Post number : #1 Topic :  UW78 True wave? Date :  1/18/2006 10:37:03 AM Author : Rick Europe Hi I´ve never owned an Exocet but somehow they really appeal to me. Construction seems top (I would like to see some better graphics on the wave and freestyle boards though. They look too racy) The specs on the uw and the exo wave confuses me a little. If I got it right the UW is the most hardcore waveboard in the line-up but the exo wave is more narrow? Isn´t this usually a sign of a classic hardcore hull? In the German "SURF" 2005 wavetest they certainly don´t praise the UW78´s waveriding abillities. Is the 2005 the same as 2006? Hope to get some useful comments on this Thnx   Post number : #2 Date :  1/18/2006 1:21:45 PM Author : WARDOG Hi Rick, I haven't seen the magazine article, but I do have the UWave 78 II and UWave II 88...and can praise their waveriding abilities... Here's a first stab some comments that I hope you find useful in your board decision... Front foot oriented drive...very surfy... The UWave is quick to plane because of nose concave...the tail is pulled and thinned...it's fairly short... I like the slight bevels on the front rails... It really squares off with the wave face...and in choppy conditions , you can't overstate the effectiveness of the dual density shock absorbers... (DDSA)... Here's the UW 78 riding waves...the pictures do the talking... http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_021.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_026.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_024.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_023.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_025.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_09.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_05.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_07.jpg '05 UWave 78: http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_2005.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_1.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_2.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_3.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_4.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_deck1.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_deck2.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_bottom1.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_bottom2.jpg These pics compare the '05 Universal Wave II 88 to the '04/'05 Original WaveI 85: http://www.surfingsports.com/images/uw2-88_ow2-85_compare1.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/uw2-88_ow2-85_compare2.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/uw2-88_ow2-85_compare3.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/quiver_05.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/quiver_wave.jpg The '05 UW model carried over to '06...it will be changed for '07...and the ExoWave and ExoWave Pro, just introduced, will be unchanged next year... I ride the 85 and 105 models...great boards as well... WARDOG http://surfingsports.com   Post number : #3 Date :  1/19/2006 12:51:53 PM Author : Rick Europe Thanks Wardog. Great comments. I´m glad to hear that you find the UW78 front foot oriented! That´s the keyword for me...   Post number : #4 Date :  1/19/2006 1:08:11 PM Author : Rick Europe Seems like there´s very different perceptions of this board. I´m confused! http://exocet-original.com/testresults/testdetail.asp?Number=92   Post number : #5 Date :  1/19/2006 4:14:36 PM Author : Lucky Hi Rick, I know the german surftest, it is important to know, that they did the test of UW 78 in strong conditions using in S.A. using small sails in a test group called "wave 75". Here were tested boards with volume 70l up to max 75l. But the UW is in charge of the width better for a class like "wave 80". In the direct comparison to the other tested boards, it seems the UW 78 is not so radical, especially in mind of the lightweight guys of the testteam (most of them) but for sure it is a great waveboard for typical european conditions. If you are a 80+ surfer, you´ll have much fun in every kind of waves with this board. If you tend more to 70kg or less, take the UW 68!! Kind regards. Lucky   Post number : #6 Date :  1/19/2006 4:18:41 PM Author : WARDOG "beginner freestyle board"..."an excellent ability to be used in shallow water for freeride and freestyle"..."performs as well in the shore brakes as in shallow water"..."The Exocet is spot on and particularly suitable as a learning platform for less advanced sailors at 80 kilos plus." Hi Rick, A 78 liter waveboard is a "suitable learning platform for less advanced sailors at 80 kilos plus." SMOKE ANOTHER ONE!!! That guy is on drugs... Sounds to me that whoever wrote the review is a shallow water freestyler... Their review makes me wonder if they've even ridden it in waves...they definitely didn't ride it in good waves...it sure seems to "fulfil the radical needs of pure wave riding" for us... BTW, is there "pure wave riding" in Germany? I think the French mag had it closer: UNIVERSAL WAVE2 78 Planche Mag March 2005: The storm-tamer Produced in sophisticated double sandwich wood carbon, it’s really light. The Universal is a very stable board, quick on a plane and super easy. One of, if not the most comfortable in the group, it also rides the chop very smoothly. Feeling light and responsive, the U78 provides unequalled control in the jumps. We could use it in winds up to 40 knots without much trouble... Effortless sharp turns in the surf with an exceptional smooth carving ability. The board behaves exceptionally well in on shore conditions and travels through whitewater with ease. Good accelerations during take-offs and lot of maneuverability in the air. "the U78 provides unequalled control in the jumps. We could use it in winds up to 40 knots without much trouble... Effortless sharp turns in the surf with an exceptional smooth carving ability. " I've ridden it in pure waves in California, the Baja, and Maui...and it rips! If you want a comparison of the ride...think Starboard EVO...only a little more comfy in higher winds because of the shock absorbers and the thinner, more pulled tail...I ride them interchangeably...UW II 78 and EVO 80... UW II 88 and EVO 92...now EVO 91... Here are the bigger brothers side by side... http://surfingsports.com/images/uwave88_evo92.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/quiver_wave.jpg WARDOG http://surfingsports.com   Post number : #7 Date :  2/3/2006 12:44:23 PM Author : hoernsen Hi Wardog, I'm 85 kg, my sails are 4.1-4.7- 5.4 I surf in the north sea -island sylt- where we have onshore wind waves, sometimes up to logo high, but not clean swell rollers, more choppy. And of course strong lateral currents depending on the wind direction. German surfmags tests don't interest me. I like the UW line because of concaves and soft sailing in the chop. Would you recommend the UW78 or UW88?   Post number : #8 Date :  2/4/2006 1:12:47 PM Author : WARDOG Hi Joern, Tough call...they would both work for you...if it's not too problematic punching out through the onshore breakers, then I'd prolly opt for the UW 78 if most of your sailing is on the smaller sails...otherwise, if the most used sail is 5.4m2 with occasional higher wind days, then the UW 88 is your huckleberry...at 90kg, I find that it handles higher winds pretty well...and it's absolutely necessary for me to punch out through the surf on the bigger days...difference between making it out and being denied/punished... WARDOG http://surfingsports.com   Post number : #9 Date :  2/5/2006 3:40:52 PM Author : Brian M. Regarding the UW78, would you say that it is close to the EW85 (aside rail shape, rocker and if they're driven off the front and back foot)? Mid-width and tail-width wise, they are very close, only a difference in volume? Guessing you would make your choce based on your local wind and wave conditions. Also, have you used the UW88 in wound out 4.5 conditions? Spec's are saying 4.0, but wonder how reasonable that is. Thanks!   Post number : #10 Date :  2/6/2006 8:17:25 AM Author : Joern Hi Wardog, most sailing for me is 5,4 and 4,7, so the UW88 would have a broader range -and more fun- as a one board solution. We have al lot of days with "dead onshore" winds and I know the pain to sink in front of the whitwater walls and get into it. So better go for a litte bit more volume. A good option would be to first go for the 88 and then try to get a 78 for a reasonable price for the days with 6bft+ later. Joern   Post number : #11 Date :  2/6/2006 4:17:30 PM Author : WARDOG Hi Joern, Good choice... We flew to the Baja and Maui twice last year...the UW 88 made all of those missions because of it's versatility...good minimalist one-board solution... Just get two fins...;-) http://www.surfingsports.com/freeweed_875.asp To answer Brian's question... I have used the UW88 in wound 4.5m2 conditions...very doable... 4.0m2 even for a heavy guy...the bottom of my quiver is a 4.2m2 these days...I'm usually the last guy sailing... The UW's are mostly front foot driven...HOWEVER, you can load up the backfoot, unlike the Starboard EVO...the reason is that the UW's are more pulled in the tail and thinner... Here's a helmetcam clip on Maui...kinda shows how smooth the ride is in Summer maui chop: http://www.surfingsports.com/vidstream/wind/maui_helmetcam.wmv http://www.surfingsports.com/maui_sunday/slides/maui049.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/maui_sunday/slides/maui046.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/maui_sunday/slides/maui032.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/maui_nalu/slides/maui_wd_btmtrn2.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_05.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_08.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_09.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/maui_day1/slides/maui05.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/maui_fun/slides/maui_deb_freak9.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/maui_sailin/slides/maui_mike_cruzer.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/baja_sur/slides/baja_05_deb2_uwave88.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/baja_sur/slides/baja_05_wardog_uwave88.jpg WARDOG http://surfingsports.com   Post number : #12 Date :  2/6/2006 11:32:44 PM Author : Phil mac I'd like to hear the answer to Brian's q, Comparing the ExoW85 to the U78 or U88. I can't find any useful reviews of the new board.   Post number : #13 Date :  6/3/2006 1:14:41 AM Author : gégé me too.   Post number : #14 Date :  6/3/2006 10:22:51 AM Author : Miky Hi, would also like your opinion for a 87kgr sailor for uw 78. From which windforce and up can you plane with no probls?   *Name : Email : *Message :