There is no easier way to fly: With wide boards and smooth foils, your first successes are guaranteed. In addition to testing the freeride foil combos, we also tested two other sets aimed at foil beginners. In addition to the Duotone Stingray was Starboard's Go-Fly on the water. Here, too, the generous length ensures a smooth take-off and good control, and Starboard has also given the shape a very clear V.
Starboard Go-Fly 85 & Starboard Super Cruiser: Shape and details
According to the principle of "a lot helps a lot", the foil is secured at the mast-fuselage connection with five screws. However, instead of a cordless screwdriver, a very handy Torx tool is supplied. The mast is just as solid in its lower mount as it is at the top of the board, even without screws. Very precisely fitting plastic adapters also prevent metallic contact. The 1700 square centimetre front wing is effectively defused at the tips, and the upward curved tips of the gigantic back wing are not yet covered by the Weapons Act. At 75 centimetres in length, the mast is intended to alleviate any fear of heights, while the extremely long fuselage should ensure good flight stability.
When it comes to the board shape, the designers have erased the foam according to all the rules of the art of planing surfing and given the board the largest V ever seen in surf magazine. From the bow to the tail, the board runs through the water as a displacer, with a strong but harmonious bend at the tip. Despite its high-quality construction, at 10.5 kilos - on land at least - the board doesn't exactly look like a paper aeroplane. On the other hand, it has really thick, soft pads and particularly comfortable straps. The numerous strap positions are designed for beginners and comfort freeriders, the centre position at the back could probably be omitted.
How to ride the Starboard Go-Fly 85 & Starboard Super Cruiser
The board impresses with its phenomenal tipping stability and balanced volume distribution. With a width of 85 centimetres and a length of over 2.20 metres, it's no wonder that you quickly feel at home on it. You get the feeling from the very first glide: This board behaves exactly the way you want it to as a stressed-out foil newbie - it accelerates harmoniously and smoothly. And before you realise it, the first attempt at flight is already underway: you step into the front loop, hang on to the sail as you would with normal fin surfing, and the magic carpet lifts inexorably into the air. The board, completely calm, lifts neither the nose nor the tail and remains wonderfully balanced. It stabilises itself at a medium flying height and stays on course. It only gets a little more tense when the wind is low in the air: the back foot should be taken out of the loop at the beginning to avoid unintentional climbing. But don't worry, the board remains safe and controllable despite gusts and offers unexpectedly good speed considering the size of the wing.
Initiate a jibe? A piece of cake! The board reliably maintains the radius, although it then slowly but steadily sinks and touches downwind. Thanks to the long keeled bow, it then glides effortlessly without slowing down, as if nothing had happened. You finish like a classic light wind power jibe. The scoop and the V-shaped underwater hull do an excellent job.
Of course, we also wanted to know how the board would cope with a fall from a height. So we tried a fall from a full 75 centimetres. Surprise: At medium speed, the board can still be caught, but at full speed it ends in a moderate catapult, a little water time is still part of the learning curve - otherwise it would almost be boring. The comfort on the board when cruising, on the other hand, is unrivalled, and the inner loop position is particularly cosy, as the deck under the heels is softly padded and well rounded. This position fits almost better than the outer straps without compromising control. And that huge stabiliser? It may even seem a little intimidating at first, but it seems to tame the board particularly well.
surf conclusion
The first take-off couldn't be easier - without fear and with guaranteed success. However, this combination offers less potential after the practice stage, as fully flown jibes are more difficult with this set. The Freeride foil board in 75 mm width with the Super-Flyer-Foil is also a very good-natured estate car - but with even more potential.
Technical data
Starboard Go-Fly 85 Wood Carbon
- Volume: 162 litres
- Length: 229 cm
- Width: 85 cm
- Weight: 10.57 kilos*
- Construction method: Wood-carbon sandwich
- Price:2662 Euro
- Info: windsurf.star-board.com
Starboard Super Cruiser
- Weight: 6.59 kilos*
- Mast: 75.5 cm*
- Front wing: 94 cm*
- Stabiliser: 66 cm*
- Fuselage: 103.5 cm*
- Price: 1319 Euro
- Info: starboardfoils.com
*surf measurement
