The X-OVER – 100L FREESTYLE WAVE BOARDS TEST INTRO

100L FREESTYLE WAVE BOARD TEST REVIEW REPORTS

Leading on from the previous issues’ wave board tests, we flew out to Dahab, Egypt, to check out the latest offerings in the ‘Freestyle Wave’ category, with eight boards around the 100L mark under the microscope.

Report by Dan Newman 

Pics by Mark Kasprowicz

(This review originally appeared in the Jan/Feb 2013  issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read the latest features, print and digital subscriptions for readers worldwide are available HERE.)

Wave-Freestyle or Freestyle-Wave (FSW) is a fusion between two disciplines creating a sub category of versatile boards designed to deliver on a multitude of tasks.

BIG ASK?
To many, wave and freestyle both appear to be very similar disciplines. They both look very spectacular and can involve lots of aerial trickery, but that’s about where the similarities end and the demands that riders put on their boards becomes very different. Amongst other things, a wave board needs to grip and turn on a wave (traditionally involving more rocker curve) whereas a freestyle board needs to pop and slide on flat water (flatter rocker). Of course there are overlaps. Early-planing for example. Not to mention speed to carry into moves on any type of water. So, is it possible to produce just one board to perform equally at each end of the spectrum, or do FSWs try to do too much, become diluted and never quite specialise in any particular area? That could possibly be your view as a pure, dedicated wave sailor, or a focused, hard-core freestyler. But, not every windsurfer falls into those two categories, so there must be plenty of people demanding more versatility to crossover between styles?

WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The idea of a super-versatile, all-purpose board has been going forever and appeared under many labels: Freestyle Waves/FreeWaves/FreeMoves or even Chameleons and Wave-Slaloms as they were labelled back-in-the day. But is it still such a big ask to deliver freeride, wave and freestyle characteristics in one package?

RISE OF THE COMPACT
Recent trends and discoveries are all of a sudden changing the landscape. Breakthroughs in both wave and slalom board design have seen ‘compact’ (shorter, wider and increasingly thinner-railed) shapes surface. Wider equals more stability and earlier planing, and shorter equals a better fit into the ‘pocket’ of waves and extra ability to pivot tightly. That, alongside the growth of turn-enhancing multifins, has seen some waveboards lose their slower, banana-esque profiles and adopt…wait for it… faster, ‘FSW-type’ rocker lines underneath! In fact there’s almost a total overlap between large waveboards, of which there are now more than ever over the 100L mark, and smaller FSWs. So which is best? As you’ll see in this test, with a various styles offering bias from freeride, freestyle or wave sailing styles, it all comes down to how these match your personal brief.

SO WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?
The easiest way to set it out is to profile the three main riders these boards are aimed at.

1. The freeride sailor, perhaps based on inland water, who wants a fun, fast-and-furious high-wind board for ‘burn & turn’ action as a change down from larger freeride or slalom gear.

2. The freestyle-orientated rider who wants the added versatility to occasionally venture out into some waves but doesn’t want the expense of a whole quiver of boards.

3. The harder-core, coastal/wave sailor that’s looking for a board, maybe as a big brother to a smaller, dedicated waveboard,  that’s entertaining on the flatter days or bump & jump conditions, but capable of snagging some nice rides if the wind’s light but the surf’s OK.

THE LINE UP
We have a wide and exciting range of boards on this test, with eight impressive examples. In alphabetical order, we have the – Fanatic Freewave, Goya One, JPAustralia Freestyle Wave, Quatro Freestyle Wave, RRD Freestyle Wave, Simmer Freewave, Starboard Kode and Tabou 3S.

There’s a few new shapes and models for 2013 plus the multi-fin craze is influencing this category too, with a couple of Trifin convertibles now in-the-mix.

LOCATION
Our chosen location for testing this kit was once again the windsurfing paradise of Dahab in Egypt. Basing ourselves with Harry Nass, we set up our operational HQ at Centre One and, with three other centres positioned around the resort, we had full and easy access to the whole bay.

Dahab is a great place to windsurf and test with nearly everything we need to get the job done – sun, warm crystal-clear water and constant, reliable winds. Dahab also has a decent range of conditions with glassy flat water to larger rolling swell. Unfortunately there’s no breaking surf there, so we were unable to test this side of the board’s performance although there is some good bump & jump style ramp conditions to have some fun in. While on test we experience a good variety of conditions (as well as a freak hail storm!) with winds ranging from around 10 to 25 knots.

Our test trip coincided, yet again, with reports of trouble brewing in Egypt and, as before, we found there was no hint of any bother around Dahab, so if you’re thinking of going you really shouldn’t be put it off at all, it’s well worth it and very safe and welcoming indeed.

FINS
There’s quite a selection for fin shapes and sizes in the various boards on this test, as well as a couple of multifin ‘convertibles’. All of the singlefin boards come supplied with rather large fins, which is great for freeriding and blasting but if you do really want to exploit the full wave and freestyle performance of any of them, a smaller alternative fin would be highly recommended. The idea of including optional thruster set-ups on a couple of the boards is to add even more versatility and extra wave riding performance.

CRITERIA
What we’ve set out to do here is put the boards through their paces head-to-head and check out their performance in the main basic criteria’s of early-planing, acceleration, top-speed, handling and overall feel while we jump them, gybe them, drag race them and generally tear-it-up. After a couple of weeks we can get a firm idea of what each board is all about and let you know which one should be your best new year’s resolution!

Enjoy!

READ THE INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Fanatic Freewave 95L
Goya One 94L
JPAustralia Freestyle Wave 101L
Quatro Freestyle Wave 95L
RRD Freestyle Wave 102L
Simmer Freewave 105L
Starboard Kode 103L
Tabou 3S 96L

 TEST OVERVIEW PAGE

Click here to read more: Windsurf Magazine

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