Midlength boards are being offered by more and more brands, as they promise very early and easy take-off as well as passable control in manoeuvres. Manufacturer Naish now also has such a model in its portfolio - the Hover Downwind Crossover.
The board is available in a total of four sizes with volumes of 85/105/125 and 145 litres; all sizes are between the classic compact wingboards and the long, narrow downwind boards in terms of their dimensions. (HERE is a field report) In other words, the Naish Hover Downwind Crossover has slightly more width than pure downwind boards, which should offer great advantages, especially in manoeuvres, and make the board easier to control. On the other hand, the stretched outline combined with a flat underwater hull ensures effortless planing and take-offs at low wind speeds.
As the name suggests, the model was designed as a crossover version for SUP foiling and wing foiling. To emphasise its suitability for wingfoiling, the board is equipped with foot strap plugs, although the straps are not included in the scope of delivery. The board is built in a glass-wood sandwich construction with additional, localised carbon reinforcements. This means that the shapes should be able to cope well with the stresses of wingsurfing and also offer attractive weights - the 85-litre model should weigh around 5.8 kilos and the 125-litre version around 7.3 kilos. The model is available immediately for between 1699 and 1849 euros.
How the new Hover Downwind Crossover performs on the water, you will soon read here on the website.
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
