Mistral back in the longboard game
August 4, 2008 · Print This Article
Mistral have finally joined the longboard revival by releasing 2 new longboards, the Ventura and the Equipe III, which will stand alongside the aging One Design (IMCO) in their quiver.
The Ventura looks like an all round freeride longboard that could be an alternative to the Exocet Kona as a rec. board. The Mistral website suggests the Ventura to be good for cruising, beginners and even advanced sailors using large freeride sails. The board specs out with 255 litres volume, 343 cm in length and 72 cm wide. “Discover your lake or seaside coast in a different way, cruising and enjoying!
Adventure the new Ventura!” so the website says. It seems Mistral have been doing their research into the essence of longboards - Crusing.
Mistral have also unleashed their answer to Starboard’s Phantom 380 and Exocet’s Warp-X 380 by releasing a new carbon raceboard, the Equipe III RD. Keeping with the tradition, the Equipe III will follow on from it’s ancestors, the Equipe I, II & II XR after nearly 10 years. The Equipe III has a length of 383 cm, a volume of 286 litres and a width similar to the Phantom 380 at 71 cm. The board seems to be sticking with the original tri-concave bottom and a tail reminiscent of the Equipe II XR. One new feature though is the ability to change the position of the daggerboard to suit changing conditions which sounds interesting.
Will Mistral make an appearance at the Raceboard Worlds in Sopot, Poland on the 9-16 August? Unfortunately, Mistral have not released any real life photos of these boards on there website yet and it will be interesting to see whether the price tag will be competitive. We will just have to wait.
For more info check out Mistral website www.mistral.com
“From Little Things Big Things Grow”
Both literally and metaphorically this proverb seems to be appropriate. With Mistral jumping back into the long board game it appears that we are continuing the long board renaissance and have almost come full circle. Surely now it is evident to all, that long boards are an essential part of this great sport and here to stay.
Having owned a number of Mistral long boards in the past from the first Pan Am through to Mistral Equips and the final Pan Am I for am very keen to have a look at the Equip 3 in the flesh. At the next Raceboard Worlds and indeed Continental and National events it will be great to see the Equip head to head with the Phantom and Warp. As you would expect LBWS will do a review on the Equip 3 when we can get our hands on one. Stay Tuned.
Pat
That’s Great News! Now F2 will need to respond, So maybe we can expect to see a revised version of the 380 Race come back into production. Can’t wait !!!
It’s also about time that Fanatic get an updated Mega Cat out on the market.
Only problem is that i heard that they have no desire for longboards
Great news! we are back on racing, and happy to find new boards to compete Formulas on long distances and triangles, right now!
It will be great to see a variety of production raceboards available - a good sign for the longboard revival.
The Mistral’s key measurements are nearly identical to the Starboard Phantom. The lines are similar to the Starboard Phantom, but perhaps a little wider in the nose (it’s difficult to assess due to the lmiited images of both).
The mast track, centreboard and fin look like they are closer to the rear of the board compared to the Phantom, especially the fin.
It will be interesting to see the concave deck. Also very interesting is that they’ve retained the tri-concave bottom - I don’t understand the rationale for this.
Tri-concave? I thought the same, although it did work on the IMCO. I think the design will work, as it is very similar to the traditional old raceboard and they work. The advantage the Equipe III will have over the old Equipe will probably just be more volume and width. Thats it. I think if my old XR had another 30 - 40 ltr volume it would be as quick in the light/moderate stuff.
I thought the tri concave helped keep the board steady on the rail upwind.
The dagger and track does look further back, I therfore wonder if they have kept a similar rocker line or focused on lightwind/flatter water performance
Mistral have confirmed they are in the development process and plan to have the first quantities available early spring 2009.
I used to longboard it , went to open regattas years back , being a heavy weight got killed in light airs, and it be nice to buy one of these either the equipe or phantom as they have the volume .
but the price!! whooooah call me a winer but over 2.5 G’s for a hull of the phantom….that kept me away ,
now the equipie probably be the same price point ,
and if memory serves me correct, they all complained of the RSX’s price
i’d rather stick with the old equipe and imcos,
at reagattas right now wih those old boards kicking around imco equpies f-2 s at least grass roots and people with less cash could compete.. buy a used IMCO go race.
now they will be left long behind
well i guess they could do kona…but for some ( like me )
being up in the middle of nowhere and racing against an open fleet id be sunk…
either that or give up beer and lose some weight.
or…… spend the 2.5s on beer !!
i have answered my own question
( all in jest of course)
shred
Interestingly Mistral had the One Design model back on their website. Does this mean that these are being manufactured again also. I heard a rumor that they are and that they are using the same mast track as the Phantom and Warp-X.
I emailed Boards & More to find out but no response.
Does anyone know if they are??