They seem to be all the rage right now. Craig Anderson and Sally Fitz surf them. Opinions wanted. GO.
Looks like a hybrid fish with a pin tail. Probably good if you like riding that style shape in bigger waves. Don't think I'd want one in waist high mush. Craig Anderson is a freak though and can make about any board look good.
I personally want one. I think they are an interesting shape. then again I do like a little more volume under my chest, which seems like that's where they hold most of their volume. I do agree they are a board that offers a different style of surfing that your typical HPSB. I have seen a guy out on one in about waist or maybe a little better surf. It didn't seem to ride any different, but then again that guy was not Craig Anderson and was not drawing big lines or throwing buckets. I was easily hitting all the same sections and turns on a JS blakbox. I would still buy one if presented with the opportunity on a used board, but probly wouldn't buy new... I just rarely go new and I do like to try those boards that are "all the rage" or are just different from your typical shape.
They carry a lot of volume. You really need to ride them very small or you end up with a very floaty board. To me once I get below like 5'8, the lack of rail line bothers me and I'd probably ride one of these at like 5'5 or 5'6. Felt up a few locally and only the 5'4 x 19 1/2 x 2 1/4 felt like something I'd want to ride. The bigger ones were boats. I demod a 5'8 in CA in waist to chest high Huntington and it went OK but I'd need a radical reduction on volume to buy one. If you watch Slow Dance, the new Craig Anderson movie, you can see he surfs that good on everything he rides, better I think on his more performance oriented Ando model but Slow Dance will sell a lot of Hypto Cryptos. Might be a good fish alternative. Personally I've sworn off fish as I think they sorta ruin your surfing if you also surf more performance boards. This could work.
my buddy had a 5'8 hypto out on a waist high day, while i was on my 5'10, 2 3/8 thick, 20 wide board. I tried out the hypto and it actually handled the smaller surf better than my board (which was longer and thicker). I have yet to surf one on a big day, but ever since I rode one I have been really looking into getting it. $700 is a bit out of price range for a shorty haha ill just wait to find one on craigslist
just bought one. only surfed a mushy 3' day so far. wasn't as stoked on it as I'd hoped, but gonna take it out some more as soon as nj waves get back to epic status.
while i don't own one & have never ridden one, a number of my surf buddies do & the consensus is that this board like a fin w/ a more narrow tip...think AM1 or 2, machado, or jordy templates.
I have a Shred Sled which is similar to the krypto. I have also ridden my buddys krypto and there isnt a big difference between the two. the krypto just carries a little more volume under your front foot. these things generate tons of speed very quickly. the lack of a stringer and the carbon fiber rails make the board flex diffrent then traditional HP short boards. everyone selling them also claims that they last longer as well. personally im addicted to these things and they really are quiver killers. i rarely find myself going to any of my other boards. the $750+ price tag does hurt though. if you see a used one anywhere scoop it up pronto because its not gonna last.
can you bury the rail on it? I've heard they ride on top of the water. I had a machado motor boat that rode on top of the water and hated it. on the other hand i'm on my sixth mochado biscuit and love the thing. goes on rail really well. only drawback with it doesn't hold well it steeper hollower waves. so ive been eyeing up the hypto but don't want to experiment with $750.
Pick up a used one and try it out. They aren't easy to come by so if you see one jump on it quick. Worst comes to worse you can unload it for a decent price.
carbon fiber & a proprietary glassing method (future flex) personal rant: the fact that most of these are being made in thailand or wherever makes the price absurd. if i told you what shop employees can get the gsi haydens for, you'd lose your mind.
bingo. for most surfers, "alternative" designs are much more user-friendly than hpsb type designs & (as 5'5"x19 1/4" & 5'5" redux proved) can still be surfed very aggressively if the rider so chooses.
I was saving up for one but then my friend got it and it didn't make him surf exactly like Ando so now i'm saving for a wavejet.
2 fer sale in the NE area... http://providence.craigslist.org/spo/4195501663.html http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/spo/4234436909.html
typically carbon fiber is expensive b/c you're competing w/ the aerospace industry for it. that's the justification for the cost. also, gsi IS licensing the construction method...from hayden himself. they were priced the way they are before the hype. the hype is in spite of the cost.
Honestly i cant really find any pressure dents or anything in mine. my 2 other ...lost boards are beat to poop (i realize the glass them lightly) and my winter step up has 7oz. glassing on the deck so that dosent count. out of the 4 i feel like the Hyden has held up great. Hayden should really start paying me for this thread.......
