fonetrax FROM THE MANUFACTURER
The F-ONE TRAX is the flagship and best selling board of our twin-tip range. Whatever the conditions, the TRAX delivers performance and control at the highest level. For its sixth edition, we have worked on the carving ability and gave the board a new double-concave bottom. The TRAX 6 is truly a high-technology board with a huge range of use from pure freeride to the most hardcore, low-kite freestyle riding. The TRAX successfully blends high performance, acceleration for early planning, speed, control, pop, and carving ability.
THE KITEBOARDER REPORT
Out of the Box: This is an all-around freestyle board which features a fairly narrow outline, double concave bottom, rounded tips that taper in slightly, and a more exaggerated rocker than a typical pure freestyle twin tip. The graphics are more refined this year with a simple and classy look. The new Unibox fin system, a feature on all 2011 F-One twin tips, allows for fins that are much thinner than usual as the screws end above the actual fin. The Trax has a good amount of flex and is a very light board. On the Water: Once up and riding, the F-One Trax is a fast board that feels light and responsive underfoot. As you edge harder, the Trax feels like it locks in and never gave us any signs that the edge was about to slip or chatter. This board offers a very smooth ride, especially in choppy water and shoots upwind as long as the rider is well-powered. The Trax releases from the water very nicely and is a great performance board for powered up big air riding.
THE VERDICT:
The 2011 F-One Trax is a great all-around board that is easy to feel immediately comfortable on. It planes quickly due to its double concave bottom and goes upwind easily once powered. It especially suits riders who want a light and responsive board for fast riding and big air freestyle jumps and also like super carving ability. This board tracks extremely well and the edge never slipped or chattered under load. The narrow width seemed to make the Trax not ideal for underpowered or light wind conditions, but it’s a pleasure to ride powered up. You might want to look at the F-One Acid if you like a board with more width.
Tester Comment:
“If you want to maximize pop, ride powered up. The supreme control allows the rider to dig in the edge while handling more power.” - Alex Smith, 170 lbs., All-Around Kiter
Tips
TESTED: 134x39 cm AVAILABLE SIZES: 132x38, 134x39, 136x40, 138x41, 140x45 TESTED IN: Pismo Beach and San Francisco, 15-21 knots, choppy water and waves
8 The Trax is a relatively narrow board, so consider riding one size larger than you would otherwise. 8 R ide powered up if you want to get the best performance out of the Trax.
LitewaveWing TESTED: 161 cm AVAILABLE SIZES: 146x45, 153x45, 161x45 TESTED IN: San Diego, 8-12 knots, flat water and small waves
The Wing has evolved into a mind-blowing machine for 2011. The tip-to-tip radical concave smoothes out chop and makes for a very positive carving feeling. The tips are very thin and flexible with built-in torsion bars to maximize carving performance under load. This board is truly a session saver. Wide tips and the unique parabolic sidecut enable planing and rocket you upwind. The wider tips give unbelievable load and pop even in light conditions.
THE KITEBOARDER REPORT
Out of the Box: We tested the big boy of the 2011 Litewave Wings, the 161. This is a light wind specific board and it stands out when compared to other twin tips. The board features wide tips, a reverse sidecut outline, and a very deep tip to tip single concave. There are two fins on the heel edge and two near the tips of the board close to the centerline. This board has more rocker than last year’s model and is fairly flexible. On the Water: We tested this board in San Diego, the light wind capitol of the world and were pleasantly surprised by the light wind abilities of this board. Out testers usually ride surfboards, and they thought that the Wing was at least as efficient at staying on a plane and getting upwind as their largest (6’0”-6’2”) directionals. It does feel strange to have such a large tail on a twin tip, but the added surface area makes this board go when others can’t. The Wing can even be ridden toeside and works well for small light wind jumps.
THE VERDICT:
If you want a twin tip to ride in the lightest possible conditions, you should try the Litewave Wing. We found it to work as well as a large surfboard in light wind, but without the need to switch your feet when jibing. The board goes through chop surprisingly well for such a large board and will even allow you to do tricks like backrolls and frontrolls when other riders are sitting on the beach. If you aren’t excited about riding in light winds, consider looking at the Litewave Storm instead.
Tester Comment:
“In both chop and flat water, the Wing takes hardly any power from the kite to get up and riding.” –Paul Lang, 200 lbs., Surf Kiter
Tips
FROM THE MANUFACTURER
8 Choose the size based on your weight. Big boys (200+ lbs.) should get the 161, lighter riders (under 165 lbs.) should get the 146, and those in the middle (165-200 lbs.) should get the 153.
8 When riding in ultra light wind, let the board
travel slightly downwind and build up speed before trying to edge upwind.