CARVED just dropped their latest masterpiece, the Imperator Pro and who better to talk us through it than Giel Vlugt?! We caught up with Giel to find out what makes the new design such a game-changer, how it stacks up against its predecessors, and why it’s his weapon of choice when going full send.

Hi Giel, great to have you here, and we can’t wait to find out more about the CARVED Imperator Pro. What was your first impression when you stepped on board?

Hi Jen! I loved the board right off the bat! I loved the CARVED characteristics, but I was missing some grip and control. Thanks to new channels and plenty of new tricks, this board is an absolute big air weapon.

You’re known for pushing the limits! How does this board help you do that?

The board allows you to have an incredibly aggressive pop while travelling at very high speeds. To create the best take-off possible, you need the board to be fast but also aggressive. So to have the best of both worlds is every big air rider’s dream!

What's changed in this new design? It looks like there is a little more going on with the shape this year…

I mean, this year, a lot has changed. From 3d printing, to reinforcing the tips, to adding channels, changing the film on the bottom of the board. It’s CARVED in a brand new jacket. It holds on to everything you love about an imperator and just adds what you might be missing.

How does the Imperator Pro compare to other boards you’ve used in the CARVED lineup? And what’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed between them? 

The CARVED Imperator has always been the quickest board, allowing for massive speeds before popping. But some might have experienced the board as too fast and difficult to take off. Now that we add more grip and control, we are still looking to have a board that absolutely flies through the water. And you can trust me when I say they knocked it out of the park on this one.

The board is handcrafted with Cartan 2. Can you feel a difference in stiffness or responsiveness compared to other carbon boards?

Honestly, this year the board has changed in so many aspects that it’s hard to link your feel directly to one specific change. Apart from the characteristics that we love the board for, everything else really changed. This gives you so much more control while the board sits a little deeper in the water. So, is it the Cartan 2, the completely renewed design, or the new 3D construction? I can’t tell you. But I can tell you it rocks!

What’s your take on the stiffer profile compared to the Imperator 7? 

Because the board has that much more control, I really like the stiffness of the board. It’s mainly the tip area where the stiffness has increased, allowing a more aggressive pop. And that gives you the extra rebound to make for the vertical and powerful take-offs.

How well does the board track and hold an edge in choppy or gusty conditions?

Because it sits deeper in the water and has more control while riding, you will see massive improvements here too. You’ll feel comfortable on the board after just 2 minutes of riding.

Is this your go-to board for getting the biggest airs?

Easy answer, YES!

Who do you think this board is best suited for?

For any rider who wants to maximise every take-off and crush their jumping records!

If you had to describe this board in 3 words, what would those be? 

Control, power, speed

Awesome, thanks Giel!

Thanks Jen

By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.