The Sumo 105 has had a graphic makeover for
2006, giving a new lease of life to a design that is
entering its third season of production. Supplied
with two fins, it comes complete with Angulo’s longawaited
new straps, produced courtesy of Da Kine.
One of the wider boards in the group at 64cm, it has
a relatively round tubby appearance (depicting its
name well!) with a flat deck and squared-off nose
and tail. An excellent all-round contender when
tested a couple of years ago, it would be interesting
to see how it compared to the latest designs.
Ride and Handling
Provided with two distinctly different fin designs,
the character of the board can be altered
significantly by utilising them and changing the
footstrap configuration accordingly. With outboard
straps and the large fin in place, the Sumo
releases onto the plane smoothly, the wide deck
providing the stability to cater for a 7.5m, whilst the
voluminous tail enables the rider to adopt a
comfortable stance, loading the fin to cover
distance with ease. In more powered conditions
the small 24cm fin and inboard straps expose a
whole new dimension to the 105, introducing a
definite buoyant wave board quality to its riding
style. Completely controlled irrespective of the
conditions, it never seems to buck or play up, but
offers a composed responsive ride, making it a lot
of fun to use. Still one of the finest examples of a
versatile freemove board, the Sumo is an excellent
option for coastal sailors with a penchant for wave
riding, yet don’t wish to fully immerse themselves
down the freeride path.
Manoeuvres
The Sumo’s supreme versatility extends into the
gybe, with an awesome level of aggressive bite
captivating the expert rider, yet with enough ease
and margin for error to tutor the intermediate.
Carving a smooth progressive arc, the width in the
tail maintains the speed through the turn, whilst the
flat deck provides the stability to allow for clumsy
footwork, (also evident in the tack). In fact, the
Sumo’s control belies its ability, making it feel
almost reserved underfoot, yet as soon as you try
something it always delivers. This is particularly
apparent in freestyle, where it pops surprisingly
well and slides smoothly on its shoulders, the
support supplied by the straps and deckpads
providing the rider with a real sense of control.
For: Supreme versatility. Unquestionable waveboard
style heritage.
Against: Just one setting for inboard back strap –
may be an issue for large sailors that like a wide stance
Verdict
A fantastically versatile board, the Sumo has
lost none of its potency or charm, making it an
excellent all-round option irrespective of rider
weight, style or ability.
It comes well recommended.
