Gateway To Gaming

When we last tested crossover boards of this size a couple of years ago, the first few designs influenced by the compact concept (initially seen in wave boards) were beginning to come through. Today, more than half the lineup on test here has a connection to the ‘short and parallel’ concept, but are they becoming commonplace for the right reason? In other words, do the new designs definitively offer performance benefits or is change happening purely for change’s sake? We sent our test team in to find out

The first elephant in the room to discuss is the name for this category. Freestyle wave or crossover or freewave, call it what you will, the principle remains the same amongst the brands. The idea is that, above all else, these boards should be a lot of fun on the water. Whatever your preference, be it high wind blasting, bump-and-jump, freestyle or wave sailing, these boards should adapt to the conditions, the fin(s) and sail it’s partnering … and the riding style of the user, to provide a master-class of making the most of their time on the water. It is certainly a hard balance to get right, and invariably a board’s credentials will tend to lean towards one discipline or the other, depending on the interpretation of the shaper and the feedback his R&D team provide. Your own focus should then be on the type of performance you crave. Do you really want a “go anywhere, do anything” platform, or do you tend to sail in predominantly coastal slop, for example? In which case, are you simply looking for more dependable float and drive than you get from a dedicated wave board, to make the most of the muddled conditions?

FINDINGS