MBS Core 8

OK.......so now I know why we have the reviews section.......it's not to keep all the newbies well informed/educated on which gear to buy.......NOOOO!! it's so that when there's no wind at all we experienced dudes and dudettes have something to do!!!!


so expect reviews on everything from MBS bearings to the holes in my shoes in the next week!!!!

but tonight Matthew,I'm going to be the MBS Core 8 reviewer..........

INTRODUCTION

I'm pretty new to this kiting malarkey,I only started in February or March and have found the learning curve to be very steep,yet more enjoyable than I could have possibly imagined.I started on a Super 10 and within 2 weeks,had progressed onto a Crossfire 4.0(kiting should be classified under class A narcotics!)which was just as quickly followed by the board I am going to review here..............

THE MBS CORE 8

This board usually retails for £150-£165 and is designed as a higher end beginner board.It is made from what MBS call "Powerlam Composite" and is designed to give both "pop" and "forgiveness". The bindings are MBS F2 bindings and to finish the package,you have the MBS skate trucks and Rockstar hubs with T1 tyres. The graphics have been described as "naff" before,but I quite like them.

You receive the board with everything built up except for the wheels,this takes all of about 10 minutes to do with the spanner provided and before you know it,you'll find yourself standing on your board in your room pulling 180's and making swooshing noises as you pass another imaginery tree!!!

On standing on the board,you will be surprised at just how small and comfortable it is. I had seen ATBs on TV a few years back and thought that they looked cumbersome,but on strapping yourself into this board you will instantly feel a connection due to its short length and light weight.The bindings are great,just place your feet in,pull hard on the straps and your feet are now stuck to the deck

SO, DOES IT GO THEN????

Well yes! it does!...and then some!!!

I started off using this as a downhill board as I had no real idea on how to get moving with a kite.Being from Scotland,I had no real difficulty in finding a hill and me and my fellow newbie mate made the trip to try "downhilling"

Now I was never a skateboarder....but I found this board awesome!!!(note to self....no wind for whole of next week.....get out boarding again!!) I set up a fairly lengthy slalom course and was getting some great times in with no speed wobble whatsoever and some of the turns that were being carved were just crazy. We then went on to set up a couple of jumps and had great fun with the board just soaking up everything we threw at it....the only downside being that for every trip downhill......there's an equally long trip uphill(note to self.....forget boarding!!! go to beach and sunbathe!!)

SO WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR KITEBOARDING THEN?

FAN-BLOODY-TASTIC!!!! Now I've eventually got my Kites under control,this board does everything I ask of it....cruising?? nice!! I have tightened up the trucks ever so slightly and I can whizz up and down the beach at St Andrews all day and it's not speed wobble slowing me down..........it's my lily livered keester!!! I reckon I must be hitting at least 15-20mph sometimes though and that's scary enough!!!

Airs?? not a problem!!! I've had some huge airs of at least 2'3" and I'm still breathing!!! only kidding....I actually had a 10' air on Sunday(my first!-hence the big landing!!) and come down on the board a bit harder than I should have done but it made no difference to the board at all!!! I weigh 13 stone and that's about average so this board will do fine for the majority of peeps out there

SHOULD I GET ONE OF THESE THEN?

not before I tell you the bad points....the finish.....maybe it's just the board I received,but I've found the finish on one side to be very slightly shabby

but being honest that's my only gripe....this board may not be as bombproof as a Trampa,as cool as a Flight-lite or as cheap as a Deimos.But you have to realise that this board is a combination of all that is good in a board and set at just the right price!!! I've been using mine fairly heavily for 4-5 months now and it looks like its asking for the abuse levels to be turned up to full power for the next 6 months just to scratch an itch on its back!!!!!

So yes!!! if youre reading this review because you're wondering which board to buy and you've got a budget of £150-£160 then buy it!!!!! you will love this board

Enjoy your MBS Core 8

Dawson

By : DawsonCreaks