Test Winner - Aug. 20, 2010
Boardseeker.com Magazine

"The Tabou Rocket really hits the nail on the head when it comes to freeriding. It tops the tables in nearly every performance category, yet impressively blends all this performance with being one of the easiest boards to ride.

The Tabou Rocket has quite rightly established itself as a benchmark freeride board thanks to a fantastic blend of performance and ease of use...The easiest board to go fast on. It goes quick without even trying hard and is really comfortable at the same time...Unbelievable control at the top end for a board of this size and the best early planing performance of the group"

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Fabien Vollenweider (Rocket Shaper) comments:
"We keep learning how to make our Manta race boards faster and faster - this translates directly over to the Rocket range! We have a couple new shapes that will show you some of the fastest freeride GPS numbers out there. Be ready to go fast... Get maximum performance from lighter weight and stiffer ride. This is the top of the line freeride machine"!

Once you blast off on the Rocket, you instantly get a feeling of freedom. The unique bottom shape combined with the shorter outline gives you a flying sensation in the lightest of winds.  These boards are built to do it all - step on and you can't deny the smile that hits you. Perfectly crafted deck shape, an unbeatable rocker line combined with magic rails keep the Rocket on top of the game.

Standard Wood/PVC Glass is built for the customer that wants a great board without breaking the bank. The perfect balance of strength to weight ratio, makes this full PVC sandwich structure a popular construction - strong enough to take some abuse and light enough to keep you smiling!

GT AST High resistance composite technology – an optimum weight and durable construction for every-day use. A thick, durable outer skin gives the board hull a high strength, ding and impact resistance. Strategic use of glass reinforcements ensures an adequate stiffness.

LTD Biax Carbon/ PVC Sandwich - Top quality and high-tech specification Biax Carbon has a perfect weight to stiffness ratio as a result of it´s very fine weave, plus has fantastic dynamic flex. In combination with PVC Sandwich Technology and Glass reinforcements, it provides a perfect stiffness/flex/weight ratio on the Manta Slalom line. We used the same basic construction for our Freeride Limited Edition boards, except that on the deck we have an Aramid Carbon material.This specially developed material has a better shock absorbing quality than pure carbon, for more comfort, whilst offering a very stiff and light performance, which is needed for these high performance Freeride/FreeRace boards. All of these models are produced with the light finish sanded look, for extra weight savings.

Fabien Vollenweider (Rocket Shaper) comments:
"This board works for everybody- we have developed a perfect construction that delivers durability and performance all right here in the standard construction".

• GT Wood and AST - our most popular construction: The same original shapes just in most durable and affordable construction. Slightly heavier and less reactive, the GT suits the budget minded Freerider that wants a great and durable board
• Newly designed 115 and 135- more planing and better top end speed
• The NEW smoothed Rocker Line gives quicker acceleration. New outlines combined with a small winger on the tail give unmatched top end and life to these new designs
• Rocket 135 has increased its length for smoother planning
• Increased double concave entry in the nose area to prevent hitting chop and smooth out the ride
• New Size- Rocket 155 GT- basically a Cool Rider 160 without the Center fin or Eva deck pad. Much lighter board with a high end fin, make this a performance oriented entry level/progression machine
• Integrated heel cushions
• Rocket GT 95, 105 and 115 in Wood construction - similar weight and feel to the Standard Wood - highly recommended!
  
• Rocket GT 125, 135, 145 and 155 comes in AST construction and with exta footstrap insert positions (to move footstraps inboard or outboard) for faster learning and progression - highly recommended!
  

Fabien Vollenweider (Rocket Shaper) comments:
"This board is mainly for the consumer that wants a great shape and doesn't have a lot of budget to spend. The boards are great - a proven shape that you can grow into".

Test Report: Windsurf, UK

Rocket 95

Speed, straight-line stability and awesome carving capabilities.

 Combining straight-line composure with exceptional carving ability, the Rocket 95 remains a real test team favourite, being one of the most versatile wave/freeride crossover boards around. Highly recommended.

 

Test Report:  Windsurf, UK

Rocket 105

Plug and play ease coupled with awesome straight-line performance. With a unique stance, the Rocket 105 is a truly magical freeride thoroughbred, marrying straight-line performance with control, ease and response. It comes very highly recommended for hours of blasting enjoyment on any sea state.

Test Report:  Windsurfing Magazine, US
Rocket 105

What We Liked: "A speed stick on steroids!", "Fun to run", "Smoking fast!" –all exact words that came out of the test team's mouths. The Rocket's ready to blast no matter who's at the helm – light or heavyweight, intermediate or expert. It didn't disappoint in the jibes, either.
Better Than the Fleet at: Getting our freestyle-crazy expert to want to own a slalom stick!
Best Suits: Any sailor that's looking for a speeding thrill.
Other Highlights: At 13.1 lbs, it's the lightest board in the entire test by over a pound.

Test Report:  Windsurf, UK

Rocket 115
Awesome combination of performance and control. The Rocket 115 provides the performance and range to keep the expert rider captivated, whilst its stunning control and smoothness makes it more than applicable for an aspiring intermediate. With such universal appeal, it comes highly recommended by us.

Test Report:  Boardseeker Magazine
Rocket 125
"Tabou have really hit the nail on the head with this board. For blasting, gybing, early planing and fun, you won't find a better board on the market. Without question, the Rocket 125 is the quickest board onto the plane in the group...what impresses most however, is the ease at which it manages to get going.

It really is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to true 'ease of planing'...The Rocket lives up to its name. It really is a quick board, but in keeping with form so far, it's the ease at which it goes fast that impresses...the group leader for intermediate and beginner carve gybers."

 

Test Report:
Rocket 145
What We Liked: The "magic carpet" offered a stable, invigorating ride for intermediate and advanced testers alike. One tester noted that it "floated over chop" and another left the water shouting "Tabou -- WOOHOO!" Comfortable, accessible speed for any sailor.
Better Than the Fleet at: All-around performance that's accessible for sailors of any skill level.
Best Suits: Get-on-and-go sailors who want a fun and friendly ride that doesn't require tuning and tweaking.
Other Highlights: Ultra-comfy Tabou foot straps, solid molded prepreg fin.

Testing the Tabou Rocket 135 from Andy McKinney on Vimeo.

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Tabou Test Reports: Boardseeker Magazine
Rocket 125

Without question, the Rocket is the quickest board onto the plane in the group. The thing that impresses most however is the ease at which it manages to get going. It really is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to true ‘ease of planing’.

You don’t need any sophisticated technique. The big fin no doubt helps, but it really is the shape of the hull that delivers the goods. There is enough volume in the tail to forgive the heavy footed. There is enough width to provide unrivalled stability. There is enough ‘bite’ in the shape to prevent you having to bear off the wind and the straps are so well positioned that you can slip into them without worry of unsettling the board.

In this department, the Rocket lives up to its name. It really is a quick board, but in keeping with form so far, it’s the ease at which it goes fast that impresses.

The big fin gives it more of an advantage upwind than down, and for ultimate speed performance we would recommend a smaller fin (maybe 40cm), but the board remains comfortable, predictable and well mannered, with a nice stiff feel to it.

Do the maths; high volume, biggest fin in the test and great early planing performance. You would expect the Tabou to be a bit of a wild horse when it came to control….but it isn’t.

In a similar way to the Fanatic, the Tabou feels like a big board, but is able to disguise the likely pitfalls quite nicely. The nose stays low (even in the biggest gusts), the board handles chop well and the ride is safe and predictable. You can’t ask much more from a board of this size.

This is a big board and as such, it’s never going to be the most exciting to gybe. It’s a competent gyber and an advanced rider will turn it with ease. There is a little bit of scope to adjust the arc of the turn mid gybe, but generally it feels stable and safe rather than nimble and exciting.

The shortcomings in advanced gybing are what makes it the group leader for intermediate and beginner carve gybers.

The board is extremely stable, tolerant to heavy footed technique, maintains planing exceptionally well and has great inboard footstrap positions for gybing.

Not only this, but when you do drop off the plane, you are on the most effective board in the group for getting back onto the plane. What more can you ask for?!

‘Big’ is the first impression you get when you sail this board. It definitely feels like the biggest in the group.

The chubby domed tail make your feet (back foot particularly), feel higher above the water than on any of the other boards. This gives a nice comfortable foot position but also adds to the impression of size.

The Rocket feels stiff, fast and exciting enough to keep pretty much everyone entertained in a straight line.

Rider input we scored at -1 (passive). The board tends to do a pretty good job on its own and doesn’t require a great deal of rider input to extract performance.

The standard 44cm fin is the biggest in the test, but does seem to suit the board well. For better performance with sub 7.0m sails, we would recommend an additional 40cm fin.

Tabou claim the sail range of the board to be 5.5-8.5m sails. We are confident that the board will be happy with sails of up to 9.0m, but have reservations about going down to 5.5m on it. The board felt big with our 6.2m quiver sails and we wouldn’t like to go much smaller unless on very flat water.

The Rocket was equally comfortable and worked well with inboard or outboard strap positions.