Core Era Kiteboard

The Era is CORE's freeride all-rounder and arguably their most interesting board where materials are concerned. Three decisions here are not common elsewhere.

Paulownia Light core. Timber density always varies from lamella to lamella. CORE select the lightest paulownia strips and glue the core from those alone. At equal strength the core's specific weight drops by 21% — up to 250 g per board. That is not a marketing figure: 250 g on a twintip is felt both in the air and carrying it down the beach.

Basalt fabric instead of fibreglass. Volcanic rock is melted at high temperature and drawn into continuous textile fibre. Against ordinary glass, basalt damps impacts better and returns energy better at take-off — softer on landing and sharper on pop at the same time.

GreenPoxy 33 resin. An epoxy whose molecular structure is 35% plant-derived. CORE openly admit it costs them more and justify the choice on environmental grounds. Years of prototype testing preceded production use.

Vee Rocker in three versions. Curvature is greatest at the centre and decreases towards the tips, and the rocker line is specific to size groups rather than a scaled copy. Maximum curve in the middle makes the board fast and lifts it far enough out of the water to cut spray and eliminate fin catching.

Bottom and deck. A wide centre keel keeps it calm through chop. Curved channels handle planing and upwind. The parabolic outline reduces spray. And the bottom concave is mirrored in the deck — Dome Deck — which stiffens the centre and reduces reverse flex on hard edging and flat landings.

The REVO handle, an unusual option. It is not just for carrying: activating it changes rocker and flex on the fly. The rocker flattens, the board stiffens, and planing and upwind performance improve noticeably. Useful when the wind drops and you would rather not swap boards.

Sizes. Six: 134x40, 136x40.5, 138x41, 142x42, 146x44 and 152x48 cm. Plus two Era LW light-wind versions: 154x46 and 159x47 cm.

Who it is not for. Riders aiming at big air and hard landings from height — that is the Choice. The Era is about comfort, a smooth ride and versatility.

Official CORE dealer, worldwide shipping.