For freeriders and intermediates: Thommen boards Ride and Glide available again
Tobias Frauen
· 14.05.2023
"We're getting boards from Cobra again!" reports Thommen Managing Director Mark Thoms from the Netherlands. For a few years, it was very difficult for the small brand to get deliveries from the busy manufacturer, but just in time for the start of the season, it can now start again. The boards from shape legend Peter Thommen will be available directly from 21 May at thommen1.com or at Windsport Fehmarn.
Both boards are available in the standard STD construction, which is specially reinforced in areas subject to high stress. The LTD construction is built almost like a custom and is lighter and stiffer, but of course also more expensive. All boards come with a matching board bag!
Peter Thommen's shape philosophy
Peter Thommen builds his boards according to his own philosophy: he favours longer and more elongated shapes and therefore primarily has freeriders in mind who want a board that is as uncomplicated as possible. This can also be seen in the two models Glide and Ride, which are only available in one size each. The 125-litre Ride is advertised as the "universal windsurf board". "Peter went back to the Bullet and Sunset years and used a stretched rocker line, a V-to-Quad-to-Tri concave for early planing and combined it with a small tail kick, thinner rails and wings for control in stronger winds," says the manufacturer. The Ride comes with a 28 centimetre Powerbox fin and a 10 inch mast track to provide a large adjustment range for sails from 4.5 square metres to 7.5 square metres. The STD version costs 1799 euros, the LTD version 2149 euros.
At 165 litres, the Glide is significantly larger. The thruster setup in this group is remarkable. As standard, there is a 32 cm Powerbox fin in the tail and two matching 12 cm side fins in slot boxes. According to the manufacturer, this setup enables very good upwind performance and more grip when jibing. "A special stretched rocker line from the golden era of Thommen and a V-to-quad concave bottom shape ensure a gradual transition from dumping to planing." The shape should be easy to ride even when the wind picks up. The Thommen Glide costs 1899 euros for the STD version and 2249 euros for the LTD version.
Thommen Ride and Glide in the surf test
In 2020 surf tried out both Thommen boards in a short test in moderate planing winds on an inland lake and in choppy Baltic Sea conditions.
The Glide 165 (9.90 kilos) is quite long with a length of 265 centimetres. Due to the generous width of 84 centimetres in the middle section and rather narrow bow and tail sections, the outline is quite round. In contrast, the Ride Ltd 125 (7.66 kilos), which is only 72.5 centimetres wide, looks much more elongated, but this board is also comparatively long at 255 centimetres. Both boards have a handle in the deck, which is worth its weight in gold, especially on the wide Glide, and makes carrying it noticeably easier. The handle can be closed with a foam plug.
Both models offer absolutely climber-friendly strap positions - with the Glide 165 you have the choice between a far inboard position for learning to use the straps and a moderately sporty standing position. The straps themselves are fixed with double screws. With the Ride 125, on the other hand, Peter Thommen has limited himself to one strap position. Both boards have quite thin edges in common, which should improve the jibing characteristics, as well as a thruster fin set-up with comparatively short centre fins (Glide 34, Ride 30 centimetres) and 12 mm side fins. Both boards come with a matching bag.
How the Thommen Glide rides
The Glide 165 is quite stable in the water and even if the thin rails can't provide maximum tipping stability, even a 90-kilo rider can still get off to a good start. Once under way, the board stabilises immediately, and on the way into the loops the concept proves to have above-average directional stability - even if you put the wrong amount of weight on the way back. The transition to planing is absolutely harmonious, with no noticeable glide threshold, even if you are only standing passively on deck and don't pump. The fact that the Glide 165 doesn't speed off like a sports car afterwards, but rather cruises like a well-sprung saloon car, is something that only ambitious stokers are likely to criticise, but this good-natured characteristic will suit beginners to glide surfing and freeriders.
The Glide is by no means slow, but with its full, cushioned water position it provides less of a flying feeling. On the other hand, the board enters choppy waves smoothly and always keeps the nose down, even in strong gusts. The board surprised us in manoeuvres - it doesn't hold like a 165-litre board, but feels much smaller in a positive sense. Whether it's due to the aforementioned thin edges or the bottom curve - it's probably both - the Glide turns extremely harmoniously and with little foot pressure. The board also glides through medium and wide radii extremely smoothly.
The Thommen Ride in the test
Many of the riding characteristics mentioned can also be found on the smaller Ride 125, for example the smooth transition into gliding, the comfortable riding feel, excellent control and real easy-going qualities. The Ride also largely dispenses with an extremely free, sporty riding experience. The Ride is easy to pull through wide power jibes and other gliding manoeuvres with a lot of control on the edge, but it doesn't like to turn really tightly and sometimes tends to blend in.
surf conclusion: Ride and Glide, these concepts are by no means outdated! Both models are perfect for newcomers to glide surfing because they are easy to jibe and still sporty enough to heat up. Those switching from old, long freeride shapes and those returning to windsurfing will also love these shapes. Only those who are primarily looking for speed duels with camber sails and in far-out loop positions will find the concepts a little too well-behaved.
- All information under thommen1.com
Also interesting:
Tobias Frauen
Editor