Windsurf MagazineDUOTONE SUPER_HERO TEST REVIEW 2024

DUOTONE SUPER_HERO TEST REVIEW 2024

The Verdict

It is practically impossible to rig the Super_Hero incorrectly, while it offers plenty of pull and drive centred around the rider. The Super_Hero offers the ultimate in plug and play user-friendliness for all wave sailing conditions, while if paired with Duotone’s Grip 3 it truly is the ultimate plug and play wave sailing combination.

The Lowdown

Available in three colour variants to match your style, Duotone’s Super_Hero looks to cater for any conditions the rider may throw at it. It is marketed as their “wave sail for any conditions and rider weight”. With four-battens and a relatively boxy shape the Super_Hero looks to keep the power centred around the rider and neutral in the hands – for control and ease of use. In perky green it instantly catches the eye, while the mono-film feels substantial. The sail is covered in XPLY Plus, apart from the main panel window, so it is extremely robust, while the batten pockets are well built and the top cap is solid. The Super_Hero looks and feels ready for anything the rider, beach or conditions choose to throw at it. In true Duotone style they have added some neat touches to increase usability, such as having only one clew eyelet and having their Visual Trimming System (VTS) guides dotted at every possible point you could need guidance on, which means the kit is set up exactly as it was deigned to be, so you get the most from your sail as it removes any ambiguity of rigging and tuning. Set to be a user-friendly sail that will take any rider out in into the waves, whether you are a seasoned wave sailor or new to this exciting discipline of windsurfing.

Brand Claim

“The SUPER_HERO has it all: unbeatable handling, neutrality, and the lowest weight without sacrificing durability. We can truly claim that it is the most versatile wave sail with the widest possible wind range that we have ever built.”

Performance

The Super_Hero not only feels solid and secure in the hands, but also, more importantly on the water too. When getting going, the sail provides a significant, low pull, giving you a very positive force to work with. Make sure you capitalise on the persistent pull from the sail, otherwise it will leave you behind… Once planing and hooked in with the harness lines set in alignment with Duotone’s handy visual guide, the sail handles well with a very neutral feel, boasting a solid, fixed centre of effort situated low and around the rider. Sailing through lulls requires a little adjustment to your stance to keep the rig upright and to avoid cutting off the low centre of effort.

In overpowered conditions, the Super_Hero benefits from some extra tuning to maintain a stable, usable, and low centre of effort. The Super_Hero really pulls you around the face of a wave, propelling you into bottom and top turns with plenty of power and pull to generate aggressive manoeuvres with a substantial amount of spray. Alternatively, in classic four-batten style, you can briefly turn it off before turning it back on to fully re-engage the power from the Super_Hero.