Is the modern fun board coming back? The new Naish Stratos has at least some of the characteristics of the next most important freemoveboard class, which give the board a particularly high fun factor - with only very slight compromises in performance. With a width of only 67 centimetres, the board is a little more wobbly in the water before planing, but also reacts agilely and directly when planing. It can be wagged easily from the ankle or steered really tightly into the jibe at high speed. The short planing surface, eight millimetres of rocker (tail bend) and the loops far back are likely to play a large part in the extremely lively turning characteristics.
The low weight and the stiff sandwich construction ensure a very direct, crisp ride at all times. The outer strap position offers a good freeride compromise, allowing the board to be kept free, it mainly flies over the chop, occasional water contact is noticeable. The inner loop option (three loops) offers easy access for planing riders and also emphasises the lively manoeuvring qualities. It can also be used sensibly by advanced windsurfers with manoeuvring ambitions. No other board encourages more tight turns, 360s or other advanced moves - or simply to use the next best ramp for a proper chop hop.
While some other shapes tend towards freerace, the Stratos mutates into a sporty manoeuvre freerider. You probably won't find a faster board in the freemove class or a more agile one in the freeride class. At the same time, the shape offers an extremely lively ride at top speed and in jibes - with advanced riding technique - all conceivable radii are possible: with plenty of grip and variable at any time, even in the turn.
Naish Stratos - the conclusion
With the Stratos, Naish brings a particularly light-footed, very agile freeride board that is just as much fun to ride as it is to manoeuvre, even without top marks in the performance categories.
Manoeuvre, speed
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Technical data Naish Stratos 115
- Weight: 6.68 kg
- Length: 239.5 cm
- Width: 67 cm
- Length of sliding surface: 75.5 cm
- Rocker: 8.5 mm
- Shape at 33 cm from tail: flat 10 mm
- Shape at 100 cm from tail: flat V, 4 mm
- Price: 2199* Euro
- Info under naish.com
all data measured by surf
Naish Stratos: Available sizes and data
*105 and 115 with Powerbox, 125 and 145 with Foil Box; prices 125+145 litres: 2299 euros
