Test 2017: Fanatic Blast Ltd and Tabou 3S
Fanatic Blast Ltd
LTD or Textreme - that says it all. If a board is only offered in the two finest designs, then it won't be the average freerider for the hire station. Fanatic is also well positioned in this league with the Gecko, while the new Blast appeals to the discerning, advanced surfer who can already handle short, compact boards with ease. On the Blast, the straps should be on the outside, plus a fast freeride or freerac sail and a good breeze, then the board just flies over the water. "That's one of the advantages" says developer Craig Gertenbach, "you can ride it with no-cam, 2-cam or race sails". An impression that we can fully confirm.
The same applies to planing as for the Tabou: dropping and a little pumping accelerates the first few metres, after which the board takes off like a well-oiled cannonball. However, despite its 130 litres, it feels light and small underfoot, but also very agile. Although it keeps the nose down very stably, the slight nervousness around the longitudinal axis requires some concentration, but gives a particularly lively and super-fast feeling. And the Blast with its small 42 mm fin is definitely fast. At the same time, the board hardly sets in at all and if it does, then only gently and with a very light, smart rebound from the wave and flies on unchecked. Control is therefore very good for advanced freerace riders. This makes the board particularly easy to keep free on all courses and simply tempts you to attach yourself to the tail of any freeracer or slalom rider. The Blast also has a lot to offer in jibes - if you give the board a bit of a kick. If you can tame the temperament, you can choose between tight jibes and wide radii, even in the middle of a turn. And all this with only light foot pressure and high cornering speed. However, the board is just as quick to react to small steering errors - the Blast doesn't want to be an easy jibber.
surf conclusion: The Hawk successor is the super sporty addition to the Gecko. For advanced surfers with experience on compact boards.
Fanatic Blast LTD Volume: 130 litres Weight: 7.3 kg (measured) Length: 233 cm Width: 70 cm Finn: 42 cm Price: 1999 Euro Info:www.fanatic.com
"The parallel rails provide more acceleration and top-end speed. Combined with the rocker and railshape, turning is even better than with conventional shapes" - Craig Gertenbach, Brand Manager Fanatic
The new S-Class: Tabou 3S
3S - the answer to all questions so far. If you couldn't decide between freeride, freemove or a bit of wave, the Tabou 3S was the ultimate compromise board. Even without the big cross-comparison, we can already say: 2017 will be different. The board will be more radical, more extreme - and a little more demanding. Even the 106 already looked almost like a big wave board on Lake Garda, so we're looking forward to the smaller brothers. In any case, our test board hit the wildest hooks between steep north wind waves and also at Ora, turning super tight, sensitive and with little pressure in the jibe. However, it also needs to be steered cleanly, and a sensitive load is required for planing. It also helps in the planing phase to drop a little, and two or three pump strokes can't hurt to get the impetuous little board up to speed. And even at full planing speed, it goes - again with an astonishing amount of "wave" attitude - in constant ups and downs through the choppy wave. The board feels extremely light, lively and reactive.
surf conclusion: Sportier and more aggressive, the new 3S is actually a 2S+, certainly stronger in the waves, less comfortable as a freerider.
Tabou 3S 2017 Volume: 106 litres Weight: 6.4 kg (measured) Length: 225 cm Width: 64.5 cm Finn: 32 cm Price: n.a. Info:www.tabou-boards.com
