The new concept Starboard futura is delivering!
Here are the comments from Tiesda - the head tester. As well as the review text.
Dear friends,
Following the top results from the German SURF magazine test, we’re happy to report a near perfect score result for the Futura test in UK’s Windsurf magazine, opening the Futura’s new shape concept a place in freeride evolution.
Like the test in SURF magazine, the key result in the British review is that here we have a new generation of freeride boards that offer a massive range of use, more than any other freeride board in the past - in terms of sail range, user appeal and performance. Both tests agree: the new shape concept combines this massive range of use also with top speed and the top jibing ability in its category, yet with more stability and ease of use (these would normally have been contradictory criterias, hence the slogan ‘impossible engineering’).
Anyway, below is a transcript of the review.
All the best,
Tiesda.
FUTURA 122 - Windsurf UK Jan/Feb issue 2007
Target:
Intermediate to Expert/Pro: Good range of use with early planing, comfortable speed, easy turns and good strap options for Intermediate sailors through to quick performance with lively feel and great gybing performance for the more expert sailor.quick yet controlled and great gybing.
At a Glance:
New for ‘08, the Futura, designed by Tiesda You, replaces the legendary Carve and the S-Type combining the best design features from those and the iSonic. Available in a D-Ram or Wood construction, it has good foot straps with ‘K9’ anti twist inserts, deck pads with uni-directional grip fish scale pads”), mast track scale and good strap options for different level riders but no single strap option due to the tail width. The outline shape is quite straight and fast looking as the width extends into the nose and tail and there are small tail cut outs. It comes with a superb Drake free-slalom swift 40cm fin (Tuttle box) and a recommendation to have a second, smaller fin to “bring out the best of the board”.
Ride and Handling:
The 122 is one of the earliest to plane, rising smoothly and effortlessly and settling at a very comfortable speed that gives lots of confidence to the rider. Outboard and driving more against the edge of the board and the fin, the board releases further to reveal a very quick top gear which is extremely easy to achieve. The main difference with the Carve is that the Futura feels much more crisp and efficient while retaining the Carve’s smooth control, both cruising and motoring. It sails very well on all points of sail, especially upwind, and handles chop easily, gliding over the top. The board can handles bigger rigs easily and, rather than losing performance, seems to gain it and start to display superb freerace feel and performance. In overpowered conditions and heavy chop the board starts to feel lively to the extent that the rider needs to pay more attention to board trim, but move outboard and lock the windward rail down, and the Futura responds with blistering performance. When off the plane the board is also very stable with good width and with its great flat deck.
Manoeuvres:
The Futura has very versatile gybing characteristics – easy for early level gybers with lots of room for the foot change and an easy, smooth arc, and great performance if driven hard into the turn, the rail slicing through any water state cleanly and the board coming out with plenty of speed. Tacking is very accessible as well with the wide, flat deck, which extends into the nose.
+ Ease of use combined with control and performance over a massive range, both in a straight line and in the corners – The Futura really does have an even wider user appeal than the old Carve!
- Not much to fault, but lively feel in windier conditions and heavier chop might be less attractive to those who liked the very smooth feel of the Carve.
