|
TIGA
Tiga sent us two of the three wave boards in their line, the 251 and 267, with no fin for the 267. These two are the existing boards. The other one, the 259, is new for 2000. Tiga apparently didn’t have any 259’s yet.
Shaped by Marco Copello, with average widths and outlines, the outstanding features of these boards are their unusual bottoms. The 251-with a volume of 75 liters stated on the board, 72 liters in the pamphlets-goes from 2 mm concave in the center of the board to 4 mm vee at the tail, where the rails are thin and sharp. There’s a lot of rocker as well, and the odd combination of elements seems to be an attempt to balance extremes-a successful attempt, if you believe our five testers’ and three staff members’ high ratings in Handling and Jibe, including 5’s from Andy Gurtner, who was pretty stingy with them. “Designed for big waves,” says Tiga, but comfortable in all high-wind situations.
The 91- or 92-liter 267’s healthy vee bottom is tunnelled 1 to 2 mm from the center to the outside-much like its cousin, the Bic Saxo 270 Freeride. Its rocker is less extreme than the 251, but it has the same average rounded rails in the middle of the board and thin, sharp rails at the tail, which is square.
Construction of both boards is sandwich epoxy, with nice measured weights of 13.3 and 14.8 pounds, slightly more than claimed. They both have large oval deck pads, and the 267 is domed.
251 WAVE
SCORES: (5 ratings)
Upwind 4.0 Planing 4.0 Speed 3.8 Handling 4.8 Jibe 4.4 Overall 4.2
COMMENTS:
“Very loose in the turns, but stable and comfortable in a reach.
I want to sail this board some more.”
“On a very gusty day, I was more comfortable on the Sailboards Maui 8-4 with the Aerotech 4.75 than the Tiga 251 with Sailworks Revo 4.8.” Yet he still gave the board a 5 in Handling.
STAFF:
Upwind 3.0, Planing 3.67, Speed 4.0, Handling 4.67, Jibe 4.67, Overall 4.0
COMMENTS:
“Very very smooth and very easy to sail and jibe,” said Hedy. “ Not very high performance, but I felt very comfortable on it.”
Said Mark, “Comfortable, fast and loves the waves, particularly sideshore waves, where it has room to carve up the face.”
267 WAVE
SCORES: (7 ratings)
Upwind 3.57 Planing 3.86 Speed 4.33 Handling 4.29 Jibe 4.0 Overall 4.0
COMMENTS:
“Very loose and turny. Somewhat cumbersome upwind, but this may have related to a small fin and 195-pound sailor.”
“Anyone could use this board. Everything is easy and comfortable.”
STAFF:
Upwind 3.5, Planing 4.0, Speed 4.0, Handling 4.5, Jibe 4.0, Overall 4.0
COMMENTS:
“Versatile. Happy from flat water to onshore waves.”
[Mark notes: nonskid good, pads and straps same as Bic] The above boards were sailed with seven sails: The
|
