Boards UK
::2007 Starboard Kombat 87::
Although the nose width and forward vee have been increased and
the rocker line tinkered with, this year’s Kombat will definitely feel
familiar to existing Kombat owners. The range has been extended for
2007, with a smaller 79L at one end and the sizeable Kombat Aeros
(117 & 127L) at the other.
On the water: It feels fairly chunky; something picked up on
by all the team and guesters. Since its length and width
measurements are all around average, the extra size is purely in
terms of volume thickness. This gives reassuring reserve float and
volume for intermediates and heavyweights, but does slightly cut
down on responsiveness. Nevertheless, although the board lacks a
slight edge of acceleration and excitement compared to many of the
freerides or fast-tails, it is very well balanced and comfortable for
blasting in flat water. It’s also particularly keen and easy to turn,
which translates into above average waveriding performance. Gybes
too are extremely easy to initiate and although it can lose speed in
the exit it has an easily varied arc of turn. You can feel that extra bulk
when airborne but it still jumps very nicely, particularly as the
landings on the shock-absorbed heel bumpers are beautifully soft.
Range: Happy with up to about 5.8-6.0m, as long as you’re
relatively well powered up while using these bigger sizes. Very
comfortable in stronger winds and with small sail sizes, particularly
under heavier sailors. It copes very well with all water states.
Fittings: It comes with quite a powerful 26cm fin (in classic box
fitting) that suits it well. Get a smaller accessory foil if you’re planning
on exploiting the board’s capabilities with sails of 5.0m or smaller a
lot of the time. The straps are comfortable but don’t easily go very
big. The pads and doming are very comfy.
Popularity: It didn’t quite make anyone’s top favourites list, but
was generally well liked.
Overall: Starboard have come up with a very balanced
all-rounder in the new Kombat. It feels stable and composed blasting
in a straight line, yet it also offers pleasingly loose and manoeuvrable
carving in swell or waves. Rather than focussing on super-early
planing or real high wind control, it provides a good compromise that
encompasses a very wide range of windstrengths, conditions and
abilities. It’s a genuinely versatile all-rounder, particularly for heavier
sailors, and will make an excellent ‘one-only board’ or a medium to
stronger wind board to accompany a higher volume freeride.
RECOMMENDED
Manouevre-Biassed All-Rounder
: check out the specs :
