Windsurf – August 2019

WINDSUP BOARD REVIEW

90 AUGUST 2019

O'Shea WIND+SUP

WEB WWW.OSHEASURF.COM PRICE^ £799 (BOARD ONLY)

THEY SAY

Primarily designed with windsurfing

in mind with a bonus all-round

iSUP appeal. Incorporates a central

stabilizing fin and complete rig

package, all packing down to bite-size

pieces. A true family favourite for the

aspiring waterman in all of us.

WE SAY

The Wind+SUP is one of O’Shea’s bestselling

boards and remains unchanged in the lineup for

2019, sitting alongside the Wind 90 and 100

(depicted by their lengths, in feet). Tested back

in 2017, this largest sibling impressed us with its

build and performance, feeling durable and sturdy

enough to withstand even the considerable abuse

experienced at watersports schools. A large rea-

son for this is the Premium Heavy Duty (HD)

material employed to construct the Wind+SUP,

using Korean Mirasol drop-stitch (widely regard-

ed as some of the best available), which is then

wrapped twice in thick 1000D PVC layers. De-

veloped and approved using CAD by the brand’s

main man himself, the focus is to make the board

as practical as possible, capable of being used at

lower pressures (13-15 psi), so that it is easy to

achieve by “any mortal” using the high volume

pump supplied. The reason for this is the thick

drop stitch is said to ensure the board’s structure,

both longitudinally and in torsion (mitigating any

twist), allowing the design to get away with less

pressure and hull thickness. Fixings on the O’Shea

are built to last as well, with large D-rings used for

the towing eye on the nose and leash fixture on

the tail; two minimalist carry handles on the cen-

tre and rear and durable PE fins to fit into the 10”

US boxes. Visually bold in yellow and supplied

with the brand’s Pro backpack, it can be bought

separately or as part of a package, with O’Shea de-

livering three options: the soft sail Grom/Wind in

sizes 1.0m to 5.5m; the inflatable iWind sail (1.0m

to 4.0m) or the fully battened Team sail in 2.5m

to 4.5m. At 34.5” wide, the Wind+SUP is incred-

ibly stable and easy to use, even for the nervous

or heavier rider. With its long parallel rails and

low shoulders, it has plenty of waterline, feeling

planted and dependable at all times. In stand up

paddling mode it’s very comfortable for cruising

for long periods of use, and whilst it may lose

some of the glide compared to the lighter 6” thick

models in the group, its grounded stance becomes

a significant benefit should the wind increase,

experiencing less windage and retaining direc-

tional control. Plug in a windsurfing rig and the

same qualities of stability and comfort remain, the

board feeling balanced and practical. It is a great

tutor for the uninitiated, tracking in a straight line

easily and capable of pointing upwind superbly

whilst trimmed flat. The geometry of the board

works very well, with the deck plate position,

larger central fin, tail fin and volume distribution

all striking the right balance between direction-

al stability and steering response when required.

As the wind increases, the flex and twist in the

board is negligible, allowing the rid-

er to stand further back confidently

and drive the rig’s extra power into

the board. And whilst it may not

release onto the plane like a hard

board, its smooth response and easy

dependable nature mean it can take

a rider right up to planing technique,

learning skills such as the beach start

and harness work with the comfort

an inflatable platform provides. At

£799.00 the Wind+SUP comes in at

a good price for a reassuringly dura-

ble contender.

VITAL STATS

Volume (Quoted): 290 L.

Length: 335 cm / 11’0”

Width: 87.6 cm / 34.5”

Thickness: 12.0 cm /

4.75”

Weight (‘Naked’,

Brand Quoted): N/A

Fittings: 2 plastic fins

(larger central fin) (2 x

10” US Box)