Shinn Gintronic 130
| THE HYPE: This is kiteboarding made easy. The all new Gintronic is so ridiculously easy that some might call it cheating. Bi-lateral flex mould, exaggerated constant curve rocker, super-tolerant outline, the Shinn Gintronic defies chop, flies upwind and planes on a summer's breeze, whilst all the time allowing you to think about what you want to do, not what your board allows you to do. This board refuses to be categorized; it’s not freestyle and it’s not freeride. Could it be the world's first 'funride' board? Directed towards any level of kiter who wants to ride and play, the Gintronic fills a previously open slot in the Shinn range with no strings attached. TEST TEAM NOTES: We try not to read the product hypes before we go testing, and it's occasionally surprising when putting the test reviews together and reading just what a board is being marketed as. Whatwasn't surprising was the promo material for the Gintronic. The first word that comes to mind when trying to describe the Gintronic experience is 'smooth'. In fact it's not just smooth, it makes a baby's bum look like a mogul ski run. These days 130s are usually only ridden by juniors, half-pint drinkers and women, but this 130 gets up and going well, even just moderately powered and slices its way slickly through the water. The colours are as futuristic and space-age as the ride. Like standing on a hover board, the Gintronic is so light you actually feel ten years younger when you're riding it. It's not a super-stiff pop machine but it can more than handle a variety of unhooked freestyle routines and is then incredibly forgiving on landings. There were numerous times when it felt like we were landing skew whiff but somehow it was possible to ride away from it, still looking cool. We were completely flummoxed by what this board was supposed to be. It just gets on with everything and we had hours of fun on it, feeling like a teenager, trying new tricks and laughing. All the footpad and straps comments are obviously the same as for the Monk, so we're not going to waste valuable space here that could otherwise be taken up by images of the lovely blues and yellows of this rad little number. SUMMARY: If you just love everything about kiteboarding – from getting out there, harnessing the wind, smiling at your buddies, blasting around the ocean and busting out a few tricks while preserving your knees, then the Gintronic is something that will keep you falling in love with the sport again and again. KW LIKED: The uncomplicated smooth riding quality. If this were a character it would be that dude that boys want to be and girls want to be with. KW WOULD CHANGE: We were a bit surprised that there isn't a bigger model in the range, as for a one board only quiver, a 130 is relatively small. We had no issues in steady ten metre weather though, so, if you're a big guy, then look at buying a board in this range as treating yourself to a high-wind love machine that will make you irresistible to the opposite sex. SIZES: 130 x 40, 128 x 39 and 126 x 38cm www.shinnworld.com  This test is in issue #50 |
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