Windsurf MagazineGOYA VOLAR 130 CARBON 2023 TEST REVIEW

The Verdict

Smooth and free the Volar is a gliding expert that will be a great teacher for those looking to improve their gybes. With plenty of forgiveness the Volar will have you gybing for hours.

The Lowdown

For the 2023 130-litre freeride board test, Goya has put forward their Volar Carbon 130. The Volar is the brand’s ultimate user-friendly windsurfing board, which aims to help any rider grow, learn and enjoy the sport. Available in five sizes from 100 to 145 litres, the Volar evolves as it moves through the range, with the larger sizes possessing a proportionally longer and wider outline intended to assist the board onto the plane in lighter conditions. The outline of the Volar is much more curved than some of the other boards on test. Whilst the rails still maintain a parallel section through the middle of the board, the shape begins to draw in just before the front straps. The underside of the board displays a vee double concave that runs throughout. The Volar is supplied with an MFC LP 42 fin that fits into a power box. The board is also supplied with MFC straps that can be positioned on the board in a vast multitude of positions. With such a range of fixtures available on this board, there is no doubt that riders will be able to set it to their preferred stance for their prevailing conditions.

Brand Claim

“The Volar Carbon is our ultimate user-friendly windsurfing board to grow, learn and enjoy the sport at all levels. The board is fast, stable and accelerates with each gust of wind.”

Performance

Stable at rest, the Volar has shed loads of room to get to your feet settled as you begin to uphaul the sail. This stability transitions well once up and moving as the board gradually picks up pace. The Volar’s smooth acceleration makes finding the straps a very natural process, never making you feel rushed or uneasy. Once up at full speed, the main areas of feedback are comfort and glide. Underneath the back foot, the extended tail provides ample support whilst also acting as the board’s secret weapon in the lulls. The additional buoyancy in the tail assists the rider in navigating the lighter air and makes gliding through to the next bit of pressure second nature. The Volar feels like it could be sailed for hours, comfortably cruising around at an enjoyable pace and never asking the rider to push over the edge for more. With the majority of feedback coming from the underside of the board, the rider is encouraged to position their stance over the board. The fin however, never asks to be driven hard, making for a comfortable ride over messy waters. Through the gybe, the Volar is the perfect teacher for beginner and intermediate windsurfers looking to get that perfect planing exit. Through the entry, the Volar seems to guide the rider through its preferred arc, while its soft rails provide some forgiveness for the clumsy footed amongst us. The board carries speed well through the midpoint and finds a natural angle to exit on, never producing a hint of anything unexpected.