- 2011 Board Tests

Fanatic FreeWave 85

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:01:00 -0500

V: 85 L: 238 W: 58.5
The FreeWave is a well-established model for Fanatic, yet, this is a board we’ve somehow never gotten our hands on to test. As the name implies, this is Fanatic’s entry into the highly competitive freestyle wave market.
   It did not take us long to realize we had been missing out by never getting a chance to sail the FreeWave before. It is a perfect blend of speed, carving and comfort. Even in the regular construction, the FreeWave jumped up onto a plane and quickly accelerated to an impressive top speed. Less experienced riders will find it not quite as smooth as some of the other FSW’s; however, advanced sailors will find a lively ride that responds well to trim work, and a perfectly balanced rider position so you’ll always be prepared to deal with any chop that could be problematic. Of course, should you want to view the chop as a ramp instead of a problem, then this FreeWave will gladly take to the air.
   Where the FreeWave sets itself apart from the other FSW’s is in its ability to turn off either the nose or tail and keep up an impressive amount of speed. Turning off the nose with an aggressive over-sheet, you can feel the board accelerate into the turn as it mows over chop. Turning off the tail, the board comes around with a radius that only the Wave boards can outdo.
   So, what’s the downside? To find all this performance, it takes an advanced rider who knows how to trim a board and is not afraid to drive the rail with aggression in the corners. That’s not to say an intermediate can’t ride the FreeWave, it just may not respond to their techniques as well as a board that’s easier to ride.
   The FreeWave is best in the hands of a more advanced rider who can tap into its ample speed to amp up its jumping and jibing performance. fanatic.com

JP All Ride Pro 96

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:05:00 -0500

V: 96 L: 237 W: 60.5
The All Ride is JP’s new line that takes over where the resized X-Cite Ride line ends, and is designed to make sailing smaller boards easier.
   Not only is the All Ride 96 at least nine litres bigger than any other test board, it’s also the only board designed for flatwater. With its incredibly light Pro construction, it’s no surprise that the All Ride was, by far, the quickest to plane. In a straight line, we were pleasantly surprised by the speed. It could easily give a slalom board a run for its money when set up with outboard straps. The rider position is perfectly balanced, regardless of strap position—though, it does deal with chop differently. With the inboard setting, the board seems to settle in the water for a smooth ride with the concave and channel bottom cutting through the chop. The board becomes much more lively in the outboard setting, requiring the rider to drive off the fin while keeping the sail sheeted-in, allowing it to skip across the top of the chop. JP has done an amazing job of making this board easy to sail in the inboard position, while offering the progressing sailor plenty to grow into.
   It’s not really fair to compare this bigger flatwater board’s turning ability directly to the others in the test, but that doesn’t mean the All Ride isn’t still fun to jibe: what it lacks in responsiveness and turning radius it gains in planing ability and speed through the turn. In an aggressive slalom-style jibe, this board planes deep into the turn and does a great job of holding the rail while going in at full speed. For those learning to jibe, the All Ride’s planing ability will get you far enough through a jibe for the stability to take over and let you finagle an exit that keeps the hair dry.
   The All Ride is a fun, flatwater freeride board that is perfect for the progressing sailor, yet, provides plenty of performance to grow into. jp-australia.com

RRD FreeStyle Wave Ltd 85

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:19:00 -0500

RRD helped create the Freestyle Wave category and, with this well-rounded version, it continues to be the epitome of what the term stands for. We took this RRD out in everything from logo-high San Carlos, Baja waves to Texas flatwater, and it was never out of place.
   This is the one board that any-level rider, from those experiencing their first highwind shortboard to pros, can take out in any condition and have fun. It gets planing nicely, as well—for its 85 litres—and has the speed to make even the flattest water exciting. In bump-and-jump conditions it will jump to the moon when asked, but it can also mow down steep chop if staying grounded is what you prefer. It begs to carve turns and will carve a tight enough arc to fit in between chop or get you where you want on a wave. It has a slightly less wave bias than some of the other FSW’s tested, but still performed well enough for plenty of lip-smacking excitement.
   Its rider position is spot-on and makes it just as comfortable for intermediates as it does for advanced riders. It responds well to trim work so there is plenty to grow into, but even without it the board has plenty to offer. The big, thick heel pads feel odd at first, but after a couple runs you seem to forget about them. If you already own an RRD with these pads then you’ll likely want to stick with them, as most other brands won’t feel nearly as cushy. Like all RRD’s, this FSW comes ready-to-ride out of the box, with Dakine-built straps and a Maui Fin Company fin so you don’t have to spend any extra money on accessories.
   Riders looking to find a board that can do everything well will be hard-pressed to find a better board than this Freestyle Wave 85. robertoriccidesigns.com

Goya One Pro 86

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:03:00 -0500

V: 86 L: 234.5 W: 58.7
The One lineup is designed to cover three different categories: wave, crossover and highwind freeride. Each size is somewhat tailored for the conditions it will most likely see. In the case of the One 86, we find a wavy outline with a good amount of concave for a smooth ride, and a bit of flat in the rocker line to make sure it has some speed.
   There’s a slightly unique feel, from the wide and thick nose, that packs a lot of volume. This makes the One incredibly easy to schlog on and tack, which is great for anyone but moreso for the aspiring wavesailor. On days when we were a little underpowered, there wasn’t an easier board to catch a wave on. Once on the wave, the One’s ease continues. It takes little effort to set the rail, and of all the boards in the test it works with a less aggressive back foot carve that most sailors start out with—both on a wave and when learning to jibe.
   Even though the ride is smooth enough to mow down chop with ease, you can also use the wide nose to catch decent air off chop if desired. With all the volume up front, it pops up onto a plane, so long as the rider uses a light touch on the tail. This can be achieved by riding with a shoulder-high boom that lets you use your mast base as a third foot to help drive the board. Some acquired trim skills are also needed to get the One to really break free and unlock its hidden top speed. If you have the skill you can get the performance of a true FSW from a board that doubles as a wave board as well.
   If you’re learning to wavesail but still like to rip turns in bump-and-jump conditions, then this One is for you. goyawindsurfing.com

Naish Wave 87

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:10:00 -0500

V: 87 L: 229 W: 59
Naish claims the Wave is “the only dedicated production waveboard range in the world.” To back this up, every photo you see of a Naish team rider—like Kai Lenny, Julien Taboulet, and even Robby Naish himself—they are sailing the same production board you can buy off the shelf. In this test, we only have a few dedicated waveboards, and the Naish Wave is, by far, the most dedicated.
   Despite being the second largest board in the test, its short length and thin, narrow tail make it feel like one of the smallest. It takes some power from the sail to get planing without the help of a wave; once up and going it can break free and reach a decent top speed but it needs constant power to keep it going. In the single-fin mode, it tracks fairly well and feels solid across chop. In thruster mode, it settles into the water a bit more and displays a looser, less directional ride, better suited for waves than flatwater. As a highwind board, it feels more at home the more hectic the conditions. None of this flatwater performance is what the Wave claims to be its strong suit, though.
   It’s the Wave’s performance on a wave that sets it apart. In the thruster setup it makes, by far, the tightest turns in the test and ranks highly as one of the tightest-turning boards we have ever ridden. Plus, turning the Wave feels intuitive, as it takes little effort to set the rail in a bottom turn and there is no hesitation from the board as you transition to your heels. As you gain confidence on the Wave it will take you as deep into the lip as you want to go and never balk at the thought of it.
   The Naish Wave is for the dedicated wavesailor who’s lucky enough to regularly ride clean waves or, at least, have plenty of wind to go with some mushy waves. naishsails.com

Quatro Freestylewave Premium 85

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:13:00 -0500

V: 85 L: 233.9 W: 57.5
Sitting alongside four dedicated waveboards in the Quatro line-up, their Freestylewave is the choice for those who need a board that will still perform when there is not a wave in sight. Coming from Keith Teboul, the designer of some of the most innovative wave boards in the world, Quatro’s FSW 85 still has a strong wave bias. Its outline, rail and bottom shape look every bit the part of a waveboard, but the thickness and rocker have been refined to get it planing quicker, track well in chop, and reach speeds a dedicated waveboard can only dream of.
   Being one of the narrowest boards in the test, it takes a little more wind to get the Quatro planing on flat water but remains more controllable in higher winds. Once in the footstraps, it prefers to be ridden with a modern hips- in stance, and with a little trim work, easily reaches speeds that match the other FSW’s. The waveboard influence and lightweight construction makes it less direct feeling in voodoo chop. Of course, the trade-off is that, in jibes, it allows you to navigate through chop with ease and rip some impressively tight arcs.
   With so much wave influence, Quatro’s FSW is truly a board that works in the waves. In fact, with the swap of a fin, we never once had the feeling we were asking it to do something it didn’t want to do. It’s not as radical as some of the latest multi-fin wave designs, but for someone who isn’t pushing the limits of wavesailing, its reliable and consistent turns give a rider plenty of confidence to push their own limit.
   The Quatro perfectly bridges the gap between waveboard and FSW with the change of a fin. This makes it the perfect board for anyone needing one board for two jobs. quatrointernational.com

Starboard Evo IQ WoodCarb 86

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:21:00 -0500

V: 86 L: 234 W: 60.5
In 2003, Starboard introduced the innovative-looking Evo and set off a revolution that redefined how a waveboard is designed. Last year, Starboard put aside the Evo to focus attention on their Quad. While the Quad set new standards for grip in the steepest sections of a wave, some of the new-school riders, like Phil Köster, were looking for something looser for a skatier style.
   The new Evo comes standard with a single fin that provides the predictable ride Evo enthusiasts have come to love, and included with the board are two slot boxes for a twin-fin option. In the single-fin mode, the Evo is a waveboard that offers performance any highwind sailor will appreciate. Its ample width gets you up onto a plane very quickly and keeps you well-balanced in any type of transition, whether it’s a jibe or tack. This Evo also uses its balanced volume distribution to plane through jibes on flat water better than any other wave board. For bump-and-jump conditions the ride is smooth with just enough speed to keep things interesting. On a wave it carves clean, powerful arcs that only a pro-level quad-design waveboard would outdo.
   In twin-fin mode, it’s best to err towards slightly bigger fins (16 cm should be good), placing them as far back in the slot box as possible. Even when set up this way, the ride is less direct and has the confidence to set the rail on a bottom turn. The reward is that the tail can be broken free at will, opening up new possibilities like Takas in onshore conditions. On down-the-line waves we stuck with the single-fin, but in everything from Gorge swell rides to mushy sideshore, the twin-fin setup let us tighten turns by sliding the tail when needed.
   The Evo is a great choice for any-level wavesailor looking for a one-board-wonder to tackle any wind direction, and even make the most of the days when there are no waves to be found. star-board.com

Exocet U-surf Tri Fin 84

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:35:00 -0500

V: 84 L: 235 W: 60

We took special interest in the Exocet U-Surf, as it now sports thrusters on a shape we’ve previously tested. We found the former single-fin version to be a progressive shape that worked great on smaller waves but lacked grip on aggressive higher-speed turns. This year, we found the addition of two small thruster fins provides the increased traction we’re looking for, allowing the U-Surf to reach its true potential.
   The centre fin has shrunk considerably with the added side fins, letting the board ride a little lower in the water. This takes away some of its speed potential but, more importantly, improves the turnability and provides a more comfortable ride. As this is a true waveboard we didn’t expect much from its flatwater performance, yet, like the original U-Surf, this year’s has enough speed for the occasional bump-and-jump day and becomes more at home the bigger the swell. The only criticism testers had for the board’s comfort is that all the footstrap insert options could be spaced closer together so that each strap could be set tighter to the sides of the feet for a more secure connection.
   The U-Surf shines on a wave. It takes little effort to engage the rail, and with plenty of width underfoot you have the option to drive the rail in a traditional bottom turn or crank a tight turn off the tail. This makes it a well-rounded board that can fit into smaller onshore waves just as well as bigger down-the-line lips. The U-Surf’s pointy nose lacks a bit of power to be redirected, but with the traction from the fins it rides through white water better than most.
   The U-Surf is recommended for wavesailors needing a board to ride any wind-and-water combination, at a price that is more than reasonable. exocet-original.com