Windsurf MagazineTABOU ROCKET + 133 TEAM 2023 TEST REVIEW

The Verdict

One of the best all-rounders on test, the Rocket + is fast, exciting and easy all at the same time. With its wide tail it is easy to charge upwind and there is heaps of room for riders to move there feet through manoeuvres.

The Lowdown

The Rocket has been a long-standing board in Tabou’s lineup and has tested well in previous years. On test here, we have the Rocket +, a wider design than the original Rocket. For the 2023 season the Rocket + has seen only a graphical update (note the Team board on test here is in the 2022 graphics). Performance versatility is where Tabou lays its claim for the Rocket +, with a focus on combining peak performance with easy controllability. Available in five sizes from 103 to 143, the Rocket + is produced in three constructions, MTE, LTD and Team, but only the three larger sizes are available in MTE construction.

The Rocket displays a low-entry rocker, which generates early planing power and controllability in overpowered and choppy conditions. The board’s bottom shape boasts a vee double concave running throughout that assists the board in generating power and converting it to speed. At the tail of the board, cutouts are in place to reduce the wetted area once planing. The board’s depth is noticeably thin throughout, which is especially apparent towards the tail.

The board is supplied with Tabou footstraps that can be inserted in multiple positions, allowing the rider to set up the board with both outboard or slightly further inboard options available. In addition, the Rocket + is supplied with a Tabou Freeride 46 cm HP fin that fits into a foil-ready deep Tuttle box, which, combined with the board’s wide tail, makes it capable of providing fun on a foil.

Brand Claim

“Peak performance and easy controllability are combined to perfection by the Rocket +, which makes breath-taking speed easy to handle.”

Performance

At rest, the Rocket + provides an extremely stable platform. The board’s volume is distributed across a very wide and thin design with minimal rocker in the nose, making the board feel exceptionally comfortable, even with heavier riders or bigger sails. Due to its wide design in the tail, you would be forgiven for expecting a fairly full-on feel when the breeze picks up; however, the Rocket + is impressively well mannered. The waterline sits fairly far forward on the board once planing and produces a settled feeling that encourages the rider to keep the rig upright and above the board. With a simple adjustment of the mast track position to move the rig further back, the Rocket + can also be ridden off the fin a little more. Turn the board towards the wind, and you will be amazed by its upwind potential. Its wide design at the tail allows the rider to really drive off the fin, generating plenty of lift to cover upwind ground with ease. This easy-to-generate lift is also extremely useful through lighter patches of air, through which the Rocket + glides effortlessly. In the gybe, the Rocket + begs the rider to commit to the turn, and once the arc is set, the board seems to do the work on its own, maintaining generous amounts of speed through to the exit. And with heaps of room to move your feet, finding a natural stance on the new side feels a simple task even for the heavier-footed riders out there.