Test Favourites FW 86 TE & Shark 130 LTD!!

2009/04/28

We are proud that our FreeWave TE 86 and Shark LTD 130 are both Test Favourites in the latest issue of German surf magazine 05-09!

Please find hereafter the complete translation:

Shark LTD 130:
On the beach: The Shark is equipped with very comfortable straps and big pads, which are extra thick under the heels. The shape is relatively stretched (unchanged to last season). There is a continuous light V and in the front is a minimal double concave.
On the water: The Fanatic seems optically maybe not so trendy like other shapes in the group, but this since some years unchanged shape is still showing off on the water. Thanks to the light construction, the board feels super light under the foot. It accelerates like there would be no water resistance and also the speed in any wind level is one of the best. Especially advanced windsurfers will have lots of fun with the exclusive LTD version. The board can be easily trimmed over the fin. It reacts directly on course corrections and jibes extremely “light footed”. Windsurfers with a good jibing technique won´t find a better board to turn better and with more speed through medium curves. Because of the comparable narrow width, slower jibes might be a bit more wobbly than on wider boards of the group. For us a sportive classic board, which we always like to have in the test.

LEADING in following catagories & overall:
Passive Planing 15/15 points
Planing 14/15 points
Speed (medium wind)14/15 points
Topspeed 14/15 points
Sportive Jibes 14/15 points

FW 86 TE:
On the beach: The Fanatic FreeWave with it´s small swallow tail, round outline and slightly domed deck points in direction wave. The planing area is classic and has a continous flat V, which is stronger in front and tail and a bit less in the planing section under the feet. Besides the far inside footstrap middle position, there is also an additional outside position for Freeriders. The pads are big and thick, the straps very soft and comfortable, the distance between the straps is comparable a bit smaller, as well as the holes for the screws.
On the water: Between the Freestyle-Waveboards, the Fanatic is a well-known Ripper, which is in small to medium waves also a serious threat for pure Waveboards. The board turns perfectly on the rail in tight and wide turns, turns easily and shreds the lip of the wave so snappy, like no other board in this group can do it. But also on flat water this board is showing the same performance. It jumps out of nothing, turns any Freestyle move radical and fast - just perfect for any Freestyler. Also while planing moves it seems very agile, allows high speed in curves and wants to be steered with a minimal board feeling. The preferred radius is rather tight and in wider turns the board takes the square waves, fast Carving 360´s work better then learning Power Jibes. The Fanatic FreeWave is once more our top recommendation for all advanced windsurfers, who are looking for a board for NewSchool Freestyle and moderate waves in one. The name FreeWave fits just perfectly to this board.

LEADING in following categories & overall:
Tight Jibe 14/15 points
Sportive Power Jibe 14/15 points
Jumps 14/15 points
Planing/Acceleration 14/15 points
New School Freestyle 13/15 points
Waveriding Back Foot 13/15 points

Click here to download the original test scans:
Board Overview