Rider: Weight,Level (advanced)
Style: Freeriding
Weather: 7-30 knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: (Yep it's me again, shop and school guy :-))

My Comments:

In the words of Monty Python, "And now for something completely different...."

I'm going to ask you all to put your preconceptions and past experiences aside whilst I talk about this new board from Airush. It's a new concept in riding and so we are making a new riding style category for it. I call it a coastal freeride cruising.

The Sector 60 is a 174cm long x 60cm board which to all intents and purposes looks a lot like a windsurfing Formula board. It's short and very wide and directional. The Sector 60 is three straps like a wind surfer and has HUGE Dagger like fins in a Quad configuration.

As this board is so different to anything else on the water, you need to keep an open mind when considering it. I've been riding this board for about 4 weeks now and have had possession of it for about three weeks so have had ample time to "get a bead on it." I've raced it in 30 knots and have cruised on it in 7 knots. It's really a remarkable board and is very hard to pigeon hole it as to where it fits in.

The most fun I've had on the board is mostly coastal cruising in light to moderate breeze, as it points upwind pretty much as well as a race board, and in difference to the race board, does it very comfortably making it fun and easy to ride upwind. You can simply point upwind, clear the pack and ride alone away from the stress.

The coast and scenery glide by quickly and effortlessly as the board fairly cracks along at a good pace. Your concentration is taken mostly in finding the sweet spot as you load rail or fins to get the board as flat as possible to hit the speed spot where the board just rockets away. Remembering that if the wind is light, the water is calm and the experience is all together pleasant and borders on surreal.

The perfect day is having a couple of mates and going to Rotto (by boat), then doing a circumnavigation of Rottnest on the Sectors. You can explore bays, race, cruise and have a great time in light winds being the only people out, riding in places no one else can get to due to the lack of upwind ability of normal boards.

Downwinders are almost getting crowded nowadays when you can start off doing an upwinder for several kilometers and then riding back downwind again, saving the need to hide pumps, organise cars and keep keys dry etc.

The ride is easy to cruise effortlessly at speed and they point highly into the wind, fast and comfortable downwind, and they are competitive in a good breeze against a race board too. I took a 2nd place on a Sector 60 in 25-30 knots and wild chop! Incredible light wind ability and just fun! With thier width, they are easy to gybe or even tack which brings with it a new realm of challenges.

Cast off your preconceived ideas and come and take one for a demo. We have a Sector 60 available all the time at Pinnaroo at the Truck. Especially good on those 10-12 knot days where you can be powered up and smiling whilst others don't bother even coming to the beach. It's not adrenaline kitelooping kind of fun, it's more mellow and allows you to ride in winds you've never ridden in and therefore don't understand the draw to lighter wind kiting.

Like I said, great fun and worth a demo. I think they'll be a big hit, especially if you take the time for a demo.

Cheers,

KH

We've been doing exactly what you are talking about on a selection of boards including a wide TT, a quad surfboard with some big fins and a North RaceLTD (ie. the several km upwind followed by a downwind blast).

The North is a load of fun and it is fun chasing the racing yachts upwind. It's kind of slow in straight line going downwind. The surfboard and TTs can come close in upwind angle but are way slower. On the downwind leg they are much faster than the race board.

The question about the Sector 60, how does it go downwind? Is it fast?

The other thing about race boards, and the Sector 60 looks the same, the fins are diabolically sharp. The risk of getting cuts is very real. During water relaunch it is hard to see your kite over the board and there is a risk of cutting your lines on the fins.

The bigger board and the big fins make them a lot more difficult to fit in the car and storage is a bit of a drama compared to TT and surfboards.

Looks like it would be a lot of fun do you think it would edge well without the straps?

Hi Guys,

To answer your questions. Yes the fins are quite sharp (can't tell you how many times I have sliced my toes when walking around it in the back of the truck). They aren't sharp enough to be crazy dangerous, but diabolical none the less! [}:)]

The Sector 60 is fast downwind and MUCH more comfortable to ride than the Race LTD's or Monaro's. No back leg burn! It fairly flies upwind and is quick downwind too and surprisingly stable.

The Sector is a biggish board and if you have a Nissan Micra, you'll have issues toting it, but not a major problem if you remove the fins, they are only one screw in any case.

The first shipment of only 3 Sectors has already sold out. Two out of the three have gone to guys who have demo'd it.

KH

Sorry waxman,

Couldn't edit last post so ......

Yes, you can easily ride it strapless upwind, downwind is where you need the straps if you are in a good stiff breeze as you launch off the backs of the chop.

I ride with feet out of the straps occasionally when necessary and it's not hard. Just the other day I did a 2 km upwinder carrying a lost board I found floating near Mullaloo SLSC. It was an easy beat upwind, even managed the gybes without dropping the board. On the way upwind I found a second board floating out to sea so dropped the board I was carrying on the beach half way back up the beach, then went out to fetch the other board. I took one back upwind to Pinnaroo and then shot off downwind again to retrieve the other one, then back upwind with the second board. It was much faster and more comfy than the rubber ducky and eye height is better on the Sector when searching.

The board is so stable it makes this sort of thing easy and actually enjoyable.

We use the Sector 60 as our rescue device at the moment if we need to rescue someone or their board or kite in a hurry. We can be with someone within a couple of minutes if there is a rigged kite on the beach rather than 5-10 minutes with the boat. The bouyancy and speed of the Sector makes it perfect for rescue too.

Just ordered mine. i wasn't expecting to like this board when i tired it, just wanted to get out while the wind was a little light. WOW, i am the biggest fan and this will now be the board i ride the most. It points so well when normally i'm struggling just to hold ground.

It also jumps quite well and is easy to hang onto.

Interesting point about strappless. you definately need the straps because once on you're going to be upwind and then coming back is always a big downwind exercise.

I tried the manaro as well but the sector has me sold.

I know this board is not designed for waves, but given that I would be riding this board in the ocean if I bought one, I am curious about how it would perform on a wave. Would it just surf down the face or would you be able to bottom turn and then carve down the line the way a surfboard rides.

this board sounds like its just what i need for winter cruising as the wind is generally to light to get out on the TT. Whats the RRP and when would you extect to have some more in stock.

Hi Benny,

I don't think the Sector would be any good in the waves. It doesn't ride at all like a surfboard. It has no rocker and is very wide so carving is just not gonna happen.

You may be able to ride along the face of a waist high full wave, but if it is steep or sucky, it wont work.

Hey Waxman,

I nor the importers know the RRP as yet which seems a bit odd considering the first three arrive in mid January.

I have ordered 4 more which will be in the second shipment I think in late Feb or early March as the light winds descend upon us all. As far as I know, that is the last shipment coming in for the season.

There will be no Sector 60 boards brought in for "Stock" by the importer so don't expect to be able to just shimmy on up to your local Airush dealer and grab one off the shelves. If you want one, you'll need to order it in advance.

Cheers,

KH

Doesnt look like to much wind in that pic, what kite you using?

That is Mark Pattison, one of the Airush kite designers on a 10m VaporX.

Hey Darren,
did they arrive?
Are we a go???

Hi Todd,

Don't know WTF happened They weren't in the container . I'm chasing it up with the importers. Apparently it wasn't even on the packing list so why we weren't notified is a mystery.

I hope to have some answers tomorrow. A slight consolation is the fins turned up for the demo Sector, so it'll be back in action again. Not much of a second prize I know, sorry mate, especially with this light wind stuff around

Not Happy Jan!

KH

Hi guys,

Apparently the boards are coming from China not Thailand, still don't know how the mistake was made but anyways ...... I am told they don't have an accurate picture on when the boards will arrive but it should be in the next 4 weeks.

Really sorry for the hassle but totally out of my hands unfortunately!

Cheers,

KH