Shape
- Rocker: important to manage steep sections and turn short even at full speed.
- Rails: vertical and hard at the tail then soft at the nose for that real Shortboard feeling.
- Volume: the strict minimum for each size in order to keep comfort when paddling AND when surfing for a light surfer.
- Outline: moderate widths at the tail and nose for comfort and stability.
- Deck: flat for stability.
- Hull single concave to double concave to light V double concave.
- Tail: diamond square tail made for unhindered shredding.
- Nose: bullet nose.
Two main areas of work have guided the development of the Karmen: the bullet nose and the hull in single concave (under the paddling position) then double concave (between the feet in the surf position) ending in a V (under the rear foot).
The bullet nose of the Karmen provides the useful surface to be relaxed when paddling. When you put it on the water, you really feel its surface helping, but above all the nose tightens the front lines of the board. The width is felt right from the toes when paddling as the outline line is a bit wider from the beam. Finally, these outline lines in the front third are more parallel than on a point nose, which prevents the board from making mistakes when you pearl a little on the take off. This nose is more comfortable in all respects.
The shape of this thin nose carries you with its surface. The volume is concentrated towards the center of the board, where it is most useful to you. This new distribution of the volume / surface ratio thins the board and allows a more aggressive surf, but also easier. The stability is better than with a point nose, so you can choose the right volume without worrying about repeated falls as soon as the water is agitated.
The hull is particularly worked, in connection with all the other parameters. A flat nose to carry without making mistakes. The concave in the center of the board gives a lot of stability to paddling and acceleration at the bottom turn. The double concave in front of the side fins distributes water over these fins dedicated to acceleration and creates a central Vee as a rail to rail tilting point. Finally, the tail ends in a pronounced Vé to assert the rail to rail and free the board in the curves.
The central beam allows a tight radii of curves and great liveliness. The board is light underfoot. This placement of the beam invites you to move your feet back to make the most of the maneuverability of this shape.
The diamond tail carries to accelerate in soft waves. It carries a little less than a pure square tail, and gives more rail to rail to your ride. We really feel the board lighter under the feet. But this extended width to the tail will stretch the outline line behind the back foot and stabilize the board at high speeds. The opposite of a round tail, for example, which would have given too much handling, to the point of losing a lot of control and docility. This diamond tail offsets the set back beam to balance overall handling.
This pure shortboard rocker is relatively pronounced to provide safety on the steep sections. As the hull picks up a lot of water to launch the board, the rocker can be more pronounced without losing lift. And the center concave tightens the center rocker line for more speed and acceleration. We have a board that turns short as soon as you put it on the rail, and that flies on the flat sections.
The rails are round and soft in front and clearly aggressive from the beam. We’re on a modern board that likes to surf with speed and explosiveness.
The volume is delicately distributed with a dominant around the carrying handle to keep a thin tail and distribute the liters exactly where you need them. No worries about the thickness of the rails at this point as the domed deck plan erases the volume near the rails on this wide board.
Instructions
Fabrice Degli Esposti –
Finition : Karmen devant quatro, la couleur est superbe, le Pad est super confortable,impressionnant;
shape : karmen devant, les rails sont plus fins sur l’arrière, au MB plus couchés, l’outline est très fluide!!,
Poids : Quatro devant, elle est un peu lourdette la Karmen, et la carbone n’a que 100 g en moins, un peu dommage, cela se sent au portage, mais pas en dynamique sur l’eau et dans les vagues,
Stabilité à la rame : assez similaire, malgré ses 28 3/4 et ses 105 L la quatro en 100L et 28 1/2 son pont plat permet de décaler les pieds en extérieur, avec la karmen plus pontée on est plus centré,
Take off : Karmen largement devant!!! elle part beaucoup plus vite y a pas phtos, un régal!!!,
Surf : Karmen devant !! le rocker et la carène sont incroyables dans les changements appuis avant arrière et latéral. Bref cette Karmen m’a fait progresser dans toutes les conditions ( 1m à 2m)….. Bravo à ce fameux Ours !!!!! me voilà Gongisto!! je serai curieux de la tester en version pro carbone, voir si ça vaut le coup!!!!
Patrick Bertrand –
Karmen 7.11 magnifique board