Product Review - Mission Delta 2.0

Mission Delta wakeshaper 2.0

Wakesurfing in a V drive / Direct drive boat was always reserved for end of the day, when you have finished wakeboarding etc and you are happy to load all your ballast to one side of the boat. Thanks to the invention of wake-plates modern boats have fully removed the need for weight distribution and now rely on loading the ballast in the boat evenly and placing more drag on one side to create a wakesurfing wave on the other. The downside is these systems are well in excess of $3000 and need to be professionally fitted to your boat.

Thankfully a year or 2 ago easy fit wake-shapers came along. Now with a small amount of fitting you have multiple different brands available on the market that can be placed on the side of your older boat at a fraction of the cost of a wake-plate system. 

The Brofessionals wake-shaper of choice is the Mission Delta as it was the first wake-shaper on the market with suction cups. It comes well detailed and has been  proven on many different styles of boat to produce an epic wakesurfing wave.

Now the mission Delta 2.0 has been launched we have done the hard yards and tested these bad boys back to back to give you our opinion on whether the 2.0 is better than its predecessor.

Potters Back

Japan - In Retrospect

JAPOW

A Brofessionals review from our trip to Japan

The Japow snow getaway is the pinnacle for any powder pig looking to get lost in the deep white fluffy stuff. Deep pow, Sushimi, Sake, Ramen, Onsens, Bidets, Asahi, chopsticks are all to be expected but the Brofessionals have now smashed Japan a bunch of times and we have a few little secrets that might help you when you go chasing the powder goodness.

Trains vs Planes

Getting around Japan can seem daunting at first, but the train network is unbelievable. If you are planning on staying for a decent stint, then opt for a train over a domestic flight every time especially if you are traveling with 2 checked-in bags. You can get up whenever you like and walk around. The seats and leg roomaren’t even comparable, and the luggage allowance is basically as much as you can carry. Some trains like the Hayabusa travel around 320kph getting you the equivalent of Auckland to Wellington in 3 hours. They are relatively quiet and the majority we have come across have free wifi.

Cheat code: If you pay for a Koru membership (Air New Zealand) with an Airpoints Credit card you can travel with an extra bag no extra charge and its under $500 PA. An extra bag return is $220 normally.

Respect 

The Japanese are a quiet bunch who love to fuss over you and are so polite it hurts. They don’t mind a foreigner having a laugh / good time and are often too shy to try and join in conversation even though most speak a little English. But if you are traveling Japan make sure to always respect their traditions especially when it comes to any sacred land and their rules around Onsens. These places are full of old traditional customs that can sometimes be easy to overlook but are massively frowned upon.
 
Cheat Code: Onsen rules - Click Here

Resort Choice
 
There are over 500 ski fields in Japan. This gives you the opportunity to really get the experience you want. If you really want after hours activities and more of that big resort feeling you cant go past Niseko, Hakkuba and the Nagano area. These resorts have a large range of dinner options and bars that give you loads to do after you have finished shredding or on down days.

A preferred Brofessional option is to choose a smaller resort/resorts smash powder all day with no lift queues and then stay in Tokyo for 3 days at the end to party your ass off.

Japan resorts will offer everything from 2 seater chair lifts on the side of a hill with epic tree runs to full American style resorts with gondolas from the base of the hotel, to cable cars taking you to 1400m with full out of bounds back country skiing with no trails. 

Cheat Code: Get to resorts that start above 300m but stay below 1200m too low and the snow gets wet go to high and they will never open. This is roughly the ‘goods zone’ - Geto Kogen, Appi Kogen, Rusutsu, Aomori Springs, Hakkoda, Myoko Kogen.

Brofessionals - How to choose a wakeboard

The Brofessionals guide - Buying Wakeboards

Size, shape, Glass, Wood core, fins, no fins, boat, cable, me, her, kids, mates.... 

Looking for a new board, but have no idea how to choose the right set up other than finding the right kick-ass graphic you like?

We've attempted to simplify below to help get you started.

Still have questions - hit us up on FB messenger. Or call the shop 09 4894074

1. Board Size

Probably the most important feature to consider is the length of your wakeboard. The length is determined by your own weight and foot stance, and if multiple riders will be using the board, it is better to adapt the board to the heaviest rider.

Rider Weight (kg) =  Board Size (cm)
11 - 31  =  111-118
18 - 38  =  118-130
29 - 50  =  124-134
31 - 80  = 130-138
45 - 100  = 134-142
68 - 110  = 138-146
77 - 110+  = 142-146

2. Board core

Choose the board construction to best suit your riding options - 

Boat / Jet Ski
If you're simply riding behind a boat a foam core glass board will provide a stiffer ride giving more pop across the wake. A woodcore will provide a lot more fun when trying ollies, boardslides presses and general mucking around.

Boat & Cable 
Wood core boards are best if you want the option to ride wake and cable. With removable fins to ride rails & Kickers yet still provides plenty of pop. They also give you a way softer landing behind the boat for those bad knees.

3. Fin & Channel set up

Fin position

If you're a beginner rider, look for a board with a centre fin - This will provide you with a stable ride when you get up and you are flat tracking behind the boat. 

Side fins help you once you advance to a higher level. Giving you more edge control when you don't have perfect technique. The larger the fins the more the board will hide imperfect body riding position. The smaller the fins the more forgiving and slippery the board will feel.

4. Board shape

Rocker is simply the curve (bend) profile of the board and determines riding style.

• Continuous rocker profile offers a smooth, predictable ride, with flowing transitions into turns. his shape is often used for cable park riding;
• The three-stage rocker profile adds a break in the curve for aggressive riding style and a flatter center curve for speed and rail control. Often chosen for riding behind a boat.
• Hybrid rocker profile blends two curves together for improved performance. This shape may come in handy both in the park or behind the boat.
• 

• In short...

  We know it can be complicated, especially if you have a few different riders to consider, so hit up with any questions on FB messenger, email, phone or in store and we'll get you sorted.

Brofessionals - How to choose a glove

If your gloves are worn out or you just suffer from cold hands the Brofessionals have you covered. Checkout our 60 sec video on how to choose a glove

Brofessionals - Libtech Lost Puddle Jumper Review

With this summer of surf that never seems to end, we thought it was about time to get into the dirty details of one of our favourite little numbers - the Lib Tech Puddle Jumper. If you have been struggling in small surf, finding it hard to progress or are just looking for that perfect learner shortboard setup, the Puddle Jumper is a must for your quiver. The overall shape combined with the flexible yet incredibly tough Basalt-Fibre construction, makes this board paddle and catch waves like a dream. Setup as a thruster or a quad, it's also fast and will help you make that next section, or get that extra turn in on every wave.

PJ - Small waves for all abilities

We are all looking for that perfect board that performs in smaller or hard to catch surf. The PJ's overall concave and fat tail make it super fast across any wave lacking in push. The slightly pulled-in steps in the tail allow the PJ to retain a super loose feel for it's volume, giving you loads of freedom to throw it around and generate speed. The massive amount of volume in the nose however, is what makes this board amazing for learners. It gets you onto the wave early with ease, and is as stable as a freight train if you are a little slow to your feet. All this volume is also the reason that you should buy the Puddle jumper at least 4 inches shorter than your normal shortboard. This is because, to get the most out of this shape you need to be standing forward, over where all the volume is. Buy it too long, and you'll find yourself too far back, like you're surfing with the brakes on.

Construction - Strength and Flex

The Basalt-Fibre weave is a volcanic rock substitute for fibre glass. This makes the board more durable than if it were an epoxy construction, yet still light-weight and flexible like a PU board. Not only is this form of construction tougher, but it's environmental impact is almost non-existent. By combining this construction with the nitrogen closed-cell foam inside, you have yourself a board that's barely needs repairing even if you do manage to figure out a way of dinging it. 

Want to get away skiing in a Powder Paradise?

Our Trip

Powder Mountain:

Wakeboarding this Easter? Ask the Brofessionals to get the most out of your wakeboard boat

To most of us buying a G23 to go wakeboarding is about as achievable as purchasing your first home in Auckland. So as you sit there looking at your rusting 50 Evinrude engine on the back of that 15ft Sea Nymph know that the Brofessionals respect your ghetto rig and want to help you achieve maximum pop off that wake.

 
Rope and Handle
Before you put a high-pole or tower on your boat and before you sink the crap out of it with as much lead you can get your hands on, the most important purchase to get the most pop from your riding is a non stretch spectra line. True pop - off any wake - is created through building line tension while progressively cutting towards the wake. A task that is impossible if you have a rope line with the stretch consistency of a bike inner tube.  Getting off that old PolyE line and onto a spectra line is the single most important purchase you can make for your wakeboarding career.
 
Ballast
Whether you use five fat mates, lead, cement, water, sand or whatever you can get your hands on, ballast is what will make your wake big and strong. Not only does it help to make that wake larger it also makes it solid which will in turn be punchier and not crumble when you edge through it on your board. The key with weight is displacement; don’t load everything into the back of your rig make sure you keep it even between the bow and the stern. The more you can sink the overall boat, the better your wake will be.
 
Wake
Cleaning up your wake is a simple problem that most of us are unsure on how to fix. The basic principles are if your wake is too mellow and does not have enough kick you will want to add load to the back of the boat. If the wake is too steep and has a crumbled wall or a lip then you need more weight in the nose. Also if you are running a stern-leg or outboard keep the engine all the way down until you are at riding speed (18-22 mph) and then trim the engine back up until you see that bad boy clean himself up and become nice and smooth. Always try and ride as far back on the line as you can before the wake starts to crumble again.
 
Prop
If you are like us and you keep your rig for nothing else but hardcore wakeboarding and water sport then you should really look at changing the prop. A good wake will always benefit from more weight and often your engine will only give you so much pull with the amount of weight you want. This is where down pitching the prop size will allow you to load your boat with more beer chugging mates to really help jack up that wake. Like dropping down a gear in your car your top end will suffer but as thisisn’t so important for wakeboarding, it will give you a lot more torque to get your boat up on the plain. Take note that you don’t need a high end stainless steel prop - a flexible small pitch alloy prop is perfect for the job.

Brofessionals: Wakesurfing Made Easy

Possibly one of the most enjoyable times you will have behind your boat, if you have the set-up is Wakesurfing.

 
For those of you who don’t know what it is, it’s the act of producing a large wave by sinking the back of your boat, riding a Short Surf or Skim-style board then letting go of the rope and hacking your way to glory. It gives you the sense of surfing that perfect infinite wave - well if that perfect wave was three feet off the back of a boat and the serenity was drowned out with a roaring V8.
 
Nonetheless it takes away the hard part of surfing and leaves you tearing up the wave you have always wanted, without all that painfully hard paddling and duck diving.
 
For most of us, it’s a tough task to set up the boat to build a big enough wave to be able to let go of the rope.
But not anymore! Thanks to Mission Delta Wake Gear. They have come up with a product that will turn your old dog of an inboard into a Wakesurfing machine.
 
The idea although very simple is incredibly effective and very well thought out. The Mission Delta basically is a suction cupped wake plate that can be fixed onto the side of any fibreglass boat easily. Place it further back for a steeper walled wave and run it further forwards for a longer, more drawn out wave.
 
How it works:
Leaving your boat with full ballast, you suction the Delta onto the opposite back corner of the boat that you wish to surf on. This causes the boat to turn inward towards the side that the plate is on. Turning the wheel to correct the direction of the boat to go straight, which makes the wave swiftly appear on the other side. Effectively the boat drives now in a straight line but the physics of the rudder and hull make it more like it’s arching in a massive turn to create that beautiful wave you have always wanted.
 
As long as you still sink your boat with plenty of weight you can set your rig up for wakeboarding. Instead of having to move all that weight around to set-up for Wakesurfing, with a simple leaver flick of the Mission Delta and you are away laughing.
 
We recommend only doing this with a direct or V-Drive boat as the prop is situated well out of the way under the hull.

Going to Japan…ask the Brofessionals.

Going to Japan…ask the Brofessionals.

Japan is a powder hound’s dream. The cold Siberian winds pick up all the moisture from the Sea of Japan and proceed to unload on Hokkiado (North island) and Honshu (main island) upwards of 18 meters a year. If you want to ski in true waist deep powder there is no other place quite like it. The super large flakes of snow combined with how light and fluffy it is will literally have you swimming in the stuff.
Being the good buggers that we are we have endured many ski holidays there ourselves just so we can educate you on the dos and don’ts of going there on a ski holiday

Buy before you go
Excluding Niseko, Japan offers very little in the way of purchasing equipment. This is 10 times harder if you have long feet or you are taller than most. Our recommendation is to always go over prepared and make sure you have everything you need

Ski width for powder
If you are an all-day piste basher then your standard 80 under foot carvers will work no problem. But like us if you want to adventure around in the powder those carvers will be about as much use as blind lifeguard.  The terrain on average in Japan is generally somewhere between Blue and Black runs but most resorts have their fair share of flat sections. There are two main ways of looking at purchasing.  Either to own and use back here - or to own and only use on powder days.
If you want to have a set of skis that can handle waist-deep, face-smashing pow in Hokkaido yet still roll into the Motatapu chutes on TC, 100 mm underfoot is our recommendation. As long as you combine it with a decent 15% tip rocker then you will have a set that can pretty much tackle anything
If you really are just in search off the best face shot then go for 110-120 underfoot. Although they are pretty pointless for NZ unless you search out the pow days or just love heli skiing then these will be your go-to travel skis. The medium vert of the resorts combined with the trees and amount of snow mean the more width you put under your foot the less effort you will require.

Snowboard Arsenal
Your style of riding obviously plays a massive part in this decision. Japan is dominated by low lying mountains with medium to steep faces, large rolling flat sections and narrow tree lines. Camber is  still the preferred choice of advanced riders but we definitely recommend rocker for Japan. This will help keep the nose of your board out of the deep snow and stop the worst of that back leg burn. Here are the two ways the Brofessionals recommend you go about this:
Keep your standard board and purchase a powder board is one of the better options. This allows you to keep your normal shred stick to ride at home and dominate the trails but gives you a powder board to pull out on the days you need. These usually have taper dominated design, with large rocker forward of the front binding. The other good thing about a powder board is they don’t change a lot so you can keep it as your deep day destroyer for years to come.
The second is to move onto a Reverse Camber preferably Flying V or Hybrid camber. This style board will give you the best of both worlds. It will still dominate in that freeze thaw that we get here but the lift in the nose and tail will help you ride through the trees and keep your speed up on those powdery open faces.

Your normal shoes won’t cut it
As soon as you step out of the plane at Chitose airport you will immediately regret your decision to bring normal shoes. This is not just due to the cold ground temp working its way through the soles but the amount of snow on the ground will have your shoes filled in seconds. A waterproof set of hiking/snow style boots its a must. Due to the small size of feet in Japan this item is near on impossible to find in anything over a US 9. Also a set of spikes for your boots won’t go astray. The average incline when combined with the ice factor make the footpaths resemble an ice-skating rink more than a sidewalk!

Puffer up
No matter how warm you get skiing at least a packable puffer should be taken. Getting around the restaurants at night will almost always be on foot and the temps drop well below zero so pack plenty of items to insulate
 

The Resorts We have skied in a few words:

- Niseko – Busy / Book for dinners / Lots of night life / Kitchen sushi train / Go Moiwa / Australians / Gate 4
- Rusutsu – Great tree runs / No crowds / No nightlife / Day mission from Niseko
- Furano – Amazing back country / Cable car / Small town vibe / Ajitos / Link Lift
- Tomamu – Great vert faces / long run out / Nothing there / Open trees / Good day mission
- Samui – Open / Uni mountain vibe / Very quiet / Rad old Gondola / Small park / No English
- Hakuba – 11 resorts / One flight / Loads of terrain / Japanese holiday destination / Lots of everything.