WORDS & PICS: WINDSURFING UK
WAVE BOARDS THESE DAYS DON’T HAVE TO BE SMALL SUB-100L STICKS. AS WINDSURFING HAS EVOLVED BRANDS HAVE MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO CATER FOR A WIDER RANGE OF CONDITIONS – I.E LIGHTER WINDS – AND/OR BIGGER BONED RIDERS. SAILORS ARE NOW WELL LOOKED AFTER WITH APPLICABLE
TOOLS SUCH AS THE 2019 PATRIK QT-WAVE 103.
For this test it’s Patrik’s GET construction under the spotlight, which gives a slightly softer more forgiving ride due to the board flexing a tad more. For anyone with a surfing background board flex will be familiar. Allowing the shape to mould to a wave’s shape, as well as giving a more absorbed ride, it’s a lay up that should benefit real world windsurfers who tackle a varied range of scenarios.
From the off there’s no lacking in early planing performance. Patrik shapes tend to be a tad longer thereby offering increased glide. This can improve early planing potential. The qt-wave has five fin boxes allowing sailors to tune accordingly. For our money it’s thruster mode that works best, holding grip during powered up runs and allowing windsurfers to push upwind. Engaging the windward rail also helps drag the board into breeze and get into position for swell take offs.
Once at the ‘bus stop’ there’s enough float for hanging around waiting for your set or simply power into the first critical drop you can find. Smoothly accelerating down the wave face the qt-wave cuts deep as it rounds off the bottom. Ironing out any wave face chop it’s a fast climb to the lip. And having arrived there we were blown away by the board’s ability to hold through each turn and deliver riders to clean landings. Whether it be gouging off the tops or late smacks there’s plenty of performance to cover many different styles of riding or approaches to the wave in question. It’s also sweet for aerials.
For move orientated riders up and overs are efficient with the 103 offering enough pop to sling yourself over the handlebars. It’s actually rewarding for jumping moves even when underpowered and on bigger sails, such as a 5.7m.
Conclusion
Patrik’s qt-wave 103 has a plethora of tuning options, via fins and foot strap position, that sailors would be worth investigating. We preferred a tri-fin set up that handles powered
up windsurfing yet gives a degree of versatility across different wind strengths. For a bigger wave sled it rides sweetly and smoothly with that GET construction helping iron out the bumps. It’s also fun to wang down a few jumping moves, even if a little underpowered. As such the 102 suits real world windsurfing and riders wanting to maximise their time on water.
Price:
£1,689
Info:
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