Wingboards: Easy take-off! Test of the new Duotone Skybrid mid-length board

More and more brands are coming onto the market with mid-length boards (HERE is a background report on the new board class). With their stretched outline, they are designed to reach take-off speed early and without a lot of pumping. It goes without saying that industry leader Duotone also has such a board in its portfolio - the Skybrid.

On land

Duotone's new model is available in five sizes from 55 to 115 litres. Our test size with a volume of 100 litres has a length of 5'10'' (177 cm) and a width of 22.75'' (57.8 cm). As expected, this makes it much more elongated than the compact freeride model Sky Freebut not as long and narrow as the Downwinder SLS. The underwater hull is mono-concave, the rocker line is flat and optimised for early planing and take-off. To reduce drag during the start-up phase, Duotone has given the board large cutouts in the tail - a design trick that has long been familiar from windsurf boards. The Skybrid also has a carrying handle on the underside.

On the slightly concave deck, the Duotone Skybrid offers a grippy and large-area pad, and there are also plugs for mounting foot straps. The board is made from a Biax carbon-PVC construction, which we measured at 6.76 kilos, making it appealingly light. The foil is mounted in comparatively long carbon boxes, which should allow a suitable position for all foils on the market.

On the water

Despite its small width compared to compact models, the Skybrid is stable in the water. The transverse axis is already well stabilised by the greater length, the mounted foil then ensures that the board hardly tilts around the longitudinal axis and you can also start easily as a less experienced wingfoiler. As soon as you are stationary, the board converts the pull of the wing well into propulsion, even with sub-optimal pumping technique, the Skybrid effortlessly reaches the required take-off speed - this is the biggest advantage compared to compact board models.

The flying characteristics are primarily dependent on the foil used anyway, but the shape generously forgives unplanned water contact and gently sends the pilot back up again with its rounded edges and moderately raised nose. The board is also a lot of fun in manoeuvres, where the moderate width offers even less experienced foilers enough safety and space to move their feet. With the straps fitted, even the first jumps are easy, as the board hangs comfortably light on the feet and is also nice and stiff. The fact that it is slightly shorter than other mid-length boards is more of an advantage against this background.

Duotone Skybrid - the conclusion

In comparison with other brands (e.g. Armstrong Midlength FG) Duotone has implemented its mid-length concept in a more user-friendly way thanks to a carrying handle and slightly shorter length, but not optimised for maximum early take-off. The board convinces with a good combination of tipping stability, relaxed take-off and good manoeuvrability and can be combined well with both high-lift low-aspect wings and fast high-aspect foils. If you are looking for a balanced and not too extreme mid-length board for light wind areas, downwind days and manoeuvre sessions, this is the board for you.

Plug & Play characteristics

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Duotone Skybrid - technical data

• Test model: Duotone Skybrid SLS 5'10''
• Length: 5'10'' (177 cm)
• Width: 22.75'' (57.8 cm)
• Weight (own measurement, without loops): 6.76 kilos
• Volume: 100 litres
• Available sizes: 5'4''x55 // 5'6''x70 // 5'8''x85 // 5'10''x100 // 6'0''x115 litres
• Scope of delivery: Board, foot straps
• Price: 1999 Euro
• Special features: -