All Around Wave Recommendations

kmf · Joined: 02 Apr 2001 Posts: 503

I would think that owning a pair of JP FSW's that you would include the new JP FSW's on your list, they are more manuver oriented than your older shapes, and are still the user friendly, quick to plane, fast boards that yours are. The pro models have a tri-fin option for wave riding. I've ridden a couple of the wood sandwich builds in the 101 ltr size in the past year and they are sweet......

Also just got back from Vela in Baja, where the most popular board was the Starboard Kode 86 for use in the 4.7 to 5.7 conditions that are normal there. The Kode was my go to board and i used it with a 4.7 and 5.4 and loved it. The kode I rode was the 2012 shape. For larger sails, 5.7, 6.2, I used a JP FSW 101, and the two complemented each other perfectly.

Just my experiences....yours may vary.....good luck demo'ing all of those boards.

KMF

adywind · Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 665

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the width. The difference is up to 3 cm and would be helpful when it's iffy and in maneuvres,you don't feel it at speed on those new boards. On the other side you are probably used to long narow boards /unlike me/ and you may not like it. Go for the moderate ones-it's the safest bet.

adywind · Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 665

sailwave · Joined: 11 May 2000 Posts: 113 Location: Redwood City, CA

Nice guidance on the width/length considerations for my weight. I had not heard of Taboo before, must be a EU oriented company. The Taboo Pocket wave at 94L seems to be in the sweet spot it seems.

Has anybody tried the RRD Firewave? I like RRD but a bit worried about its rocker being closer to a FSW and not a Wave board.

The Taboo PW has a slot box for center fin. That seems odd and I wonder how hard it is to find center fins for slot box?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

There are many hundreds of them on shelves in the Gorge, and scores in my garage. It's the norm around here.

CORRECTION:

adywind · Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 665

Excluding the FSWs completely the German Surf mag rates the 2015 models from your list and the ones that I suggested as follows:the most B&J biased and least radical are the RRD Firewave, the Exocet XWave, Naish Global and Goya One /random order/ those will be the closest ones to FSWs and probably will suit your preference the most. The Starboard Kode Wave and Tabou Pocket Wave are pretty much in the middle and then Quatro Sphere and then the Fanatic Triwave as the most radical, big waves suitable one.
http://www.surf-magazin.de/test_technik/test/boards/waveboards/test-2015-waveboards/a15625.html

U2U2U2 · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2015 2:47 pm Post subject:

TABOU has been around for some time, twice actually.

The PW in tri mode since 2011. You are correct in that the 2015 model does have 3 slot boxes. The largest centers that Iam aware of are 18cm, from many fin sources.

If you were looking to use the PW as a single, a USBox fin will fit with the removal of the pin and cut the forward tab, with retaining screw hole off, you would need to make sure the base has slots for the screws to align and hold the fin in place.

I would urge caution on size for just a center , the slot box would support IMO a 24cm fin. Starboard did suggest the Flare s/b would handle a 28cm fin on older Flares, not the current model.

You could also have a fin custom made from Tarifa Fin Co, TFC, in Spain with the s/b base, not pricy, perhaps same as USBox fin.

I dont know of a Gorge dealer for Tabou, used to be. Course a few boards would be around. The DA Curve is a nice board from Tabou as well, it is more the dedicated wave weapon, wher the Pocket Wave is a tad more all round oriented.

Andy at Wind-NC will help with your Tabou selections. Perhaps a 2014 with a US center box ..?
http://wind-nc.com/