Hi, Just a question for the big boys out there >100kg.

What volume is your high wind board for say 25-30 knots?
I have a 130l freeride board which is great up to about 25. It feels a bit out of control in chop in anything too much over that.
For some background I am a 52 year old sometimes gyber and sail in bays on east coast oz, not looking at waves or anything extreme. Max wind around 30 kts.
If I got another freeride around 120l do you think that would be too similar to my 130 or would that be small enough to make the difference for the high wind days? I know there are rules around saying add 10 to your body weight or something similar but I feel that sometimes these rules are directed at more advanced and lighter sailers? In the end I know I will probably just have to try one to see. I suppose I'm trying to get as as big a board as possible to keep things easy.

thanks

I think width matters more once you're water starting confidently. I have a 19 year old Carve 135 which is 66cm wide and feels comfortable in the windstrengths you mentioned as long as the fin is small enough. Really fast, too, and jibes well but horribly unstable to tack or uphablet. A modern 135 would be 82 wide and really tough to manage in more than 22-24. Im in the market for a similar board and I weigh 100kg and 67 years old so struggling is not as much fun as it once was. My target is in between- 125-135, 77-80 wide, with a foil-ready box. If I had the cash, that's something like the Tabou Fifty or Rocket Plus.

I'd say it depends on which free ride board it is...????

There are some boards out there that cruise through chop easily, Severne fox, Naish starship etc and there are some that are more racy. Also changing the fin size helps lots too. Using a non cammed sail sometimes helps as they are more manageable in higher winds too.

120 + kgs , i will use skiny boards with a v in the rocker, the board can be as low as a 100 l as long as the bottom of the gust stays above 20 knots as it will sink like a stone if there is no power. If it is gusty i will go to a 125 l but still skiny I find it has better control and better speeds. I think the body weight plus10 is for marginal winds

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grich62 said..
120 + kgs , i will use skiny boards with a v in the rocker, the board can be as low as a 100 l as long as the bottom of the gust stays above 20 knots as it will sink like a stone if there is no power. If it is gusty i will go to a 125 l but still skiny I find it has better control and better speeds. I think the body weight plus10 is for marginal winds

+1 on what grich said.

I'm 95kegs and like 110board at 65 wide. Patrik FRace. I sail in off shore winds so 130 is used more plus the water Is relatively flat too

I'm 98 kgs in 25-30 knots I would use my 92 litre SL board or 105 Tabou rocket ,

I'm ~100kgs in the thick wetsuits we require here. 85L, 58cm wide is about as small as I use and need 25kts sustained to enjoy it.

I'm close to 100 kg in the winter. At some point in the past, I used boards as small as 77 l for freeriding. That was fine at places where the wind was constant 30 knots (Maui), but not so much fun at our home spot where the wind always drops. I ended up with a 96 l board that handles chop very well as my hi-wind board, and never had a desire to go smaller. In 20-25 knots, I'd be on a 110 l freestyle board.

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BarryDazz said..
If I got another freeride around 120l do you think that would be too similar to my 130 or would that be small enough to make the difference for the high wind days?

If the boards are very similar, I don't think you'd see much of a difference. But if your 130 is an "average" freeride board, and you get a 120 that handles chop a lot better (e.g. narrower, more V, ...), then it may be worth getting a 120. Ideally, you'd try before you buy to see how much of a difference it makes.

Also, depending on where it is that you sail, if its tidal or lake etc will make a big difference. Theres some really good Freewave boards out there too with thrusters as an option, these boards now go up to 125 litres, theres a starboard code too at 135 litres still with thruster options. These boards will do wanders for your carving skills.

100+kg can get away with 80 litre Isonic at Lake George in 18knts and up, but there's no way I could use that board at my home spot, must be the saltier water or more consistant wind at LG

92kg on a 90/57 more often on a 95/55, this couple of cm width makes a big difference when the wind drops below 10 knots and you need to grovel back to the beach.

100kg and when it's really windy i used to go down to 85 or 90L waveboards

No more - you waste too much energy coming out of gybes with it sinking
Now we have so much more controlled boards the behave better im not going small anymore
Use my 120L freewave with 7.5 and a big single for 15-16kn justttt planing flatwater...... same board as thruster in almost 30kn on 4.5 and its fine. Might grab a 105L when its starting to get a bit flighty
Proper waveboard maybe 100L

I would rather fight it in the gusts once every ten mins than fight thru the lulls, the gybe exits and starting off
Bigger with control

But for the OP- i think 120 is too close to the 130 .. and you cant commit to a powered carve on something thats scary in a straight line

Try to borrow a 105-110 freewave on a windy day... the get up n go is less than a freeride but not so pronounced when its windy
The wayyyy more control and easier gybing may help with that "sometimes gyber"