Hi Folks,

anyone has tried the F One Race 14 as a downwinder?

www.f-one.world/

I have seen few reviews about it, so far all quite good (www.standup-guide.fr/test/f-one-race-14.0?515)


I'm assuming that will be a good downwinder since it seems it has good deal of rocker and not very piercing nose, more V nose (I only saw few and poor detail pictures of it). What do you think?
www.sup-rider.com/en/albums/zoom.php?photo_num=4869&album_num=454
f-onespain.blogspot.com/search?q=race+14

I'm looking for a 14ft allrounder with good downwind aptitudes, but a little forgiving. I'm 80 Kg and I am intermediate paddler (2-3 years with Hobie 12.6 few races), but I don't have the chance of downwinding more than 10 times a year (in north spain mediterranean, close to france with strong tramonatane)
My #1 priority for the board is that makes downwinds very easy (The Hobie is the old 2010 model, and its lower rocker and flat bow bottom makes it very tricky)

I have read many threads (thanks to all for the priceless information) about similar questions but:

-The glide 14 2012 maybe a little unstable for downwind begginers?. Not really an allrounder?
-Fanatic Falcon and SB All Star would be ok but there??s no middle option in price/construction, either AST very heavy and cheap, or full carbon, very fragile and expensive
-The Coreban Dart is not easily available in my area, also no mid price-construction.
-New DC NSP ocean race seems a good fit but still not available in europe
-Bullet 14 is pricey and not as good as all arounder?

The F OneRace 14 is sold in single bamboo construction w/ carbon rails, and around 13-14Kg and intermediate price 2000 Eur (between other brands Full carbon and AST price points).
Also, at 29" beam, and 303 l seems quite stable.

Anyone riden or seen one in action?

Anyone other advise about the conterders in my board choice?

Thanks in advance and good downwinds to all

Marc

I've paddled the 12'6" version and it's goes well on downwinders so I'm sure the 14 would go even better.. IMO it's more suited to flat water paddling than down winding making the Glide the better board for that.. Both great all rounders.. I don't think it would be easier than the Glide even tough it's a little wider.. In fact I would think the Glide would be the easier board.. The more flat water type race board shapes (like the F One) are a little more technical (difficult) to use on downwinders but they still work well.. One concern about the F One is the black rails attracting the suns heat.. but there's been one out the front of a local sup shop sitting in the sun all day and it seems fine.. The 30" wide Fanatic Falcon would be another good choice.. I'm not sure how far off the new/new shape 2014 14' Glide is but it will be wider and perfect for you from what I've heard.. Jimmy Lewis also make a great 14' board that's very stable along with Angulo but both of those brands are very hard to get here.. Not sure about where you are.

DJ

Hi DJ

thanks for your answer: you are the reference in downwinding in the forums so, for me: a super valuable feedback.

So, you say that the Glide would be the easier board in downwinding from that list (leaving aside the Dart), isn't it?
I guess being a more downwind specific shape it will be easier to foot steer or not to be disturbed by front wave, etc. I am right?

The question is then, when do you think one would benefit from extra stability from the extra volume and width of the, for example, F One?
In cross chop situations, not downwinding? Wind from the side?

I discarded the 30" falcon, thought too much for my weight 80Kg, but in rough conditions ...

How about the Glide in very high winds? Even limited fetch in our area, the tramontane blows very often quite strong (20-35 knots).
Also often not dead downwind but a little from the side in the "easy launch" downwind run (tramontana shifting to mistral: slightly offshore)

Your guesses about F One in these rougher difficult conditions?

Oh, many questions again

Anyone else?

Thanks!

Marc
-----
Yes, the new bunch of 2014 boards look promising for downwinding, including the NSP DC ocean race, but I don't know if the wait is worth or go for one second hand F One or AST Glide. They are cheaper and I could start using it already this summer

i've looked at all those photos. i don't think it would be a good dw ing board. too narrow in the nose and too sharp-ie to much displacement displacement. noses with a bit of area float the bump ahead. a displacement nose just drops into it then stalls.

it lack nose volume too

well put it this way, i wouldn't dw it unless it was low wind.


to does look like a flatwater/moderate all round board it me.

falcon, nsp, the sic 14 is a good dw board.


and i'm getting a jerry lopez kaiwa kai 14' surftech for bigger dw conditions.


i've had my eye on this board for a while. i have a low rocker canoe and have had all sorts of hi tech design boards but imo when its for a big run you can't go past a decent proper dw board

cheers

Hi QLD

thanks for your comments. I am afraid I won't be able to demo the F one in downwind conditions so every hint of its behaviour in DW it is welcome.

I also had thought of the Gerry Lopez 14', since it must be stable at 325l, but still haven't found a dealer that can get it here in Spain. Do you already have it? Do you know the weight, more less? Fragile?

Thanks!

Marc

Select to expand quote

MarcCSup said..

Hi QLD

thanks for your comments. I am afraid I won't be able to demo the F one in downwind conditions so every hint of its behaviour in DW it is welcome.

I also had thought of the Gerry Lopez 14', since it must be stable at 325l, but still haven't found a dealer that can get it here in Spain. Do you already have it? Do you know the weight, more less? Fragile?

Thanks!

Marc

posted this to stir up a few of the longboard crew

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Surfing/Longboarding/blasphemy-har-har/

I have had one for 2 years, it is not fast in flat water but a great cruising board with plenty of volume to carry a kid to two. It is easy to handle in 25+ knot downwinders around Auckland NZ and is faster in down wind conditions compared to its performance in flat water. The extreme and abrupt tail rocker is good for short ocean waves and beach break surfing but this is what holds it back in the flat water. The clear finish carbon rails do get super hot but the board seems to be holding up well, good construction, reasonably robust. Probably suited to people in the 90+ kg zone but works ok for 80kg greyhounds....

Hi Loomo, thanks for your answer. Glad to receive feedback from somebody who owned it, the performance depends in many subtles details not easily guessed from photos
have you had the chance of compare it to other more "pure downwind" boards?
Do the board stalls often when the bow reaches the front wave?

@laceys lane: great looking board the kawai kay! Thanks for posting the photos. The hybrid bow is remarkable

thanks to all

I think the 14 Glide would be an exzellent choice. I have the older model 2010 in AST. I am just 5kg lighter than you and paddle it very often on a choppy river with currents. We sometimes also get downwind conditions but not 50 knots. It is easy to catch swell and get it planing. On flatwater I take my kids on board. I think it is very accessible, usable in a lot of conditions and robust.

Hi MarcCSup, if you don't get back on the board fast enough it does dig in a bit and plows but still remains controllable so quite forgiving. Even when it is plowing it does not seem to slow as much as others, more nose rocker would solve this. The nose is quite full and flaired, not really a flat water shape. I have lined it up with some DC downwinders and it seems to compare well, this is in short steep harbour runners but not sure what it would be like on long ocean ones, the abrupt tail rocker my slow it up in this sort of stuff.

@ Loomo:

If it compares well with DC downwinders it must be good. In my area we don t have ground swell, so similar conditions here.
Thanks for your first hand info.

Hi DirkG

All I hear from Glide 14 is good, specially the 2012 model.
After a enjoying a lot a 15-20 kts downwind today, I feel tempted to go for a downwind specific board, even I managed quite well with my old hobie 12.6 and starting to get the hang of the back and forth technique to avoid pearling.

Really don't know yet, may be I can wait for new 14' DC Nsp, the new 2014 glide, or a second hand fanatic falcon. This new breed of allrounders seem to be very serious on downwinders

Thanks to all for your feedback. I'll post a followup review when I pull the trigger

Hi MarcCSup I owned the Fone 14 for about 18 months, Laceys spot on with his evaluation of the shape.
but i am 100kg's and it was a stable first race board,I did flat water,choppy And moderate downwind races great in cross chop good alrounder IMO.
But really not enough volume in the nose, you had to be right on the ball to step back before the nose dived and tried to push board off line.
All the rocker is in the tail, so you had to step right back to keep the nose out and it narrows up pretty quick and gets a bit unstable back there, well with my lack of balance
Still the best looking board. And no issue with black rails
The 30 wide Fanatic is super stable with my weight, IMO to much board for you.

Check out the tail rocker.

Hi windup,
thank you for the detailed explanation and the pics. Yes, the tail rocker is remarkable. At my weigth, even more raised above water, I think it might create drag in flatwater conditions.
The point of the nose volume in downwind is definitive.
I need to go for a downwind specific board or the newer all around designs: board designers/shapers have been learning a lot in these 2 years.

Thanks!

Select to expand quote

MarcCSup said..

I need to go for a downwind specific board or the newer all around designs: board designers/shapers have been learning a lot in these 2 years.

Thanks!

Yes..

DJ