85 LITRE ALL-ROUND WAVE BOARD TEST 2024
WAVE WEAPONS
Armed with some of the latest 85-litre wave boards the test team hit the surf.
Test Editor: James Hardy // Second Testers: Rob York, Becky Ellis, Tris Best, Scotty Stallman and Joe North // Photos: Tris Best // Test Locations: Overcome and Hayling Island.
Setting The Scene
The autumn weather is now here to stay in the UK, and as windsurfers, we keep our eyes firmly peeled for the next low pressure system to hit our shores. It’s the start of winter; it’s not too cold, and there is the promise of wind on the horizon. We check the wind forecasts until they light up with deep oranges and reds, with the occasional flash of purple thrown in for good measure. These colours are likely to trigger an instant response, where we hastily open a new tab and find a surf forecast. Are we looking at wind blown waves or the real deal? The dream scenario of a solid swell combined with wind that is going to light up our local break… If you are like me, you may descend into an excited panic, almost a frenzy, checking everything else you need to check: tides, swell direction, wave period, other locations – you know the drill. It’s all for the opportunity to go wave sailing on the smallest kit we can find. And if you’re not wave sailing yet, I am pretty sure you look at photos or videos of wave sailing and think to yourself, “One day!”.
The 85-litre board, for the majority, is the smallest board in our quiver. It’s a board we always look forward to using when the conditions are right. It may not get a huge amount of use, but we relish the opportunity to pull it out, screw the UJ in, and connect everything. As it’s likely to be our smallest board, we want to know that it does what we need it to do well – whether it turns on a dime, feels feather-light in the air, or gets you up and going with minimal effort – or perhaps a few of those things all rolled into one.
Summary
We had quite a range of boards this year with volume distribution being something brands have played with, thinning out the tail, while filling out the shoulders. There are some very surfy shapes in the lineup with the classic aggressive nose rocker and pinned in tail as well as some brands that are sticking with the more parallel rail outline. First up we have the Severne Pyro, which loves being provided with power, it delivers some serious speed whilst staying locked in, it encourages you to ride with power and plenty of pace through the sections of the wave. Sticking with boards that carry speed well we have the revamped Tabou Da Bomb, another fast board that handles all conditions well, in particular onshore to cross-onshore conditions with plenty of acceleration to get you in and out of where you need to be. The Duotone Grip 3 offers ease of use, with a friendly volume distribution you step on it and it just works for you – giving you time to think about what’s coming up ahead or the wave you’re on. Going the opposite way in terms of shape we have the JP Ultimate Wave and Starboard Ultra, which have the most classic surf-orientated shapes with pinned in tails, harsh nose rocker and domed decks that encourage rail-to-rail riding. If you are looking for ultimate control in all conditions, the Quatro Cube Pro 82 offers you this in abundance, offering smooth carving enjoyment. And finally, the Goya Custom 4 Pro offers something a little more specific, manageable in messy, choppy conditions, but really coming to life and more at home on a cleaner wave face – it simply loves to surf.
THE LINEUP