Freeride | Windsurfing board tests

October 12, 2015 By Claes Leave a Comment

North Sails & Boardtests Windsurfing- A match made in heaven?

Jurgen Niens Windsurfing PRO Center Rhodos

Last year when we visited the windsurfing PRO Center in Ialyssos, Rhodos – Greece we had the opportunity to test several sail brands side by side. Even though the sail and board brands are strictly tied to each other, also within the PRO Center, we were allowed to jump between the brands which was highly appreciated.

During our stay we used the following windsurfing sail and board combos:

NeilPryde sails and JP boards
Gaastra sails and Tabou boards
North Sails and Fanatic boards

North Sails & Boardtests – A match made in heaven?

We were focusing on the freeride and freerace equipment. Summarising the week we ended up loving the NeilPryde for its smooth power/performance and their really nice carbon boms. We also really liked the powerful grunty feel of the Gaastra sails delivered together with the Tabou Freeride and Freerace boards. When it came to North sails however we didn’t became best friends. The North Sails freeride and freerace lines felt somewhat powerless when it came to low end performance and the wave lines felt very on and off, compared to the other sail brands in the same sizes.
Since the staff at the PRO center, interesting enough, often ended up using North Sails we had a discussion with them about our feelings we had about the North sails and the conclusion was that, of course, it’s all about personal preferences, i.e. what type of sail characteristics you prefer.

Starboard Futura 124 and North Sails e_type – >> GoPro mounted with Flymount

Prasonisi 2015 – We ended up with Starboard and… North Sails

This year we visited Prasonisi, Rhodos – Greece, which was a totally different story. Three windsurfing rentals to choose from with one board- and sail brand setup each (with one exception). We discussed back and forth and we ended up with Starboard and… North Sails – e_type.

During the week we learned to like the North Sails e_type, however we still think that the e_type lacks a bit of low end. For some reason the guys at the board rental by default set the sail with full outhaul, flattening the sail out, in our opinion an efficient way to kill the sail. Letting the outhaul of fixed some of the low end issues.

North Sails e_type and Starboard Futura – A sweet combo

However, fully powered the Starboard Futura / North sails combo was as fast as, or faster, than any of the other brands freerace/slalom setups. We had no problem to keep up with the JP Super Sport and JP Slalom with NeilPryde riggs. Fully powered the half wind and upwind performance was very impressive as well as the performance when we were over powered. In overpowered conditions the e-type breathes very nicely letting you go safe even though other sails probably would have put you into deep water.

Prasonisi – Freeride and Freerace heaven

Starboard Futura and North Sails e_type – >> GoPro harnessmount from Wizmount

We wouldn’t say that we have developed a full-on love story with the North Sails but we definitely feel that we have something cooking and as the PRO Center guys said, it’s all about your personal preferences. We agree!

July 30, 2015 By Bill Hilow Leave a Comment

97 Fanatic Hawk 2013 – User report: Bill Hilow

If you need a board for 35-50kph wind the Fanatic Hawk will do nicely. I wouldn’t call it loose. Jibing takes total commitment. The tail is narrow and somewhat flat. The concave runs nose to tail and loses hollowness toward the tail.

Fanatic Hawk 97 – Needs to be fully powered

Not really an easy board to sail. The conditions you would sail a 97 liter board are not the same as a floaty 120lt. Not to say that an intermediate wouldn’t love it but to get the most out of this shape you need to be fully powered up and ripping. Shines with a 5.5 and a 26-28 freeride fin. // Bill Hilow

July 24, 2015 By Bill Hilow Leave a Comment

Fanatic 2014 Free Wave 116 – Test author Bill Hilow

It’s a special board. I am 98 kilos and have 20+ years of experience mostly in San Fransisco bay.

San Fransisco Bay – About the conditions of the surf spot

I typically sail in wind that is +30 kph which in San Fransisco means daily opportunity. The bay is not very glamorous. It’s typically cold and foggy. The launches are usually off rocks or barriers designed to reduce erosion and covered with barnacles or mud. As SF is a crowded urban area most launches have issues with drainage. In fact some of the windiest spots are often at the convergence of drains that lead into the bay. Currents are strong and wind occasionally shuts down at very inopportune times meaning you are swimming against both current and wind! Regardless wind is strong and most important consistent!

Fanatic 2014 Free Wave 116 – Impressive performance

I have only sailed this board 3 times and already I have mastered it. The Fanatic FreeWave CWS has it all. Light weight, solid construction and a powerbox! I use the rear straps in dual configuration. I use it with sails in the 5.5-6.0 range. The board planes up in a hurry. It has a lively fun ride. I never thought I could air out a boxy 116 liter board but this thing can handle jumps and has significant pop. You can slash down the face and then launch into the air. In the air you will notice it’s size but landing it off the wind properly delivers smooth landings. Tail slides are fun, even with dual straps. Jibes like it’s on rails. Considering the significant thickness around the front middle it gets around turns like a wave board should! You can bury the nose but it keeps carving. Fun in jumps, fun in the straight and easy to jibe. Very impressive~ // Bill Hilow

July 22, 2015 By Bill Hilow Leave a Comment

Fanatic Hawk 100 L Wood Sandwich 2012 – Test report: Bill Hilow

In over 20 years of sailing in San Fransisco this is the preeminent freeride rocket. My main board in any conditions including open ocean blasting. Not since the Mistral Electron of yore has there been another board with this competence and versatility. It gobbles chop, lofts airs like a 88lt.

Fanatic Hawk 2012 – Two gear board, waterstart or fullspeed

Takes commitment to ride. Basically has two gears. Waterstart or full speed. There really isn’t any in-between. As soon as you step on the back strap the board jumps and keeps accelerating until you hit top speed or stuff it. I sail most often with a 5.5 and and 26cm FinWorks Wave Blade. All carbon.

Fanatic Hawk 100 L – Great speed potential, yet an really good allrounder

Top speed is of course limited to fin, sail and bottom shape. Jibing takes commitment and a flat area to initiate. I try to scrub speed by sailing a bit upwind then overcommitting to the lee rail. The board is short and wide but never plows. Upwind performance better than average, off wind performance it’s forte’. If you’re fully powered in chop or big rolling swell no freestyler will challenge you. I guarantee it. Exciting ride with slippery feel. // Bill Hilow

The old- USA Haute 86lt, Glass board circa. 1988 The new- Fanatic Hawk 2012. 100lt

July 11, 2014 By Claes Leave a Comment

Windsurfing Fins – How do I choose the right fin-quiver

Windsurfing fins – A one fin quiver just won’t do the trick

Black Project Type R Freerace/Slalom fin

Black Project Type R Slalom fin on our Starboard Futura

The average windsurfer tend to have a one board quiver, with other words it’s crucial to o find the golden compromise to get as much hours on the water as possible. The modern freeride and freerace boards are pretty good at handling various conditions and the wind range is far better than it used to be. What many windsurfers forgets is that in order to release the full wind range / potential of a board, a one fin quiver just won’t do the trick.

Choose the right fin quiver – Your wind range will improve massively

The fin supplied with your freeride/freerace board is great to start with, however upgrading with one or two extra fins will release the full wind range / potential of your board. The larger fin will give you the extra lift you need for early planning and keeping you planning through wind holes. The smaller fin you can use for maxed out conditions, extra control and improved top-speed. A set of high quality premium-fins will (most probably) give you improved acceleration and top-speed.

Freeride and Freerace fins – Mix and match – easier said than done

Black Project Freeride fin on our Starboard Futura

It´s important to keep in mind that different brands will differ a lot when it comes to sizes vs performance/characteristics. For example, the Drake fin supplied with Starboard Futura is an excellent freerace fin designed by C3, however to match the Drake fin with a smaller and a larger fin (+/- 2-3 cm) from another brand could be easier said than done.

If the optimal fin-quiver with Drake fins would be 41, 44 and 47 cm the optimal fin-quiver from another brand could might as well be 38, 41 and 44 cm. With that said you realize that if you mix fins from different brands you should study the fin-guides carefully or/and talk to the producer/store to help you out with the right combo. If you don’t do your homework there are a risk that you end up with two fins very close to each other and a “huge” hole in your fin-quiver.

Windsurfing Fin selectors

As we wrote above; to mix and match windsurfing fins is easier said than done. There are surprisingly few fin selectors on the market which is strange since this would be an important marketing channel to any fin brand. However Hawaii based Black Project fins has a great “how to choose the right fin-quiver” guide for different brands (Starboard, Fanatic, Mistral and JP) on their web. Select fins is another brand with a comprehensive fin-selector on their web. Consumer friendly = We like!!

A two or three fin quiver will bring you closer to the sweet spot

A part from tuning your sailing experience with the quick fix of changing the fin you also will be able to match your sails with the optimal fin from start. With two or three fins in your surf bag you will be closer to the sweet spot than you ever have been before. The wind range of your one board quiver will improve massively and at the same time boost your overall performance.

Read more about windsurfing fins: >> Black Project Fins Type R slalom fin on test