Tabou Manta 79 + 85 Team

On land: With Tabou, the angle of the front straps can be changed and they can also be mounted slightly further inwards. The pads are significantly raised under the toes, which means that you don't have to overstretch your ankles uncomfortably, despite the rather flat deck. Another striking feature of the 79 is the strongly double concave V in the underwater hull. The straps are soft and comfortable, but quite narrow. However, if you have large feet and surf with shoes, you can easily use holes that don't belong together.

On the water: Like the Starboard, the Manta 79 shines especially in the lower and medium wind range. Although the Tabou does not glide passively quite as smoothly as the Starboard, the acceleration in the first gust or after two quick pumping strokes is at its best. The board releases immediately, flies sporty and direct over the chop and immediately conveys a real racing feeling with impressive top speed. Thanks to good straps and pads as well as pleasant pressure distribution, you'll feel right at home on the deck. Small compromises have to be made as soon as it gets really windy: Then the Tabou becomes a little more unsteady around the longitudinal axis and requires body tension and elevated riding skills to utilise the board's undoubtedly great speed potential. Compared to the competition, you can choose a smaller fin for the Tabou. Unless you weigh over 90 kilos and want to use sails over nine square metres, fin sizes of 45 to 47 centimetres are absolutely sufficient. In the jibe, the board carves through long radii with plenty of grip and planes quite well. With a little leg fat, the Tabou can even be pressed into tight radii, which rounds off the positive overall impression. The Manta 85 is characterised by its completely contrasting character. Even with the 52 mm fin, it was the most stable planing combination among the wide slalom boards. A comfort racer that never lets you lose your composure, never gives you any fear of control and on which you look forward to the next gust even when powered up. It almost feels like one wind force less than the RR D, for example. The board wants to be pushed powerfully, even with the optional 49er Select fin you have to work harder on the wide Manta to keep up with the competition. The full rail in the strap area is easy to press, but is not as cosy and comfortable as some other footbeds. In the jibe, the Tabou is once again one of the top three in the group. With a lot of pressure, it glides smoothly and safely on the rail even in choppy water, comes out of the jibe with a lot of speed and thus has what it takes to be a successful curve raider at the buoy in the turmoil.

Web: www.tabou-boards.com

surf measurement Manta 85Weight: 7.2 kgLength: 233.0 cmWidth: 85.0 cm

Downloads:

Slalomboards XL (pdf)