ASA technology was the standard for windsurf boards for decades. Until lightweight sandwich boards achieved a weight advantage that could not be equalised with boards from the mould. For SUP boards, where the weight - once in the water - plays a lesser role, this robust, cost-effective construction method could experience a real renaissance. The entire board is covered by a thermoplastic skin, the board is baked in a metal mould in a single pass of foam, laminate and ASA cover. The mould parting edge protruding a few millimetres all the way around reveals the manufacturing process. At 16.6 kilos, the Sonic is not dramatically heavier than other touring boards and therefore offers an affordable entry into the hardboard world.
Once on tour, the board glides very stable - you stand much lower on the lowered deck than on an iSUP, the slightly tapered bow goes smoothly through the water and splashes a little more than an extremely tapered JP. It makes good progress, with a good gliding feel and plenty of safety. However, the rather beefy bow sets noticeable limits to sprinting. Nevertheless, you will experience a real hardboard feeling on a board with the potential to last for many years.
The board turns well from the centre standing position and is more stable in the water than any iSUP when you get on the tail. In terms of equipment, we like the easy-to-fit FCS fin, which is only clamped in place, while the handle is positioned a hand's width too far back, which makes carrying it a little more difficult.
Conclusion on the Sic Sonic 12'6" x 30" AT:
A solid and stable board for SUP touring and a price tip for entry into the hardboard class.
Very inexpensive, robust, with good touring capability.
Info:
- Price: 1149 Euro
- Length: 381.0 cm
- Width: 76.2 cm
- Weight: 16.2 kg
- Volume: 285 litres
- Web: www.choppywater.de
Stephan Gölnitz
Deputy Editor in Chief surf
Stephan Gölnitz comes from Bochum and had Holland as his home windsurfing territory for many years before moving to Munich in 1996 for the job of test editor at surf magazine. The materials engineering graduate worked as a surf instructor on the Ijsselmeer during his studies and competed for several seasons for the Essen sailing team in the Surfbundesliga and the Funboard Cup. He completed a traineeship at surf-Magazin in the test department and since then has actively accompanied almost all tests on the boom and for more than 10 years also as a photographer. Stephan has covered many thousands of test kilometers, mainly on Lake Garda and in Langebaan, but also in Egypt and Tobago. He gets his hands on over 100 new sails and boards every year as his company car. Privately, he prefers to surf with a foil on Lake Walchensee or “unfortunately far too rarely” in the waves. SUP is Stephan's second passion, which he pursued for several years at numerous SUP races. Today, he prefers to paddle on river tours with family or friends - even for several days.
