I'm looking for a newish (2007 onwards, maybe 09 demo) wave board to replace my trusty 2003 80l fanatic goya.
I weigh in at about 80kg (depending on pie/beer consumption) and sail anywhere from scabs/duchies to lano, margies, coros and hopefully gnarloo this winter. My most used sail this year has been 5.7 ice.

Ideally I'm looking for something which works in cross-on through to cross-off although I don't mind sacrificing a bit of performance in metro (onshore) conditions. I've loved the speed and carving of my goya and am tending towards a more trad shape.

The board needs to be able to take a 5.7 and be able to get me going in 20kts (so that the 90l can stay in the van for real light days) but also be able to work comfortably in real winds (down to 4 - 4.5 weather). I've never been the quickest at getting up on the plane so a board which gives a bit of help with this would be good.

Thoughts please.......

2007 Starboard Acid 80 sounds like it fits the bill.

I'm 85 kilos and it will get going with a 6m in anything over 16 knots or so, when it hits 20+ I put up the 5m and have some fun!

Narrow tail, fast, gybes well.

Yer agree with Nebs Im also around 85kg. Ive got a 2006 Pure acid 80 I was thinking of getting the 88 glad i didnt 80s just right. Ive only got a 5.2 wave sail so i need at lest 18-20 to get going.

in reality scabs requires a very different board to that you would use at the G or any other spots you mentioned.
I've had awesome boards that work well everywhere except scabs. For Scabs they need to be bigger in volume, wider in the nose to pop over the white water and be quick on the plane.

What is your 90L board??? coz if your prepared to use that at scabs until your on a 5.0 then you could easily get away with a hardcore trad wave board.
If not then the modern stubbie type board would be your answer. Remembering that the newer stubbies are working better and better particularly at places like margies and gnaraloo.

Be realistic about how often you will be travelling. That will determine which way you should really go.
This season i went with 2 trad wave boards, but should have made the bigger one a stubbie. Anyway you live and learn and i know what i'm doing next season.

My big board is a funky 90l quatro which also struggles a bit at scabs but does the job.

I manage to get away pretty regularly (no wife/kids/ball and chain) so definitely looking for a trad shape small board.

An acid is definitely on the list of possibilities

Got a 2008 Tabou Pocket 78lt which I am trying to sell but I am all the way in NZ.

I can however recommend the Pocket range as a whole. I had the 2008 for a year and used it as my only board in waves and a higher wind board in Cross-on and onshore crap. I weigh 75kg and I could I could get out and catch waves in about 10-12knts on a 5.3 never bothered with a 5.8. In On-shore/ Jumping conditions it planned early and with a bigger fin would track up wind really well. I now have the 75lt 2009 but have sailed the 85lt and it planes even earlier and is really turny for a real world wave board. I can highly recommend it especially if you want to use a 5.8 on the board.

well my big board this summer was an 09 JP prowave 79 which was great at greenhead and gero, but wasnt suited to scabs for me (being unfit and slower on the feet due to injury). I've just swaped it for a 09 tabou pocket 85L this week but i'm yet to try it.
I'm about 75kg (just weighed myself, must have lost a few when i was sick a few weeks ago ) but i was closer to 80 when i was riding the 79.
I really like the 79 or 80L JP radical/pro waves. It has a lot to do with the shaper (richard green) and my style of riding.
I think with the addition of the twinzers this year alot of the singles have been over looked if not totally forgotten. I also think this years pro wave has gotten more hardcore even though it is wider.
Its hard to put my finger on why i like them so much, but the bigger the waves and the harder you push, the better a sailor they make you look. The trick is commitment, just hold on and hit the lip even if ya think its too late and you will often be very surprised.

I had my best session this year up at sunsets in mast high 5.4 weather on the 79. Soo much fun

sent u a mail.

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nasty said...

...gnarloo this winter.

Winter?

You know what I mean - perth winter (when it drops down to a brutal 20 degrees)

I got an 09 evo this year, havnt looked back!! Much quicker than they used to be and will get u up on the plane early. So good for our usual slightly onshore conditions, lets you stay tight on the wave and get vertical, my wave sailing definately improved as soon as I jumped on one! I used to have a '03 fanatic Goya, that thing was fast, but held back my wave sailing