FANATIC 11’2 FLY PURE
FANATIC 11’2 FLY PURE TEST REVIEW
Verdict:
Fanatic’s new 11’2 Fly rolls their 11’ and 11’6 into one chunky all rounder. The new 11’2 offers outstanding stability for any size rider; it’s super stable but surprisingly nimble to turn with its wide flat tail. If you’re after a super-size board for first steps into the surf or a steady all rounder to put your kids on the front, this new Fanatic has volume to spare.
Overview:
The new Fly 11’2 is the widest in this group with its 34” beam. It has a comfortable deep ledge handle, it’s easy to carry and feels light for its size. It has a large textured deckpad with windsurf insert and it’s also available in a fin box version. Our Fly was the simple plastic single fin version (with no side boxes) and had the biggest flattest deck we’ve seen for a while. On the bottom you have a shallow concave running into a vee throughout to the tail, comes with a stylish graphic and super chunky rails.
Brand Claim:
The Fly is the quintessential SUP range for everyone. From newbie to the more experienced paddler, the Fly’s all-round shape provides an effortless and smooth glide across flat water, performing well in small to mid-sized waves. SUP is fun on the Fly!
Performance:
This is a large board make no mistake, at 236 litres you sit high and dry above the water (I’m 85kg). Once out paddling on the flat it tracks well for a wide board and it’s very, very stable. We’ve all got friends we’ve tried to introduce to SUP on a choppy day at the beach or seen people on their knees to timid to stand and fall, well this new Fanatic would be a game changer for many bigger riders and certainly introduce many people to the joy of standing up whilst paddling! Not surprisingly the biggest and widest board in the group was the slowest in our glide test. However turning and manoeuvring it felt swift and controllable and pivot turned well. Out in the waves the Fanatic picked up most bumps with ease as you would expect; it had the second highest nose rocker(after the Starboard) and with its wide nose and tail was very comfortable and easy to ride on the wave (I just needed a chair or a headstand to do a bit more on the wave!) If you’re after a chunky all rounder, more stable than most on the market and more volume than many 12’+ boards, this new Fanatic in compact 11’2 size will be difficult to beat,