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GOYA CUSTOM THRUSTER PRO 86L 2018 TEST REVIEW

Stats Price £1949 Volume (L) 86 (quoted) Weight (Kg) 6.29 (naked, quoted) Length (cm) 224 Width (cm) 58.2 Fin MFC TF_19 RTM (US) + 2x MFC TF_10 RTM (MT)

 Goya Custom Thruster 480px

GOYA CUSTOM THRUSTER PRO 86L 2018 TEST REVIEW

THE LOW-DOWN
The Goya board range has been completely redesigned for 2018, with their ‘surfwave’ series seeing the rejuvenation of the Custom Pro Quad, and the launch of the Custom Pro Thruster line-up of three boards, this 86 being the middle offering. Taking a quick glance at its outline, it looks remarkably similar to the Custom Pro 86 of 2017, its increments confirming so. And yet put a straight edge along its hull and the differences become apparent (aside from the obvious change in fin configuration). Gone is the mono-concave, replaced with a vee / double-concave combo throughout the board’s length, the most pronounced concaves just under the straps. There is also a lot of tail kick in this new Thruster design, the central fin placed relatively far back in the swallow tail, whilst the rails transition from being incredibly sharp in the rear, to soft and rounded from the mast-track forwards. The rider’s stance on the other hand is placed relatively far forward on the board, the Thruster Pro’s back strap easily the furthest forward in the group. Constructed in the brand’s carbon and S-Glass Pro technology, it comes supplied with easy-adjustable MFC straps, dual density deck pads and resin transfer moulded MFC fins. With its low-lying shoulders and nose and drawn out swallow tail, the Thruster Pro 86 looks like quite the rocket-ship and certainly draws the eye. We couldn’t wait to try it on the water.

BRAND CLAIM
“Our new dedicated Thruster wave board shapes finally unite the spice of our Custom Quads with the added thrust and full turns that thruster fin setups are known for. These new shapes increase speed and forward drive as you turn either at the top or bottom of the wave, opening more doors to your sailing.”

PERFORMANCE
When we tried the Custom Pro 86 last year, we were blown away by just how easy it was to get on with, despite its radical design and features. And whilst the Thruster Pro is a very different board, the same can be said for its riding style. Firstly it is very balanced underfoot, feeling its size yet carrying weight well. It responds smoothly as power is delivered and releases onto the plane easily, the straps effortless to find. Its user-friendliness doesn’t stop there either, cutting a clean and cushioned ride through the water whilst the nose hugs the surface without the shoulders catching. Its manners are impeccable, allowing the rider to adopt the stance of their choice – blasting purposefully through a break, or stand over the board and take a more gentle approach. But it was when using the Goya on the wave that we really began to be inspired by it. Showing no bias towards front or back foot style, it is capable of adapting to any riding preference. With its drawn out tail, you can really feel the rails bite the water, transitioning beautifully from rail to rail. It feels so precise and clean, giving you the confidence to tighten your bottom turn and adjust the radius without the loss of any speed. It allows you to complete fuller turns, projecting vertically back up the face before carving hard for a sharp top turn. In more marginal winds and less powerful waves, the Goya simply seems to glide through the bottom turn, when others suffered and began to stall. The more we used it, the more we began to fight over it! Providing drive through the fins and real feel through its rails, the Goya has a massive range for making the most of any wave environment.

THE VERDICT
With masses of feedback provided through its rails, the Goya is a wave rider’s dream, complimented by an ease and practicality that makes it a true standout for real world conditions.

www.goyawindsurfing.com


Other sails in this test:

FANATIC GRIP TE 82

GOYA CUSTOM THRUSTER PRO 86

JP SLATE PRO 87

QUATRO CUBE 86

RRD WAVE CULT V7 LTD 82

SEVERNE NANO 83

STARBOARD A.I.R. 83 REFLEX CARBON

TABOU POCKET 87


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