North Kiteboarding Wam 5’10” 2013
At A Glance
The Wam has been in the line up at North Kiteboarding for some time now; it is arguably one of the most popular surfboards on the market. This year it is available as a quad or thruster set up and in three sizes, 5’8”, 5’10” which we have on test here and a 6’0”. North provides both thruster and quad fin sets and the necessary blanking plates. New for this year are thinner more refined rails a narrower nose section and a rounded square tail. The board is built using North’s bamboo tech, despite the paintwork covering up all but the tiniest evidence of the construction.
On the Water
We rode the Wam in both the quad and thruster configuration, and like a Swiss Army Knife it can handle just about anything you throw at it. With the quad fin set up the board feels looser and much more fun in smaller onshore surf. The board pops nicely too for strapless freestyle and doesn’t “stick” to the water like some boards have a tendency to. Put the blanking plate in and the larger thruster fins and the Wam changes again offering you more drive off the fins when carving and feeling a little more traditional in bigger surf. It does suffer a little from chop chatter in harsh short chop, but on the waves it feels solid and dependable.
Overall
If you want one board that does it all, the Wam is a contender, at home in onshore mush punting airs as it is in big waves carving smooth lines you won’t be disappointed.
