The Tabou Manta FR is the Freerace version of the Tabou Manta Team Edition and remains unchanged for 2012.

Tabou Manta 69 2011/2012 – The shape

The Tabou Manta 69 FR and the Tabou Manta 69 Team Edition have the same shape but the Team Edition is a bit lighter and the footstraps positions are (fewer) more hardcore. The Tabou Manta 69 2011/2012 has deep double concaves in the front, into a vee in the tail.

Some sizes have new shapes for 2012

The Tabou Manta Team Edtion size ‘85, ‘84 and ‘71 are completely new developments, new rockers, new outline, new underwater hull and new decks. The Tabou Manta FR – Size ‘85 is redesigned and the size ‘89 is all new.

Hard facts – Tabou Manta 69

Weight 6,6 kg (FR) 6,3 kg (Team edition)
Length 233 cm
Width 69 cm
Volum 110 l
Sail range: 6,7 – 8,4 m2
Fin box: Tuttle

Speed potential Tabou Manta 69 2011/2012

Max 2 sec 33.56 knots
Max AVG 32.19 knots
Max Alpha 20.34 knots

Tabou Manta – To hardcore?

If you are looking for a more durable and forgiving board or if you are more into Freeride, have a look at the top tested Tabou Rocket 2011/2012.

Windsurf (UK) March 2011 – Tabou Manta 69 FR

The Tabou Manta FR is an easy board to get along with, the deck is nice and flat and it is stable under foot, it does feel slightly on the small side however… The double concaves in the nose are very effective at soaking up the chop, which makes the Tabou Manta very quick on the straights regardless of the conditions. It is also easy to gybe in all conditions, particularly when it’s rough…

Tabou Manta was the only ‘Free Race’ board in the test but it did very well keeping up with the more hardcore boards, particularly in rougher conditions.

Boards (UK) May 2011 – Tabou Manta 69 FR

The rougher and windier the conditions get, the more controlled (and faster) the Tabou Manta becomes compared to the rest of the group. When overpowered in chop and rougher conditions the Manta is the fastest board of the group thanks to its comfort and excellent control.

…the Tabou Manta is a very easy board to go fast on and requires less technique than most to get the best out of it.

In the gybe the Tabou Manta remains true to form, being extremely controlled, safe, predictable and easy to turn. However, where it lacks is when trying to turn through a tighter arc.

Ease of planing is good, but not ‘top of the pile’ as we might have expected considering Tabou Manta is the widest board of the group. However, if you’re looking for the earliest planing performance with larger sails you should consider perhaps using a 42 or even 44cm fin.

Surf Magazin (Germany) June 2011 – Tabou Manta 75 FR 2011

Freerace: ***** Freeride: ** (out of five possible: )

Freerace test: The Tabou Manta was tested together with JP Super Sport 74 PRO, Fanatic Ray 130 LTD, Naish Grand Prix 128, Starboard Futura 133 WC. When it comes to Top Speed the Tabou Manta was the fastest board in the test. In mid-wind conditions the Manta was the fastest board together with Naish Grand Prix and JP Super Sport.

Weight 7,4 kg (FR) 6,9 kg (Team edition)
Length 233 cm
Width 75 cm
Volum 115 l
Sail range: 7,0 – 9,0 m2
Fin box: Tuttle

Note: Tabou Manta 75 – New modell 2012

Surf Magazin (Germany) June 2011 – Tabou Manta 79 Team Edition 2011/2012

Slalom/Race: ***** Freerace: ** (out of five possible: )

Weight 7,5 kg (FR) 7,1 kg (Team edition)
Length 233 cm
Width 79 cm
Volum 125 l
Sail range: 7,6 – 9,3 m2
Fin box: Tuttle

Surf Magazin (Germany) June 2011 – Tabou Manta 85 Team Edition 2011

Slalom/Race: ***** Freerace: *** (out of five possible: )

Weight 8,1 kg (FR) 7,5 kg (Team edition)
Length 233 cm
Width 85 cm
Volum 135 l
Sail range: 7,6 – 10,0 m2
Fin box: Tuttle

Note: Tabou Manta 85 – New modell 2012