduces im- pacts from chop and hard landings. The flex is intimately connected with the rocker, since the rocker changes as the board flexes. FLAT / SOFT Flat rocker for a good blend of comfort and performance. Medium to soft flex pattern means the center of the board is soft in both bending and twisting directions. The soft center makes the rocker flat when starting, resulting in increased accelera­ tion and speed. At higher speeds and with a lot of pressure on the edge, the board bends and provides increased edge hold and good cushion­ ing properties. The special geometry on the top of the deck lets the board twist between the feet while remaining stiff in the area between the heel and the respective fin. STEEP / HARD Higher rocker to soften the ride and hard landings in spite of the stiffness of the board. The aggressive rocker also keeps the board from ‘reverse flexing’, keeping you from stuffing the tips on a hard landing. The extremely hard flex ensures a direct, precise ride. Especially stiff between the feet, with particularly high torsional stiffness, allowing a clean power transfer when popping. In addition, the board's stiff middle section serves as a kind of damper, maintaining the high rocker that absorbs energy during a hard landing and keeps the tips from submerging. 1. 2. Copy: Manuel Zwinz Photos: Ziwa, Jeremie Tronet T W I N T I P S T R U E T R U E 56 57