Archive for the 'Reviews' Category

TJ’s 4/21 session

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

TJ’s Kite Session: Wednesday, 4/21/10 @ 4:30PM Location: Event Site Wind: 10-35, average: 20 Board: 5’5″ North Pacific Waterbug Kite: 2010 Naish Cult 7.5 Not the best wind, but the Cult makes it enjoyable. We are finding the Geo-Tech Stability very beneficial for absorbing gusts. Being able to turn the kite when the bar is [...]

Review: 2009 JP X-Cite Ride 100

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Board Tested: 2009 JP Australia X-Cite Ride 100 Sails Used: 2009 Naish Sprint 7.3 Location: Columbia River Gorge: Event Site Conditions: 15-22 mph Rider: Mike Gender: Male Height: 5’11″ Weight: 165 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer, Expert kiteboarder What a smooth board! It jumped on a plane, held its speed through the lulls and quick [...]

Review: 2009 Starboard Futura 101

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Board Tested: 2009 Starboard Futura 101 Sails Used: 2009 Naish Sprint 7.3 Location: Columbia River Gorge: Event Site Conditions: 15-22 mph Rider: Mike Gender: Male Height: 5’11″ Weight: 165 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer, Expert kiteboarder I got fast acceleration and instant planing. I had a lot of power from the 7.3 and got it [...]

2 Reviews: 2009 Naish Global Wave

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Board Tested: 2009 Naish Global Wave 78 Sails Used: 2009 Naish All Terrain 5.0 Location: Columbia River Gorge: Rowena Conditions: Marginal 5.0 filling in to solid 4.2 conditions Rider: Joe Gender: Male Height: 6’2″ Weight: 185 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer No problem getting onto a plane. The key is to move back into the [...]

2 Reviews: 2009 Starboard Kode

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Board Tested: 2009 Starboard Kode 95 Sails Used: 2009 Naish All Terrain 5.0 Location: Columbia River Gorge: White Salmon Bridge Conditions: Gusty 25mph Rider: Joe Gender: Male Height: 6’2″ Weight: 185 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer This board popped onto a plane quickly which made an otherwise marginal day into a memorable session. It glided [...]

Review: 2009 Naish All Terrain

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Board Tested: 2009 Naish All Terrain 85 Sail Used: 2009 Naish Force 5.0 Location: Columbia River Gorge Conditions: 15-25mph, classic after work session Rider: Steve Gender: Male Height: 5’10″ Weight: 150 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer The All Terrain is the quintessential bump and jump board, quick, lively, smooth and effortless to jibe, with emphasis [...]

Review: 2009 Starboard Evil Twin

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Board Tested: 2009 Starboard Windsurf Evil Twin 74 Sails Used: 2009 Naish Force 4.2 Location: Columbia River Gorge: Hatchery Conditions: Windy 4.2 conditions, flat water, some swell Rider: Steve Gender: Male Height: 5’10″ Weight: 150 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer This board is designed to live in good swell or waves. It doesn’t quite have [...]

Our customers write:

Monday, March 30th, 2009

From Lake Pontchartrain, LA. Futura 101: First, the 15” True Ames fin was the perfect match with the Retro 6.5 and might work as well with the 7.5 (which I have not used yet). I’ve had two recent sessions in 15-25 knots of wind, very short steep chop. I find I can press very hard [...]

Steve’s Review: Naish SUP Glide

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Board Tested: 2009 Naish Glide Date: March 25, 2009 Location: Columbia River Gorge Conditions: Wind: 12-15 Water: 42 Air: 45 Rider: Steve Gender: Male Height: 5′10″ Weight: 150 lbs Skill Level: Expert surfer, expert windsurfer “The stability on this board is awesome which was somewhat surprising due to the relatively narrow tail. The solid feeling [...]

Autumn Paddling

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008

2009 kiteboards are now available from Big Winds. David gives us a review of the Starboard, 12’6″ stand up paddle board and a couple of paddles.

Daryl’s Review: Neil Pryde Zone Sails

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Rider: Daryl Gender: Female Height: 5’2″ Weight: 120 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer The Zone: A lightweight sail, perfect for female sailors. For years Daryl has ridden the Neil Pryde Zone sails, in every size from 3.5-5.2. The Zone is a forgiving, lightweight sail that is perfect for female sailors. They don’t require a ton [...]

George’s Review: Starboard Kombat 89 and 79

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Rider: George Gender: Male Height: 5’10″ Weight: 180 lbs Age: 56 Skill Level: Expert windsurfer The Kombat: Fast and crisp, and fun in the swell. This year, George is riding the 2008 Starboard Kombat 89 Wood in any conditions that demand a 4.0 – 5.2 sail. He finds the Kombat to be a fast and [...]

Andy’s Reviews: Windsurfing Gear for Kids!

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Rider: Andy Gender: Male Weight: 85 lbs Age: 12 Skill Level: Intermediate windsurfer (working on his jibes) Gear that stokes the advancing grom. Andy uses Sailworks Rippers as his main sails, in the 2.5 and 3.3 sizes. The Rippers are just as durable as adult sails, but are designed with the height, weight and strength [...]

Dane’s Review: North Pacific Round Squash Wave

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

Rider: Dane Gender: Male Height: 5’5″ Weight: 135 lbs Skill Level: Advanced kiteboarder Board Tested: 2008 North Pacific Round Squash Wave 5’3″ Kite Used: 2008 Cabrinha Switchblade 3 8m Date: June 4, 2008 Location: White Salmon Bridge, Columbia River Gorge Conditions: 18-28 mph, huge glassy swell North Pacific is a local Hood River surfboard company [...]

Daryl’s Reviews: Naish Pro Wave 65 and Naish Session

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Rider: Daryl Gender: Female Height: 5’2″ Weight: 120 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer Board Tested: 2008 Naish Pro Wave 65L Sails Used: 2008 Naish Session 3.4 – 4.7 Dates: Winter 2008 and Spring 2008 Location: Kanaha, Maui, Hawaii and the Columbia River Gorge Conditions: High-wind wave and swell riding A great board for smaller riders [...]

Jodie’s Reviews: Starboard Kombat 79 and Naish Session

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

Rider: Jodie Gender: Female Height: 5’2″ Weight: 115 lbs Skill Level: Advanced windsurfer Board Tested: 2008 Starboard Kombat 79 Wood Sail Used: 2008 Naish Session 4.7 Date: May 27, 2008 Location: Event Site, Columbia River Gorge Conditions: 15-25 mph, flatwater, medium chop, small swell Two nights ago, Jodie had an opportunity to ride the Starboard [...]

Dane’s Comparison: Naish Sol vs. North Jaime Pro

Friday, May 16th, 2008

Kiteboards Compared: 2008 Naish Sol 128, 2007 North Jaime Pro 128 Kites Used: 2008 Cabrinha Switchblade 3 6m, 8m and 10m, 2007 Cabrinha Omega 7m and 9m Dates: Spring 2008, Summer 2007 Location: Columbia River Gorge Conditions: Everything from flatwater to swell-riding, underpowered to insanely overpowered Rider: Dane Gender: Male Height: 5’5″ Weight: 135 lbs [...]

Dane’s Review: Naish Sol 128

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Kiteboard Tested: 2008 Naish Sol 128 Kites Used: 2008 Switchblade 3 6m, 8m and 10m Dates: Spring 2008 Location: Columbia River Gorge Conditions: Mellow 10-18 mph, moderate 16-24 mph, and intense 22-34 mph Rider: Dane Gender: Male Height: 5’5″ Weight: 135 lbs Skill Level: Advanced Kiteboarder Even though it’s still quite cold out there, I’ve [...]

Steve’s Review: Naish Global Wave 78

Monday, May 12th, 2008

Board Tested: 2008 Naish Global Wave 78 Sails Used: 2008 Naish Force 4.2 – 4.7 Dates: Fall 2007, Spring 2008 Location: Columbia River Gorge Conditions: “Fully powered-up to light and funky.” Rider: Steve Gender: Male Height: 5’10″ Weight: 150 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer Steve is a lighter guy than Joe, and he wants to [...]

Joe’s Review: Naish Global Wave 78

Friday, May 9th, 2008

Board Tested: 2008 Naish Global Wave 78 Sail Used: 2008 Naish All Terrain 4.0 Date: May 6, 2008 Location: Rowena, Columbia River Gorge Conditions: 26-39 mph winds, swell riding Rider: Joe Gender: Male Height: 6’2″ Weight: 185 lbs Skill Level: Expert windsurfer Joe tested the 2008 Naish Global Wave 78 the other day, and I [...]