Windsurf MagazineGOYA GURU X PRO 5m TEST REVIEW 2024

GOYA GURU X PRO 5m TEST REVIEW 2024

The Verdict

Sat in the performance end of the spectrum, the Guru X Pro has impressive range, and provides a comfortable ride to suit the conditions. The Guru X Pro requires a more precise placement to maximise its performance to reach your full potential whilst riding.

The Lowdown

Branded as their 4-batten control wave sail, the Guru X Pro is built to offer control in all conditions as Goya continued to develop the Guru X Pro in full power locations such as Pozo and the Gorge – two of the windiest spots on the planet. Appearance wise, bright and bold colours immediately catch your eye with the Goya X Pro being available in either a lively fuchsia or a blue, which bursts as you unroll it. Rigged on the beach, there is a visible fall-away in the leech, while if you tap the mast foot with your foot you can see the sail flex and work in order to deliver soft and usable power on the water. Everything points to performance with high-end materials used throughout the sail with classy touches used at every avenue. The tack is fully padded and reinforced, and at the clew, Goya has placed their poly clew, offering two titanium eyelets. The top eyelet produces more power, while the bottom eyelet offers greater control. The Guru X Pro reacts as expected to added downhaul and also extra outhaul, so it’s easy to tune for the conditions, while it still maintains a great profile to preserve the sail’s characteristics. A PVC window is placed in the main panel, which is Goya’s secret ingredient for smooth and comfortable power delivery, as well as durability in an area that is often punished.

Brand Claim

“The Guru X Pro offers a huge rigging range. With its soft power delivery and smooth progressive twist, you can rig this sail very full and still feel comfortably in control. Rigging the sail flatter is possible for a more neutral handling feel in higher wind and manoeuvre-oriented conditions.”

Performance

Just like the Guru X Pro’s colour way options, this sail offers some initial punchy power for the rider to work with. After the initial sheet-in and go, and once the sail is moving, the delivery is soft, feeling neutral in the hands with a higher centre of effort keeping the rider in a textbook upright stance poised and ready. With an impressive range in overpowered and gusty conditions you feel the sail flex above you, providing a pleasant feeling for the rider, while not having to cling on and grit your teeth or luff up to de-power. The Guru X Pro allows you to maintain your sailing line as the rig breathes and twists off, channelling excess power effortlessly for you, but crucially still keeping the centre of effort higher in the sail and remaining stable. Through lulls the sail holds its shape, and the higher centre of effort continues to maintain the rider’s stance, so you don’t stall the power when you need it most to keep you planing into the next gust up ahead. Naturally, Goya has geared the Guru X Pro towards the performance end of the spectrum and the sail loves to be moved through the fingertips – helping to maintain and exaggerate the marriage between the rider’s body position and rig. You need to be precise with its positioning – in particular when pushing for powerful, aggressive turns off the top and deep down in the pit of the wave.