|
 |
POWER WAVE 262
Length: 256cm Width: 58.5cm
Volume: 94 Weight: 15/6.8kg
Upwind: 4.00 Planing: 4.33
Speed: 4.00 Handling: 3.83
Jibe: 3.50 Overall: 3.97
Price: $1,499 Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin
|
AHD POWER WAVE 262
Even though the 262 is only 5 cm longer than the 257, it’s 3.2 cm wider, with a nose and tail that are 2 and 2.5 mm wider. The rails are rounder, and it carries a solid 94 liters of volume. You can clearly see the difference in the outline, and the 262 doesn’t catch your eye as the 257 does. You might say it’s a matter of new shape versus old, although classic might be a better word than old. And our testers liked the performance of the classic shape slightly more. It was certainly more exciting. As for comparing sisters, if the 257 was fast and loose, the 262 was consistently described as giving a “nice ride.” Like all the AHD boards, the 262 comes in ‘63 Corvette Sting Ray steel blue. AHD wins the Best Paint award, hands down. The only problem is, you might have to take your board to an auto body shop for ding repair, to get a correct match for the touch-up.
SCORE: (6 ratings)
Upwind 4.0 Planing 4.33 Speed 4.00 Handling 3.83 Jibe 3.50 Overall 3.97
COMMENTS:
“FAST, smooth. Jumps like Michael Jordan. Capable of King Kong air. But not very wave-oriented. To my mind, it felt like a turny slalom board.”
“Very nice ride, very loose.”
“Fast and easy to use. I sailed in high wind with a lot of control, and it still worked great when the wind got light.”
From the guy who thought the 257 was slow to plane and sluggish upwind, “This board went upwind pretty well and was reasonably fast. Jibing was very easy. Very floaty. Overall, a smooth ride. Good big-guy wave board. Cool color. Good footstraps, pads and non-skid.”
STAFF:
Upwind 3.00 Planing 3.50 Speed 3.50
Handling 3.5 0 Jibe 3.50 Overall 3.40
COMMENTS:
“Very nice and smooth, easy to ride and undemanding,” said Mark Archer, adding, “Will deliver the goods in both onshore and sideshore surf.”
|
