Airush Amp Team v5 Reflex Carbon Surfboard

The AMP is Airush's all-round surf shape, which the brand calls legendary. The geometry resolves a contradiction: a flat rocker gives speed and control in a straight line, while a curvier outline gives drive and manoeuvrability through a turn. Normally one costs you the other.

The fuller nose helps in light wind — the board picks up speed earlier and doesn't bog. The bottom runs single into double concave, which absorbs chop so the board isn't knocked out from under you.

Sizes and volumes: 5'2" at 157 x 46.4 x 5.3 cm and 21.5 L; 5'4" at 163 x 47.6 x 5.6 cm and 23.9 L; 5'6" at 168 x 48.9 x 5.8 cm and 26.4 L. Volume is chosen by rider weight: less volume means a sharper board and a more demanding start.

Reflex Carbon construction is strong and light at once. In kite surfing board weight matters more than in ordinary surfing — the board spends time in the air on jumps and rotations.

Who it isn't for. The shape suits a newer kite surfer; the carbon doesn't — it costs more and is stiffer than you need while the board still meets the bottom regularly. For pure surfing without a kite, take a normal surfboard. And the Team version has no strap inserts; if you ride strapped, look at the models that do.