The crossover shape comes from a genuine wave SUP (Naish Raptor) for small to medium waves, and it hasn't forgotten how to do that. In the waves, with a paddle and four fins, the Naish is the most radical, easy-turning board in the group. For more experienced wave paddlers or very light wave beginners, it is a fast, lively board, but with a volume of only 120 litres and a short length, it demands a lot of practice from an 80-kilo paddler in a choppy line-up. With the matching Naish foil in the box, the board is suitable for windsurf foiling - with appropriately positioned straps - and also for wing foiling - without straps. The foil characteristics with sail are typical of Naish: the board only wants to be edged a little, you stand upright rather than hanging fully on the sail. With a comparatively short fuselage - this is a compromise for sail and wing - the foil is a little more sensitive around the transverse axis, but you quickly learn to control the slight up and down. In wind holes and in the jibe, the large front wing keeps the board in the air for a long time, but here too it tends to be ridden flat and with moderate turning, the foil doesn't like a lot of edge pressure in the jibe. The strap positions worked well with the Naish foil and a 5.3 mm sail, but with a more powerful comparison foil from the test (Slingshot) the strap and foil positions did not match.
Wing beginners simply push the same foil all the way forwards in the Naish rail and enjoy the comparatively compact, light board feel. At 120 litres, it's a good size for quick learning, but the relatively short board is also fun for fast wing cruising. With a short fuselage, the board can also be easily manoeuvred through wind holes by pumping with the legs. The stance position is centred on the board and the agile foil is controlled with a slightly wider stance. Straps are not provided for wing-foiling - and are not required for cruising. This saves a noticeable amount of weight.
surf conclusion: The Crossover is a radical wave SUP, a good windfoil cruiser and perfectly suitable for wing foiling.
Low weight; SUP surfing; versatile
Wingfoiling only without loops
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Technical data Naish Hover
- Weight: 8.4 kg*
- Length: 223.5 cm
- Width: 76.2 cm
- Volume: 120 litres
- Fins: 2x4.5"/2x3.5"
- Price: 1649 Euro
*surf measurement
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.
