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Created by

Windxtasy > 9 months ago, 26 Oct 2009

HowlingDog

61 posts

27 Oct 2009 7:24pm

Select to expand quote

^^ I think that there is your key filter.
Meaning....Don't make life too hard for yourself by taking the fun out of things

Are you having trouble finding a demo to see if you enjoy it?

I thought I'd ask here so I'd know what lines to think along. So many boards and types these days! I am a bit mindboggled, but it seems to be shaking out to Acid, Kombat, FSW (not necessarily in that order). Realise that was the reason for asking, the different shapes , styles are mind blowing LOL
I haven't gotten as far as a demo yet, but I guess that would be the next step.
How do I go about organising one? Here is one place it is possible:

October 31
to
November 1

WA

Kitesurfing Cervantes Weekend with WA Surf

For both Kitesurfers and Windsurfers a social weekend away in Cervantes.

Format is to stay at the Backpackers (www.cervanteslodge.com.au) arriving early saturday morning, enjoying the wind all day, BBQ at night then do it all again the next day.

This weekend caters for beginners to advanced and is self drive, self catering, self accomodation booking and pretty much self everything, WA Surf will be bringing along demo gear and generally co-ordinating things to take best advantage of the conditions, no money is payable to WA Surf.

The finer points:-
-For those looking for waves we will go to Greenhead if the conditions are right.
-If you are after beginners kitesurfing lessons these must be by pre-arrangement so that we take along enough instructors, just call to book.
-We will be taking along a selection of the latest gear based on the forecast, but if there is something specific, new or 2nd hand (see website) that you would like to try, please call us and we will take it along.

Call Phil on 0420 746 897 to register your interest.

The JP young gun range does sound like what you were chasing, or there is this chart that may help your decision making process easier:
~~http://www.jp-australia.com/2010/index.php?id=55~~
Very useful chart. Thanks.

Helped define what I was looking for in a board in performance also

Cheers and good luck.

paddymac

941 posts

27 Oct 2009 7:56pm

something like RRD FSW 75L sounds like it would be about right - www.robertoriccidesigns.com/

I have an 85L and I'm about 80kgs. It's a super friendly style of board that is plenty quick and gives me heaps of confidence to push it.

nick0

NSW

510 posts

27 Oct 2009 11:10pm

im 65kg and sailed on 120L plus board as a learner and then steped down to a 75l ...10l above my weight and i didnt find that 2 hard .. i learnt the hard way how to jybe the thing .. but after a couple of seshions u could easily cope with a board 60-70l

Windxtasy

4017 posts

28 Oct 2009 9:46am

I guess I need to try some smaller volume boards and see what feels handleable.
So if a lady comes up to you on the beach and asks if she can try out your board...

Windxtasy

4017 posts

28 Oct 2009 4:54pm

I could have used a smaller board today...

and a smaller sail!

Obelix

1149 posts

28 Oct 2009 9:47pm

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Windxtasy said...

I could have used a smaller board today...

and a smaller sail!

What you needed today was a 160L Freeeride, and a 6m sail.
Happy to let you try next time the Westerly kicks in like this afternoon.

I would have had more fun on my old Bombora slalom brick today...

To put a positive spin on it. I really nailed the waterstart

Windxtasy

4017 posts

28 Oct 2009 10:23pm

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Obelix said...

Windxtasy said...

I could have used a smaller board today...

and a smaller sail!

oh congratulations! That is such a good feeling isn't it?

P.C_simpson

1492 posts

28 Oct 2009 10:43pm

How about a starboard Pro Kids Flare, there was a used one in perth somewhere.. or like most have said a freestyle wave even if it's a bit bigger than your weight it should be all good..

Windxtasy

4017 posts

19 Nov 2009 9:53pm

Finally enough wind to test some boards.

Today I tried a 79l Kombat and an 80 l OES waveboard with a 4.5 in 20 + knots.
(That's as small a board as I was brave enough to try for a start.)
Thanks Bob and Mark for the loans.
They were both easy and exciting to sail

the Kombat earlier planing and easier to keep on the plane in lulls, but I really enjoyed the looseness of the waveboard and boy was it fast! I need a smaller sail! The waveboard was hard to hold down when sailing upwind even though I had the mast well forward in the track and the water was fairly flat where I was. I think I need to go smaller for high wind days.
Now looking for some smaller boards to try in 20+ and for a 15 -20 knot day to test the 80l boards again.
I'm still buzzing...

Squid Lips

708 posts

20 Nov 2009 9:19am

Starboard had a board a while ago called the Diva (not sure if they still make it) that was a small wave board specifically designed for women, with a narrower stance and reduced dimensions. I have no idea if any were sold in Australia but if you could find one of those it would probably be just what you're after.

Have you considered a custom? I don't know what prices are like these days but the last one I bought was half the price of production boards at the time so that's another plus on top of getting exactly what you want.

Windxtasy

4017 posts

20 Nov 2009 9:58am

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Squid Lips said...

Starboard had a board a while ago called the Diva (not sure if they still make it) that was a small wave board specifically designed for women, with a narrower stance and reduced dimensions. I have no idea if any were sold in Australia but if you could find one of those it would probably be just what you're after.

I have seen one somewhere. The Diva boards and sails were a wonderful concept for women but they spoiled them by putting those hibiscus flowers all over them. I think they would have done a lot better without the hibiscus. Too girly for sailboarders. Even feminine sailboarders. I like bright colours and great graphics and those iridescent reflective panels were awesome, but the hibiscus? Absolutely not.

Have you considered a custom? I don't know what prices are like these days but the last one I bought was half the price of production boards at the time so that's another plus on top of getting exactly what you want.

That may be the way to go. I'd have to decide on what exactly I wanted first though.

sboardcrazy

NSW

8292 posts

20 Nov 2009 6:23pm

I have seen one somewhere. The Diva boards and sails were a wonderful concept for women but they spoiled them by putting those hibiscus flowers all over them. I think they would have done a lot better without the hibiscus. Too girly for sailboarders. Even feminine sailboarders. I like bright colours and great graphics and those iridescent reflective panels were awesome, but the hibiscus? Absolutely not.
Yuck..definitely not cool..

( probably suit my daggy image though..)

oli37

37 posts

20 Nov 2009 4:51pm

I have a smallish (~70 odd litre) custom wave board (Gem) but its quite full on that you are welcome to try and probably keep if you really want. I live in Melville so Its easy for me to deliver it to lucky bay if you're interested.

Mike105

59 posts

20 Nov 2009 6:07pm

Have just been through the similar decision.

I'm 68kg and have a Fanatic Bee 104 as my light wind board. Wanted to get a wave board and hopefully replace an 87L freeride. As I live in Auckland, waves are a little hard to find so went for FSW as it will get more use in high wind and harbour chop.

Ended up with a 2006 Fanatic Freewave 78. Enough of a step down from 87L to open up another level of sailing for me but still keep the fun in it. It also compliments 104L well in a 2 board quiver.

One thing that helped with the decision making was to look sails and masts as well. Trying to minimise gear so have 4 sails from 6.3 to 4.3 on two masts. The 78L FSW became my main board and allows 3 sail options. A smaller wave board would have cut down the options to the two smallest sails (FSW can carry larger sails) meaning I would have gotten much less use out of it.

Hope that gives you a few ideas.

easty

TAS

2213 posts

24 Nov 2009 8:27pm

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easty said...

You could ask 20 people and get 20 different responses, it's horses for courses really - what works for some might not work for others. It has been said in another thread (Mark?) that *board Evo is no good as a bump & jump board. However, I use one for just that as my smallest board. It's great - why? Because if you are after your smallest board, you will be using it in the highest winds you go out in - plus choppiest conditions. Compared to my slightly bigger FSW board, the Evo is sloooow - on the FSW I'd be blasting along at a blistering pace bouncing into and off wild chop, and be basically out of control and waiting to eat it. The slowness of the Evo (and probably other "real world waves") provides control, is really comfy in the chop (plus enough speed to enjoy getting some "in control" chop hops in), and gybes are easier in those conditions than my FSW. Anyway, that's my course for my horse.

Well, I'm just going to have to eat my ~~horse~~ words here. It was the windiest today since I got my new board (2010 Fanatic Freewave 95), and I rigged a 4.7 wave sail (choppy B&J conditions). I decided to go safe and took the Evo (2005, 80L) out, and sure enough I was cruising and in some sort of control. After a while I just had to try out the FW, just to see how it'd go in conditions close to it's recommended minimum sail size (4.5). Well bugger me; as I thought it would it took off like a bull at a gate, easily going way way faster than the Evo, but it was soooooo smooth and in control it felt like I was on flat water. I had no qualms pushing it as fast as it'd go, and even chop hopping at those speeds. It was a revelation. Disregard my previous advice and get a recent model FSW style, depending on who you ask Fanatic and JP and RRD all seem good bets.
Anyone wanna buy an old Evo?

Mark _australia

23526 posts

24 Nov 2009 6:52pm

Easty I have had similar experience. The EVO was perfect (better than perfect

) in down the line waves. When I moved to another spot that was very choppy it was a pain in the arse. This was a place with a long choppy run out to the reef break and very windy.

At one stage I was using 4.0 and 80L EVO (and I'm 100kg so it was damn windy!). My knees and ankles hurt from the pounding over chop. I thought it was a dumb idea cos it was so windy but I went for my new RRD 101FSW just to see how it felt. Too keen to use it. Seriously what wavesailor uses 100L on a 30-35kn day? Well it was better, I was really confused. I tried my old old 74L Acid. Again, better.

Then I realised it was all in the vee.

Real world waves and EVO's etc have funny concave things going on, they are absolutely awesome in the waves but if it is 800m of chop to get to the wave they are very hard to handle.
I'd still take the EVO any day on crossshore head hi beach break, but not on the insane B&J days with a bit of wave riding.
Interesting, another case of old school shaping may be better for most people most of the time?.

easty

TAS

2213 posts

24 Nov 2009 10:25pm

Yeah, I even had a song going through my head while sailing, can't remember who sang it, would have been 60's or 70's, but it was "magic carpet ride" - that's what it felt like.

Edit: a quick google, and its Steppenwolf, done in 1968, the year I was born: how appropriate is that?

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Board advice

HowlingDog

paddymac

nick0

Windxtasy

Windxtasy

Obelix

Windxtasy

P.C_simpson

Windxtasy

Squid Lips

Windxtasy

sboardcrazy

oli37

Mike105

easty

Mark _australia

easty

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easty

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easty

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