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 tacked easily. For jibes, I could take long, smooth turns in smooth water or turn it quickly inside short chop. Easy pivot jibes, too. This board is built for no-hassle, pure fun sailing in all but extreme conditions. Want H2O fun? This is the one!

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 really moving upwind. This was the fastest board I’ve sailed in awhile. It didn’t make the sharpest turns so for jibing I compensated by keeping my speed up and widening the radius. I dialed into a couple drag races and moved away easily. Huge speed, big fun!

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 straps as soon as you begin to accelerate. It glides through the lulls allowing you to go chase that next puff. I was able to flow over the chop smoothly. The excellent pads and straps contribute to a plush ride. It was surprisingly fast for a wave oriented board. For jibing, it stays on a plane easily allowing you to control the radius of the jibe as necessary. Also, it holds a rail solidly and would be a pleasure to bottom turn on true, down the line waves. Naish hit the mark with this board as an incredibly versatile wave/bump board. The Global Wave would be a great first wave board for advancing intermediate windsurfers.

Board Tested: 2009 Naish Global Wave 70
Sails Used: 2009 Neil Pryde Zone
Location: Columbia River Gorge: Hatchery
Conditions: 18-20 mph

Rider: Daryl
Gender: Female
Height: 5’2″
Weight: 120 lbs
Skill Level: Expert windsurfer

Quick to plane, easy to jibe, fun on the small swells, I highly recommend the Global Wave to light weight wave sailors using 3.2 to 5.2 sails. This is the nicest board I have ever sailed. It’s so smooth, totally comfortable, not bouncy yet still fast. It’s an excellent gorge board. I want to buy one for my 13-year-old. Loved it!

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 through the lulls easily, rarely dropping off a plane before the next puff came through. And even in the extreme chop it felt fast and lively. From slashy jibes onto the swell to drawn out, planning jibes the Kode 86 felt solid and stable, inspiring me to push it harder and harder. Whether slamming into a pivot jibe at speed or hitting race car like slalom jibes, the board just never faltered or failed in its mission to put a big grin on my face. This is a truly inspiring board for those learning to master jibes of any style. This board flowed over the voodoo chop of the day, no problem. The comfortable pads and straps give it a stable, secure feeling. The fin generated enough power to plane easily while providing a snappy feel when I applied rail pressure.

The Kode 86 rocks! It works as an excellent Gorge high wind board for heavier sailors or as a light wind board for everyone else.

Board Tested: 2009 Starboard Kode 95
Sails Used: 2009 Naish Sails Session
Location: Columbia River Gorge: Event Site
Conditions: 17-24 mph

Rider: Mike
Gender: Male
Height: 5’11″
Weight: 165 lbs
Skill Level: Expert windsurfer, Expert kiteboarder

Wow, the Kode was quick to plane and made snappy, controlled jibes. The rails had a lot of grip allowing for lots of confidence when laying into the turns. This board will work great for aggressive wave riders. Five stars for this board!

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 on effortless. This board / sail combination was like pairing a Chateau Lafite Rothschild with filet mignon. The Force 5.0 is a solid bump and jump sail providing plenty of horsepower when needed. The All Terrain lived up to its name, performing well whether in smooth water or cranking it down the line. This combo would work well for any intermediate sailor looking to get into the more advanced Gorge conditions.

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 the tracking grip of a single fin board but it has incredible looseness in terms of change of direction. It was slower to plane than the single fin but plenty fast running off the wind and was really fun board for ripping turns. For jumping, it took off when going right at the ramp instead turning into one.

New drake straps are the most comfortable straps ever; very cushy and responsive. The finish detail of the board is spectacular, with beautiful graphics.

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 on the tail of the board and it holds extremely well on jump landings. I’ve done a bunch of floaty high jumps using the 6.5 and landed with speed so I am very impressed.

I sailed today for the first time with the 5.5 on the Futura probably in 18-25 knots of breeze. Suffice to say that dropping a square meter in sail size seemed to make the board come alive as the breeze picked up. Jumps were more frequent and more fun and jibes seemed very easy even in the really bumpy stuff. I sailed with the 15” True Ames fin, probably would have been a better match with the stock 13” Drake fin but it didn’t seem to hurt the boards turning or jumping ability and it was really easy to work upwind if needed.

I am 1000% satisfied with the Futura. The board seems to have no vices. What has impressed me the most has been sailing really powered up and at speed with the waves and chop. On my old gear, you had to work REALLY hard not to catch the front end of the board. The Futura just shows no tendency whatsoever to do this so the control in this stuff is just amazing and you can really put the pedal down hard.

I have not tried the Kombat yet, there was plenty of wind today for it so I’m kicking myself for not bringing it to the lakefront. Looking forward to trying it out obviously.

–Bob H., Covington, LA

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 makes it a no brainer and anyone can get on it and immediately haul.

“It tracks better than almost any other board due to the large boxy rails that are hard and sharp at the waterline. The board nosed through the chop with confidence and the flat rocker provided terrific glide — just as the name implies. The pads are super comfy too.

“Cold? Nah. I wore my O’Neill 3/2 Gooru and my O’Neill 6/5/4mm Mutant Internal Split Toe booties, the finest cold water booty, bar none.

Related Posts:
David’s Review of the Starboard Cruiser

Meanwhile, a little rain must fall but who cares if it dumps on your stand up session. David is our in house expert and dropped me this line about his experience on the Starboard Cruiser from a couple of weeks ago.

Conditions:  5-20 mph inconsistent winds, and flat water.

“I got my first impression of this board on a down-winder.  I was paddling with a buddy who is about the same level as me, and we were both amazed how much faster I was moving, and how far ahead I got in a short period of time.  The Cruiser is a super fast downwind cruiser, very maneuverable at the same time.  To stay on the swell you can step way back on the tail, and pivot the nose around to where you want it.  It responds well to cross-stepping up to the nose and trimming up and down the deck depending on the size swell you are on. The other great thing is that it travels upwind nicely.  It seems to have more momentum and glide once you get it moving than most of the other boards I have tested.  It’s a great all-around board: it accelerates well, goes fast and is totally legit in small surf.”

Werner Advantage Paddle

Conditions: Flat water, no wind

“First impression: very light, great balance, powerful!  I was amazed at how much water this paddle pulls and with zero flutter.  I almost got whiplash from the acceleration felt from a single stroke with the Advantage blade. It’s especially good for bigger riders, and riders looking for the ultimate in forward efficiency from their stroke.”

Werner Carve Paddle

Conditions: Flat water, and up 10-25 mph wind.

“First impression: light weight, great balance.  For those looking for a quicker cadence, this is the paddle of choice.  It has extremely efficient strokes and excellent flex.  I wasn’t sure how this would compare to other paddles I have tried but I was impressed with the feel of this one.  Dan Gavere says these smaller blades are the trend now, and I can see why.  You can maintain more strokes per minute with less torque and less fatigue.  Another plus I found was that bracing is more forgiving. ”

That’s it for today. Next time we’ll jump back into the kite boarding transition.

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 of downhaul, and Daryl can rig the Zones without a downhaul tool of any kind.

The Zone features a ton of monofilm paneling, which keeps the sails light while sacrificing some durability. That said, the monofilm makes it easy to see through the sail, which was a deciding factor for Daryl. Things can get pretty congested at Swell City during those busy days in July, and Daryl loves being able to maintain a wide eye on her surroundings.

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 crisp ride that reacts immediately to input.

In higher winds George rides the Kombat 79 Wood, which is the perfect board for him when sailing in the Gorge. It’s faster than a pure wave board and doesn’t have as much rocker, and it’s as much fun as anything to ride in the swell.

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 of kids in mind. Andy can rig and downhaul the Ripper sails himself, without adult intervention, which makes both him and his mother stoked. Being able to rig your own gear means more time on the water for both mother and son!

Andy rode the JP Australia Young Gun 114 last year, which was instrumental in helping him progress to the next level in his windsurfing. This year he’s working on his jibes, and hopes to ride the Starboard Evo 75 for the season. That said, he’s also eyeing up his mom’s Naish wave boards!

Keep it up, Andy! You’re a ripper!

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 run by Art Colyer, who has been hand-shaping custom polyester boards for over twenty years. For many years he has been working with local and international professional kiteboarders, tirelessly refining his shape for the perfect directional kiteboard.

Yesterday I got a chance to try out my new 5’3″ North Pacific Round Squash Wave, and let me tell you what a fun time that was! This board is incredibly maneuverable, and is designed to slash in the waves and swell. The 5’3″ is a small board, but I’m a small guy. We’re perfect for one another.

When I went out for my session, I soon found myself riding in some of the biggest, glassiest swell I have ever seen at the White Salmon Bridge. I would ramp up to catch a good wave, snap a tight off-the-top, and ride down the face in the complete opposite direction. I’ve never been able to slash turns like that in my life.

The thruster fin placement on the Round Squash Wave is absolutely perfect, giving this board incredible grip despite being so slashy. There were times where I would turn so aggressively that my body would be nearly parallel to the water, and I was sure the board was going to slide out from under me. Before I knew it I was out of my turn and upright again, riding along as if nothing happened.

The Round Squash Wave charges upwind with unbelievable efficiency. If you’re not comfortable jibing the board you can simply ride toeside for an entire reach, and easily keep your place by edging upwind. That’s right, you can edge upwind while riding toeside. Even so, yesterday was my first day with this board, and I’m already feeling confident enough that I’m trying to jibe it. With its huge deckpad the board is easy to ride outside the footstraps, and I’m excited to try taking the straps off completely and riding it strapless.

I was riding the swell hard that day, and even so I could feel that I was barely scratching the surface as to the full potential of the Round Squash Wave. A board like this you will never outgrow, and will own for many, many years if you take good care of it. I guarantee you, the only thing you will ever want to replace it with is another North Pacific.

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 who love shredding waves.

Daryl sails the 2008 Naish Pro Wave 65 in 2.8 – 4.7 conditions, and she recommends it as great board for smaller riders, 125 lbs and lighter. The board is incredibly maneuverable, zips right around, and will turn on a dime. It offers numerous footstrap placements, so you can easily configure the Pro Wave with a narrower stance that works perfectly for women or other smaller sailors. The board also has plenty of footstrap options for setting a wider stance too, so larger riders can feel right at home.

Daryl tried the Pro Wave in the waves at Kanaha on Maui and finds it to be a perfect board for high-wind sailing. The board is incredibly lightweight, the footstraps and footpads are comfortable, and all the stock components are plush. Daryl loved the stock fin included with the Pro Wave, and she’s very picky when it comes to choosing a fin. The Pro Wave 65 is Daryl’s board of choice this year for swell riding in the Gorge.

An incredibly lightweight and versatile wave sail that depowers easily.

The 2008 Naish Session is a lightweight sail that is easy to handle, has a great wind range, and depowers effortlessly in gusts. Daryl describes it as a sail that’s great for everyone, from her friend George to her two school-aged boys. George is 56 years old, and is an incredibly solid sailor who loves to ride powered-up. Daryl loves the Sessions and finds them easy to ride, but as evidence to their incredible range of use, even George is riding a quiver of Sessions this season!

Related Posts:
Read Jodie’s review of the Naish Session
Read Steve’s review of the Naish Global Wave 78

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 Kombat 79 and the Naish Session 4.7 right out front here in Hood River. Here are her quick, initial thoughts:

“The Starboard Kombat planed super easily and felt floaty in the lulls, with quick pick-up in the gusts to get yourself really moving. It rides incredibly smooth in flat water, and was easily maneuverable in the little swells that day.

“The Naish Session is easy to rig and super smooth to sail, with no twitching or other quirks. I have sailed the 4.2 and 4.7 and found both of them to be an absolute treat to sail. The sails hold strong in the gusts and keep me powered up through the lulls.”

Awesome. Thanks, Jodie!

Related:
View our photo gallery of the Starboard Kombat

Rider: Dane
Gender: Male
Height: 5’5″
Weight: 135 lbs
Skill Level: Advanced Kiteboarder

Howdy! My name is Dane, and I’m riding the 2008 Naish Sol 128 this season. Having spent all of last season on the 2007 North Jaime Pro I feel I am fairly qualified to compare these two boards side-by-side, as they ride very different differently. The Sol is designed more for freeride cruising and carving, while the Jaime Pro is built for freestyle moves and jumping.

The Jaime Pro rides incredibly smoothly in chop, while the Naish Sol transfers more of the texture of the water to you, delivering what feels like a rougher ride. The Jaime Pro is a slightly stiffer board, so it offers more pop for jumping than the Sol. That said, the Jaime is a far “stickier” ride than the Sol and does not easily roll from edge to edge, so it lacks that “slashy” feel.

Again, the Jaime Pro is a freestyle board, and it’s not supposed to be slashy like the freeriding Sol. A better comparison would be to setup the Jaime Pro with the Naish Thorn, or the North X-Ride with the Sol. However, I haven’t had a chance to test all these boards side-by-side, so that’s an analysis that will have to wait until a later date. Also, I haven’t been able to demo the 2008 Jaime Pro yet, but I’m hoping to hop on that board soon so I can reflect on the changes made to it since last year.

Hope this helps!

Related Posts:
Dane’s Review of the 2008 Naish Sol 128

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 already been riding the 2008 Naish Sol 128 kiteboard quite a bit this season. I’ve hinted at my love of the Sol before, but I haven’t had a chance yet to compile my thoughts into a single review.

Bottom Line: The 2008 Naish Sol is an extremely fun twin tip board that is designed with freeride carving in mind. It edges upwind effortlessly, and it delivers an incredible ride for intermediate to expert riders who love slashing in flatwater and swell.

Mister Slashy McSlasherton

The key to the Sol is its aggressively rounded nose and tail, which give the board its loose, almost buttery feel. The looseness comes into play when you slash back and forth from heelside to toeside, as the shape of the board makes it completely natural to execute this transition. I come from a snowboarding background and I feel right at home on the Sol, linking my turns as though I’m carving down the mountain. This board is about as close as you can get to the feel of a directional kiteboard while still riding a twin tip.

I love all this carving, but it goes without saying that every time you go toeside you’re bound to lose some ground against the wind. Fortunately, even for how loose the board can be handled, it still holds an edge like a dream, and it is one of the most upwind-mobile twin tips I have ridden. In a single reach, you can easily recover all the ground you had lost through multiple reaches of riding and slashing in the swell.

The Sol will jump with the best of them, but it is a medium flex board and isn’t specifically designed for loading up and popping. If air is your thing, and not carving, you’d do well to look at a stiffer freestyle-oriented board, like the Naish Thorn or the North Jaime Pro.

Sizing the Sol

The 2007 Sol boards were fairly narrow, and because of their unique shape they all rode a bit smaller than their lengths suggested. Naish has adjusted the shape for 2008 by reducing the length and adding more width, so now the boards ride more true-to-size. Indeed, last year’s Sol 130 rode more like my North Jaime Pro 128 (in size, not feel, because the boards ride very differently), while this year’s Sol 128 feels pretty spot-on for a board in the 128 cm size.

As far as sizing goes, the Sol 128 is a pretty good size for a rider of my weight and skill level, and I believe it would also work well for a larger rider who enjoys riding powered-up. I spent a lot of time on a 125 cm North Jaime Pro last year, which was fun but always required a lot of power to get up and going. Perhaps a 128 is a bit big for me, but for one it’s the smallest size Sol that Naish makes, and for another I don’t particularly enjoy using a big kite to compensate for a smaller board.

Related Posts:
Unpacking the Naish Sol
Dane’s Comparison: Sol vs. Jaime Pro

Related Sites:
Naish Sol Product Page at Naish’s Website

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 take a moment to share his own experience riding the Naish Global Wave 78. Since he’s a smaller guy he doesn’t quite have the weight to yard a board around, so he requires a board that responds to a light touch. Steve found the Global Wave to be effortless and ultra-smooth when initiating turns, and says it executes any type of turn with ease, from long-radius to short-radius.

The board planes up easy, and is super smooth running in a straight line. It totally comes into its own when playing in the swell or going for a jibe. Consistent with Joe’s “slashy” impressions, Steve says that the Global Wave feels like it was designed for turning at all levels.

The Global Wave would make a great board for mid-weight intermediate to expert sailors, who are looking for a highly maneuverable board for riding in the swell.

Related Posts:
Read Joe’s review of the Naish Global Wave 78

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 was able to corner him and learn what he thought about the experience. Here’s Joe’s review!

Bottom Line: Naish hit the mark with the Global Wave, designing an incredibly versatile wave and bump-and-jump board. It is well-balanced, quick to plane, and incredibly slashy. This board will be a pleasure to ride for experienced windsurfers, and is best suited for aggressive advanced and expert riders.

If you look up “slashy” in the dictionary, don’t be surprised if the definition is a picture of this board. The Global Wave redirects so well that even the smallest bit of swell is easy to catch for a ride. When jibing, the Global Wave has excellent performance in short to medium radius turns, and it will rip through turns as hard as you want.

Joe found that the Global Wave was respectably fast, especially for a wave-oriented board, and that it planes up with minimal effort. Joe discovered a trick that works particularly well with this board, where he would give the sail one or two pumps and then move back into the footstraps earlier than usual.

The Global Wave is smooth and controllable when jumping. It feels extremely light on the feet, which makes it effortless to execute “tweaked” maneuvers. Joe tested the Global Wave on an extremely rough day, and it flowed right over the chop like a Cadillac.

The board comes with excellent straps and pads, which contribute to its plush ride, and a great fin. If you’re not an expert sailor, you might want to consider moving up a size on the fin.

Related Posts:
Read Steve’s review of the Naish Global Wave 78
Read Joe’s review of the Naish All Terrain 95 board