I visited the Goya Quattro HQ in Tarifa last weekend and got the heads up on some new boards and kit from the boss himself Lalo Goya. I checked out the new Goya Fringe, Baznzai, Guru and the new mark free race sails. While I was  there I had the chance to see new models from Goya including new Volar freeride boards and Quattro’s new sups range, new AST construction Glides, kids range Nano and new Quattro Tourer.

I tried the 94l Super Mini which Lalo and Mateo pulled straight out of the box and set it up especially for me. At first it look pretty tasty; a short tri-fin set-up, but unlike most other brands it doesn’t have the square cut off nose. Keith Taboul concept has been to work through the protypes  and evolve the concept different outline early planing but still very loose. I went to the beach down wind from the Dos Mares in Tarifa in light marginal winds using a 5.3m Fringe with the new skinny Goya carbon boom.

There were a lot of other people including Benny Harrision and Mateo on 5.5s out in the small waist to chest high waves cross onshore conditions. First impression was that the board had plenty of float and as I bobbed out through the surf I had to head up wind and stall the sail to get out through the surf. I got out pumped a couple of times and pointed the board down wind and carried on up wind. I was surprised how quick it was  to plane and it felt super stable in the choppy Tarifa conditions. I didn’t get much to jump off but it felt very balanced in the air for its super short length of 218 cm.

On the way back in as I got planning I had to get used to standing a little further back than normal to keep the nose up. Once I figured this out it was fine and I had quite a few on-shore wave rides that felt super smooth and loose. I normally ride a Goya Quad so it felt different to this with its wider tail but more like the Quattro Cube it planes fast and turns with plenty of speed. I only rode for a few hours and I didn’t have the chance to try it with the fin further forward or adjusting the straps to my normal settings. I reckon the back strap for me might work really in the back position. We will have one of these soon at the beach for test so come and give it a go!

Have to say thanks to Lalo Goya, Bianca, Indy and Axel for the  great hospitality and showing me some great tapas and steak restaurants over 2 days while I was there .