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Boardseeker Board and Sail Graphics Poll 2008

Graphics - they don’t help the way the board or sail sails, but they do have a big impact on the sales of the board and the sails. This is 2008 after all; it’s gotta work well and look like it works well. If it costs you an arm and a leg you want it to tell people that, in a subtle, classy and sexy way!

Some people argue that graphics don’t matter, but they’re just plain wrong.

The Boardseeker Board and Sail graphics poll is the only place where you can cast your vote for the best looking board and sail for 2008, and don’t think for a minute the brands aren’t out there watching. Choose wisely dear reader because the chances are the winning designs will have a big influence over the colours and patterns you’ll see over future boards and rigs.

The Rules:

We asked each brand to submit one sail and one board to represent that brand for 2008, and also to tell us a little about the graphics, such as who designed them and what inspired them (or in some cases, what the hell they were thinking). Most got back to us but a few didn’t and we’ve selected what we think is their best looking 2008 product in those cases. In a few other cases such as Exocet and Thommen, no 2008 images were available at this time. It isn’t, after all, quite 2008 yet!

Firstly you can choose from FOUR options to give your opinion on each board and see what everyone else thinks. Then vote only ONCE for your favourite board at the bottom of the feature.. Please vote only based on the looks, not because you know it’s a good board, or you’ve got one, or you’re the brand manager. Remember to check back regularly to see who’s winning. Good luck to all the brands and please get voting now…

Boards below. For Sail Graphics Poll click here

Brand: Angulo Boards
Make: Chango

They Say: They don’t say actually, but they maybe feel they don’t have to after walking away with this competition two years ago with the Angulo SuperGu. Due to their status as current Graphics Champions we’ve decided to allow this picture in, even though it didn’t fit our strict guidelines.

We Say:
Kind of a fruit pastilles flavour to these at first glance until you look closely and see you’ll be standing on the face of a very angry looking monolithic head when you sail this board. Fortunately he seems to be asleep. Nice colours though.

Brand: Quatro
Make: Wave

They Say: We have chosen the board for Quatro. This board is their single fin wave board. It is worth noting that Quatro have 2 wave lines this year, one single fin and one twin fin, both hailed to be high quality down the line wave boards. Due to the company's roots being firmly in Hawaii, we expect the graphics to compliment an agressive wave riding machine.

We Say:
Agressive and colourful graphics. One word sums it up quite nicely for us - 'Attack!'. It's also got that slightly grungy edge that makes you want to smash that guitar in to the amplifier and go do a double.

Brand: AHD
Make: Freestyle

They Say: The new graphics are firmly intended to make everyone sit up a take notice of what AHD have been doing in the last three years since deciding not to base their ranges on the needs of individual 'star riders' but instead, to build boards to suit the majority of sailors in the majority of locations around the world. The graphics are Bold, Bright and Vibrant, reflecting the increasing confidence in the products, their market position and future direction.

We Say:
Hey you, out there. Sit up and take notice, this is what an AHD looks like in 2008! They certainly are bold, bright and vibrant and we kinda like them.

Brand: BiC
Make: Jungle

They Say: Bic weren’t able to select a board for us, so we’ve chosen the Jungle. New for 2008 it’s a retro looking hybrid/long board/ SUP/ surfboard/ beginner board/ funboard/ ironing board/ digital alarm clock and teas
maid.

We Say:
We reckon the inspiration comes from the ‘80s golden era of the sport when boards were bright and simple, but how will it go down in today’s post iPod design world? Only you can tell us with your votes.

Brand: Drops Windsurfing Boards
Make: Jump

They Say: Designed by brand owner Mario Vinti, Drops designs represent a clean, unobtrusive Italian brand identity in which the board lines are not overwhelmed with graphic overload. The Drops graphics are a result of continuous evolution from their understated origins where the board shape took front stage beyond the aesthetics. Over the years Mario has been mindful not to let some of the wilder graphics that have come and gone, cast their short lived appeal influence over the positive progression of the Drops individualism.

We Say:
Individual it certainly is, we’re not sure it quite counts as understated though but that’s Italians for you. Because Drops are not (yet) a major player in the UK market you’re unlikely to see too many like yours if you buy one!

Brand: F2
Make: Rebel

They Say: F2 weren’t able to select a board to represent their range so we’ve done it for them by choosing the 2008 Rebel. Billed as the board to face Ho’okipa’s white water walls just as well as chaotic North Sea rollers, it rebels against the industry standard of one board for a certain set of conditions, hence the name, do you see what they’ve done there?

We Say:
The graphics are a mixture of aggression and a kind of Celtic soulfulness, but they don’t go right to the edge of the board so that it’s easy to colour match when fixing dings. Fun and Function eh? Now that would make a good slogan for F2.

Brand: Fanatic
Make: Skate

They Say: The Skate Team Edition has a very sexy optic with special hand sprayed air brush look and full technora/kevlar, bi-ax carbon constructions - top quality with the lightest possible weight. Our full time product engineer at Cobra has been working tirelessly with our graphic agency to come up with new constructions and optics to make our boards even more valuable, unique and eye-catching.

We Say:
It does look like a pretty serious piece of kit and there’s nothing there to distract the rider as they go for the third rotation in their clew first spock 900.

Brand: Goya
Make: Custom Wave 68

They Say: Designed by Jason Stone and Francisco Goya and around 20 other people who share their vision over the year. Inspired by elements and colours that are associated with the state of mind and the conditions the board is designed to be ridden on. They represent a passion for the sport with a minimal representation to keep your focus on everything else around you.

We Say:
“A minimal representation?” We think that means they were too busy designing the board to worry too much about the graphics! The Goya is one of several boards to feature the sanded look to cut down on weight and reveal the carbon finish underneath. It’s fair to say it looks better in real life and slightly dirty in pictures. If it floats your boat, vote here.

Brand: JP Australia
Make: Freestyle/Wave

They Say: JP are keeping stumm officially, leaving the board to do the talking. However we can tell you this board features the “Super Limited Silver Finish on the top, bottom and rails.” We don’t know if it’s super limited as in really rare, or just quite rare and really good!

We Say:
JP turned this board into a classic long ago now by keeping the general shape of the board, along with its graphics, constant from year to year. This year it features the sanded paintwork look to see through to the carbon layer and we think the graphics this year, although clearly recognisably JP, are the best they’ve been for many years.

Brand: Mistral
Make: Wave RD

They Say: The new RD Board range is based on Premium technology, performance and durability. This should be reflected within the Designs. Our aim was to connect the traditional Mistral Designs with a touch of modernity. Marcilio was not only involved in the development of the Freestyle, Wave and Wave/Freestyle Boards but also gave us his ideas about the graphics. You will find on each board of the 2008 RD Board range an ornament…(which you can see on the underside of board at the nose)…if you put all ornaments next to each other than you will find out that all these ornaments are connected to each other. Moreover you have noticed that the unfinished look is a kind of graphic element which all manufacturer are using at the moment. We wanted to have a different unfinished look which should be rather integrated into the design - we are calling this UNIQUE Mistral unfinished look. So we want our boards to look sophisticated with small details which you see only if you have a close look at the boards. The new Air Pod Pads have an M-Dot logo engraved.

We Say:
A big and bold new look for Mistral for 2008, to coincide with it’s rebirth as a major world cup brand under the helm of Nik Baker. It’s distinctive and there’s nothing too extreme that might put buyers off (remember the old Jokers?). Could do well here.

Brand: Naish
Make: All Terrain Wave

They Say: The graphics on both boards and sails are always a team effort between the R&D department and our graphic department. The main goal is to achieve a clear distinctive look that is unique to Naish. Every board in the line has its particular sized graphic that is fitted to the outline and the thickness flow. We try to make the pads a main part of the graphic but still implement the technical features, like dual density structure, at the same time. You can also repeatedly see our main logos like the Naish diamond (which is also repeated in the graphic), the Naish crest, and the four “1”s referring to Robby’s sail number US 1111.

We Say:
Naish boards are always finished to a very high standard and that includes the graphics. This year they seem flowing, sleek and pretty classy but perhaps just a touch on the conservative side?

Brand: RRD
Make: Wave Cult

They Say: Jem Hall, the new brand manager for Seasprite Sports said: “The new RRDs look ****ing awesome. Work it b**der!” which we’ve taken to mean the following: the RRD graphics were originally inspired by a Prada shirt that Roberto’s girlfriend saw on a plane on the way back from Bali. They’ve since been refined and tuned but the basic idea of a separate colour for each individual model remains, with a common design philosophy unifying the range.

We Say:
RRD are slightly unusual in doing the sanded paint look with coloured paint rather than white. Another board that does look better in the flesh than in pictures but it doesn’t look too bad here either.

Brand: Starboard
Make: Kombat

They Say: Our shaper’s, KOLTd Black’s, design brief was to transform the wave oriented Kombat to also becoming the quickest and lightest of crossover boards so naturally the Kombat’s graphics had to capture this transformation. Continuing with our pacific tribal theme, all 2008 boards incorporate the tribal designs of the New Zealand Maori. It was almost scary how naturally the Kombat’s new shape took to its Maori livery, immediately transcending the aggressiveness and attitude of a Maori warrior. The bright screaming yellow loudly announces its presence on the water like a Maori war haka, breathing fear into the hearts of others with a hint of red blood from its last victim. We believe this design delivers considerable justice to the Kombat’s remastered shape.

We Say:
Wow! Maori inspired tribal markings with a touch of blood. KOLTd (yes, that really is how you spell his name) has really gone to town on this board and we think it looks awesome.

Brand: Tabou
Make: Da Curve

They Say: “Style, grace and consistency sum up this year’s all new Da Curve range…” according to the new Tabou website, but they forgot to mention that a funky new set of graphics completes the package.

We Say:
The choice of the Da Curve is ours, since Tabou didn’t select a board themselves. But we feel it’s the best looking of the range. Sort of a cross between a fireworks display and a wave and – according to my four year old niece – very pretty. If you agree, you know what to do.