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THE RETURN OF THE LONGBOARD
By Boards UK (28th. August 2006)
So - though they may well be a valid racing option - we suspect that hybrids aren't the answer when it comes to luring people back onto the water in light winds. Ultimately, the (probably) insurmountable problem is that no shortboard can really be that much fun in lighter winds. This was clearly illustrated in our beginner board test earlier this year. The clear favourites of all our beginner testers were the Fanatic Vipers, which are a little bit longer and slightly less wide than the majority, and maintain heavy vee throughout their underwater length, all of which made them cruise through the chop rather than slap-slap-slap over the top of it. And this is basically the issue-shorter, wider boards aren't ideal for non-planing conditions.
Which is why the longboard has started to reappear. There's no doubt that if light wind windsurfing could be relaunched as 'fun' then yes, it would indeed be a massive boost for the sport. A few more far-sighted voices in the industry are also looking at the awesome boom in popularity of surfing over the past few years, and the resultant endemic over-crowding on the beaches. With literally hundreds of punters competing for even the smallest of ripples, and the first signs of disillusionment (not least from the more proficient surfers who now can't ever get a wave to themselves, and certainly can't see their sport as 'cool' any more) clearly setting in - what a golden opportunity for en masse conversations to longboard windsurfing? All it needs is a few folk cruising round outside the line-up at Croyde or Newquay on a sunny summer afternoon, and there's every chance that many frustrated souls on the inside - having just fought their way out through the 'line-up' of city accountants and stockbrokers on foamies all telling each other how cool they are - might just think "yes, that looks like a whole heap more fun to me" … particularly if said windsurfers can effortlessly catch and cruise a wave on their way in anyway.
The Exocet Kona.
And so to the subject of this review. First seen at the London Boat Show back in January in prototype form, it eventually reached our retailers in July - and we've been putting one through its paces ever since. It shouldn't come as a surprise that it's the product of a French company. France, probably more than any other nation, took windsurfing to its heart in its initial heyday, with a supposed 10% of the population owning a board. While the German brands in true stereotypical fashion quickly moved towards more high-tech (and shorter) realms, the French were just blasting out cheap'n'cheerful blow-moulded big longboards for all and sundry. So Exocet's bossman Patrice Belbeoc'h knows well that he has a big home market to play for. (Interestingly, the 2nd new-style longboard to hit the scene, hard on the heels of the Exocet, comes from fellow French brand Tabou - though there is some controversy as to who thought of the idea first…)
Because the Kona isn't just another longboard. It has a daggerboard and big boxy rails, and yup, it's definitely long - but there are some significant differences between it and anything that has been made before, in an attempt to gain that holy grail. Clearly the modern longboard - if it's going to capture the hearts and minds of the windsurfing populace (as well as hopefully introducing new people to the sport) - is going to have to deliver that bit more than longboards used to.
The most obvious difference is the massive (30 cm) duck-tail, which brings the fin substantially further forward (actually 50 cm from the tail). The idea is simple. In light winds the board is engaged along its full length, but when travelling at speed it lifts onto the shorter planning surface (with a rocker line taken from the super-successful AHD 310) and behaves like a much smaller board.
The planshape is also very straight-sided and deliberately reminiscent of a Malibu surfboard. Indeed, the board is marketed very much as a multi-sport option - surfboard, paddle - board and windsurfer. And this marketing has been very effective. Judging by the reaction to the launch of the Kona, there's no doubt that les Frogs are on the right track. There is clearly a market for a longboard that does deliver good all-round fun performance in light winds. So - an the Kona deliver?
Before answering that, we need to declare an interest. Basically, there are two sorts of windsurfers in this world - those that have spent a lot of time sailing / racing longboards, and those that haven't. If you're in the former camp, then you've got baggage; fond memories of getting out there on the rail and cranking that board upwind. Days of cruising, racing .. many many miles covered. We all fall into this camp - and it inevitably means expectations. (However, to balance this we made a point of getting people with no previous longboard experience to try it.)
Nevertheless, even with that background, it was an eye-opener just how big - and heavy - a 18kg (it's quoted at 16kg but ours weighed 18) 350cm board feels nowadays. Even before you get anywhere near the beach it raises issues; it's a beast to lift on/off the roofrack and it's a problem to get into the van.
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