Oh man, where do I start????
First, the obvious...when you first unpack the board, it just looks awesome. I wasn't a big fan of last year's graphics I must admit, but thanks to a more sober choice of colours, the new look is a definite winner. I love that metallic grey and the art work is great without being too over-the-top.
As always, it comes with top-notch equipment, great straps and a great fin...no, wait, TWO great fins!!!
Yes, it's a twin-fin.
Yes, it rips.
Ok, I admit, i'm a bit biased. I love twin-fins. Always have, always will. When I first came here (12 or so years ago), I brought the cutest little twin-fin and I loved it. It was so snappy and forgiving. Then I bought another one, from Windtech, it was great too (too bad it didn't last long). Then I bought another one, Windsurfing Maui, which i brought back from Maui. I loved it too, and someone else did too, because it got stolen quick.
For some reason unbeknown to me, it all stopped. Everyone was back into single-fin (except the ever-so-reliable Deltas...).
So when I heard Quatro was onto some new ones, I had no second thougts trading in a board I absolutely loved (www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26423)
So, what's to be said?
Well, it's a twin fin. It's super loose and super tight. It rides like a surfboard so you need to stay in the pocket more, stay closer to the wave and get your speed from the water pushing rather than the sail. It's a bit slower too, but given the size of the fins (tiny 150 asymetrical), you don't feel much drag at all.
I haven't compared the measurements with last year, but the board feels quite narrower, and the tail is particularly thin. It seems to be a step towards a more conservative outline with a nice pin-tail. I think the benefit is that you can drive the board more on the rail, with a forward stance, and less pressure on your back-foot in the bottom turns. At least for someone who's quite light like me, it actually makes a big difference.
It's also very fast in the turns. When you wave ride, the board seems always to be a step ahead of you, which takes a bit to get used to. Once you're used to the inertia, it's a great feeling as it requires a bit less energy to get these 180 sharp off-the-lips.
Apart from that, the bottom has the signature Quatro double-concave to V to concave to whatever else. Somehow, it works real well, and you get planning in no time with a good acceleration.
The only thing we've noticed (and that was pointed out to me by another guy who has the same board) is that the pads on the front straps are a bit on the back of the foot, which means your toes tend to reach beyond it. Oh well, it gives your toes something to grab onto I guess!
Over the years, it's been really interesting to follow the evolution of the Quatro wave offering. They started with a very safe shape, obviously targeted at the European market where the $$ are (flat rocker, easy to get going), with now a much more aggressive product. Luckily, it works for us here in on the West Coast.
That's it, I'm hoping to get many more sessions this summer!
Laurent
im jelouse
but do you find that it rides flat on the water, not on the fin, because thats what ihave been hearing, it also is meant to be much tighter in turn, but feel very stable and feel flat during the turn?
im jelouse
