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Franz Schitzhofer has been kitesurfing and windsurfing (and designing boards for both industries) for decades. In fact our editor is still using a twintip he designed over 10 years ago. He sent us all the deets on the latest iteration of Eleveight’s Master twintip.
Dimensions: 136 x 41.5cm || Rider weight: 80kg || Rider height: 179cm
I’ve been doing this job for a long time and for many brands. So I guess nearly every kiter on the planet has ridden a kiteboard I was involved in, regarding the shape and the development – they just don’t know it! But this doesn’t matter – I know it, and for me it’s okay when I see “happy faces” on the beach! I’ve been involved with the Master since its first ever version. Development never stops, as I have worked on it for nine years and it’s now in its ninth version.
The Master V9 is a highly technical board, packed with innovative construction details. I especially recommend it to riders who prefer to load their tricks through the entire edge of the board rather than over the tips and fins. That’s a characteristic that most freestyle-oriented riders appreciate.
Featuring the deepest channel layout in the Eleveight range (aside from the Commander AG Pro), the Master V9 generates a lot of grip, control and pop. And by the way: due to the deep channel layout, this board performs exceptionally well in choppy conditions, delivering excellent control and comfort. It also stands out when protection of the rider’s joints is a priority, as the board’s forgiving ride helps reduce strain on the knees and ankles, which is one reason why many of our team riders choose it and value this feature highly.
The Master V9 features a fully 3D CNC-milled, ultra-light wood core, called the ‘Superfly3D Wood Core’. It is constructed exclusively from carefully selected, lightweight and complexly dried Paulownia lamellas that are glued and pressed together to achieve the optimal balance of strength, weight, and responsiveness.
This exceptionally light wood core is wrapped in a sophisticated laminate package consisting of basalt, carbon and glass-fibers. The Master is equipped with full 160g basalt biax layers on both the top and the bottom of the board. Basalt is one of the most sustainable reinforcement materials available, produced in Europe from naturally occurring volcanic rock. Beyond its environmental benefits, basalt offers an outstanding performance characteristic: exceptional vibration damping. This gives the Master a noticeably smoother ride, especially in choppy conditions.
In addition to the full basalt layers, strategically placed carbon reinforcements are integrated throughout the construction. These carbon elements I carefully positioned to fine-tune the board’s flex pattern, responsiveness and overall performance characteristics.
The Master features a unique 5-stage rocker line with three additional curved sections developed exclusively for this model. This rocker concept has been refined and proven over many years, delivering the ideal blend of comfort, control and freestyle performance that defines the Master.
Durability is another highlight of the Master V9. The bottom features a highly scratch-resistant polyamide base, while the deck utilizes a robust ABS-TPU construction, covered by a glossy, UV-resistant lacquer finish.
The flex pattern leans toward the sportier side, providing excellent energy return and precise feedback. The rails incorporate a distinctive ‘tucked-under edge’ profile, a design detail commonly found on modern surfboards. While this feature is considerably more difficult to manufacture on a twintip, it is a key ingredient in the Master’s exceptionally smooth and forgiving ride, helping the board to ride cleanly through chop while maintaining grip and control.
Every new version of the Master has its own character, and with each generation, my goal is to further refine and improve the board’s performance. For the Master V9, the main focus was on reducing weight, enhancing performance, and making the board even more accessible to a wider range of riders.
From a construction standpoint, the Master V9 is nearly 250 grams lighter than its predecessor and features a super light paulownia wood core and a revised carbon layup that optimizes both responsiveness and ride comfort. These changes may seem subtle on paper, but they contribute significantly to the overall riding experience.
The result is a board that feels lighter underfoot, reacts more directly to rider input, and delivers a more effortless ride without sacrificing the performance characteristics that define the Master. Hopefully, that’s something you’ll feel from the very first session.
I always enjoy riding my latest developments – which are often black for stealth! One of the real advantages of being a board designer is you’re constantly working one to two seasons ahead, which allows you to turn ideas and concepts into reality before they even reach the water. It’s a privilege to be able to develop and refine personal ideas – and from what we’ve seen so far, many of those concepts resonate well with riders and customers. Hopefully, the results continue to meet their expectations.
Within the Eleveight range, I’m particularly proud of the Stellar V3 and especially the Process V10, the anniversary edition marking ten years of the model. In my view, the Process V10 is a very smart board. It’s comfortable, it’s easy to ride, and it covers an extremely wide performance range for its target group. That’s a true milestone within the Eleveight twintip lineup, and that makes me happy, as I love kiteboards and my job…
I do my board testing all over Planet Earth, haha! I’m originally from Austria, so Lake Neusiedlersee and Podersdorf are my home spots. But my testing season starts in Cape Town from January to March and finishes in Brazil in October to December. Between those periods, I ride anywhere the wind takes me. As a matter of fact, I’m writing these lines right now from Prasonisi, Rhodes!
When you’re traveling as much as we do, you naturally end up crossing paths with team riders from all over the world. Whether it’s during testing sessions, events, or just chasing the next windy forecast, there are always a few of the team around to share ideas, feedback and impressions. It’s quite funny: the world feels big, but the kiting community is surprisingly small. No matter where you go, you often find the same familiar faces at the best spots… ■
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