|
|
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.
|
Board Comparison: Fanatic Freewave STB 85 compared to Quatro Twin 76
Conditions: Side-onshore, Lake Erie, 35mph wind, 10 foot swell, 5-6 foot breaking waves
Rider Weight/Height/Skill Level: 160lbs, 5'9", Intermediate
By Eric Mihelbergel (Written Summer 2018)
This week I had the chance to ride 2 different boards on back-to-back days in 35mph wave conditions on Lake Erie. I wanted to take this opportunity to write a comparison of the 2 boards while everything is still fresh in my mind. Last season, my competency on the Quatro was not good enough for a fair comparison, but this year I can fairly compare the 2 boards after learning to ride both boards well.
The first board is the Fanatic Freewave (Stubby) STB 85 (225cm, 57.5cm), and the second board is the Quatro Twin (231cm, 55.2cm). In comparing the 2 boards we must recognize that the Quatro is 9 liters smaller, so this size difference alone is responsible for some of the differences. Aside from that, here are my points of comparison.
Planing: Both boards are quick to plane. The Fanatic planes very easy and requires almost no effort. The Quatro requires more front foot pressure and the board needs to be driven off the wind with the front leg. This may be partially due to the smaller size, but the Quatro still demands some driving with the front leg.
Upwind: Both boards go upwind well, but it is different. The Quatro demands speed. It not only wants to go fast, but it NEEDS to go fast in order to go upwind. When it’s going fast it flys upwind, but you really have to drive the board, not just ride it. The Fanatic is easy to go upwind at any speed. You do not have to drive it, you can simply ride it. Fast or slow does not matter. The extra volume of the Fanatic would also contribute to making it a little easier to ride.
Turning: Excellent turning on both boards. The Quatro is smaller, and thus it feels a little snappier turning, but aside from the size difference both boards turn well. However, there is one specific advantage to the Quatro. In tight, fast, aggressive turns the Quatro holds its edge much better. The Fanatic will sometimes skip sideways if the turn is too tight, fast and aggressive. This difference is likely due to the Quatro being a true wave board and having more rocker and less width in the tail. Again, the volume difference would affect this as it would allow the Quatro to sit a little lower in the water thus giving it a little more grip.
Speed: The Quatro is definitely faster. It wants and needs to go fast.
Jibing: Both plane very well throughout the whole jibe as long as you are going fast. If you are going slower then the Fanatic is much easier to handle and allows you to still plane through jibes at low speeds. The Quatro does not plane out of a jibe well if you enter the jibe at low speed. However, there is one specific advantage to the Quatro. In tight, fast, aggressive jibes the Quatro holds its edge much better. The Fanatic will sometimes skip sideways if the turn is too tight, fast and aggressive. This difference is likely due to the Quatro being a true wave board and having more rocker and less width in the tail.
Handling Chop: The Quatro felt much more comfortable in the chop at high speeds while the Fanatic felt better in the chop at low speeds. Again, the Quatro demands speed to perform, while the Fanatic is easy to ride all around.
Jumping: Both jump great. Of course the Quatro feels a little smaller in the air, but performance wise they both have great pop and a soft landing.
Wave Riding: The Quatro requires more front leg pressure on frontside turns, and it requires more skill and much more speed to complete a front side turn. I found it more difficult to perform frontside turns on the Quatro at my skill level in our slow side-on conditions compared to the Fanatic. The Quatro also does not accelerate as quickly when coming down the wave after front and backside top turns. The Fanatic accelerates a bit quicker coming down the wave. This may be due to the fact that the Fanatic is a little larger, and also that I naturally favor a board like the Fanatic that prefers back foot pressure as opposed to front foot pressure. The wide tail of the Fanatic would help as well. It may also be due to the nature of the Quatro needing to go fast to perform, as our onshore conditions significantly slow down frontside turns.
OVERALL: The Fanatic Freewave STB is easier to ride. That doesn’t mean it’s better, but it is definitely easier overall. It beats up your body less, can go fast or slow comfortably, turns easily off the back foot, and let’s you ride it as opposed to drive it. The Quatro Twin is more “awesome”. It’s faster, and it wants and needs to be driven hard. I would say the Quatro is more of a radical wave board better suited to down the line conditions. It doesn’t like the slower turning speeds of the onshore wave riding conditions on Lake Erie as much as the Fanactic. For onshore conditions on Lake Erie, I would choose the Fanatic over the Quatro for wave performance, ease of riding, and versatility. Two great boards with very different personalities.
The first board is the Fanatic Freewave (Stubby) STB 85 (225cm, 57.5cm), and the second board is the Quatro Twin (231cm, 55.2cm). In comparing the 2 boards we must recognize that the Quatro is 9 liters smaller, so this size difference alone is responsible for some of the differences. Aside from that, here are my points of comparison.
Planing: Both boards are quick to plane. The Fanatic planes very easy and requires almost no effort. The Quatro requires more front foot pressure and the board needs to be driven off the wind with the front leg. This may be partially due to the smaller size, but the Quatro still demands some driving with the front leg.
Upwind: Both boards go upwind well, but it is different. The Quatro demands speed. It not only wants to go fast, but it NEEDS to go fast in order to go upwind. When it’s going fast it flys upwind, but you really have to drive the board, not just ride it. The Fanatic is easy to go upwind at any speed. You do not have to drive it, you can simply ride it. Fast or slow does not matter. The extra volume of the Fanatic would also contribute to making it a little easier to ride.
Turning: Excellent turning on both boards. The Quatro is smaller, and thus it feels a little snappier turning, but aside from the size difference both boards turn well. However, there is one specific advantage to the Quatro. In tight, fast, aggressive turns the Quatro holds its edge much better. The Fanatic will sometimes skip sideways if the turn is too tight, fast and aggressive. This difference is likely due to the Quatro being a true wave board and having more rocker and less width in the tail. Again, the volume difference would affect this as it would allow the Quatro to sit a little lower in the water thus giving it a little more grip.
Speed: The Quatro is definitely faster. It wants and needs to go fast.
Jibing: Both plane very well throughout the whole jibe as long as you are going fast. If you are going slower then the Fanatic is much easier to handle and allows you to still plane through jibes at low speeds. The Quatro does not plane out of a jibe well if you enter the jibe at low speed. However, there is one specific advantage to the Quatro. In tight, fast, aggressive jibes the Quatro holds its edge much better. The Fanatic will sometimes skip sideways if the turn is too tight, fast and aggressive. This difference is likely due to the Quatro being a true wave board and having more rocker and less width in the tail.
Handling Chop: The Quatro felt much more comfortable in the chop at high speeds while the Fanatic felt better in the chop at low speeds. Again, the Quatro demands speed to perform, while the Fanatic is easy to ride all around.
Jumping: Both jump great. Of course the Quatro feels a little smaller in the air, but performance wise they both have great pop and a soft landing.
Wave Riding: The Quatro requires more front leg pressure on frontside turns, and it requires more skill and much more speed to complete a front side turn. I found it more difficult to perform frontside turns on the Quatro at my skill level in our slow side-on conditions compared to the Fanatic. The Quatro also does not accelerate as quickly when coming down the wave after front and backside top turns. The Fanatic accelerates a bit quicker coming down the wave. This may be due to the fact that the Fanatic is a little larger, and also that I naturally favor a board like the Fanatic that prefers back foot pressure as opposed to front foot pressure. The wide tail of the Fanatic would help as well. It may also be due to the nature of the Quatro needing to go fast to perform, as our onshore conditions significantly slow down frontside turns.
OVERALL: The Fanatic Freewave STB is easier to ride. That doesn’t mean it’s better, but it is definitely easier overall. It beats up your body less, can go fast or slow comfortably, turns easily off the back foot, and let’s you ride it as opposed to drive it. The Quatro Twin is more “awesome”. It’s faster, and it wants and needs to be driven hard. I would say the Quatro is more of a radical wave board better suited to down the line conditions. It doesn’t like the slower turning speeds of the onshore wave riding conditions on Lake Erie as much as the Fanactic. For onshore conditions on Lake Erie, I would choose the Fanatic over the Quatro for wave performance, ease of riding, and versatility. Two great boards with very different personalities.
|
|
