120L FREERIDE/FREERACE BOARD TEST 2024
TEST EDITOR: JAMES HARDY // SECOND TESTER: TRIS BEST // PHOTOS: OTC // LOCATION: HAYLING ISLAND, PORTLAND HARBOUR & EMSWORTH HARBOUR
OVERVIEW
The 120-litre freeride board is a staple in most of our flatwater freeride quivers. It’s a board size that can come in a variety of outlines and bottom shapes with the aim of covering a broad spectrum of flat / open water conditions, while allowing us to carry a vast array of sail sizes and appealing to sailors from entry level intermediates right up to the most advanced rider. The 120-litre freeride aims to deliver an exhilarating ride as you blast across the water at warp-speed while at perfect equilibrium with your gear.
KEY TRAITS
However you may think of the 120-litre freeride category, there are several key boxes they must tick: First and foremost, it must plane early, while offering an ease of use that means you don’t need to already be an expert to have fun. Furthermore, this is a board that needs to be friendly to gybe – whether that be helping early intermediates to crack their first planing gybes or holding its rail through fully cranking lay downs, the board must be able to perform, while allowing the rider to progress no matter where they are in their own personal windsurfing journey. All of this should be packaged in a relatively stable platform that is still comfortable enough off the plane to get you home safely should the wind unexpectedly drop. However, for me at least, perhaps the most important factor, which is also the moment that most people truly become hooked on windsurfing, is that it must deliver that ultimate feeling of freedom when you are planing – a feeling which is like no other. On a personal level, this test has also re-ignited a fresh excitement for flatwater blasting, which just goes to show the joy of flatwater blasting never truly dies…
This year’s lineup sees a subtle mixture of deck shapes and outlines. The rear deck shape is an area which sees some real contrasts in design. Some feature a more domed shape, which allows you to drive harder and faster without really needing to think about it, while others possess a more user-friendly approach with a flatter rear, which allows the rider to stand in a taller stance, and if necessary, dump some power, while alternatively you can choose to shuffle out to the rail and really drive it off the fin.
Volume distribution is an aspect which sees plenty of differentiation across the boards on test. At one end of the spectrum certain brands have chosen to disperse the volume evenly throughout the outline of the board, while at the other end of the spectrum, some have boldly placed an emphasis on distributing extra volume into the tail. Regardless of where they sit on this spectrum, the volume placement is purposeful and harbours several benefits to the overall ride, whether that be greater speed, comfort or control.
Overall, there is something in the lineup to suit everyone’s needs. So, whether you are a weekend warrior searching for a board that offers the ultimate in ease of use, while maximising both fun and time on the water, or you are after something that requirements a little more refinement in technique from a board which will urge you to push it, and yourself, to the next level, there is a board in the lineup for everyone.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it and quickly outline the boards we have on test before getting into the meat and the bones. The Exocet Scross and the Tabou Rocket Plus may be the widest boards on test, but they have very different personalities. The Exocet Scross provides complete stability and control with solid planing and blasting characteristics, while the Tabou Rocket Plus is still user-friendly, but it possesses an extra level of performance and speed at the rider’s fingertips. Meanwhile, the JP Australia Super Ride and Duotone Blast share similar outlines with both opting for more parallel rails, and generally, a little narrower profiles with a comfortable rear deck shape that provides instant comfort, while naturally placing the rider in an efficient position, which seem to enable the board to do most of the work for you. Both clearly distribute their volume throughout the length on the board and both provide an easy to reach top speed, which will keep you competitive with your friends at your local haunt. The Starboard Carve is your master of control and puts you in charge in whatever direction you choose to take it, whilst still delivering good speed and control through the gybes. With a foxy personality we have the Severne Fox, with an exciting pace that looks for commitment to really shine and deliver as it handles unruly seas effortlessly. Finally, the Goya Bolt, with superior top-end performance, is impressively fast and wants to be sailed with full confidence to really unlock its full potential, which if you do so, will leave your heart racing with pure adrenaline.
THE LINEUP