Buyers Guide: KD Kneeboards

Reuben runs the whole KD kneeboard range in store. Everything below follows the video, with model names and stock checked against the current range.

KD build a kneeboard for every point on the curve — from a first-timer who just wants to get up, through to someone throwing flips and riding switch. The range runs in a fairly clear line, and once you know where you sit on it the choice narrows to one or two boards.

How the range works

Two things separate the boards, and they sort the whole range between them.

KD Strike — the budget board

A genuinely budget-friendly plastic board, and the one for smaller riders just getting into it or anyone who just wants a good cheap board in the boat.

• Tow hook built in — no accessory needed for easy starts.
• Moulded fins.
• A nice soft, squishy knee pad.

Two colourways: pink and teal.

KD Razor — the family board

Still plastic, still with the tow hook built in, so it stays a budget-friendly board. The difference is shape and size.

The Razor is more of a traditional kneeboard shape, and it has more volume and more board under you. That is what makes it the better pick if one board has to work for everyone — it suits kids and larger riders alike.

It comes in several colourways. Two currently on the shelf: orange and blue, and blue and yellow.

KD Livewire and Missfire — learning to edge

This is where the range steps up to compression-moulded fibreglass, and the pair is a his and hers: the Livewire and the Missfire.

There are inserts at the front for a tow hook, so it caters to everyone in the family rather than only the person it was bought for.

KD Livewire · KD Missfire

KD Mayhem and Lil Miss Mayhem — the popular pick

The Mayhem series is the one that sells, and it is the safe answer for most people.

These come with the tow hook rather than just the inserts. The shape moves to a slightly wider tail, which is for riders chasing a bit more performance — but they are still narrow enough to suit the whole family.

If you want one good board that everyone can ride well, this is it. KD Mayhem · KD Lil Miss Mayhem

KD Quest and River Murray — more pop

Another his and hers pair, and the step into performance riding.

Both run a wider tail, and that generates a lot more pop off the wake. These are the boards for riders chasing big airs — and they are particularly worth knowing about if you are riding behind a smaller boat wake.

KD Quest · KD River Murray

KD Slayer and Neptune — the trick boards

These two are for riders chasing the most in performance, and they share the feature that makes technical riding possible.

KD Slayer

Wide, squared-off tip and tail — the same shape as the River Murray and the Quest, so plenty of pop off the wake. If you have ridden either of those and liked the shape, this is that shape with the strap system. See the Slayer.

KD Neptune

A more modern shape: tapered tip and tail with a wide mid section. That combination suits riding switch, bigger technical tricks, and gives softer landings. See the Neptune.

Both still have the inserts for a tow hook, so easy starts remain available even at this end of the range.

KD Neptune Legacy — the carbon flagship

At the top sits the Neptune Legacy, the Frankie Pano pro model.

It is the same shape as the Neptune, so it rides the same way — the difference is underneath. Full carbon construction makes it light and gives it serious pop off the wake.

This is the board for a rider who already knows what they want and is chasing the most out of it. See the Neptune Legacy.

Which one

• First board, smaller rider, tight budget — the Strike.
• One board for the whole boat — the Razor if you want plastic and value, the Mayhem if you want a better board.
• Learning to edge properly — the Livewire or Missfire.
• Chasing airs, or riding behind a small wake — the Quest or River Murray.
• Spins, flips, switch — the Slayer or Neptune, for the double locking strap.
• The lot — the Neptune Legacy.

Common questions

Which KD kneeboard is best for a beginner?

The Strike if the rider is small or the budget is tight - it is plastic, has a tow hook built in and a soft knee pad. The Razor if the board has to suit a range of people, because it has more volume and a more traditional shape. Both make getting up straightforward.

What is the difference between a narrow tail and a wide tail on a kneeboard?

A narrower tail is easier to move from edge to edge, which is what a newer rider needs to learn first. A wider tail generates more pop off the wake, which is what you want once you are chasing air. The KD range walks from one to the other as you go up it.

Do all KD kneeboards have a tow hook?

The plastic boards - the Strike and the Razor - have one built in. Every other board in the range has inserts at the front so you can add one. So easy deep-water starts stay available no matter which board you buy.

What is the difference between the Livewire and the Missfire?

They are a his and hers pair - same idea, same compression-moulded fibreglass construction, same narrow tip and tail that makes it easier to learn edge-to-edge transitions, and the same squared-off outline for pop off the wake.

Which KD kneeboard is the most popular?

The Mayhem series - the Mayhem and the Lil Miss Mayhem. They come with a tow hook and have a slightly wider tail for a bit more performance, but stay narrow enough that everyone in the family can ride them. It is the safe pick.

What kneeboard suits a smaller boat wake?

The Quest or the River Murray. Both have a wider tail that generates more pop, which is exactly what you want when the wake is not doing much of the work for you.

What does the double locking strap do?

It secures you to the board more firmly, which is what makes bigger and more technical tricks possible. It is on the Slayer and the Neptune.

Is the Neptune Legacy worth it over the Neptune?

It is the same shape, so it rides the same way. The difference is full carbon construction instead of fibreglass, which makes it lighter and more explosive off the wake. It is the Frankie Pano pro model and it is aimed at riders who already know what they want from a board.

Where to go from here

Browse by construction, which is the real dividing line in this range — plastic kneeboards or fibreglass kneeboards — or see the full kneeboard range.

If you are still working out what shape suits you, the kneeboard breakdown covers the differences in more depth. Once yours arrives, the setup guide covers strap and fin position, and the getting up guide covers the start.

Not sure which one? Come into the shop at Moorooka in Brisbane, give us a call or send an email — tell us who is riding it and how often, and we will point you at the right board.

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