Redefining Expectations

In windsurfing, the hunt for versatility in performance is nothing new. Ever since the excitement and freedom of short board windsurfing (or funboarding as it used to be known) took hold, the desire to find a board for all conditions has become an eternal quest. There have been some notable exponents along the way, and as new disciplines emerge, new directions in design have crystallised. There is of course always the risk that, in asking too much during the design brief stage, a product becomes the master of its own demise, fulfilling the undesirable motif of “Jack”, being ‘okay’ in all trades yet a master of none. It’s a place that will ultimately only lead to an end destination of mediocrity and historical obscurity.

- Tris Best

For 2020 the crossover category is as well contested as ever, with some fantastic boards available in this year’s lineup. The one notable omission is the JP Freestyle Wave - a board line with category-defining heritage. Unfortunately it just wasn’t available in time for this test, but watch out for the catch up test online at windsurf.co.uk in the near future. In years past we’ve written at length during this test intro about the crossover classification. Are these boards in actual fact all freewave designs? Is freestyle-wave still possible, or it is a misnomer in today’s accepted design statutes? Without extending this intro out into a lengthy narrative, we thought the best way to open was to define some categories. So here goes:

Freeride: The largest discipline and ultimately the most important for the sport’s longevity. The most important attributes of freeride design are very simple - ease of use, forgiving nature and most of all fun, demanding little technical input from the rider.

Wave: Arguably the most iconic discipline, making it where most want to get to! In general, the more curvature in a board’s outline and rocker-line, and softness in its rails, the stronger its turning credentials, but to the detriment of its early planing, speed and straight line stability.

Freestyle: New-school stunts and tricks done on any water state from flat water to waves. Popping the board clear of the water to execute a freestyle transition is very different to jumping for height in the discipline below. f Bump and Jump: A term used for a long, long time in the sport. There are not many better feelings in the sport than getting long floaty air-time. Speed and control are the key ingredients for achieving height when the ramps are asking to be hit!