The Sunova brand is still relatively unknown in Germany, but the windsurfing products have recently been distributed by GunSails. The brand has existed in the surfing scene since 1976, and the product range covers almost all board sports from surfing to SUP. The most striking feature is the elegant look of the wood veneer, and many models can also be ordered as customised products that can be split down the middle. The tested 4-in-1 with its long boxes offers good trimming options for windsurfing and wing-foiling. However, the loop positions are very far back so that foils with a front wing that sits close to the mast are preferable. With our test foil (Slingshot Hover Glide with a 76 mm front wing), the trim fitted well in the set-up with the wing close to the mast. With the wing mounted further forward on the fuselage (optional with Slingshot), the rear loop could not be used. It may be necessary to find a more suitable foil for this.
However, we found the windsurfing foil suitability to be quite suitable for a multiboard. The board looks better trimmed when "winging", also because the strap positions don't play a role here - there are simply none provided for winging - with the foil right at the front in the box, the stance is central. However, the board is also suitable for cruising and learning to wing foil without footstraps, the volume makes the first attempts with the wing very easy. In the wave, equipped with a paddle and four fins, the board with the narrow tapered tail is agile, but also a little more demanding than the flatter, consistently wide JP board, for example. Despite the flat bottom curve, you can surf nice turns with pressure, but the wide nose looks a little chunky, at least visually - a subjective impression that also gives a somewhat slimmed-down sporty feeling when foil windsurfing. The upturned nose makes it easier to take off in steeper waves and ensures smooth landings when foiling.
surf conclusion: A real wave SUP with decent foil suitability with sail and wing. The few strap positions make foil tuning a little more difficult when windsurfing.
Long foil box; for three disciplines
Wingfoiling only without loops
-
Technical data Sunova Foil 4-in-1
- Weight: 9.1 kg
- Length: 232.0 cm
- Width: 77.5 cm
- Volume: 124 litres
- Finns: Quad
- Price: 1799 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.
