Since I ride more wakeboarding than kitesurfing I decided to go for a board with boots this year. I tried a few before, but both of them ended with inserts ripped (I weigh about 88 kg) Looking for the new board I found the new board in Xenon range - the HOP. I always enjoyed their graphics and attention to detail. What made me decide was the warranty for the inserts to work with boots.
As you can see it is a pretty simple shape with some great working channels. The fins are 28mm so not to big to get in the way. Details - you get a special washer for each screw, and the fins match perfectly with the board, what with rocker this big is not so obvious.
The edge is pretty sharp, so the unhooked riding is really controlled. Thanks to the big rocker the landings are soft and easy. It also helps to rotate the board on the water. Going upwind is no problem (with fins). Even being overpowered the board holds the edge nicely so no problem with taking a bigger kite to go more radical. The board has a grind base and as you can see after two weeks of riding it over the beach made only little marks. Haven't tried it in a wakepark yet, but I hope to try it there. The producer says you can fix the grind base just as any snowboard. Hope not to have to try it out, but if so, it sounds good to have that option. Totally the board is pretty light so less hurt for my knees and easier rotations and hpasses.
As for now I am really happy with my choice. The board looks great and performs as hell. I used to ride stiffer boards, but I am suprised to see that with this rocker I get similar pop. Season will show how the inserts and grind base hold. I hope for the best and if not, hope the warranty works fast to get me a new one. For anyone who wants a nice, not China made, wakestyle board, Xenon HOP is worth trying.
