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Around two years ago, we tested 13 boards that are supposed to be real all-rounders. Their core area is windfoiling and wingfoiling, but some of the crossover boards are also ideal as SUP boards or children's boards. Many of the boards tested back then are still available today, and the crossover boards are also highly sought-after on the second-hand market!
With this test and its results, you quickly end up in the depths of philosophy: if a board covers several areas of use, but none of them are really world champions, is the proverbial glass "half empty" or "half full"? Because one thing is clear: between pure specialists, none of these boards would win three gold medals. But one silver and two places in the upper midfield don't sound bad either, do they? And this much in advance: some of the boards are actually top in one discipline and complement this with really good suitability for another area of use. Instead of somewhat exaggerated marketing as "4 in 1", "2 plus 1" would be more appropriate in many cases. Because while two disciplines are often still well covered, the third is often only enough for a taster. However, this is not so much a disadvantage as an additional plus. Because if, for example, the wave SUP, which is easy to turn and well suited to windsurfing, also offers the opportunity to at least try out wingfoiling - without inspiring the wing expert - this should perhaps be seen as an additional extra - as a "half-full" glass.
Shapes from SUP-Surf to Wingfoil
Anything that allows a foil to be mounted can actually be "winched". As provocative as this may sound, the requirements for basic suitability for wings are actually the lowest. For demanding wing foiling, the situation is of course quite different. Nevertheless, "wing foiling" experts use boards with a volume of less than 90 litres and a length of just 1.50 metres. The largest board in this test has over 140 litres and is also a thoroughbred wing board.
However, such a wide range would be unthinkable for SUP surfing boards in the waves. In any case, this third discipline - if SUP surfing without a foil is on the wish list - defines the key data of a board, which you then have to live with for the other disciplines. After all, for a board to be paddled in the waves even by non-professionals, a volume of at least 120 litres makes sense, the width should not be less than 75 centimetres and the minimum length for paddling in waves is 2.20 metres or more, for less experienced paddlers it can also be 2.30 to 2.50 metres - lengths that now sound gigantic for windsurf foiling and even more so for wing foiling. Logically, the boards with the wave SUP option (Fanatic Bee, JP Wave Slate, Indiana All in One, Naish Crossover, RRD Wassup and Starboard Hyper Nut) don't have the best starting conditions for use with a sail or wing (but they're not the worst either, more on that later).
Bevels make pumping with the foil easier
In contrast to the fairly long SUP boards, models that focus on windsurfing foils or wing foils sometimes clearly break the magic two-metre mark - or at least scratch it. One shape peculiarity is noticeable in the boards that are obviously centred on wing foiling: In addition to clear, continuous "bevels", the bevelled edges on the underside, the tail behind the foil boxes is sometimes pulled upwards at a steep angle. This should make it easier to rock the board around the transverse axis when pumping with the legs - which works well and can speed up the foil start if the technique is correct. On boards with a long planing surface behind the foil boxes, the resistance is significantly stronger.
Foils for wings and windsurfing
The range of foils on offer is now huge, we have tested with the recommended foils from the manufacturers shown here, as far as a recommendation was available. For most boards, which can either be surfed without foot straps, sometimes only with the front straps or only in a far inboard position, we recommend the typical "freeride" or "cruiser" foils from the various brands for windfoiling, i.e. foils with slightly more compact wing shapes and less leverage, such as those on the left from Naish, Starboard, Slingshot or RRD. The high-aspect foil from Indiana with its slim, elongated wing shapes is fast, but a little more demanding on the hybrid boards. However, the boards with 100 per cent windfoil suitability, e.g. from Patrik, Slingshot and Starboard, have all the prerequisites for sporty foils and performance-oriented windsurf foiling with the 4 loops offset far to the outside. The SUP hybrids mentioned above are more suitable for foil cruising in light winds.
If you want to make your first attempts with the wing, you can in principle also do this with your windsurfing foil. This should then be mounted further forwards, which of course also requires a standing position further forwards. Some boards offer the corresponding wing positions here, but if these are not available, you can also get started with the wing without straps. If you want to wing more regularly, you can normally continue to use certain components of your windsurfing foil - often the mast and rear wing - and upgrade them with a shorter fuselage and a front wing with more surface area.
The details of the crossover boards
The box positions
For sporty windsurf foiling, the box and straps are standard far back, as on the Slingshot Wizard (4). The Slingshot Shred Sled has the typical, more forward wing position (3), which Naish also offers (2). With Naish (2), the straps are positioned further forwards for windsurfing, whereas Slingshot only uses a rear strap for windsurfing on the Shred Sled. Extremely long boxes are installed in the Sunova (1). This allows for a large trim range for foiling with a wing or sail, but places restrictions on the design of the rocker at the rear. Where Naish can incorporate a lot of upturn for wave SUPing, or Slingshot a raised tail for better pumping, the underwater hull of the Sunova is inevitably straight.
Loop setup
Not all boards offer the right strap positions for wing and wind foiling, as here on the Starboard Foil X Wing. This is because wing foiling requires a position significantly further forwards than windsurf foiling. The position further back and further out for windsurf foiling is also clearly recognisable here. Many crossover boards do not have a loop position for wings at all. Jumping is therefore not possible and jibes without a front loop are much more demanding, both with a wing and a sail. For real multi-users, the durability of the plugs could be a problem, as all brands use self-tapping screws in plastic plugs. If you change the screws frequently, you should make sure that you always screw the screws back into the "old" thread to protect the plug.
How the crossover boards work on the water
Windsurf foiling
All the boards tested offer a mast mount and are therefore generally suitable for weightless cruising on a foil. Whether a board is more suited for sporty foiling with fast and slim high-aspect foils or for cosy cruising with thicker profiled wings ("low-aspect") is largely determined by the position of the straps. As a general rule, sporty high-aspect foils have a wider span and therefore require a strap position further out on the edge, but then also work well in combination with large freeride or camber sails. If the board only offers far inboard plugs, it automatically requires a more moderate foil type with a smaller span of the "freeride" or "cruiser" type - a set-up that generally supports early take-off with small sails.
Wing foiling
Experienced wingfoilers naturally shake their heads at boards with 120 litres or more. Jumps or freestyle tricks are hardly possible with them. However, this size is ideal for beginners and offers surfers up to 95kg enough stability to learn how to wing quickly. For surfers who don't have 30 or more water days a year or who mainly surf in gusty inland areas with light winds, a 120-litre wingboard can be a sensible long-term solution.
surf tip:You can find lots more information about the right wingsurfing equipment every day on www.wingsurf.world
SUP surfing
Generally speaking, boards that are suitable for waving can also be used for your first attempts at SUP foiling in the waves! However, when it comes to classic SUPing in the waves with a paddle and short surf fins, the wheat is separated from the chaff and many boards in this group are simply unsuitable for this due to their shape - others, on the other hand, are SUP specialists by nature (in terms of shape), which have been upgraded for other disciplines with an additional foil box and mast foot holder. For example, the boards from Fanatic, JP-Australia, Sunova and Starboard are recognisably based on SUP boards for waves - which doesn't have to be a disadvantage.
Conclusion
"4 in 1" - this promise from the industry is only true with certain compromises. Nevertheless, many boards in this group offer multiple benefits, e.g. windfoiling and wingsurfing, which is impressive and ensures that there is never a dull moment on the water.
This test first appeared in surf 7/2021
The crossover boards in the individual evaluation
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