WITCHCRAFT CHAKRA 95L 2014 TEST REVIEW
WITCHCRAFT CHAKRA 95L 2014 TEST REVIEW
BEST FOR
Heavier riders who want the most stable-feeling platform in the most compact package possible.
RECOMMENDATION
The track is quite short, but small changes have quite pronounced effects dependant on the conditions. Larger sailors may want more sail power to drive the width.
BRAND CLAIM
“The Chakra is Witchcraft’s cross over from freestyle-wave into onshore wave. A very versatile board that can be sailed both in trifin mode as well as a single fin for flatwater blasting.”
OVERVIEW
Outline: Wide-nosed teardrop outline with trademark Witchcraft snub nose tapering into narrow squashtail. Wide point level with front of mast track.
Deck: Flat throughout
Rail Profile: Soft tuck in front, sharpening rapidly to rear of wide point, increasing into edge all the way to tail from front strap.
Bottom Shape: Rounded nose into rounded vee with outward edge sloping away. Vee sharpens at wide point with slight double concave all the way to the fins. Regular straight vee behind fins.
Rocker Line: Flat section in front of straps. Quite a kick on nose and moderate tail curve.
Fin Configuration: Trifin cluster consisting of three fairly even-sized fins. 18.5 cm centre fin (carbon glass hexagonal with progressive flex). 14.5 cm front fins are softer, asymmetric, same construction as centre fin. 5 mm toe-in between centre of trailing and leading edges of side fins.
Pads: Dual density own-brand pads with slight instep lift. Tail kick at rear.
Straps: ProLimit ‘wide-fit’ (4-screws/strap) with excellent adjustment, placed right in middle of thruster cluster. Three options for straps. Noticeable inward angle for front strap.
Construction: SDT (Single Double Triple sandwich, Glass (50%) Carbon (15%) Dyneema (5%) Epoxy).
PERFORMANCE
The Chakra 95 is, hands-down, the most stable in this group, feeling much more like an 105L in terms of float – but not outline. It’s perhaps unsurprisingly then exceptionally early to plane too, a truly efficient ‘lazy’ sailing board that demands very little effort to get going.
The width up front also gives a pronounced forward, secure stance for float and ride and low wind transitions, although we did find larger riders needed more powerful sails to drive that girth. We loved the comfy, wide ProLimit (buckle on top) straps that are also easy to adjust on-the-fly.
Considering the huge fin area there’s little drag and the Chakra tracked upwind well – also helped by the markedly sharp rails that continue forward towards the track. We didn’t try it in single-fin mode but the board never felt overly lifty or planted.
On the wave, especially in the largely onshore slop we had, it’s really settled and smooth and capable of both tight and more drawn-out turns, while carrying good momentum in the slack spots.
Perhaps the best feature regarding riding is the thin rails in the tail, with this 95 capable of carving arcs of a much smaller board without losing speed. Linking more than one or two turns in super onshore, quick-to-close-out waves is a challenge but the impetus and speed the Chakra gives is highly rewarding.
THE VERDICT
A super-easy-to-sail, early-planing and rewarding board all-round that could easily replace a larger volume model for FSW or onshore wave use.
NOW READ THE OTHER REPORTS:
FANATIC TRIWAVE 95
GOYA CUSTOM QUAD 94
JP SINGLE THRUSTER 92
TABOU DA CURVE 91
QUATRO CUBE PREMIUM 98
STARBOARD KODE WAVE 92