GOYA BOLT 4 CARBON 129 TEST REVIEW 2024GOYA BOLT 4 CARBON 129 TEST REVIEW 2024The VerdictThe Bolt 4 Carbon works just as well with a fin as it does with a foil, so the Bolt truly can be your one board weapon of choice for freeriders who want to dabble with the foil and not sacrifice a level of usability, familiarity and fun that the Bolt undeniably offers the rider.The LowdownStraight out of the box, the Bolt grabs your attention. Its appearance, rocker line, concave deck, and volume distribution make for a beautiful board, which is noticeably light in the hands. Its appearance is almost reptilian, layered up from a lightly brushed carbon blue, with fine diagonal detailing, before finishing off with lime green lines, which run the length of the board. The Bolts volume has been distributed a little more boldly than some other on tests with the majority of the volume sitting just in front of the footstraps before thinning out towards the tail. The rear of the Bolt blends beautifully into the front section where a new nose shape has been designed to eliminate the breaking point, resulting in a stronger nose structure, it also looks pretty good too. Staying upfront an obvious concave deck is present as well as a recessed mast track, which helps provide control when pushing the limits. Branded as Goyas Freerace board, the Bolt carries a sportier outline with its straps set on double density pads and generally more towards the rails, there is however some adjustment here to enable you to set them a touch further inboard on the flatter section of the deck. On the underside, a pronounced vee double concave runs the length of the board, shallowing out to a vee in the tail that pulls into a rounded pin tail where cutouts also sit to help reduce the Bolts wetted surface. Available only in premium construction, with a full carbon deck on top of a full Hyper Skin HD High-Density foam sandwich, keeps the Bolt lightweight and stiff. The 129L is the smaller sibling of the 139L and part of the Bolt range we tested in the 120L Freeride test. Its the same board, it just carries more volume and a foil box can also be used with the provided fin. Overall, on first appearances and set up, the Bolt is incredibly attractive with its design features exuding excitement.Brand ClaimThe new Bolt 4 Carbon, is our fastest ever Freerace board, and we are excited about its ultimate forward drive paired with empowering open ocean comfort. Its 4th generation puts it all together under your feet, ready out of the box, racing performance to be experienced by everyone. Sizes 129, 139 come foil ready equipped with a deep Tuttle fin box.Performance The Bolt is still a freerace board and handles as you would expect off the foil, requiring no drastic change in input to get the Bolt up and moving. The Bolt is quick to accelerate, get planing and up to full speed, with the straps placed a little more inboard than usual to suit the foil, and a more upright stance is required. The straps are easy to locate. Lifting out of the water is very much driven by the rider. Meanwhile, the foil box isnt set behind the back strap, but is slightly offset, giving the rider complete and utter control in the initial angle of attack and ride height. Up and foiling, the Bolt is a very pleasant surprise, immediately feeling natural in the air, excelling when foiling with smaller, well-powered rigs. Its freeride taper in the tail makes everything feel familiar, whilst helping you to resist the urge to over sheet. Its not going to allow you to drive hard upwind, but the Bolt isnt about that, the Bolt delivers versatility, fun and freedom. Paired with a foil, where there is a nice gap between the front wing and foil mast, the Bolt has a really nice neutral ride, never asking for any extra effort from either the front or back foot, which allows you to channel your energy and focus elsewhere. Through touch downs, the tail sheds water like its water off a ducks back, allowing you to carry and hold speed as you ride back up. The rocker in the nose and pronounced vee double concave hull assist when touching down with the nose. Through the gybes, it feels natural as its familiar shape doesnt require any huge changes in technique. On the exit, making sure to land that new back foot right in front of the back straps to maintain lift to compensate for the offset foil box that is the only small, but noticeable adjustment required. Unlike the majority of foil boards out there, there is ample space to tack to help you work your way back upwind. The Bolt never asks anything more of you in order for it to perform, it delivers foiling fun whilst still being able to deliver on the fin.www.goyawindsurfing.comGOYA BOLT 4 CARBON 129 TEST REVIEW 2024VITAL STATSPrice: 2099Volume (Quoted): 129LLength: 235cmWidth: 74cmBottom Shape: Pronounced Vee Double Concave shallowing out to a vee at the fin.Weight (Naked): 6.9kgFin: Deep Tuttle Foil Ready Box & Deep Tuttle MFC H144cmSail Range (Quoted): 6-9mSizes Available: 99, 109, 119, 129, 139OTHER BOARDS IN THIS TESTExocet Freefoil V3 AST 132LSeverne Alien 145LStarboard Foil Freeride 85 Wood 160LBACK TO TEST OVERVIEWThe post GOYA BOLT 4 CARBON 129 TEST REVIEW 2024 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Join Ethan Huff as he shares four simple exercises to enhance your paddling technique! This video covers key areas including engaging your shoulders, utilizing hip drive, optimizing top arm use, and maintaining proper spine alignment. Perfect [&hellip... Read More

Adventurer Ed Pratt has completed a solo mission to travel the length of the River Thames from source to sea. He recorded a daily video about his trek on Youtube and raised about 22,000 in funds and awareness for The Rivers Trust. The Trusts mission is to improve the health of our precious rivers which []The post Thames Source to Sea Ed Pratt appeared first on Go Paddling.

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EXOCET FREEFOIL V3 AST 132 TEST REVIEW 2024EXOCET FREEFOIL V3 AST 132 TEST REVIEW 2024The Verdict The Freefoil V3 AST is playful with a usable feel. The Freefoil doesnt feel over engineered and it delivers exactly what it suggests. Its volume, strap positions, foil box position all encourage instant play. Paired carefully with an equally usable foil and smaller rig the Freefoil will deliver foiling freedom.The Lowdown Out of the box, you immediately notice the Freefoils distinctly flatter deck, both rail to rail and nose to tail. There is some nose rocker upfront, but it is very slight. Angular shades of blue cover the deck with white detailing and deck pads. The Freefoil holds quite distinct sharp boxy rails in the tail that run forward to the front strap, aiding release and shedding water; they then tuck under and soften as they progress up to the nose. The Freefoil is actually one of the widest on test, but this width sits in line with the mast track before tapering into a more conventional nose shape and also tapering in at the hips and tail of the Freefoil. Its strap positions are set inboard with some options for adjustment. Its foil box placement is directly in line with the rear strap, so lift and power from the foil are going to be on tap with the back foot in the strap. Its outline with a shorter nose in front of the track, strap positions, and foil box positions all indicate that the ideal setup would be with a medium to lower aspect foil and smaller rigs, all of which will give a more playful and looser ride to suit the Freefoil. On the underside and looking at the bright white hull of the Freefoil, its uncomplicated, with no cutouts in the tail. Upfront, a single concave sits under the nose, which swiftly blends into a subtle vee double concave, shallowing out into a vee at the foil box. Available in two constructions, carbon delivers lightness and stiffness, while AST (Advanced Sandwich Technology) offers a balance between price and quality.Brand Claim The Freefoil embodies the spirit of windfoiling without any constraints effortlessly taking off and enjoying the sensation of flight with minimal effort.PerformanceInstantly stepping on the Freefoil while non-foiling and floating out to the wind line, its subtly tapered tail and boxy volume distribution give a more playful feeling underfoot. Getting going and generating speed, the Freefoil sits high, with its boxy rails placing you very much on top of the board with an upright body position rather than out on the rail. Its inboard straps are easy to find. Upon putting the back foot in the strap, you are instantly rewarded with lift as its foil box is placed directly in line with the rear strap, so it doesnt require any teasing out of the water from the rider. Foiling along with the Freefoil is easily managed; its short and non-intrusive nose encourages a more playful ride suited to smaller rigs, while large overpowered rigs would disturb the balance between the foil, board, and the rider. Its thick and predominantly rear volume distribution make touchdowns manageable, while if the back foot is in the strap, then regaining flight is a simple affair and overrides the Freefoils lack of tail cutouts. Through the gybes, the Freefoils playful nature is really apparent; it seeks rider input to guide it around the radius of your choice. The back foot doesnt need to reach so far to guide the foil and manage the lift as its tapered tail assists you here. The Freefoil isnt going to provide full power speeds, or aggressive angles upwind, or suit a higher aspect race foil, but give it a suitable freeride foil of medium to low aspect, and you will be rewarded with a delightfully playful combo.www.exocet-original.comEXOCET FREEFOIL V3 AST 132 TEST REVIEW 2024VITAL STATSPrice: 1279Volume (Quoted): 132LLength: 210cmWidth: 86cmBottom Shape: Single Concave to Vee Double Concave to VeeWeight (Naked): 10kgSail Range (Quoted): 4.0-8.0mSizes Available: 112, 132OTHER BOARDS IN THIS TESTGoya Bolt 4 Carbon 129LSeverne Alien 145LStarboard Foil Freeride 85 Wood 160LBACK TO TEST OVERVIEWThe post EXOCET FREEFOIL V3 AST 132 TEST REVIEW 2024 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Tiago Silva from Makua Lodge explains SUP Surf stances in this informative video, look no further and learn about the many SUP Surf stances; Parallel Stance, Staggered Stance, Surf Stance, Ripping Stance!... Read More

Geoff Potts is a well accomplished paddler already, holding a multitude of qualifications and credentials. But he decided he wanted to push himself in a physical challenge, and with it raise some money for a well deserving challenge. Check out his report on completing the Great Glen challenge in under 24 hours! The background to []The post The Great Glen Challenge in 24 hours Geoff Potts appeared first on Go Paddling.

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Check out the Water Speed app (only on iPhone at the moment) NEW challenge feature is fun!