Aipa Surfboards "Dark Twinn" Review from URBNSURF - The Surfboard Guide
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- čas přidán 10. 10. 2023
- Welcome to our full review of the Dark Twinn by Aipa Surfboards in Dual Core technology by Surftech.
This is the stock Dark Twinn which is 5'10 x 20 x 2 3/4 @ 33.13L
We were lucky to check this out in the pool at URBNSURF to really feel it out in some super fun and predictable waves!
If you're in Australia and you want to grab a Dark Twinn in Dual Core construction - www.aroonasurf.shop/products/...
Drawing design influence from Ben Aipa’s /Dane Kealoha wing twin from the mid-late 70’s and Swing thruster of the 90’s, the Dark Twinn is the next step in the evolution of Alternative Performance Shortboard design, developed to be a dominant performance-groveler hybrid.
The Dark Twinn’s sleek / active outline, winged thumb tail rear section, moderate rocker, full-lower apex rail, and staged bottom contour create a lively yet controlled planning surface, while the combination of wing to fin placement,wing flute and heavy vee with double concave out the tail creates an intuitive tipping point for your backfoot to transfer rail to rail effortlessly with minimal pressure for tight in the pocket reactions or long drawn out carves.
These design elements and Twin+trailer fin set up translate seamlessly for surfers at intermediate to professional level. Noted as feeling “like a free feeling thruster”, the Dark Twinn gives surfers the ability to tap into a more fluid and dynamic side of high performance surfing.
The Dark Twinn proved its dominance by winning Surf-n-Show’s board of the year in 2022. From competition to freestyle, this model has been proven by AIPA team rider and one of Hawaii’s best, Kekoa Cazimero surfing his Dark Twinn at Ala Moana Bowls in a QS scoring nothing less than 8.0 rides throughout his heats. All the way to Central Coast team rider Joel Bishop surfing in gutless Pismo Beach, California like it's easy.
Wave range: Average to above average/ waist high to powerful overhead.
Use in conditions you would either use your standard shortboard or groveler.
Fin Configuration: Twin+trailer/ Suggest Twin only up to shoulder high and add trailer for over shoulder high.
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Thanks for watching!
Great review and I would say pretty spot on. I love this board. Been riding it for little over a year. It definitely took some adjusting to at first but once I figured out the sweet spot, and got acquainted to the conditions it likes, it really came alive. Nowadays it’s my daily driver and I ride it in everything. It’s extremely light, pretty snappy, very springy, and very responsive. I grabbed the stock 5’7 dual core. It works well for me in 2-3 mush, 2-3 firm/hollow, up to overhead plus. In the overhead plus area it excels and is so much fun. Climbs big open faces with ease and is a cutback machine / holds lots of drive. I was using it with a thruster set for a while, then switched full time to a Pyzel bobcat set as I wanted more upright and pivoty twins. Combined with a True Ames 2.5” trailer, it has been a nonstop blast to ride. Loved it so much bought a second one of exact same dims during a SurfTech sale this past summer. Hate to blabb on and on but as a bonus, was surfing Rockpiles in O’ahu a couple of years back and bumped into Akila Aipa, Duke’s older brother. The AIPA aloha is a special thing. Akila was waving me into gems and was incredibly friendly. Feels good to support such a bright spot in surf culture. Epic board and can’t recommend it more.
Thanks for sharing - it's so good to hear other peoples experience on boards as this is only my opinion, what I experienced, and in the waves/conditions I surfed. The rocker does take some getting used to, but once you find your spot, and you get the right waves, it is a very very capable board!
Had a third surf with my PU Aipa Dark Twin today around d 3 foot and yes I did noticed that with the "continuous rocker" it likes waves with more push than say my JS XERO. The XERO has a flatter rocker and seems to grovel better.... I was able to push the Dark Twin and it turns super sharp and quick off the top, amazing feel. I am riding it with the Aipa 2+1 set, bought it off the rack at Onboard Mona Vale. Keep up the epic reviews and thanks.
With steep waves, the board is amazing!
But I wouldn’t be grabbing it for fatter/fuller stuff.
Hi Craig, nice review. This has been my daily driver for about 6 month surfing in the pacific northwest USA and down in Cabo, Mexico. The ‘sting’ & ‘thumb’ tail really gives it some nice control particularly on the backhand. I also have the dual core construction. It is super light when compared to my Sci-Fi 2.0.
My main criticism of the Dark Twinn in Dual Core would be the finish. Surftech are pretty cagey on what sort of glass layup they use on the deck but it can’t be much as the carbon stringer on my deck is already parting and I’m a fairly light footed surfer. I can’t see the board holding up for beyond another 18 months of summer surfing. Love the shape but if you are looking for something to last a lot longer I would be looking for a different type of construction.
Agree regarding your comments around needing a bit of push in the smaller waves. I have been surfing t by is board with Noel Sallas’ pivot twins and on the smaller days do pull out the trailer. Definitely can’t push as hard but the Noel’s pivot template has still given me some good control even in bigger waves without the trailer.
Thanks for sharing! And love hearing more people agreeing that its a great board, but really kind of wants bigger better waves.
I saw people like Noel etc saying it was greta in small stuff and thought I must be tripping, but it seems people agree it turns on when there's a bit of push...
Thanks for the review and here are some different thoughts
1. According to Duke Aipa, he is a big fan of “staged rocker”, I’m surprised that you feel it is continuous. As for the bottom contour, I believe he said it is “roll-single-double-heavy V”.
2. I have a 5’8 but the rocker seems a lot less than your 5’10 on the video. In fact, I feel like it is medium to low compared to most thrusters. Thus, it works best in smaller 2-3 foot for me.
Thanks for sharing!
How/where is your board made? Is it a custom from Duke?
@@TheSurfboardGuide It’s the same as yours from Surftech. What I mentioned about Duke Aipa are all from Aipa’s website and Noel Sallas’ video.
I’m pretty sure Duke said on Surf and Show that he’s a fan of staged bottom contours not staged rocker…..I have the 5’10 and the rocker feels continuous…it doesn’t like flat spots or slopey take offs as the rocker pushes water a bit and it doesn’t pick up a lot of speed off the mark. It comes alive in a steeper pocket….
Staged bottom contours is what I believe he said. Completely different to staged rockers.
There is a "Dark Twin" PU board from 2021. Is it any different shape wise etc to the "Dark Twinn" - why the name difference? Is it only to spearate the PU from the Dual Core construction? Any one know?
Hi Craig, did you find the Aipa T a bit unstable on take off? especially when there’s less pace on take off…
Hey!
No not really, but, I don’t think I really found myself in this situation…
I definitely think the board performs better with a larger wave with a bit more push - and this may be the same from take-off as you mentioned?
@@TheSurfboardGuide yea I’ve found it likes a cupped out wave…makes sense that it worked good for you in the pool…doesn’t have to be big but yea bigger is better….i know you said you didn’t like it as a twin without the stabiliser. I didn’t either with upright twins but it works really good with an upright keel….the FCS modern keel works good, I liked it in the Flat Earth as well..
It’s fun mixing around fins!
I've been riding this board for about 4 months. Here's my 2 cents:
It has areally small sweet spot. If I land with my feet in the wrong spot in a fast breaking wave it's almost a write off with this board.
It's really lively. Sometimes too much on waves with any size or chop. Im still trying to work out the best fin combo for it. Tried 2+1, thruster setups. But haven't dialed it in yet.
Have had moments of real goodness in this board followed almost immediately but bad moments.
It's light... Really light in its weight. At times I wish the board would settle a bit and I'm going to try a few more fin setups to try settle it down a bit so I can really push through my turns. Because at times I feel I'm overpowering it with the board being so light and twitchy.
For reference im 80kg and have the 5'9 at 32 4 litre version. So far for me conditions its worked best in is the chest to head high range.
Cheers
Thanks for sharing! Would you say you’re an intermediate surfer?
I feel the things you mention are all kind of positives, but when I look at the review Noel did - you’ve got footage of Zeke Lau and all these other rippers, and they’re primarily surfing it in 3ft+ good waves. I think the board is epic, but you’ve got to be surfing at ah intermediate + level, and/or surfing it in decent waves with push. Which is kind of what you said… ✌️
Hey, I'm an upper intermediate surfer. For me this board seems to be a board that likes being pushed/driven. It seems easy to turn... Sometimes too easy. Which is where I'm at which is trying to desensitise the board with fin choices (still a work in progress there). So that I'm able to push and drive it hard without the board feeling like it's going to let go. Some boards I've got the release point is predictable the Aipa Dark twin not so much. This board for me I've found takes a bit of working out. I like it and have had good moments on it. Enough to keep it in the quiver and persevere.
Keep up the great work 👍