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Bio - Eric L. Mihelbergel is an intermediate/advanced windsurfer, kiteboarder, and foiler living in the Great Lakes Region of New York State who enjoys sharing about windsports and fitness.
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Board Comparison: Fanatic Freewave STB 85 compared to Fanatic Freewave Traditional 85
By Eric Mihelbergel (Written Summer 2018)
On Monday, Lisa and I both got to ride both of our 85 liter Fanatic boards back-to-back. We discussed the differences in detail afterward.
The first board is the 85 liter Freewave (Stubby) STB (225cm, 57.5cm) and the second board is the 85 liter Traditional (TRAD) Freewave (238cm, 58.5cm). The main difference in the specs is that the STB is shorter with a wider tail and more parallel rails than the TRAD. The STB has thruster fin set-up with 18cm center fin, 12cm side fins, while the TRAD has single fin set-up 25cm. Here is our ride comparison:
Planing: Both of us found the STB to plane quicker and easier that the TRAD. Prob due to wider tail and less drag with parallel rails.
Upwind: Both of us found the STB to go upwind better than the TRAD.
Turning: Both of us found the STB to turn much quicker than the TRAD.
Jibing: Eric found the STB to plane thru jibes easier than the TRAD, as did Lisa. However, Lisa found that the STB sometimes wanted to punch its nose thru the wave in front of it on the inside jibes whereas the TRAD did not.
Handling Chop: Both of us found the STB to handle the chop better than the TRAD. The ride was smoother on the STB. The TRAD was a little more bouncy. The mast base was in the same forward position on both boards.
Jumping: Lisa found the TRAD to be far superior jumping as the STB seemed to flop around a bit once in the air. Eric found the STB to be slightly better jumping because it's compact design seemed to keep it tight against the rider in the air.
Wave Riding: Eric found the STB to be snappier on both frontside and backside turns. Lisa found the STB to be snappier on backside turns as well.
OVERALL: The STB performed better overall, except for Lisa in the case of jumping where she preferred the TRAD much more.
The first board is the 85 liter Freewave (Stubby) STB (225cm, 57.5cm) and the second board is the 85 liter Traditional (TRAD) Freewave (238cm, 58.5cm). The main difference in the specs is that the STB is shorter with a wider tail and more parallel rails than the TRAD. The STB has thruster fin set-up with 18cm center fin, 12cm side fins, while the TRAD has single fin set-up 25cm. Here is our ride comparison:
Planing: Both of us found the STB to plane quicker and easier that the TRAD. Prob due to wider tail and less drag with parallel rails.
Upwind: Both of us found the STB to go upwind better than the TRAD.
Turning: Both of us found the STB to turn much quicker than the TRAD.
Jibing: Eric found the STB to plane thru jibes easier than the TRAD, as did Lisa. However, Lisa found that the STB sometimes wanted to punch its nose thru the wave in front of it on the inside jibes whereas the TRAD did not.
Handling Chop: Both of us found the STB to handle the chop better than the TRAD. The ride was smoother on the STB. The TRAD was a little more bouncy. The mast base was in the same forward position on both boards.
Jumping: Lisa found the TRAD to be far superior jumping as the STB seemed to flop around a bit once in the air. Eric found the STB to be slightly better jumping because it's compact design seemed to keep it tight against the rider in the air.
Wave Riding: Eric found the STB to be snappier on both frontside and backside turns. Lisa found the STB to be snappier on backside turns as well.
OVERALL: The STB performed better overall, except for Lisa in the case of jumping where she preferred the TRAD much more.
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