INBOUND: SAB FOIL RAZOR 737 BLACKBIRD
We’ve been aware of a good deal of hype around the new addition to SAB’s Blackbird Razor lineup, proving itself a very effective weapon in the surf. So to get the full background, we got in touch with SAB HQ…
The Razor 737 is described as your most radical foil in the lineup so far. Tell us what makes it such a stand out foil…
The Razor 737 features a surface area of just 650cm². We realized the lineup needed a smaller Razor because, while the larger wings are fantastic for surfing and downwind, riding more radical waves requires a foil that can handle extreme acceleration. That is the core purpose of the 737: it is designed specifically for those moments when you are facing steeper, higher waves.
While a smaller front wing naturally sacrifices some glide, it offers significantly more control and superior stability. When paired with the M-tail and the 325 stabilizer, the feedback from our pro riders – who are quite critical of our gear – has been exceptional. They’ve noted that it holds its ground even in the biggest surf, allowing for radical turns, deep bottom turns, and aggressive cutbacks. Most importantly, you can really push the back wing with total confidence that the foil will hold the load and maintain a clean drive through every curve.
What did the thinner profile and refined outline bring in terms of speed, acceleration, and handling with this foil?
The profile maintains the proven Razor DNA, but we reduced the maximum thickness to achieve a much higher top-end speed. The maximum thickness is now only 14.7mm, which is very close to the specs of a pure racing front wing.
However, it still retains the essential Razor profile characteristics; we carefully positioned the maximum thickness relative to the leading edge to ensure it remains intuitive. This thinner profile is essential when you are dropping down the face of a big wave or simply want to go faster. The 737 accelerates much more efficiently, which is a game-changer when you have to manage the radical acceleration of a steep wave face.
How difficult was it to balance rider accessibility with the goal of being a high-performance foil?
At SAB Foil, our goal is always to deliver top-tier performance while ensuring our gear remains accessible to a wide audience. You can create a high-performance foil, but if it’s too difficult to ride, you'll never truly reach that potential. Sometimes, it’s better to slightly adjust the absolute top-end performance – in a way that the average rider won't even notice – to make the foil more balanced and intuitive. The Razor 737 provides a natural “50/50” stance on both legs, giving you immediate confidence. For us, “SAB Foil” means performance under control; without that, you miss the ultimate goal of every session: having fun.
It’s a foil that sounds happiest when it’s being ridden hard. What kind of rider input brings this foil to life?
The main request from our pro team was for a foil that could handle significant pressure on the back leg, especially during aggressive cutbacks. If you think about pure surfing – on a thruster or a quad – the goal is to push hard with the back foot through the turn while being certain the tail will hold. We designed the 737 with this exact mindset. It allows the rider to enter a wave and drive through turns or radical cutbacks with total security. It won’t slide out under pressure; it holds the load perfectly, allowing for a very powerful and clean drive.
Sounds like we need one then! Tell us about the best gear pairing with the Razor 737…
In terms of boards, it pairs best with volumes ranging from 55 to 75 liters, depending on the rider's weight. For the wing, the “sweet spot” is definitely the 4.3m, but it works excellently within a range of 5.0m down to 3.6m for those high-wind days.
Finally, anything else coming out of the SAB camp soon that we should all know about?
At SAB, we are working every single day to further refine our production quality and expand our lineup. Our goal is to stay ahead of the curve, meeting the evolving needs of our customers and the entire foiling community. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, so as for what’s next… you’ll just have to wait and see. The best is yet to come!
