North Astra

North’s Astra has returned for 2025. A board specifically designed for lightweight and smaller riders has consistently hit the spot in a sometimes neglected market sector, so we were eager to see how it had been developed for 2025.

First up, they are showing further commitment to the Astra range with four size options this season, starting off at 127cm and going up to 139cm. The board comes in a touch (7%) lighter than the previous version but in this market segment every gram counts. Stance width can often be a major bugbear for smaller proportioned riders, and the latest Astra acknowledges this with extra narrow footstrap insert options built in to cater for more elegant stances. The deck comes complete with all M6 fixings, the handle and a set of 40mm fins as standard. You then choose from the Flex or Flex Pro bindings additionally.

Construction feels extremely premium in the hand, with a bold and precisely printed (and in some lights slightly trippy) purple mushroom and/or jellyfish graphic certainly making it stand out. There’s been no corners cut on the layup front, with a slightly lighter 380GSM biaxial E glass and 3DY unidirectional carbon tape linking the tips with the inserts in a logical pattern to control flex, pushing force from the footpads towards the tips. It’s all built around a Paulownia wood core and a sturdy ABS rail. The board has centrally placed inserts meaning the footstraps can be mounted with the heel oriented on either rail. This ‘Flip Tech’ reversible system carries over from last season, which will extend the life of the board if you’re a rider that’s particularly hard on their heel edge.

With the current industry focus on Big Air, and board offs being all the rage, North have made the smart move to increase both the size and length of the rail grip channels in the top sheet for a more assured grasp. As luck would have it, their hull design incorporates the edge of channel in this area too, so you have grip on both sides of the board. Another nod towards Big Air is the handle, which is beautifully designed with a grippy TPE coating which you’ll struggle to fumble when wet. A Big Air specific spacer and bolt kit can be purchased to raise the handle further from the deck to make it easier to catch if you flipped your board mid-air.

We’re also looking at a revised hull shape, building on last year. A double concave fades into a deep V in the tips, and in the water you can immediately notice a shade more grip than the previous year, and the mid-level flex and rocker do an admirable job of smoothing out more dense chop. The board feels a little more purposeful and alert and can hold down far more power, whilst still retaining a comfortable freeride capability.

The Astra stands out as a board for lighter riders which is a far cry from a simple downscaled model. Everything has been well considered from the rail shape to the flex pattern, and it provides far increased levels of grip and control in higher wind conditions, building confidence where lighter riders may occasionally struggle. With the Big Air renaissance well upon us, and overpowered conditions becoming bread and butter for some, it’s great to see a board that’s built with smaller folks in mind, particularly alongside so many complementary Big Air products in the North lineup.