North Boards: Prime, Astra, Focus, Atmos — the Whole Twintip Range

North lists over twenty boards, and at first glance it is a soup of similar names. In fact the range is organised along two axes: stiffness and size. Here are both.

Five lines by price

• Prime — from 619 €, six sizes 136–152 cm.
• Astra — from 749 €, four sizes 127–139 cm.
• Focus Hybrid — from 769 €, four sizes 133–142 cm.
• Atmos — from 799 €, four sizes 136–144 cm.
• Atmos Pro / Ultra — 1 159 € to 1 599 €, carbon.

Plus standalone models: Trace, Flare, Echo Pro and the directional Charge, Comp Pro, Cross.

Axis one: size, and who it is for

The lines separate more clearly here than on price, and this is what decides your choice.

Astra: 127, 132, 135, 139 cm. The shortest line. These sizes suit light riders — roughly under 65 kg — and spots with consistently strong wind.

Atmos: 136, 138, 141, 144 cm. The classic middle for a 70 to 90 kg rider.

Prime: 136, 138, 141, 144, 148, 152 cm. Starts where the Atmos does but runs two sizes further, to 152 cm.

The 152 deserves a note. It is effectively a light-wind board inside an ordinary range. Light wind normally gets a dedicated model — like the CrazyFly Cruiser LW. North instead simply extended the size range of its most affordable board.

The practical conclusion: if you are a heavy rider or your spot often gives 12 to 14 knots, a Prime 148 or 152 solves it for 619 € — less than a dedicated light-wind board costs at most brands.

Axis two: stiffness and price

The gap between a 619 € Prime and a 1 599 € Atmos Ultra is primarily materials and stiffness.

We worked through that logic in detail in the CrazyFly range review, and it is universal across brands.

A soft board absorbs chop and forgives crooked landings, but under edge load part of your energy goes into the bend. Less pop.

A stiff board returns everything you put in — strong pop, precise response. And it passes every wave into your knees.

The key point: for someone learning, softness is a function rather than a compromise. It decides how many hours you can ride in a day.

The threshold for carbon is simple: you jump consistently and can feel the board failing to give back under load. Before that, carbon is money spent for nothing.

Focus Hybrid: what "hybrid" means

The name misleads. Hybrid here is not about shape but about a mix of materials: carbon in the load zones, cheaper composite where stiffness is not needed.

The point is to get stiffness where it works — along the axis between the bindings — without paying for full carbon. Hence 769 € against 1 159 € for an Atmos Pro.

A sensible middle rung for anyone who has outgrown a soft board but is not ready for full carbon.

Directional boards

A separate and unexpectedly wide branch: Charge, Charge Pro, Comp Pro, Cross — from 1 049 € to 1 329 €.

A directional board is a surfboard for kiting: it has a nose and a tail, and you ride it one way round, switching stance through the turn. It exists for waves and for very light wind, where a directional's area gives what a twintip cannot.

For a brand relaunched seven years ago, four directional models signal intent: the category is expensive to develop and narrow in demand.

Choosing in under a minute

Learning, or first season → Prime. Soft, affordable, wide range.

Light rider or windy spot → Astra.

Heavy rider or light wind → Prime 148 or 152.

Riding confidently, jumping → Atmos.

Outgrown soft but not ready for carbon → Focus Hybrid.

Spinning, counting grams → Atmos Pro or Ultra.

Waves → Charge or Comp Pro.

On model years

As with the kites, several years of each board live in the catalogue: the Prime exists in 2020, 2024, 2025 and 2026, with prices climbing from 275 € to 619 €.

With boards the season-to-season gap is even smaller than with kites: shape and flex last for years, and mostly graphics and finish change. In detail, separately.

Common questions

Which North board is the most universal?

The Atmos: medium stiffness and 136 to 144 cm cover freeride and jumping for most riders.

How does the Prime differ from the Atmos?

The Prime is softer, cheaper and runs to 152 cm. The Atmos is stiffer and more precise but stops at 144.

Does a beginner need carbon?

No. A stiff board passes mistakes into your knees, and early on there are plenty.

What is a Focus Hybrid?

A material mix: carbon in the load zones, ordinary composite elsewhere. A middle rung in stiffness and price.

Which size at 80 kg?

138 to 141 cm for average wind. If your spot is often light, 144 or a Prime 148.

Where to look

All boards are on the North page and in the twintip section. Sizing is in our twintip guide.