CrazyFly Elite V Kiteboard

The Elite V is what CrazyFly builds when cost doesn't play a role. The only goals were maximum performance and minimum weight, and the brand calls it a status symbol, a benchmark and the lightest board it knows how to make.

Weight. The 136x41 board weighs 1.85 kg and 140x42 weighs 1.95 kg. With the new Carboniq binding — CrazyFly says the lightest binding in the world at about 0.66 kg — plus carbon fins and accessories, the 136 is ready to ride at about 2.7 kg.

How it is built. An Air Inside wood core has real hollow spaces in strategic areas between the carbon layers. There are two layers of carbon on top and two below: CompFlex 4T5 at 45° for heel-to-toe stiffness and torsional flex, topped with HMX-CF3 — prepreg carbon with nano-tube-reinforced resin and T1000G fibre, which CrazyFly describes as the highest-tensile-strength fibre. Carbon Touch construction leaves out top sheets entirely, so you see and feel raw carbon.

Ride. CrazyFly designed for a comfortable medium flex and calls the result the most flexible carbon board it has made: smooth, alive under your feet, with plenty of pop. Double concave channels keep it smooth in chop, and the low weight is obvious in manoeuvres, jumps and board-offs. Stiffness is 740 and 720 on the 0–1000 scale.

In the box. Mounted pads and straps, a padded Elite board bag, several fin options, an accessories travel bag, a T-shirt and a certificate.

Who it is not for. It is a premium freeride board, not a big-air bruiser — for heavy landings in wake bindings choose the Raptor Extreme or Max. And you don't need it to learn.