Windsurf – August 2019

84 AUGUST 2019

WINDSUP BOARD REVIEW

THEY SAY

Our Stubby Foil Edition comes in the

same shape as our regular Stubby and

offers the same easy and controlled

flow if you decide to ride your regular

thruster fins. Once you change to Foil,

our Stubby foil Edition creates a whole

new dynamic. The greatest variety

of multisport use combined in one

package.

WE SAY

The Stubby has been in Fanatic’s SUP lineup

since 2016, with a Foil Edition introduced for

the first time last year. As with its name, the out-

line of the board bears the same likeness to the

popular compact designs seen in Fanatic’s wind-

surf range, with benefits in speed, stability and

response now well established. For 2019, the out-

line of the Stubby has been revised further, with

an even straighter outline in its nose and mid-sec-

tion, leading to a winged swallow tail in the rear.

There is plenty of tail rocker in its profile – some-

thing that is apparent and eye-catching even from

a distance. The Foil Edition Stubby benefits from

an actual mast track instead of a simple bolt hole

and footstrap plugs to provide additional ver-

satility, using the pedestal plate option for foil

connectivity. And like the standard Stubby, it is

available solely in the brand’s Vector Net Technol-

ogy, using stringers and bamboo reinforcements

to provide the required strength to weight ratio.

It certainly isn’t the lightest in the group, but for

£1199.00, it certainly looks the part and has curb

appeal. Used for windsurfing, the Stubby is stable

and comfortable underfoot, using the windward

rail to compensate for any loss in traction from

the small thruster fins. It is fine for light wind

practicing or float and ride sessions, its 120 litres

distributed evenly to provide plenty of buoyan-

cy and ease. The banana rocker does predictably

result in the board feeling sticky when trying to

release onto the plane, which is why the foil op-

tion is so worthwhile having. Using the Stubby

FE with a variety of different foils, we found that

placing the foil right to the back of the enlarged

boxes tends to provide more drive and practi-

cality, releasing and going earlier. That said, the

curvature in the board’s rocker is still felt, so be

prepared to pump through the foil to exact an

early release. Once in flight, the Stubby can be

used either with or without straps. We enjoyed

both, but did find that if you do use the straps in

more powered conditions, it is worth treating the

Stubby like any other foil board: an 85 cm mast is

a minimum requirement really. If you try to load

the board whilst using shorter masts, the margin

for error is small and results in frequent breaches!

The shallow dome to the deck is very welcome,

providing both comfort and connection through

the feet, and the ability to adjust strap, mast foot

and foil position gives plenty of options to find

the perfect balance. Response is smooth and easy,

rather than sharp and instantaneous, the long

length of the board noticeable compared to wind

foil specialist boards. And yet the extra length is

actually a real asset during those first tentative

flights and will undoubtedly be useful if using the

Stubby for progression into SUP foiling. Used for

regular SUP surfing, we found the Stubby incred-

ibly stable and practical for its quoted size, gliding

smoothly during every stroke and maintaining its

path well. The wide nose has plenty of rocker to

pop up over broken whitewater and the stability

of the board gives the rider time and assistance to

position themselves in the lineup. When catching

a wave, a positive step back on the tail raises the

Stubby’s shoulders high and clear, its thin rails

and narrowed tail helping the rider to connect

with the fins and really

drive the board through

the turns. It was a lot of

fun in the small waves

we tried it in. An enjoy-

able, practical SUP for

use in small to medi-

um waves, the Stubby’s

ability to adopt a foil

has added the missing

piece of the jigsaw, be-

stowing it with true

crossover appeal.

Fa n at i c STUBBY FOIL EDITION

WEB WWW.FANATIC.COM PRICE^ £1199

VITAL STATS

Volume (Quoted): 120 L.

Length: 261.6 cm / 8’7”

Width: 74.3 cm / 29.25”

Weight (‘Naked’, Brand

Quoted): 9.4 kg

Fittings: 3 x Multi-Box,

2 x US Box 10” / 3 x 5”

Honeycomb RTM fins

Sizes Available: 8’7”