The Chakra is the second line of thrusters to be put into production by Witchcraft. It supposedly has more of a classic freestyle-wave rockerline, but due to the progressive rail shape and tri-fin system it also crosses over nicely into wave territory, hence its inclusion in this test. Witchcraft tell us the Chakra is the most versatile board for all coastal waters, and that it excels in onshore wave conditions. Six sizes are available from 76L to 106L.
Design: With a maximum width of 59.5cm and a quoted volume of 88L, it’s one of the largest boards in this test. It has 7mm of tail rocker, which is an average amount for a waveboard of this size, and it has a relatively long planing flat with the 2cm point at 148.5cm. It has quite a lot of vee in the tail, with a subtle double concave that flattens out as you move towards the nose. It also features the progressive rail shape synonymous with Witchcrafts.
On the water: As soon as you beachstart the Witchcraft you’re up and planing and about to hit your first ramp – this board was without a doubt one of the earliest to get going, making it an absolute joy to go jumping with in gusty onshore conditions. It wasn’t as loose as some of the other boards in this test, but was super-smooth with plenty of drive in the bottom turn, and just as nice off the lip. It went upwind like a rocket and was always a favourite for sailing round to the upwind breaks, making it perfect for any tidal waters in the UK where you constantly feel like you’re having to sail upwind. It was better suited to the bigger guys; some of the smaller riders said that it felt a little bit too large for 5.3m weather. It seemed absolutely bulletproof, and although it topped the scales at the weigh-in it never felt heavy on the water or in the air.
Fittings: It comes with an 18.5cm G10 central fin with US box fitting, which is quite stiff throughout, plus two 13.5cm thrusters with mini Tuttle box fittings. It was fitted with Pro Limit kiteboard-style straps, which proved very comfortable, and thick, comfy deckpads. The Chakra also featured a very small mast-track, giving little room for adjustment.
Overall: A very good board for coastal blasting, jumping, and riding. The tri-fin system worked really well, giving great upwind performance and extra drive through turns. If you’re a big guy and worried about snapping boards, then this should surely suit you – we’re positive that you’d n never break it, even in the standard construction that we used!
Click here to read the BOARDS 256 Multi-Fin Waveboard test in full…
