In comparison, the classic Rocket is one and a half centimetres narrower and almost ten centimetres longer in the 125-litre size. Whilst the Rocket is almost a symbolic representation of the classic freeride board, the ‘Plus’, with its compact outline and significantly wider tail, appeals to the very sport-oriented freeracer and is ideally combined with freerace sails. You wouldn’t expect soft padding in a racing ski boot either – the pads on the Tabou Rocket provide good support in much the same way, though comfortable cushioning isn’t the main priority with these thin pads. Instead, the pronounced double-concave hull with its deep V-shape can absorb quite a lot of impact. The spacing between the strap mounting holes is slightly narrower than usual, which can also ensure a sporty, snug fit; however, the foot straps cannot be adjusted quite as tightly as on most other models in the test. The front strap position can be described as moderate and sporty; at the rear, at least the outer row of pegs is in the race position – which, however, suits the board’s character well.
As with the Fifty, the underside is largely polished to a shine, with only the rear section – which remains wet even when gliding at full speed – sanded to a matt finish to optimise gliding performance. The deck is slightly recessed but offers plenty of space for manoeuvring. The curves of the deck beneath the footstraps are very pleasant, and the standing position is comfortable once you’re in both footstraps. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly innocuous 40 fin – up to the slight kink in the outline, it’s an almost flawless slalom fin that picks up speed accordingly.
A great deal of potential for advanced riders
The Rocket+ gets going easily – if you know which switches to use. A slight downwind angle helps with its compact shape; it then takes off early too – in the truest sense of the word. Because once it’s up and gliding – whether with a pump assist in the lightest of winds, or without – the ‘Plus’ rises to a higher level of glide and hovers over any chop. Threading your foot into the rear strap during the acceleration phase takes a bit of practice, but once you’ve got the hang of it, there’s no stopping you. The Rocket+ always glides high and free, with the board’s generous width providing excellent stability around its longitudinal axis. However, you do need to actively lean the board slightly onto the leeward edge. Combined with the short, fast fin, it offers – for advanced riders – top-class potential across the entire wind range. It accelerates powerfully in every gust and maintains its speed for a long time in lulls.
The board’s excellent gliding characteristics don’t come into their own fully when jibing. Here, too, the board proves more demanding to ride, as the wide, thin shape requires distinct yet controlled foot pressure. This allows for wide carving jibes. When cutting across waves, the track-keeping assist occasionally fails and the rider has to intervene. Nevertheless, in combination, the board offers outstanding freerace qualities, no ifs or buts.
surf’s verdict on the Tabou Rocket+ 123
The Rocket+ offers the experienced freeracer the ultimate sense of speed – like few other boards can, even in light gliding winds. With the right technique and body tension, it remains easy to control even at top speed when you actively let the board fly over the choppy waves. The standard Rocket, which is also fast, remains a good alternative for sporty freeriders with more ambitious manoeuvring goals.
Acceleration; speed across the entire wind range
High-gloss finish on the hull; foil-ready
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Technical Specifications: Tabou Rocket+ 123 Team
- Weight: 7.4 kg*
- Price: 2,599 euros
- For more information, see tabou-boards.com
*surf measurement, without fin and footstraps
Tabou Rocket+: Available sizes and specifications
| Volume | Width | Length | Weight** | Finn |
| 103 | 69 | 232 | – /7.2/6.7 | 36 |
| 113 | 73 | 232 | – /7.6/6.9 | 38 |
| 123 | 77 | 232 | 9.0/7.9/7.5 | 40 |
| 133 | 81 | 232 | 9.3/8.1/7.9 | 44 |
| 143 | 85 | 232 | 9.6/8.7/8.3 | 46 |
**Manufacturer’s specifications, MTE/LTD/Team models, prices: 1899/2299/2599 euros**
This board is part of the major 2026 freerace test. Also featured are Duotone Flash, Future Fly White Tiger, Goya Bolt, JP-Australia Super Ride, JP-Australia Super Sport, Patrik F-Race, Severne Fox, Starboard Futura, Tabou Fifty and Tabou Rocket+. All reviews in surf 4/2026 and, in no particular order, here on surf-magazin.de!
