AK PHAZER wing board test

AK Phazer V2 Reflex Carbon 5’3 (65 L) Review

► Rider Profile: Benjamin, 1m88, 78kg

Benjamin: I'm Benjamin, a wingfoil instructor at Wing Latitude in Pornichet for the 2022 season. My passion for sailing started with extensive experience in dinghies (Laser). I wanted to learn wingfoil when I first saw riders flying at the end of 2020.

As a boardsports beginner, I taught myself slowly, which immediately put me in the shoes of other beginners. This experience now lets me give the right advice and essential guidance to anyone eager to learn wingfoil. My current skill level? I can nail most jibes and their variations, and my tacks are getting more consistent. After riding strapless for a long time, I’m now starting to throw in some jumps for fun. I love speed and surfing the swell at my favorite spot: Pont-Mahé.

Current quiver: AK Phazer V2 Reflex Carbon, AFS Performer Foil (950 & 1450), Duotone Unit Wing 2022 (4m)

Boards tested: Gong Zuma, Gong Hipe, AFS, Fanatic Sky, SIC Raptor and Mako, Takoon Comet SW

► Rider's Review of the AK Phazer Reflex Carbon 5’3

First Impressions:

At first glance, the AK Phazer V2 looks like a surfboard with a length of 5’3 and a volume of 65 L. The lines are straight and end with a slightly raised nose. The color is very nice: the hull shape is all white and the deck is grey-blue, surrounded by sky-blue lines, a color also found on the pad. To the touch, it seems to grip well, and there are many strap inserts. Positive point: footstraps and their screw set are included with the board.

A white hull shape will be less affected by the sun than a dark hull shape when you have to leave it for a few minutes.

What's quite impressive is its weight: just over 5 kg. The carbon construction significantly lightens the board, and you can feel it when you grab it by the hull shape handle. This handle is also well-designed, being deeply recessed. The grip is excellent for holding the board when you need to get into the water in challenging wave conditions.

On the Water:

Carrying a board as light as the AK Phazer V2 Reflex Carbon makes getting to the water effortless. That's a great start!

A well-recessed handle for a better grip:

My first session (side-off wind, medium wind 20 knots, gusts 30 knots, flat sea) was done strapless to test the foil's positioning on the track and adjust it during the next session. The first difficulty one might expect is the waterstart with a board of lower volume than one's weight. Surprisingly, it wasn't as complicated as I imagined. The board naturally sits below the water level when you're on it, but by leaning on the wing, you can easily position your knees. Once the wing is in hand, the length of the AK Phazer V2 Reflex Carbon coupled with its lightness (approx. 5 kg) makes getting out of the water easy. Indeed, with a minimum of pressure in the wing, the board starts to glide very quickly, and the take-off is remarkably fast.

A nice mix of blue, footstraps included, a beautiful finish... What else?

In flight, wow! You get the sensation of having your feet completely connected to the foil thanks to the concave and the carbon stiffness of the AK Phazer V2 Reflex Carbon. Moreover, during maneuvers, you can carve radically because the board isn't very wide, which limits the risk of touching down. I really appreciate having switched to a narrower board than my previous one (Takoon Comet SW 85 L); the board responds instantly to the trajectories I want to take. During jumps, it feels like having a skateboard under your feet because it's so light and maneuverable.

I haven't tested it in a real wave session yet, but the few freefly runs I've done confirmed the feeling of being on a high-quality surfboard thanks to its radicality and handling.

The Pros of the AK Phazer V2 Reflex Carbon:

- Solid and lightweight construction thanks to carbon layers

- Waterstart and take-off made easier by the board's length

- Feeling at one with the foil, top handling

- A well-designed hull shape handle for better grip

- The included and super comfortable footstraps

- The quality of the finishes and the color

The Cons of the AK Phazer V2 Reflex Carbon:

- Despite a large and hollow hull shape handle, it is positioned a little too far back

- Like many boards, this one shows marks from the slightest friction.

► Conclusion

Try it, love it! I was a bit skeptical about riding (for the first time) a board with such low volume for my weight and skill level. But the AK Phazer V2 Reflex Carbon completely won me over. I'll keep riding it; it has so much potential.