Shape
- Rocker: considerable, to manage the descent and tight turns even full speed.
- Rails: vertical and hard at the tail then softer towards the front for that real shortboard feeling.
- Volume: a strict minimum for a given size in order to maintain comfort when paddling & a lighter/livelier surf.
- Outline: moderate widths at the extremities to insure comfort and stability.
- Deck: flat for the most stability.
- Hull: single concave to double concave to a slightly V’d double concave.
- Tail: aggressive diamond square tail for unhindered ripping.
- Nose: rounded point nose.
The Karmen in details
The greatest quality coming from L’Ours shapes is harmony. His capacity to fuse and bring together these shape elements is exceptional. The boards are beautiful to the eye, with no exaggerations. That’s where we find the marks of a great shaper.
Two principal axes of work have guided the development of the Karmen: the round point nose and the hull in simple concave (under the rowing position) then the double concave (between the surf stance) ending in V at the back foot.
The Karmen’s rounded point nose makes for a useful surface to relax while paddling because the nose brings together and tightens up the lines at the front of the board. The width can be felt in your feet while paddling because the outline is slightly wider at the max width. These lines at the front half are more parallel than a stricter point nose, which helps the board pearl less at the take off. This nose gives the most comfort.
The form of this nose is thin, offering lift. The volume is concentrated at the center of the board right where it is most needed. This new distribution of volume reduces the surface/volume of the board offering a more aggressive surf, but also making it easier. The stability is much easier than with a regular point nose, making it possible to choose a lower volume without fearing repeated falls when the waterscape is rough.
The hull has had quite a lot of work done in tandem with all its other parameters. Flat thought the nose for faultless lift. The concave at the center of the board offers a lot of stability while rowing and acceleration in the bottom turn. The double concave at the front of the lateral fins distributes the water through them creating speed and creates a central V as a pivot point for the rail to rail action. Finally the tail ends with a pronounced V to accentuate the rail to rail and free the board up when carving.
The centered max width offers tighter carving radius and a lively ride. The board is light underfoot and the placement of the master width invites you to back those feet up and take serious advantage of the maneuverability of this shape.
The diamond tail offers the lift needed to reboot in small waves. Slightly less lift than a square tail but offers more rail to rail on demand. The feel of a seriously light board underfoot is real. This prolonged length at the tail tightens up the outline past the back foot in order to stabilize the board at high speeds. On the opposite hand a rounder tail, for example, would give too much maneuverability to the point of losing too much control. This diamond tail counterbalances the backed up max width to balance out its general performance.
The pure shortboard rocker is relatively pronounced in order to offer security on the slope. Since the hull funnels so much water to rocket forward, the rocker can be more pronounced without losing lift. And the central concave tenses up the central rocker line for more speed and acceleration. The board turns sharp once on the rail and it rockets through flatter sections.
The rails are round and soft up front and clearly more aggressive and hard after the max width. You’re on a modern board that loves to surf with speed and explosiveness.
The volume is delicately distributed with dominance around the handle to keep the tail thin and distribute the liters exactly where they’re needed. No worries with concern to the thickness at the rails because the domed deck erases the proximity of volume on this wide board.
Fabrice DEGLI ESPOSTI (verified owner) –
j’ai trouvé Ma board!! j’étais un peu trop juste à la rame avec une Quatro carve 100L et 28.5 de large (79Kg). je cherchais un poil plus de volume et plus large…. J’allais opter pour du custom et voilà que je découvre une marque qui a une board avec mes dimensions …. Quelle surprise de découvrir cette board et une marque incroyable!! shape parfait et rapport qualité/finition prix incroyable!! Rame super facile même dans le courant et le chopy, Take off super facile et dans la vague on peut jouer avec les appuis AV-AR et latéral à sa guise,
La board est super maniable et rapide, on sent la réactivité du carbone, un must!! Bravo à la marque et au shaper pour cette board fantastique. Tout a été à la perfection : commande, livraison, et ….ride!!!
Thomas (verified owner) –
Je ride en 7’11 pour 70kg, cette planche est un véritable couteau suisse pour toutes les conditions, dans du petit mou comme dans du plus gros et puissant on est tout le temps à l’aise sur la vague, c’est maniable, rapide, un vrai bijou.