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THE RETURN OF THE LONGBOARD
By Boards UK (28th. August 2006)
Looking at a few other areas of its performance then - the board is available in two options; the regular Kona and the Kona Style, which has an all-over EVA deck covering, even on the rails. This is the beginners / family option, and also for those wanting to do a little rail-ridling! Exocet say that the regular Kona feels just a little bit stiffer, lighter and faster, but otherwise they're identical. So-can the board function as a full-on family / all-rounder? It's certainly OK, although complete beginners will find the width of the modern dedicated beginner boards substantially easier. The Kona's 70cm width - although actually much wider than all but the very last few recreational longboards that were made - feels very comfortable for recreational sailing, but this was always going to be a compromise. If they'd made the board wider it would have improved the beginner / teaching performance, but meant extra weight and less stronger windspeed and manoeuvrability. However, for general cruising whatever the weather, it's definitely superior.
So what about its much-vaunted surfing ability? This is a tricky one. It can certainly be done - if you're already a very competent longboard surfer and you've got some smallish, not too steep waves to surf. However, it's so much heavier than a regular surfboard - and so much thicker - that it takes a lot of effort to turn, and you'll need to learn the techniques. Basically, you'll get better rides on a proper surfboard, but it can do it if you're into the challenge of mastering it. However, for surfing beginners it's certainly very easy to get stood up on and ride straight in on the white water, and on a board this big you can catch even the smallest of ripples. Apparently it can be used OK for paddle-surfing (standing up using a canoe-type paddle to propel yourself forward and catch waves) too, although this isn't something we've tried. By the sound of it, like the surfing, you'll get better rides on dedicated equipment, but you can certainly do it if you're up for the challenge. The bottom line is that the Kona is a windsurfing board - and that's obviously what it does best! But the fact that it can be used for things like surfing and paddle-surfing can only increase its appeal to those that don't want to be carrying (or investing in) too many different toys.
One area where we're less convinced is in its wavesailing capabilities. Although we haven't actually found it in the manufacturer's bumf, some folk seem to be under the impression that the Kona cluld function as an entry-level wavesailing board. There's no doubt that you could use it to sail out and catch waves back in, in non-planing or marginal planning conditions, much easier than you could do on smaller boards. You can whiz backside along the wave, and try a few wiggles.
However, properly waveriding a board this big (particularly if you have any ambitions to got frontside) takes loads of effort and technique, and is nothing like waveriding on a smaller board (it all happens so very slowly, for starters). Plus which, if you get wiped out, there's an awful lot of board in the water (or air!) - there's a serious safety issue here. Jumping it is also not for the faint-hearted.
All these things an be done, but are rally not advisable for the inexperienced. So we'd really not suggest anyone views the Kona as a route into wavesailing!
And then there's the racing. Exocet have set up the Kona as a one-design class, and have guaranteed that the design will not be changed in any way for at least five years. They have developed an OD rig (7 battens, no cams) called the Zenith to power it. Apparently they had 200 boards on the water at the French Nationals, and it worked superbly. Again we'd have loved to have seen a sliding mast-track (we suspect that as racers get serious on it, they will find their own ways to move the mastfoot!) but otherwise, yes-this is definitely an area where the board could excel, as it's comfortable in such a wide range of conditions. It remains to be seen whether the OD racing fleet idea will catch on here in the UK. It'd be really nice if it did.
In Summary
It's going to be very interesting to see how this catches on, both with other manufacturers and with the public at large. The idea of having one board that can be sailed enjoyably in light or strong winds, used to teach friends and family, surfed and paddle-surfed, and raced around the cans at the local club as well, certainly sounds pretty good! Old-timers who grew up sailing longboards will certainly enjoy sialing the Kona More recent converts will find it interesting and different. The acid test though will be whether they want to keep sailing it. Because this is ultimately the bigger issue: Is it actually possible to wind the clock back to a time when large numbers of people will be fulfilled by light wind sailing? Can that holy grail be found? Our guess is that it would need the racing option to catch on properly before we start seeing Kona sales in serious numbers. Here in the UK it will also depend on whether other manufacturers follow suit. Exocet appear to have already cornered the market in France, but this side of the Channel, if other decent options start appearing, too much choice may make it difficult for an od fleet to get established. Anyway, it does certainly appear that Exocet have managed to tap into an unfulfilled need, so our congratulations to them. And if you're in the market for a board with decent light wind performance that also offers a fun set of challenges for other conditions too, then there's certainly now something in the market for you.
www.kona-windsurfing.com
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