Great video, thanks! As a follow up to Gaetano's question, I was wondering which board is best for boosting on choppy lakes with medium to high power? Shinn advises the Ronson, but from this review the absinthe appears to be the better board?
The Absinthe is certainly easier, and smoother, holding more speed and more control, but the Ronson is probably more effective if you have superb rail control, can really dig that heel side rail in hard, hold it, point the thing hard upwind and load it into a chosen bit of chop. To get the most from the Ronson you have to be fully in control of it to get the most. The Absinthe will benefit from the same technique, sure, but if you can't it will give you a lot more carve pop than the Ronson (carving upwind at the last moment) and that will give you better consistent height.. They are quite different boards and it depends on your riding style..
Great video! Thanks for your thoughts. I was a little disappointed from this years Monk. Just doesn't really fit into the range. The Ronson is far the nicest design they have done.(If you are a woman of course I like the Monkette) But Monk X I just can't fall in love with this years design. What do you mean by higher wind conditions for the Absynth? 25-35kt? Monk 15-25kt?
Hi Sir, You mean the graphics on the Monk? Of course - it's subjective - but I agree that the ronson and the adhd look absolutely stunning this year no doubt. They will have reasons for doing what they have done on the Monk, and you know - they did it over a year ago! higher wind conditions - I guess I mean higher power conditions - and to be honest that can come at a variety of windspeeds (but generally the higher the wind the more easy access you have to more power...)
The looks are always subjective - I agree. This year (to my mind) they have some stunning designs - Ronson probably my fav - but the monk has always gone it's own way... Higher winds - but what I really mean is higher load - so take more power on the absinth than monk - it is more amusing with higher power, the monk more tactile with less. Bigger kite - more knots - whatever your choice..
Hello Mike, I love the shinn boards…a little advice request : I’m 85-90 Kg guy who kites mainly freeride with a fews jumps but nothing crazy in winds mainly from 15 to 25 nots and easy upwind is important to me… the monk X or the ronsson? Thanks for the advice
hi there - both are very smooth and easy - ronson likes to be loaded more the monk to feel alive - monk is a really beautiful boards in medium winds where the rest of the range crave for more power. I would say for your weight and those wind stats the monk would be your best fit!
low power in chop - monk - so much fun. Higher power in chop Absinthe, and if your idea of fun is boosting as high as possible then ADHD. In truth every one of shinn's boards are good in chop - he has a knack of making boards that are really easy in nasty conditions...
Hi Mike, I’m late to the prismatic party. Great vids you’re doing on shinn product line. My local in Canada only has monk x in stock 136x42 and 138x43. You’ve got a ton of experience. Wondering if you could suggest one over the other as I fall into both by the shinn site. 86kg, 190cm. Intermediate looking to progress. Mostly ride 9m on/side-on mush with some flats in the shallow skim and some 6ft unclean break too.
You're right on the cusp there. If you like speed and power then go smaller, if you like smooth and flow then go larger. Sometimes in water with tidal flow (tide with the wind) it robs you of upwind drive, if this is the case the bigger board will go better upwind and have more performance...
@@ktwo-surf 😂 I know eh! So it’s Lake Ontario no tide to concern myself with here. I’m coming from an older north dragon 133x36. I was lighter when it was new. And I’ve always made it work. There are times when I’m on my 9m that I’m underpowered and have to aggressively work the kite. On the 13m duo rebel im sometimes again underpowered in the lulls or overpowered in the gusts really have to drive in with the heel edge but there’s no rail profiles on this narrow short board and zero flex. My plan is to keep the old board as it’s still in amazing condition, nostalgia, zero $$ to be made selling it. So it can still be my glass flat speed board. The monk will be a major step up in all aspects. While im an experienced kilter and can hold down in strong wind, waves etc. im jumping high but would say I’m at the early side of tricks. Looking for a board to complement, give pop and confidence to progress with backrolls etc etc. hooked in fun! Not sure 1cm width and length would make a massive difference either way but did any of that help narrow it down? 🤣 Cheers.
@@nnickers3355 go for the bigger board for sure - your old board was 36, so the 33cm monk will be a huge ton smaller and you should definitely go for the 33 👍
Great and complete review Mike Thank You!
Great video, thanks! As a follow up to Gaetano's question, I was wondering which board is best for boosting on choppy lakes with medium to high power? Shinn advises the Ronson, but from this review the absinthe appears to be the better board?
The Absinthe is certainly easier, and smoother, holding more speed and more control, but the Ronson is probably more effective if you have superb rail control, can really dig that heel side rail in hard, hold it, point the thing hard upwind and load it into a chosen bit of chop. To get the most from the Ronson you have to be fully in control of it to get the most. The Absinthe will benefit from the same technique, sure, but if you can't it will give you a lot more carve pop than the Ronson (carving upwind at the last moment) and that will give you better consistent height.. They are quite different boards and it depends on your riding style..
Great video! Thanks for your thoughts. I was a little disappointed from this years Monk. Just doesn't really fit into the range. The Ronson is far the nicest design they have done.(If you are a woman of course I like the Monkette) But Monk X I just can't fall in love with this years design. What do you mean by higher wind conditions for the Absynth? 25-35kt? Monk 15-25kt?
Hi Sir, You mean the graphics on the Monk? Of course - it's subjective - but I agree that the ronson and the adhd look absolutely stunning this year no doubt. They will have reasons for doing what they have done on the Monk, and you know - they did it over a year ago!
higher wind conditions - I guess I mean higher power conditions - and to be honest that can come at a variety of windspeeds (but generally the higher the wind the more easy access you have to more power...)
The looks are always subjective - I agree. This year (to my mind) they have some stunning designs - Ronson probably my fav - but the monk has always gone it's own way...
Higher winds - but what I really mean is higher load - so take more power on the absinth than monk - it is more amusing with higher power, the monk more tactile with less. Bigger kite - more knots - whatever your choice..
Hello Mike,
I love the shinn boards…a little advice request : I’m 85-90 Kg guy who kites mainly freeride with a fews jumps but nothing crazy in winds mainly from 15 to 25 nots and easy upwind is important to me… the monk X or the ronsson?
Thanks for the advice
hi there - both are very smooth and easy - ronson likes to be loaded more the monk to feel alive - monk is a really beautiful boards in medium winds where the rest of the range crave for more power.
I would say for your weight and those wind stats the monk would be your best fit!
@@ktwo-surf Thanks a lot for your answer. 👏🏼 😎🤟🏼
Mike which is your top 3 in chop water for comfort, control and fun?
low power in chop - monk - so much fun. Higher power in chop Absinthe, and if your idea of fun is boosting as high as possible then ADHD. In truth every one of shinn's boards are good in chop - he has a knack of making boards that are really easy in nasty conditions...
@@ktwo-surf thank you Mike ♥️
Hi Mike,
I’m late to the prismatic party. Great vids you’re doing on shinn product line. My local in Canada only has monk x in stock 136x42 and 138x43. You’ve got a ton of experience. Wondering if you could suggest one over the other as I fall into both by the shinn site.
86kg, 190cm. Intermediate looking to progress. Mostly ride 9m on/side-on mush with some flats in the shallow skim and some 6ft unclean break too.
You're right on the cusp there. If you like speed and power then go smaller, if you like smooth and flow then go larger. Sometimes in water with tidal flow (tide with the wind) it robs you of upwind drive, if this is the case the bigger board will go better upwind and have more performance...
@@ktwo-surf 😂 I know eh!
So it’s Lake Ontario no tide to concern myself with here. I’m coming from an older north dragon 133x36. I was lighter when it was new. And I’ve always made it work. There are times when I’m on my 9m that I’m underpowered and have to aggressively work the kite. On the 13m duo rebel im sometimes again underpowered in the lulls or overpowered in the gusts really have to drive in with the heel edge but there’s no rail profiles on this narrow short board and zero flex.
My plan is to keep the old board as it’s still in amazing condition, nostalgia, zero $$ to be made selling it. So it can still be my glass flat speed board.
The monk will be a major step up in all aspects. While im an experienced kilter and can hold down in strong wind, waves etc. im jumping high but would say I’m at the early side of tricks. Looking for a board to complement, give pop and confidence to progress with backrolls etc etc. hooked in fun!
Not sure 1cm width and length would make a massive difference either way but did any of that help narrow it down? 🤣
Cheers.
@@nnickers3355 go for the bigger board for sure - your old board was 36, so the 33cm monk will be a huge ton smaller and you should definitely go for the 33 👍
@@ktwo-surf
Cheers Mike really appreciate that. And think there was a typo: Just to confirm you’re suggesting I pick the 43 over the 42.
@@nnickers3355 sorry yes - get the 43 not the 42