Depending on the size chosen, the Naish Chimera is designed as a crossover board for wingfoiling, SUP foiling, prone surfing and downwinding. The test reveals how it performs in wingfoil use.
The Chimera follows in the footsteps of the Hover Downwind Crossover and is available in ten sizes from 38 to 148 litres. We were able to test the size with a volume of 108 litres and tell you whether the board makes sense for wing use in particular.
On land
With a length of 6'6'' (198 cm) and a width of 22.7'' (57.7 cm), the Chimera is somewhat more elongated than other mid-length boards with comparable volume, e.g. the Duotone Skybrid. The outline is therefore less reminiscent of a typical mid-length model and more of a downwind concept. Plugs are provided on the deck for mounting foot straps, and the deck pad has a large surface area and good grip. The strongly bevelled edges (bevels) are striking, allowing the deck to be made significantly wider than the underwater hull. A long foil box is designed to enable the installation of foils for a wide range of disciplines. The foils we used (Axis, Slingshot) required mounting in the rear third of the box, the positioning of the carrying handle was not quite ideal for this. Exciting: Some small sizes of the Naish Chimera is also available in a new hollow construction.
On the water
Thanks to the stretched outline, the Nash Chimera is stable around the transverse axis in the water. Although the board is kept narrow, especially in the underbody area, the tipping stability is absolutely sufficient for foilers with a little practice, as the foil noticeably stabilises the longitudinal axis. When planing, it is therefore pleasantly easy to load the board appropriately. Due to its length, the board cuts through the water well even in absolute light winds and reaches the required take-off speed effortlessly and without any major pumping. Once in the air, the Chimera is of course not one of the most compact boards, and due to its elongated shape and narrow tail, a little more sensitivity is required to stabilise the board's flight position. As always, the narrower the tail, the less leverage you have and therefore the less control you have over the foil. In the event of unintentional touchdowns, the strongly bevelled edge sometimes helps to get the board back into the air, but because the widest point is quite far forward, there is sometimes a slight braking effect if the edge hits a cable wave.
Naish Chimera - the conclusion
The Nash Chimera is a comparatively stretched board concept, which primarily appeals to foilers who have already outgrown the early stages and value early take-off in light winds. The board is well suited for freeriding and cruising in light wind conditions in combination with powerful wings. For jumps and fast hooks in the waves, it does not seem ideal, at least with the wing as a motor, due to its length.
Early takeoff
Position of the carrying handle, touchdowns
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Naish Chimera - technical data
- Test model: Naish Chimera 108
- Length: 6'6'' (198 cm)
- Width: 22.7'' (57.6 cm)
- Weight (own measurement, without loops): 6.90 kilos
- Volume: 108 litres
- Available sizes: 4'6''x38 // 4'10''x48 // 5'3''x53 // 5'8''x58 // 6'0''x68 // 6'1''x78 // 6'3''x88 // 6'6''x108 // 6'9''x128 // 7'0''x148 litres
- Scope of delivery: Board
- Price: 1779 Euro
- Info: To the website
- Special features: Small sizes available as hollow construction
