Anyone got some feedback on these boards? Curious about the impact on performance of the extra 2cm width on the 2016 model compared to the 2015 100 LTR.

Just noticed the 111 Carve has been dropped for 2016, weird if that's the reason for a wider IQ 104 or vice versa

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Orange Whip said..
Just noticed the 111 Carve has been dropped for 2016, weird if that's the reason for a wider IQ 104 or vice versa

IMO, traditional free ride boards are going away. Fanatic already discontinued the Shark 2 in 2015.

I've had a retailer tell me he has a 2016 Carve 111 in his shop and yet it's not in the catalogue or on the website

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MrCranky said..

Orange Whip said..
Just noticed the 111 Carve has been dropped for 2016, weird if that's the reason for a wider IQ 104 or vice versa

IMO, traditional free ride boards are going away. Fanatic already discontinued the Shark 2 in 2015.

What is the definition of a traditional free ride board? 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, would it have been the same in each of these years? Maybe a continual evolution?

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Orange Whip said...

MrCranky said..

Orange Whip said..
Just noticed the 111 Carve has been dropped for 2016, weird if that's the reason for a wider IQ 104 or vice versa

IMO, traditional free ride boards are going away. Fanatic already discontinued the Shark 2 in 2015.

What is the definition of a traditional free ride board? 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, would it have been the same in each of these years? Maybe a continual evolution?

Rocket, carve, x-ride, shark. Tabou has made it easy to compare the old with the new by making a rocket and a rocket wide. Imo, wide is where everyone is going.

I dont reckon you can go far wrong with these boards, they are a good option especially if you don't want too many boards, looks like you can still get smaller sizes in some brands

www.windsurf.co.uk/test-type/105-litre-z/
www.windsurf.co.uk/test-type/115-litre-b16/

The extra width is helpful for new sailors but on a windy day, but you'll have a better experience on a narrower board if you're an advanced sailor. If you look at the Atom IQ 2016 website they say as much.

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Haggar said..
I dont reckon you can go far wrong with these boards, they are a good option especially if you don't want too many boards, looks like you can still get smaller sizes in some brands

www.windsurf.co.uk/test-type/105-litre-z/
www.windsurf.co.uk/test-type/115-litre-b16/

The need for less boards to cover a wide wind range is certainly the appeal for me Glenn. The magazine tests and word from people I've spoken to who use these wide, short, thin boards seems to confirm what the makers claim. If the claims are correct, for me it would mean not having to have a FSW board in the garage that gets seldom use due to my local conditions, since the claim is that a 100 litre-ish version of one these boards would be useable for me (77kgs) in up to at least 25 knots Due to their comfort in chop etc. So 15-25 one board solution. It's still a big decision to buy one when you can't get to try one first to confirm the claims.

My question is about how durable they are. Being thinner, do they have the same strength as other boards? Are there things to look out for with earlier models on the second hand market?

I have a Rocket Wide 108 which replaced a Rocket 125. I sail it in pretty nasty chop. I didn't notice it to be any worse than the Rocket 125 that it replaced. I've used it with 5.5 - 7.5 sails. I recently talked to a guy who has a 128 Rocket wide and a 105 Rocket (although a very old model with a flat rocker). He reckoned that the much wider Rocket Wide was better for ocean sailing than his old Rocket 105.

I am no expert, but I noticed that the Rocket wide has to be sailed different to the old Rocket - you can't really camp on the back foot all the time, if that makes sense. I sail it more like a FSW with more front foot pressure. The upside is that this has made me better with smaller boards (I used to really struggle on them).

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MarkSSC said..
My question is about how durable they are. Being thinner, do they have the same strength as other boards? Are there things to look out for with earlier models on the second hand market?

I wonder the very same thing every time I jump my Rocket Wide (involuntarily). AFAIK, Fanatic Gecko was one of the first such boards and I've heard all sorts of horror stories: very fragile noses, delamination, footstraps coming off (!). Yet when I was in Vass 3 years ago, I did not see any busted Geckos (I think they were in their first model year).

I don't think there is anything in the thinner volume tail concept smoothear rails more volume in nose etc (which really all it is ) that makes any difference strength durability wise to anything else out there...I noted the Atom100 was heavier down back, feels like it could have extra materials down there for structure support.
They also know these boards will be sailed in choppier waters and see some Airtime...so that may factor in the extra kg they seem to weight over a Slalom board.
Probably subject to the same issues that all boards are I'd guess....no build quality issues that I have experienced with the Atom that an extra lick of paint wouldn't have fixed!

Hi OW, for a freeride board the atom concept is good. Wide wind range and able to handle a range of conditions. Especially if you are prepared to play around with fins. I use a gecko myself so not biased towards to atom but say that it is fairly narrow in the tail in the most recent model which could mean less upwind capability. Getting a shape that allows early planing, top end, control and upwind and off the wind performance is pretty tricky. I think they are pretty close but will be interesting to see where this super wide middle and narrow tail will go. The naish titan is another shape pushing this concept. Same also would say tabou rocket wide but think they have left dome width in tail. Have not mention vee or volume distribution.

I've got one, they are fully sick!

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greenleader said..
I've got one, they are fully sick!

So do they come with antibiotics? Just kidding. How's it go on the ocean in a bit of chop and swell? And have you ever ridden the 2015 100 litre, just wondering how the extra width of the 2016 affects perfomance, I've been told it has had a significant impact from someone who has ridden both.

ok mister whippy, this year i chose the 104 atomiq because it carried the original idea of the fanatic gecko carried on by jp with their magic ride and they added cut outs and sliced some width off the tail to aid in gybing and control in chop at speed because face it these feckers are wide by old standards!
as a light to moderate wind platform for me on the broadwater on the gold coast it is the perfect blasting/gybing platform for everything from flat water at low tide to choppy stuff at high.
although i haven't tried last years model, honestly most of the similar boards by all of the top windsurfing manufacturers are pretty bloody good and the starboard atomiq 104 just looked sooo sexy in green!

enjoy