Length: 234 cmWidth: 61 cmTail Width: 38.6 cmWeight: 6.6 kgVolume: 94 litersThickness: 11.4 cmFin: Drake Freewave 28 (US Box + 2 x Slot Box 10)Sail range: 4.5m² - 6.5m²

On Land:

The Kode FreeWave 94 is part of a 4-board range, going from 81 to 103 liters.

All boards in this range have a bottom shape with a pronounced Vee. For this 2015 season, the Kode FreeWaves 81, 86 and 94 come with a thruster fin setup. However, it is optional on this Kode 94 which is delivered with a Drake Freewave 28 single fin in G-10 and two plugs to seal the side boxes. Starboard recommends a unique thruster setup with a MFC TF 20 cm center fin and Drake Natural Wave 11 cm long side fins.

The Starboard offers two rows of footstraps inserts with two options each for the front strap and two insert options in the back, with the possibility of opting for a single or a double strap.

Performance:

The Kode FreeWave 94 is definitely an early planing board and after a powerful acceleration, it reaches a more than respectable top end speed. Sailors on the Kode FreeWave will be the fastest riders at their home spot, whether it's choppy or flat, and even freestylers will like the board.

For freestyle, we would recommend switching to a smaller fin. The Starboard feels free in the straight-line, not sticking at all to the water and jumping easily. The board also turns and slides easily, while being forgiving.

And it's an easy board for pure freeriders. If you go into a jibe with speed, you will exit the jibe with speed, too. The easiness of planing and the high top speed allow riders to look for ramps to jump. Whether you're doing chop hops on flat water or a loops in waves, the Kode FreeWave does it all.

We didn't like the turn radius in single fin when riding waves last year which is why we recommend to switch to a thruster fin setup. The turns will be tighter, the board will feel looser and overall, the cutbacks will be more radical, with more spray and power. Unfortunately, the board does lose some early planing ability compared to the single fin setup.

Verdict:

The Kode FreeWave 94 is fast. Very fast. In stronger wind conditions the board is easy to control.

To use it in the waves, we highly recommend buying the thruster fin setup recommended by Starboard. You will then unlock the doors of powerful wavesailing, and won't be able to complain about the board's maneuverability.

Skilled freestylers will also be able to throw (and land) all of the latest new-school tricks too.