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Target production time for custom boards is about 8 weeks, but we will keep you informed during production.
If you would like more customisation, feel free to contact us!
Luke’s Leaf
Your advanced freestyle kiteboard
Small, loose, easy to rotate and perfect for those big airs. The Luke’s Leaf is a no-nonsense freestyle kiteboard design. Just a perfectly tuned combination of outline, rocker and bottom contour. Luke McGillewie designed this model to suit most of his riding freestyle and in waves. Around his home in Cape Town and during his travels around the world.
Stick your freestyle tricks
Advanced riders will love this freestyle monster. Get ready to stick new tricks from day one! The board feels very reliable under feet and the almost identical outline of the tail and nose makes landing reverse very easy. Speaking of the nose, this is thinned out and hides quite a bit of bottom rocker to prevent the board from diving.
Big air champion
Nothing beats the feeling of being lifted into the air and soaring high. Overall the board is small, and therefore lighter than most other boards of similar volume, perfect for those big airs!
Board details
Hidden volume
There is quite a bit of hidden volume in the Luke’s Leaf, so you can ride it very short. Luke personally rides the board in just 4’11”. The idea is to make the board light so it travels with you through the air.
Thicker middle section
The boards profile makes it very strong. A thicker middle section and the lack of channels or grab rails give the board more strength. You will have to do your absolute best to break a board like this. Especially combined with Appletree’s revolutionary production method. So don’t worry if you find yourself practising new tricks and the landings aren’t always that smooth!
Small template
The Luke’s Leaf will need a bit of power to get going. The small template gives less upward pressure than other boards. So as a beginner rider in strapless freestyle, other models might be more suitable. Advanced riders will love the response and pop the Luke’s Leaf provides.
Construction
Both the Hex-skin Glass as well as the Hex-skin Carbon versions are extremely strong. The Carbon version is quite a bit lighter and carbon naturally has a quicker response and better pop of the water’s surface. The Glass version is heavier, still very strong and with a softer more comfortable flex to dampen chop. Whichever construction you go, the Luke’s Leaf will get propel you to new heights!
Board Characteristics
Rails
full
mid
pinched
Rocker
low
moderate
high
Width
narrow
balanced
full
Wave Performance
Wave Height
ankle
head high
double overhead
Wave Power
sloppy
steep
barrel
Shape
Skill level
beginner
intermediate
pro
Upwind
0%
50%
100%
Low wind
0%
50%
100%
High wind
0%
50%
100%
Strapless freestyle
0%
50%
100%
CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION
50K CLOSED CELL FOAM
Every board we make starts with a foam core of our very own 50K closed cell foam. This foam is formalized exclusively for us, it is not used in any other board in the market.
The foam can withstand 50.000 kg per square meter, while staying very light, and most of all very flexible. Another plus of our 50K foam is that it is closed cell, meaning that the foam will not take in water. And the board will not blow out when it gets hot.
From the shaped foam we can go two ways: Hex-skin Carbon or Hex-skin Glass.
HEX-SKIN GLASS
The base of the board consists of three layers wrapped around the core. An internal structural fibreglass layer, a hex-skin flexible honeycomb layer and another structural fibreglass layer that is placed in a 45 degree orientation. This to keep the board as flexible as possible while making a very strong base. The bottom is left without honeycomb, again to maintain maximum flex. How your board is constructed next depends on the strength option you choose.
The different strength options are explained in detail below. The board is now placed under a vacuum and with pressure, forcing the epoxy resin into the fibres. This way we use minimal resin and maximum fibre. Making the board super strong, yet very light. The colour is added as a pigment to the epoxy resin, coloring the entire board.
HEX-SKIN CARBON
Hex-skin Carbon is similar in composition to the Hex-skin Glass boards. But instead of glass we use 100% carbon fibre, there is no glass hidden underneath the top layer of carbon. Using carbon makes the board lighter and it makes it stick to your feet even better. Because the board is so light, it flows over the chops a lot better than you might expect.
To give the carbon boards their unique look the deck is finished with a tinted resin, that can be customized. Pick your own colour or mix multiple for a truly one-of-a kind board.
STRENGTH OPTIONS HEX-SKIN GLASS
White-line build strength
This is the standard construction for kite wave surfing. Meaning true surfing with a kite. You can do the occasional freestyle jump, but in general these boards are made for the waves. The construction consists of the normal Kite+ construction, but without the internal 3mm honeycomb. Instead there is an extra biaxial fibreglass layer under the front foot. The construction is more than strong enough for everyday use, and you will not ding the board easily. After some time slight heel dents may appear, this is considered normal, and it will not weaken the board.
Kite+
This is our standard custom construction, pictured above. Suits most riders for wave and freestyle. And is therefore our standard custom strength construction. Under the front foot there’s a large patch of 3mm honeycomb inlaid in the foam core, with fibreglass underneath. The core is then wrapped by a layer of structural fibre- glass in a 45 degree orientation. A second thin flexible honeycomb layer is now layered all over the deck for more impact resistance. The Kite+ strength has the perfect balance between weight, strength and flex.
Kite+ S
The same construction as the Kite+ but with all the glass in S glass. This higher quality glass is stronger and more flexible. Because of this, we can use less fibreglass and this makes the board about 15-20% lighter.
STRENGTH OPTIONS HEX-SKIN CARBON
CF- Ultralight
The lightest possible kite board. If you are after the lightest possible kiteboard construction, this is the way to go! Slight heel dents may appear over time, depending on rider’s weight and foot pressure, but the boards are ultra strong. Not really recommended for 100% free- style, but the occasional jump is not a problem at all.
CF+
Our standard custom carbon construction, pictured above. Suits most riders for wave and freestyle and offers the right balance between weight, strength and flex. This board will last you a very long time. And in carbon fibre it is light and looks the part too!
| LL | Width | Thickness | Volume | Surfer weight * |
| 4’9″ | 17.10″ | 2,00″ | 19 L | < 70 KG |
| 4’11” | 17.66″ | 2,10″ | 21 L | 70-85 KG |
| 5’1″ | 18.00″ | 2,20″ | 23 L | 85> KG |
*This is an indication and will also depend on your skills and fitness
b Nuytn –
Sinds kort vaar ik Appletree Surfboards en heb er geen spijt van! Het was iets langer wachten dan normaal wegens de grote drukte in de production facility, maar dat weet je als heb je custom boards wil.
Dankzij de persoonlijke hulp en tips van Wieger Buurma en Marijke ben ik bij de 5’2″ Appleflap Noseless glass terecht gekomen voor een goede allrounder met directe respons tijdens de stevige sessies. Voor plattere dagen en freestyle haal ik de 4”11″ Luke’s Leaf carbon boven.
Beide boards reageren snel en zijn goed te controleren in uiteenlopende condities. Ook opvallend hoe de Appleflap niet afgeeft tijdens het grotere werk, geen nose dives meer ondanks de noseless shape is wel iets nieuws voor mij en zorgt er dus voor dat je goed steil of heel erg laat kan droppen in je golf.
Dank je wel Appletree Surfboards voor de correcte afhandeling, vlotte levering en heerlijke dagen op het water!
Chris Joseph –
Have been riding a glass construction Luke’s leaf 4’11” for 3 seasons now and it has seen a lot of progression in my riding. The board has taken a ton of abuse and has dents but no cracks, despite some heavy landings. I use the board for flat water freestyle. I really like the board.