DUOTONE Whip D/LAB 2025
Reviews / Surfboards
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At A Glance
Duotone has been making surfboards for what seems like forever. The range has always been pretty comprehensive, but this year it’s been slimmed down, a nod perhaps to the popularity of big air and the waning popularity of strapless freestyle, which used to drive huge sales of these styles of boards. There are now four boards in various constructions to choose from.
The Whip remains, along with the Volt, which was new last year, while a new shape, named the Blur, joins the lineup alongside the Provoke freestyle-specific board. The Whip is the freestyle and small to medium wave powerhouse, it always has been, with a new shape for 2025 that is actually quite different from last year's model.
Construction-wise, you get the choice of DLab, which uses a carbon layup and the Reflex Memory Foam under your feet to reduce heel dents, or you can pick the SLS Concept Blue version, which uses Basalt fibres from volcanoes in place of carbon for a greener option. The new DLab construction shaves almost half a kilo off the weight of the board; this 5’3” weighs a mere 2.75kg, but the SLS Concept Blue edition is still incredibly light.
In addition to the new construction is the updated shape, which is strikingly different to last year's model. It's a single concave in the nose that blends into a double concave in the tail. The tail of the board has a new outline shape as well, with the updated winger squash tail. Dimensions are the same as the previous years, but the 5’5 model has been dropped from the lineup.
Most riders will choose the 5’1”, but as a heavier guy at just over 85kg, I have always found the 5’3” to be the perfect size for me. If you are on the lighter side, the 4’11 should hit the spot!
Sizes:
4’11” x 17 3/4” x 2” - 19.92L
5’1” x 18 1/2” x 2 1/4”- 22.35L
5’3” x 18 3/4” x 2 3/8” - 24.9L
On The Water
The Whip has always been a popular board, and the new shape certainly doesn’t disappoint. It’s fast and quick to get going, the wide nose coupled with the single concave out front really allowing you to get up to speed and onto the wave at the earliest opportunity. The wide nose also helps with the pop and control in the air, and this board is great for jumping and freestyle. There is a lot of control when performing strapless tricks, and the board is stiff and responsive underfoot.
The new shape has really been designed to create tight, snappy turns, and this is where the board excels. On the rail, it has excellent grip, and the wide nose helps to stop it catching in chop. It’s a great board for the more aggressive rider looking to put lots of power into their turns. The smaller fins help to keep the board looser, and they are great for sliding the tail out when you want to.
It’s smooth through the chop, the new rocker line helping here, and less experienced riders will find this board very forgiving. You can easily get upwind on it, and there is a lot of forward drive. It’s a very easy board to learn to gybe, thanks to the shape, and lots of riders will enjoy the ease-of-use aspect of the design.
At the performance end, this board rips on the waves, there is plenty of grip in the bottom turn and transitioning rail to rail is a breeze. It’s easy to get vertical on the wave, and the snap off the top is sharp and responsive. I loved the previous version of this board, and I’m really enjoying this new shape too. Coupled with some smaller fins, it’s easy to get the tail out, and if you are a fan of the previous board, or just looking for an excellent all-rounder, you won’t be disappointed.
Overall
The Whip D/LAB is a fantastic board for any rider. If you are looking for something that can perform at the highest level, then this is it, but it’s also forgiving and easy to ride. It’s fast, quick to get going and has lots of grip on the wave. It’s also great for jumping and getting air, and offers lots of control when performing strapless tricks.
Videos
This review was in Issue 111 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit DUOTONERelated
By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
