STARBOARD KODE WAVE 92L CARBON 2014 TEST REVIEW
STARBOARD KODE WAVE 92L CARBON 2014 TEST REVIEW
BEST FOR
Heavier riders who enjoy sailing well- powered. We didn’t get to try it in true down-the-line conditions, but can thoroughly recommend it for onshore destinations.
RECOMMENDATION
Pair with rear-draft sails for ultimate control and power.
BRAND CLAIM
“The Kode Wave is the board choice of two times World Champion Philip Koster. It is fast to get on the plane with remarkable top end speed for taking jumps into the stratosphere. The Kode Waves are Philip Koster’s fast, aerial style ‘next- generation’ signature wave boards.”
OVERVIEW
Outline: Remarkably ‘hippy’ rather than some of the tear-dropped outlines also in test, progressing into squash tail. Wide point is nearly 9 cm from the back of the track. Second narrowest width under back strap on test.
Deck: Relatively flat.
Rail Profile: Pretty boxy throughout, not much tuck up front, increasing at track, shallowing and not really sharpening much to tail.
Bottom Shape: Gentle roll in the nose, then a fair bit of vee (no concave) to track, converting into vee/subtle double concave under straps, flattening in front of fins, then into single concave at fins, ironically deepening behind fins and last 100 mm or so shallows to tip of tail.
Rocker Line: Subtle flat between back of front strap to mast track. Balance is aft with most overall rocker in nose.
Fin Configuration: 2+ 1 ‘MB fins for Starboard’ twin 17 cm upright foils. No centre fin supplied. 2 mm of toe-in. Fins are positioned close together.
Pads: Chunky K9 pads (uniform thickness) single density.
Straps: Drake PU leather traditional adjustment with markers. Anti-twist inserts in strap plugs.
Construction: Full Carbon
PERFORMANCE
Our first sessions on this 92 were quite marginal and – although stable and easy to wobble around on – in gusts the board was unbelievably lively and eager, revving-up and thrusting forward to free itself onto the plane, to the extent that sometimes it was hard to control the fins while getting up-to-speed.
We were nervous prior to sailing it more powered-up. Would there be a wild sleigh ride involved? Would it bite us in the ass? But what a difference.
A completely transformed character saw it, literally, settle down on the water and behave, showing amazing speed and control in straight-line sailing.
The acceleration is phenomenal and there’s a super light feel underfoot, which is obviously beneficial to jumping. We preferred it on draft-further-back sails that seemed to help the twin fins grip more.
On the wave it carries a little bit of useful momentum in the dead spots, but all the fun is in how fast and tight it turns, accelerating out of the bottom turn with the nice and narrow squash tail helping to hook cutbacks at speed.
Considering how easily twin fins generally slide out if not carved totally off the rail, our larger testers were surprised how well this pair held (we never tried it in single fin mode).
The Kode 92 is by no means a hard board to sail – but it’s definitely not for the feint-hearted!
THE VERDICT
An exciting board that’s lightening quick for jumps and a demon for fast and tight turns.
www.star-board-windsurfing.com
NOW READ THE OTHER REPORTS:
FANATIC TRIWAVE 95
GOYA CUSTOM QUAD 94
JP SINGLE THRUSTER 92
TABOU DA CURVE 91
QUATRO CUBE PREMIUM 98
WITCHCRAFT CHAKRA 95