Wow, when you look at this kiteboard you can’t help be captivated. We saw some images of this on the web a while back, but these were just mock ups and we were eager to see the board in the flesh. The graphics and colours are so bright and vivid that it just jumps out at you.
The F-One Acid is a dedicated freestyle board from F-One, aimed at the younger more radical rider out there looking for a weapon to do battle with. The board has a short wide outline, the biggest size being just 2cm longer than the 130 we had on test. The width is carried all the way to the tips and there is a small concave on the underside of the board. The top deck is simple and flat, giving the Acid a clean business like look.
The new footstraps on the Acid are really easy to put on the board, and for once you can adjust both sides of the strap giving you a really locked in feel.
On the Water Quite often these days freestyle kiteboards are pretty stiff, allowing the rider to load up and get lots of pop. The Acid however isn’t super stiff like some of its rivals; it has a softer flex, which feels a lot smoother over the water. It isn’t a total sponge and certainly isn’t as smooth as the Trax 4 but it does make for a more enjoyable ride in choppy conditions than some of the other freestyle beasts we have tested. The wide profile and wide tips allow the rider to really drive off the back foot when edging for a trick, this ensures the board has plenty of pop for freestyle tricks whilst also allowing landings to be secure and easy.
Smaller riders will definitely enjoy the 130, the wide shape means that larger riders can get something out of it too, but if you’re over 6 foot tall you might find it a little small underfoot. The board drives well upwind and even gets going fairly early for such a small craft.
Pros
Stunning graphics, solid wood core construction, great fixtures, the Acid is a freestyle kite board that offers a little bit more to the regular rider too, excelling in choppy conditions.
Cons
We’d love to see a bigger version for those of us who are a little on the larger side!
Overall
A great freestyle board that offers lots of top end performance, whilst retaining a smooth comfortable ride. You don’t need to be a freestyle guru to enjoy the Acid, but if you are, you’ll love it!