Banana Hammocks - The Kiteboarder Magazine

fonetrax
TESTED: 134x39 cm AVAILABLE SIZES: 132x38, 134x39, 136x40, 138x41, 140x45
TESTED IN: Pismo Beach and San Francisco, 15-21 knots, choppy water and waves
FROM THE MANUFACTURER
The F-ONE TRAX is the flagship and best selling board of our twin-tip
range. Whatever the conditions, the TRAX delivers performance and
control at the highest level. For its sixth edition, we have worked on the
carving ability and gave the board a new double-concave bottom. The
TRAX 6 is truly a high-technology board with a huge range of use from
pure freeride to the most hardcore, low-kite freestyle riding. The TRAX
successfully blends high performance, acceleration for early planning,
speed, control, pop, and carving ability.
THE KITEBOARDER REPORT
Out of the Box: This is an all-around freestyle board which features a
fairly narrow outline, double concave bottom, rounded tips that taper in
slightly, and a more exaggerated rocker than a typical pure freestyle twin
tip. The graphics are more refined this year with a simple and classy look.
The new Unibox fin system, a feature on all 2011 F-One twin tips, allows
for fins that are much thinner than usual as the screws end above the
actual fin. The Trax has a good amount of flex and is a very light board.
On the Water: Once up and riding, the F-One Trax is a fast board that
feels light and responsive underfoot. As you edge harder, the Trax feels
like it locks in and never gave us any signs that the edge was about to slip
or chatter. This board offers a very smooth ride, especially in choppy water
and shoots upwind as long as the rider is well-powered. The Trax releases
from the water very nicely and is a great performance board for powered up
big air riding.
THE VERDICT:
The 2011 F-One Trax is a great all-around board that is easy
to feel immediately comfortable on. It planes quickly due
to its double concave bottom and goes upwind easily once
powered. It especially suits riders who want a light and
responsive board for fast riding and big air freestyle jumps
and also like super carving ability. This board tracks extremely
well and the edge never slipped or chattered under load.
The narrow width seemed to make the Trax not ideal for
underpowered or light wind conditions, but it’s a pleasure to
ride powered up. You might want to look at the F-One Acid if
you like a board with more width.
Tester Comment:
“If you want to maximize pop, ride powered up. The supreme
control allows the rider to dig in the edge while handling
more power.” - Alex Smith, 170 lbs., All-Around Kiter
Tips
8 The Trax is a relatively narrow board, so
consider riding one size larger than you
would otherwise.
8 Ride powered up if you want to get the best
performance out of the Trax.
LitewaveWing
TESTED: 161 cm AVAILABLE SIZES: 146x45, 153x45, 161x45
TESTED IN: San Diego, 8-12 knots, flat water and small waves
FROM THE MANUFACTURER
The Wing has evolved into a mind-blowing machine for 2011. The
tip-to-tip radical concave smoothes out chop and makes for a very
positive carving feeling. The tips are very thin and flexible with built-in
torsion bars to maximize carving performance under load. This board is
truly a session saver. Wide tips and the unique parabolic sidecut enable
planing and rocket you upwind. The wider tips give unbelievable load
and pop even in light conditions.
THE KITEBOARDER REPORT
Out of the Box: We tested the big boy of the 2011 Litewave Wings,
the 161. This is a light wind specific board and it stands out when
compared to other twin tips. The board features wide tips, a reverse
sidecut outline, and a very deep tip to tip single concave. There are two
fins on the heel edge and two near the tips of the board close to the
centerline. This board has more rocker than last year’s model and is
fairly flexible.
THE VERDICT:
If you want a twin tip to ride in the lightest possible
conditions, you should try the Litewave Wing. We found it to
work as well as a large surfboard in light wind, but without
the need to switch your feet when jibing. The board goes
through chop surprisingly well for such a large board and
will even allow you to do tricks like backrolls and frontrolls
when other riders are sitting on the beach. If you aren’t
excited about riding in light winds, consider looking at the
Litewave Storm instead.
Tester Comment:
“In both chop and flat water, the Wing takes hardly any
power from the kite to get up and riding.”
–Paul Lang, 200 lbs., Surf Kiter
On the Water: We tested this board in San Diego, the light wind
capitol of the world and were pleasantly surprised by the light wind
abilities of this board. Out testers usually ride surfboards, and they
thought that the Wing was at least as efficient at staying on a plane
and getting upwind as their largest (6’0”-6’2”) directionals. It does feel
strange to have such a large tail on a twin tip, but the added surface
area makes this board go when others can’t. The Wing can even be
ridden toeside and works well for small light wind jumps.
Tips
8 Choose the size based on your weight. Big
boys (200+ lbs.) should get the 161, lighter
riders (under 165 lbs.) should get the 146, and
those in the middle (165-200 lbs.) should get
the 153.
8 When riding in ultra light wind, let the board
travel slightly downwind and build up speed
before trying to edge upwind.