Damn - Have windsurf boards simply been too big for years? There are few tests where we have seen so much curiosity and heard so many questions on the beach as this one. Inflatable windsurf boards and SUPs - people are excited about them, especially those who took a windsurfing course 20 years ago, but "the boards were so big and so heavy". The gliding craze has been rampant among windsurfers ever since; the coveted boards are short and wide and are then driven to the spots behind darkened van windscreens. For years, windsurfing has only taken place on the roof of a car during the holiday season. And for glide surfing, a board has to be stiff, with sharp edges at the tail and as light as possible. And there it was, the dilemma: an intermediate board, the first plank of your own after the course, with foot straps, preferably under 2.90 metres, is simply damn heavy at a reasonable price made of GRP. SUP is bringing board sports back - to the lakes, but also to car roofs, garages and basements. "Inflatables are perfect for this. And many of these boards are also very suitable for windsurfing - with minor limitations that don't actually hurt anyone.
Dilemma The way out is to free yourself from the demands of planing like on a big freeride windsurfing board. Gliding across the lake at 40 km/h with a folded centreboard and a 14-kilo board? That works really well with very few models. On the other hand, such boards are really good for cruising and paddling, making the new dual use perfect: the new board concepts, whether hard or inflatable, accompany surf beginners from surfing lessons to loop and harness surfing, including the first "speed run" on a space wind course. All you need is a paddle and you have a board for all occasions for several years.The mix of SUP and windsurf board But the result is exciting new concepts for paddle surfers, windsurfing beginners and the whole family.
Element not implemented: </span><span class="message message_error">Element not implemented: <noscript></span></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324162/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/21c4563fa3cfbe1e4cfce9241b37bc44c0419e9f.jpg" assetid="3324162" name="21c4563fa3cfbe1e4cfce9241b37bc44c0419e9f.jpeg" align="centre"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description>With one or two wind forces you have the choice: sail or paddle.</description></imagebox><p><strong>All american</strong> It's bad enough when you have to deal with inch threads every now and then when screwing, in stand up paddling the <strong>american measurement system</strong> has unfortunately completely prevailed - we probably have to live with that for windSUPs too. An 11'2'' has a length of 11 feet and 2 inches, which is unfortunately not the same as 11.2 feet. The width is also often given in inches. <strong>A foot </strong>is about 30.5 centimetres, <strong>an inch </strong>is about 2.5 centimetres (an inch is the same as an inch). A standard 12'6'' SUP therefore measures an impressive 3.80 metres. But it doesn't really matter that much, because where windsurf boards have to be finished in millimetres, a centimetre more or less doesn't really matter with a SUP. Glide surfing, free on the fin, almost the entire board in the air - this is still only possible with pure windsurf boards. If the rocker is off by a centimetre, nothing really works. SUPs need sufficient flex at the front and especially at the back, as well as rails that are as round as possible. When paddling, it is ultimately more of a canoe than a windsurfing board and flat, sharp-edged windsurfing underwater hulls don't work particularly well in displacement mode. A windSUP designer has to find the right compromise between these two poles. Nevertheless, even inflatable WindSUPs will take a surfing beginner who has not yet experienced the rush of speed beyond 40 kilometres per hour into the next speed dimension in a lucky gust. And<strong> inflatables - with centreboard or centre fin - are also ideally equipped for the long surf tour around the holiday island</strong>.</p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324163/alias/xl/v/1/c/28/ar/flexible/fn/a8e7c1188451e8cc00d1a0227fea6ae6ca58ac86.jpg" assetid="3324163" name="a8e7c1188451e8cc00d1a0227fea6ae6ca58ac86.jpeg" align="centre"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description>Too much wind for paddling? Kein Problem mit einem Kombi-Board.</description></imagebox><imagebox src="/__image/a/3324164/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/80f0d1362bcce0fade35a87a714e2fe304f71f1d.jpg" assetid="3324164" name="80f0d1362bcce0fade35a87a714e2fe304f71f1d.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description>On many models, the mast base mount disappears almost invisibly into the board.</description></imagebox><p><strong>Equipment</strong></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324165/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/63dc72924e1d07d7dfeadfc4493a561256103185.jpg" assetid="3324165" name="63dc72924e1d07d7dfeadfc4493a561256103185.jpeg" align="centre"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description>Also to be mounted without tools: Finnenschraube mit kleinem Drehgriff.</description></imagebox><imagebox src="/__image/a/3324166/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/9b4e2a63141a7075187998ca7c8a26d44ab6470f.jpg" assetid="3324166" name="9b4e2a63141a7075187998ca7c8a26d44ab6470f.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description>Large centre fin, small fin in the stern: Seen at RRD.</description></imagebox><imagebox src="/__image/a/3324167/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/1dff8cb76755fef74fa0b821182b4c2a17e14aa7.jpg" assetid="3324167" name="1dff8cb76755fef74fa0b821182b4c2a17e14aa7.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description>Solid mast base plate at Naish</description></imagebox><p><strong>Nothing works without a centre fin or daggerboard</strong>, regardless of whether it is built hard or soft. The much smaller fins in the tail compared to freeride windsurf boards and the round rails on the inflatables do not offer enough lateral support. Going upwind is therefore technically very demanding - only for experienced windsurfers. Unprofiled plastic fins, as is common with SUPs, are well suited for paddling, but for windsurfing you can expect more from slightly larger, profiled fins, especially in the centre position.</p><p >This works well in US boxes, as seen for example with <strong>Vandal, Starboard and Fanatic.</strong> <strong>RRD</strong> also equips its boards with large centre fins with correspondingly solid anchoring - including the iWindSUP. <strong>Naish</strong> also uses an additional fin in the centre and relies on the familiar SUP box as with the tail fin.</p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324168/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/b34a2b4afd2ed1b4077e3a8346c265ff1a3bb23a.jpg" assetid="3324168" name="b34a2b4afd2ed1b4077e3a8346c265ff1a3bb23a.jpeg" align="centre"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description>Main thing on the water. Children get to grips with the sail just as quickly as with the paddle.</description></imagebox><p >The iSUP fins, which are somewhat softer than GRP windsurfing fins, bend when the board is stored on the fin for a long time, even up to the foil when it's nice and warm - unfortunately this doesn't work so well on the water. You should pay attention to this when storing. Fortunately, the fins also bend back again. The quality and thickness of the outer shell is also part of the features of the inflatable. There are three qualities on the market: the extremely light, supple foils from <strong>Mistral</strong> and <strong>Simmer</strong>, which can be rolled like a woollen blanket. The boards from <strong>Naish, Starboard</strong> or <strong>JP-Australia</strong> are one layer thicker: light, easy to wrap, perhaps a little more sensitive than the robust version. This is used by <strong>Fanatic, RRD and Tabou</strong>. You can roll up your sleeves and give it a good tug to roll in, the thick foil looks bulkier, weighs more of course, but should also survive the odd sharp contact.</p><p ><strong>Ride performance</strong> <strong>Windsurfing performance</strong> for this class of board doesn't mean top speed in strong winds or going upwind in full glide, but primarily: surfing and leisurely cruising in light winds. A touring SUP like the Mistral Ventura zips off with almost no resistance - what is fast and easy to paddle up to eight or nine kilometres per hour, also glides off willingly under sail pressure. The long, narrow Starboard also runs remarkably well, and the general rule is "the longer and narrower, the faster". And in this speed range, inflatables hardly have to hold back against the "tough" competition.</p><p ></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324169/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/ccec21bf66dddb047f3254d4e840f454e4f41d0e.jpg" assetid="3324169" name="ccec21bf66dddb047f3254d4e840f454e4f41d0e.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description>Starboard offers a fully-fledged folding centreboard as an option on all WindSUPs in the "de Luxe" version.</description></imagebox><p ><strong>Inflatable vs hardboard</strong> Inflatable windsurf boards? Wait, they were around 20 years ago. What's actually different today? While earlier "experiments" in shape and technology were more like a bathing island with a palm tree - except that a windsurfing rig was planted on top instead of a palm tree - all modern "iWindSUPs" benefit from the new construction principle as with the pure SUPs. The fabric laminate of the outer shell corresponds to high-quality inflatable boats, but the special feature remains invisible. The top and bottom are connected with an extremely dense net of low-stretch threads, which prevent an oversized sausage from lying on the beach instead of a board when pressure is applied. Pressurised to up to 18 psi (over one bar), the boards are so hard that curious people are always amazed when you deflate them. "This is inflatable - that's great". After two weeks of WindSUP testing on Bavarian lakes, however, you can't hear that any more. Nevertheless, the hardbodies offer advantages, especially when the centreboard is folded in or the centre fin is removed when windsurfing. With sharper rails than the air cushion boats offer, it is much easier to go upwind. It can be a little wobbly, the pontoon feeling is not for everyone. Especially with a surf rig - which you can hang on to - you don't necessarily need the generous width of a wind SUP like you do with normal SUPs. The <strong>Starboard Freeride</strong>, for example, ranked just ahead of the iSUP 12'6'' and also ahead of the shorter but more stable <strong>Fanatic Viper </strong>Air and the very wide, bulbous <strong>Starboard WindSUP de Luxe 11'2''</strong> after our windsurfing session in three wind forces. The "i" boards, the air-filled boards, really come into their own on the scales. A laminated Starboard Freeride weighs four kilos more than the inflated 12'6''. Especially in wavy conditions, the difference remains slightly noticeable even with maximum pump pressure, then the rubber boards tend to squirm over the waves and also appear more wobbly, hardboards give direct feedback and appear somewhat sportier. The smoother the water - and the lighter the rider - the more the differences shrink, which is where the new technology in inflatable hulls offers a riding experience that comes very close to that of hard boards. And when it comes to pack size? That's where the discussion ends for city dwellers anyway. An iSUP fits in any cubbyhole, for a 12'2'' in GRP you need your own garage.</p><p ><strong>Kids on board</strong> Inflatable boards (iSUPS) are a little more tippy than hardboards of the same width due to the very rounded edge, but they also turn much faster when rigged. The boards "slide" across the water like an air mattress, whereas the rails on hardboards slow down the turning. This is why even small children's sails work on the slightly longer models such as the Fanatic Viper Air. If it gets even longer, like a Vandal 11'0'' for example, then the dimensions of iWindSUPs no longer fit perfectly. A highlight for kids is the<strong> RRD Air Kid </strong>- shorter, thinner - actually perfect for surf kids who want to learn or simply as a multifunctional bathing island.</p><p><strong>Sword or fin</strong> To all those under 30: No, folding swords are not handy travelling weapons from the 16th century and are once again really useful in this board group. With boards like the <strong>JP Windsurf SUP</strong>, you can feel the board capsize slightly when the wind picks up, which indicates that the centreboard is doing a really good job of pulling you upwind. If this is too stressful for you, you can easily fold the centreboard in gusts, but playing with the board's reaction and riding lightly on the edge also has its appeal. When the wind picks up, the profiled centre fins also have a noticeable effect, the <strong>Fanatic Fly</strong>, for example, then goes on the leeward edge like a raceboard and in the jibe you fall back on the old loading technique - pushing the outside edge - from your school days.</p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324170/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/05922ea956029e6879fbe7ab5ad4e6379300a5a9.jpg" assetid="3324170" name="05922ea956029e6879fbe7ab5ad4e6379300a5a9.jpeg" align="centre"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description>A first "gliding rush" is possible on any SUP - here even on the Mistral Ventura, which is primarily suitable as a fast touring paddleboard.</description></imagebox><p><strong>Trim</strong> The mast base and fin have to be matched and so you can tell with the <strong>JP Wind SUP</strong> and the <strong>Fanatic Viper Air</strong> that these boards<strong> were primarily made for windsurfers</strong> and that the paddle option is an "extra". The trim of the fin, centreboard and mast foot position is just right here, so that all manoeuvres work well without any contortions. Both boards are more compact, which noticeably improves the turning characteristics. The Starboard 12'6'' is also particularly well trimmed and zips through the water, but is less manoeuvrable due to its long length and narrow outline.</p><p ><strong>Gliding</strong> Even the hard <strong>JP Windsurf SUP,</strong> which should apparently be suitable for real planing, only managed to achieve "real" planing with a lot of pressure and a slight drop on a space wind, like on a large freerider. The high weight and also the larger rocker (bend at the tail) on all boards - but above all the very small fins throughout - prevent you from having a chance against a 170-litre freerider in four wind forces. Gliding "over the fin" is not intended, these boards provide the first rush of speed rather when falling off and they glide more over the planing surface, with equal pressure on both feet.</p><p ><strong>Learning to glide</strong> However, if you do catch the right gust and you go into the jibe at speed, then this works best with the hardboards <strong>JP Windsurf SUP </strong>and the <strong>Bic Ace-Tec</strong>. For foot control when planing, a board needs thinner, sharper rails at the tail, which is not yet feasible with the iSUP design. On the Starboard WindSUP Fun, you get the other variant of planing surfing: The long hull accelerates as well as the hard JP at two or three wind forces, then drop off in the gust and the board glides off faster than you would expect. If you've never really glided before, you'll have caught the gliding virus by now at the latest and will certainly want more of it the following season. If the experienced windsurfer now initiates the jibe as usual, the surprise comes: the board slides more than it glides, the first 30 degrees still well around the corner, then it only goes straight ahead, the long tail does not keep up. The familiar windsurfing riding technique doesn't help here, a leisurely turn is the order of the day.</p><p ><strong>Our conclusion:</strong> Windsurf boards have never been too big, for fun in light winds you need a board around three metres or more. However, the new iWindSUPs now ensure that these large boards are very manageable. The iWindSups are neither intended nor suitable as a replacement for freeriders in full planing mode. And for all hard-body fans, there is still a good selection of laminated boards. The paddle option - and this is really new - is available free of charge in many cases, without any restrictions compared to an "only" SUP.</p><p ><strong>Test results:</strong> Below and under <strong>"Further articles" </strong>you will find the</p><p>of <strong>14 current boards</strong> that we <strong>paddled</strong> and <strong>windsurfed</strong> ourselves on Bavarian lakes <strong>extensively</strong>. There should be the "right" thing for every purpose.</p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324171/alias/xl/v/1/c/30/ar/flexible/fn/14eeecefe3695e594cb1bda08ad9464ddde0bd02.jpg" assetid="3324171" name="14eeecefe3695e594cb1bda08ad9464ddde0bd02.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description></description></imagebox><p><strong>Here is a selection of 10 particularly suitable </strong>boards.</p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324119/alias/xl/v/1/c/30/ar/flexible/fn/c5a19523aa166c7ec87b382369cdb3ff3843bf83.jpg" assetid="3324119" name="c5a19523aa166c7ec87b382369cdb3ff3843bf83.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description></description></imagebox><p ><a href="http://www.sup-mag.de/test_produkte/board/starboard-windsup-126-fun/a13815.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Starboard Windsup 12'6'' Fun</strong></a></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324134/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/2d48c3f3b9798b11222f82f71c3a834087e813fa.jpg" assetid="3324134" name="2d48c3f3b9798b11222f82f71c3a834087e813fa.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description></description></imagebox><p ><a href="http://www.sup-mag.de/test_produkte/board/starboard-windsup-112-deluxe/a13817.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Starboard Windsup 11'2'' Deluxe</strong></a></p><p ><a href="http://www.sup-mag.de/test_produkte/board/starboard-freeride-122-fun/a13819.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Starboard Freride 12'2'' Fun</strong></a></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324419/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/d4f3fa96897f6e7a1c9f41b7184eb5052e89ee9c.jpg" assetid="3324419" name="d4f3fa96897f6e7a1c9f41b7184eb5052e89ee9c.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description></description></imagebox><p ><a href="http://www.sup-mag.de/test_produkte/board/bic-ace-tec-wind-116/a13797.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Bic Ace-Tec Wind 11'6''</strong></a></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324424/alias/xl/v/1/c/30/ar/flexible/fn/97ad95d24559fd8f412e8b19ec2de0d26812211e.jpg" assetid="3324424" name="97ad95d24559fd8f412e8b19ec2de0d26812211e.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description></description></imagebox><p><strong><a href="http://www.sup-mag.com/test_products/board/fanatic-viper-air-85/a13801.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fanatic Viper Air 85</a></strong></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324434/alias/xl/v/1/c/29/ar/flexible/fn/63e863ee0877f9a98e9bc3c5c3f3f94f3337a8da.jpg" assetid="3324434" name="63e863ee0877f9a98e9bc3c5c3f3f94f3337a8da.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description></description></imagebox><p ><a href="http://www.sup-mag.de/test_produkte/board/jp-australia-windsurf-sup-109/a13803.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>JP Australia WindSUP 10'9''</strong></a></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324144/alias/xl/v/1/c/32/ar/flexible/fn/3207ff1caa3631519423d2b6e11cbe08d5c3f68b.jpg" assetid="3324144" name="3207ff1caa3631519423d2b6e11cbe08d5c3f68b.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description></description></imagebox><p ><a href="http://www.sup-mag.de/test_produkte/board/naish-crossover-air-110/a13807.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Naish Crossover Air 11''</strong></a></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324444/alias/xl/v/1/c/30/ar/flexible/fn/0c285624d2e2333cb4ad1e8d2cad5c3dcb9c37ad.jpg" assetid="3324444" name="0c285624d2e2333cb4ad1e8d2cad5c3dcb9c37ad.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description></description></imagebox><p ><a href="http://www.sup-mag.de/test_produkte/board/vandal-flow-iq-110-ws/a13823.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vandal Flow IQ 11'0'' WS</a></p> <imagebox src="/__image/a/3324439/alias/xl/v/1/c/30/ar/flexible/fn/4072c06631c5200c052e72d3c283f3b6d57b0af9.jpg" assetid="3324439" name="4072c06631c5200c052e72d3c283f3b6d57b0af9.jpeg" align="right"><copyright name="Stephan Gölnitz" /><!-- New: Low-Level-Author as credits --><credits></credits><description></description></imagebox><p><a href="http://www.sup-mag.de/test_produkte/board/rrd-air-sup-+-convertible-104/a13811.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>RRD Air SUP + Convertible 10'4''</strong></a></p><p><a href="http://www.sup-mag.en/test_products/board/rrd-air-kid-+-convertible/a13809.html" class="external" debug-follow="no-follow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>RRD Air Kid + Convertible</strong></a></p><p><strong> </strong></p></content>
Stephan Gölnitz
Deputy Editor in Chief surf
