Summer Solace

Whilst the UK is enjoying a warmer, more stable period than most of our European cousins, we felt it a good time to ask our test team to investigate the windSUP options of 2018. After all, they’re likely to be the most appropriate option for summer adventures to the seaside if the June heatwave continues. And now that we’ve put the test in print, sod’s law is we’ve probably cursed the country for increasingly windy, unsettled conditions.… you can thank us when you see us at the beach!

- Tris Best

FINDINGS

Glance quickly at the test lineup and you’d be forgiven for thinking there is little change between this year and last. There are a few new additions, yet six boards from the nine go by the same name and look remarkably similar. Closer inspection however reveals subtle differences and trends that are occurring within the discipline. Firstly, inflatable boards are becoming thicker. Whereas in last year’s review, it was only the Fanatic that was 6” thick, for 2018 we see another three boards expanding to a larger depth (with rumours of more to follow for 2019). In the past the argument for 5” being the optimum windSUP thickness seemed overwhelming, despite 6” providing obvious stiffness benefits. The thinner board simply seemed to cope better when the wind increased, maintaining its course and suffering less sideways drift as the wind hit its windward rail. The introduction of larger central fins and / or hard rail edge technology seems to have helped bring about the change, however. So whilst a larger central fin certainly helps the board to track more easily, the adoption of a hard rail releases the board from the water, increases its speed and helps to channel the rigs forces into forward (instead of sideways) motion. An increase in thickness (and therefore volume) then compliments this development, as the board is naturally more buoyant and has a higher stance in the water, promoting earlier release.