controversial Evo 2007 75 review

Here's latest Boards magazine review for 75 litre Evo
STARBOARD EVO XTV 75

Until now the Evo hadn't been tinkered with much since its introduction four seasons ago-
and throughout that time offered class-leading onshore frontside riding as well as picking up
a World Wavesailing Championship. The 2007 model boasts "XTV", which we understands to
mean extra tail vee. However, from our records it doesn't actually appear to be a major change
- the tail and strap area appears to have only a minimal extra 1 or 2mm of vee. Far more
significant is the 1cm reduction in tail width, along with extra nose and max width.

ON THE WATER: The Evo has always been an extremely low-grip design - as a result really never
excelling in marginal conditions, early planing or upwind performance. However, where it really
came into its own was in simply awesome frontside waveriding capabilities, particularly the
ability to make less-than-ideal onshore conditions into something exiting and enjoyable.
However, the board has changed its orientation somewhat for 2007. Starboard have re-
engineered it to ride even better in cleaner, more cross-shore conditions, which it undoubtedly
does. The downside is a considerably less performance in more onshore conditions. It's
essentially the same low grip characteristics as before, but the difference between it and the
other waveboards now seem even more marked. It doesn't track as securely, plane as early,
keep speed as well (particularly when exiting gybes or negotiating lulls) or turn as fast and
reliably off the back foot. Sailors soon learn to compensate for this but overall it’s all-round
capabilities do seem reduced this season. The board simply needs more power than its rivals,
and it is thus very much orientated towards higher wind strengths and smaller sails.
It's a similar story with the jumping; the better the conditions, the better the performance. It's
not great if your having to work to get the speed and/or push hard to kick the board into the
jump with the back foot. But if you can hit a decent ramp square on at good speed you'll get air.
Likewise, it's when you're on a decent wave that you really understand what this board is
all about. The board still feels extremely loose and 'ungoverned', and offers the best
waveriding you're going to find. There is very little sense of pre determined arc or path either
when turning or going straight, giving it hat excellent freedom of direction, or mobility.

FITTINGS: The straps were felt too small for the larger feet with boots, but liked by those with
smaller feet. The fin is extremely thin and narrow and offers very little lift - we achieved much
better all-round performance with a bigger more powerful fin in 4.7-5.5m conditions. the
spread between front and back straps is wider than on most boards

POPULARITY: Felt by all to sacrifice too much in speed, upwind, early planing and back foot
grip for best enjoyment in the predominantly cross-onshore conditions of the test.
Nevertheless, its potential in better conditions could be clearly seen.

OVERALL: This board really encapsulates the dilemma faced by the tester. The one thing you
absolutely cannot fault this board for is its waveriding - which for many people (particularly
the top sailors) is really the only thing that matters in a waveboard, since everything else can
be dealt with by superior technique. Whereas for the average joe, the extra difficulty in gaining
speed, getting out and generally sailing this board do become much more of an issue - more
so the harder the conditions. There's certainly no doubt that the Evo has moved away from the
ultimate-onshore-riding-board role, which we suspect will reduce its overall market appeal.
However, if you're a skilled wavesailor looking for the ultimate down-the-line performance and
big air in decent conditions with 4.5-5.3m sails the Evo may be everything you've dreamed of.

agree with you eddy

I thought it was very similar to the 2003 model I used to have except the new one was better in the waves. The fin is very loose and this may have prompted the poms dislike in marginal conditions.

I thought the fin and board were f****** fantastic in the waves up in gnaraloo - oct 2006.

I've tried it also in the slop of local perth beaches (onshore 2 to 3 foot - 15 to 20 knots with a 5.7m2 sail) and thought it was great.

get used to the side sliding - it's not a problem - I'd rather it loose on the wave than perfect sailing out and then stiff on the wave.

I havent tried a bigger fin but this might help people if they a concerned with the early planing in light conditions.

Kremlin,

In onshore conditions it outperforms anything I have ever ridden. Been sailing for 20yrs

None taken Kremlin, I have tried other real world waves, the evo is my favourite......

Fast