Kitesurf365 Podcast

Episode #433: R.I.P Peter Lynn | Forgotten Board Designs | TechCast
Host: Adrian Kerr
Guest: Dave "DK" Kay
Date: April 13, 2026

Episode Overview

This TechCast episode is a heartfelt exploration of kiteboarding innovation, past and present. Adrian and DK begin by remembering the late Peter Lynn, a legendary figure whose impact reaches every corner of the kiting world. The conversation then pivots to the eruption of chatter around the new Readin Snack Pack board, prompting a deep dive into "forgotten" board designs—those that once defined and still influence the sport. The episode weaves expert history with tech talk, memorable anecdotes, and a call to rediscover the playful spirit in kiteboarding.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Remembering Peter Lynn

• Peter Lynn’s Legacy and Influence
  • DK describes Peter as "a very old dear friend of mine" and "quite remarkable," highlighting his unquantifiable impact on kiting, from kite buggies to power generation and all aspects of kite surfing. (02:42)
  • Lynn’s innovations include:
    • The world’s largest kites (Guinness Records)
    • The invention of the kite buggy
    • Pioneering traction kites, including the Peel and the ARC (the first commercially available traction foil kite)
  • DK notes:

    "His influence in kiting in general is probably impossible to quantify. It's just massive." (03:00) "He created the kite buggy... the first sort of traction kite thing you could commercially buy." (03:52)

• Brand Evolution
  • Peter Lynn’s companies split into Ashburton (NZ - big display kites) and the Dutch-run kiteboarding brand (PLKB), the latter no longer producing the iconic ARC.
  • Personal stories: DK’s first kitesurfing kite was a handmade Peter Lynn ARC, stitched on a friend's girlfriend’s sewing machine. (06:30)

2. Readin Snack Pack: A Lightning Rod for Discussion

• Viral Board Release
  • Adrian reflects on the Snack Pack’s unusual volume of debate online. (07:39)
  • DK praises Damien and Kevin of Readin, comparing the release’s buzz to Core’s XR Pro:

    "Whether you've got positive discussion or negative... the worst thing is nobody talks about it. The guys have done a really, really good job." (08:30)

  • Negative publicity as a marketing tool:

    "I'd far rather have someone talking about us negatively than not at all." (10:04)

• Modern Retake on Old Designs
  • DK immediately recognized the Snack Pack as a fresh interpretation of early-2000s Olry-style twin tips—a board type absent from mainstream offerings for years, but with enduring merit. (11:00)

3. Olry-Style Twin Tips & Forgotten Board Designs

• Origins with Franz Olry
  • Franz Olry: Described by DK as “one of the original pro kiteboarders" and a craftsman who introduced the first twin tip based on snowboard geometry, not wakeboards. (12:06)
  • The legendary Wipika Olry featured:
    • Long, narrow outline (163x36/37cm)
    • Pronounced tip rocker (like a snowboard tip)
    • Pioneering “release edge”/step, allowing low drag with forgiving nose—still influential today. (14:00)
  • DK explains:

    "It was a very uniquely kite board twin tip... influenced by snowboard design... really amazing that it happened so early." (14:40)

• Snack Pack Parallels
  • Damien’s design echoes these origins: "Damien has very much replicated that [release edge]... both the release edge and the soft surfboard-style rail... have come back with this new board.” (16:32)

4. Underground Boards & the Rise of the Wave Tray

• Underground’s Roots in New Zealand
  • Origin story links back to Peter Lynn, whose experiments inspired Kane Hartle and shaper Adrian Roper to found Underground, initially making directionals, then adopting Olry’s twin tip blueprints. (18:30)
• The Underground Wave Tray
  • Developed in 2001–02 in Christchurch; the board’s compact size and outline “completely revolutionized what kiteboarders think of performance.” (21:00)
  • Underground’s mainstream impact:

    “By the mid-2000s, Underground kiteboards were the largest independent kiteboard brand in the world. Only brands selling both kites and boards sold more." (23:55)

5. The “Super Short” Movement

• Lou Wainman: Innovator Extraordinaire
  • Lou’s experiments with 90x33cm, finless custom boards were radical, pushing boundaries on what was rideable.

    “Lou has always been beyond the curve." (25:05)

    • Super short lines, V-pulley bar, wild board sizes—DK and others had to try it themselves and, to their surprise, “it actually did work.” (26:00)
  • The era saw major brands releasing meter-or-less boards—but it was a brief, exciting trend, hard for the mainstream.

    "...the only way that board would work would be if I was ridiculously overpowered. But it was so small and such low drag, it worked." (27:25)

6. Mutants & the Forgotten Middle Ground

• Defining Mutants
  • Boards between pure surf and pure twin tip:

    “They have a directional rocker… larger fins at the back, but features for landing and riding backwards… a broad spectrum.” (30:20)

  • Mutants maximized versatility: grip, speed, carving, and some twin tip-style tricks.
  • DK’s favorite era: Mark Shinn’s dual world titles (2002) on Nash Mutants, historic for winning both major world tours in one year.

    “Mutants will never beat that as a cornerstone of that design.” (34:29)

7. Board Rails: Sharp vs. Soft

• Why the Soft Rail Matters
  • Damien/Readin’s return to “surfboard rail” is explained:

    “A softer surfboard rail, if we tuck that rail and give it some curvature, the water doesn’t want to let go... the board is actually being pulled down... a softer rail will actually hold an edge better and carve smoother.” (35:30)

  • Contrasted with the speed/boost of modern sharp-edge twin tips, but softer rail offers superior wave control.

8. Wave-Riding Twin Tips: The Cult Boards

• Ocean Rodeo Mako, Nomad, DK Katana, Cabrinha Tronic
  • Boards designed for those who chase waves with twin tip skills, not classic surf-styling.
  • Passionately loved by devotees:

    “For those that know, they really know... they absolutely love that type of board." (38:38)

  • DK recounts a top kite moment:

    "The most fun I’ve ever had with a kite... riding One Eye on a twin tip. Funnily enough, while Duotone were trying to do a photo shoot..." (41:10)

  • Analogy: “They feel like a snowboard in soft snow… very addictive feeling.” (44:07)
• Why Wave Twin Tips Persist
  • Perfect for downwinders, river swells, places like the Columbia River Gorge—fun, carving, playful. (44:40)

9. Where Did the Fun Go? The Industry’s Narrowing Focus

• The Forgotten Quiver
  • In earlier days, DK and his circle would “put 10 boards in the van” for every session, emphasizing board selection for fun and conditions, not just kite size. (47:23)
  • Industry driven by what sells, not always what’s fun:

    "The industry has concentrated on what it can sell and not all of this other stuff that can be a lot of fun." (48:18)

  • Hope for the future: DK’s Rad Sky Lab is about rapid prototyping and reviving experimental spirit.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Peter's influence in kiting... is probably impossible to quantify.” – DK (03:00)
• “The worst thing you can do when you have a product release is nobody talks about it...” – DK (08:43)
• “Damien has very much replicated that [release edge]...” – DK on the Snack Pack (16:32)
• “Lou has always been beyond the curve. He’s always doing something that’s completely out of the mind of anybody else in the industry.” – DK (25:05)
• “Mutants occupy some sort of continuum between a surfboard style directional and a traditional square outline twin tip.” – DK (30:31)
• “A softer rail will actually hold an edge better and carve smoother.” – DK (35:50)
• “They feel like a snowboard in soft snow... a very addictive feeling.” – DK (44:40)
• “The board defines...the fun that we’re going to have.” – DK (47:30)
• “Have we forgotten the fun? Damien and Kevin have come out with something that seriously looks like fun. Is there more? I think there’s more.” – DK (49:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |------------------------------------|-----------------------| | Rad Sky Lab intro | 00:54 | | Remembering Peter Lynn | 02:42 – 07:39 | | Readin Snack Pack & Board Release | 07:39 – 11:59 | | Olry Twin Tips & Forgotten Designs | 12:06 – 18:12 | | Underground & Wave Tray | 18:30 – 24:36 | | Super Short Boards/Lou Wainman | 24:36 – 29:54 | | The Mutant Era | 29:54 – 35:00 | | Surfboard Rails on Twin Tips | 35:00 – 37:56 | | Wave Riding Twin Tips (Mako, etc.) | 37:56 – 44:07 | | Where Did These Boards Go? | 47:00 – 48:53 | | Closing Reflections | 48:53 – 51:17 |

Final Thoughts

The episode, though rooted in nostalgia and reverence for pioneering figures like Peter Lynn and radical designers like Lou Wainman, is ultimately a rallying cry for playfulness, experimentation, and finding joy through diversity in board design. As DK concludes, the future is open for reimagining what’s possible if the community is willing to break out of the pro-standard mold and rediscover the fun. Adrian echoes the excitement for the Readin Snack Pack and a more open-minded approach to gear—and commits to future episodes, including a rumored “Lou Wainman’s Crazy Ideas” TechCast.

For Further Exploration

• If you want board design deep-dives: Search “techcast” on kitesurf365.com
• Follow DK’s experimental journey: Watch for updates from Rad Sky Lab in Jeffreys Bay
• Ride more stuff, have more fun.