CORE Ripper 3
Sizes Available: 5’8″ x 17 7/8″ x 2 1/16″, 23L, 5’10” x 18 1/8″ x 2 1/4″, 25L, 6’1″ x 18 1/2″ x 2 3/4″, 27L
Sizes Tested: 6’1″ x 18 1/2″ x 2 3/4″, 27L
Core Says:
To all the wave warriors out there, we agree, there is no bigger rush than riding waves of all shapes and sizes. Strapped. Or strapless. Like the ones a Nor’easterly brings to the East Coast. Or a good low brings to the Great Lakes. For you, we built the ultra comfortable, Ripper 3. An allrounder that feels right at home on big, messy, wind driven lake swell or the super smooth reefs of Mauritius and Maui. The Ripper 3. A handcrafted, glass shortboard for all your road trips, wherever they may take you.
So, what is the payoff for going with glass over EPS? You get a classic, smooth riding surfboard with impeccable carving characteristics that performs just as well without a kite. Can’t find any waves? No problem, try the new Ripper 3 with a CORE LW kite and discover how much fun light wind riding is. Go back to the future with the carbon fiber and glass Ripper 3 and find your inner wave ninja.
Visit for more info: www.corekites.com/us/boards/surfboards/ripper3
Tkb Says:
We’ve tested the Core Ripper in the surf, but this is the first time we’ve put this performance shape through the wringer for the freeride test. The Ripper 3 features a long, narrow surf profile with a rounded pin tail and classic custom glass construction that reinforces this high-performance wave shape for kitesurfing abuse. The Ripper features a single concave from nose to tail with a thruster fin box configuration that came with FCS2s Accelerator large-sized fins. The ¾ length deck pad features a diamond grip that comes in three sections and offers a ton of grip which earned it solid reviews for comfort from testers. The deck features a balsa inlay stringer in the center with two footstrap inserts along the center to choose forward/aft front footstrap position and three forward and aft centered inserts on the tail for back footstraps. The tail pad features a raised bump under your arch and a solid kick to keep your foot on the board during hard carves.
The Ripper 3 is a big wave performance gun that was a bit outside of its ideal condition envelope in the choppy water and small burgery surf of our freeride test location. The Ripper features custom glass construction, with our test board being the largest in the Ripper lineup featuring a medium-plus weight that was geared for our larger riders. The board’s flex and density seem to eat up rough surfaces with the Ripper’s long narrow rail being super stable while going upwind through aggressive chop. The large Accelerator fins and pin tail deliver super grippy traction that feels incredibly locked in both when you are grinding upwind and during turns and hard carves. The Ripper likes to rip turns, with smooth and easy turn initiation with a broader turning arc.
The Ripper seems to be hungry for big open faces for heavy gouging turns, but in the small short interval windswell the Ripper drew more casual lines. The Ripper with its superior grip seems to be looking for a steep wall or whitewater to snap off the lips with tight pivoty critical turns. The Ripper is a pretty specific animal that is hungry for medium and large surf, and to that end feels big for strapless freestyle with a tail that’s a bit locked in for bump and jump strapless airs (checkout the Core 720 if that is your game). When it comes to freeride in small mushy surf conditions, the Ripper offers incredible directional tracking and stability with a solid light wind range with its higher volume that can be great for cruising long tacks or finally nailing that elusive jibe or duck tack, and above all else, eeking out a session in conditions better suited for foilboarding. If your version of freeride kiting is all about short interval surf and strapless shredding, it’s worth putting the Core 720’s active and playful performance back to back with the Ripper 3. With its long narrow template and higher volume, the Ripper will give freeride kiters a ton of stability, incredibly stable tracking and a smooth ride through the chop with lots of range.
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