I have a question re my quiver ..

I have 3 boards - 1 Naish 130lt from 2019,
1 Naish 120 ltr Freeride from around 2012
1 Mistral 104 from 2009.

All freeride boards

The two older ones I got for a good price and they are in great condition with plenty of life left in them.

I have been told by a very good windsurfer that I should replace the 2 older boards asap as they are irrelevant shapes by todays standards. He was talking about the bottom shapes widths etc

Looking for opinions on this .. I am at the intermediate stage and have only just managed to get onto the 104 ..

Looking at newer boards they do look amazing and it is very enticing to update the quiver but wondering if that is a must as I have been advised ..

Thanks all.

If you're happy with how they perform I'd just stick with them. If you struggle after a few sessions or your board is very narrow then it might be worth considering.

Newer doesn't mean better and those shapes worked perfectly fine in the past. Modern boards tend to be shorter and wider and might be easier for you to sail in smaller sizes.

Just compare the width instead of volume and it gives you an idea. Wider generally means more stable (although the contrary when super windy) but any smaller board will feel unstable to you initially until you'll get used to it. If you break an older board while learning, at least it doesn't hurt as much financially Might want to find a second hand modern board instead of new if you consider upgrading.

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ptsf1111 said..
If you're happy with how they perform I'd just stick with them. If you struggle after a few sessions or your board is very narrow then it might be worth considering.

Newer doesn't mean better and those shapes worked perfectly fine in the past. Modern boards tend to be shorter and wider and might be easier for you to sail in smaller sizes.

Just compare the width instead of volume and it gives you an idea. Wider generally means more stable (although the contrary when super windy) but any smaller board will feel unstable to you initially until you'll get used to it. If you break an older board while learning, at least it doesn't hurt as much financially Might want to find a second hand modern board instead of new if you consider upgrading.

Thanks mate this has been my opinion so far but was now second guessing ..

Maybe you could try out the expert's board for a spin and see if it is worth it Newer short wide boards aren't necessarily better.

I have a 2018 120 litre Patrik Freerace if you like to try .full carbon ,fast but easy to use ,70 wide ,

Also new boards come with the new board curse, get dinged on the first outing, lose 50% of resale value...

They're perfect for an intermediate sailor. I'd love to hear his take on the 120 Naish freeride as the bottom shape is going to be very similar to stuff 10yrs newer. Very

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Tardy said..
I have a 2018 120 litre Patrik Freerace if you like to try .full carbon ,fast but easy to use ,70 wide ,

Thanks Phil ... maybe ..
??

Thanks for the replies!

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powersloshin said..
Also new boards come with the new board curse, get dinged on the first outing, lose 50% of resale value...

All my boards are second hand. Used ones also come with the curse, each of mine got smashed on the first go.

All my boards are second hand as well, find a guy who buys new gear every year and gets it wholesale.

Got these used 116 106 and 81, not sure I could pay $3000 each

I only buy second hand stuff, the price on NIB stuff is not worth it. I think the sport/hobby is killing itself.

I have boards from around 2004-2007 that are still working well, no real need to update.
Sails wear out a little faster though, but I usually get at least 10 years out of them.

Newer is not always better. Board design trends are sometimes very much like fashion - everyone must follow! The "short and wide" trend is a perfect example - boards simply were too wide and too short for typical windsurfers for several years. Looking at recent freeride board tests, this trend has finally (mostly) ended, and boards have gotten longer and narrower again.

I think the problems often arise because board testers in magazines and online sites are typically experts who can sail just about anything. So they can eek out a bit of top-end performance (or early planing) from that new tiny waveboard with 100 fins, or the super-wide "freeride" board that behaves more like a slalom board. Then, the board that planes up fastest, goes a bit faster than others, or turns better ends up as the "winner" in a test, and everyone else tries to imitate it. For the intermediate rider who does not have the same level of skills, that often means boards are getting worse, not better.

It's possible that the very good windsurfer who gave you the advice to switch to newer boards actually benefits from the newest designs, for example because he has very good pumping technique and therefore can get a short and wide board going well; but you may find that an older, longer board is much easier for you level, now and for the next few years until your skills approach his. Calling the old board shapes "irrelevant" is, IMO, arrogant.

Just sail what you got. I have boards built between 2001 and 2024. One of the 2001 boards is a firm favourite, and would be high on the list if I was only allowed to keep one.

The best board for anyone is the one under your feet on the day.
Windsurfing is an arms race if you let it be. I have far too many boards, but all were bought at bargain prices and secondhand.
Ride what you have but try and have a go on other peoples gear to see what you like.
If and when you find something better for you take your time and go hunting youll find it eventually.
Also , just to confuse issues, remember a different fin can change a board dramatically.

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peterowensbabs said..
Also , just to confuse issues, remember a different fin can change a board dramatically.

For me, it's as much about fins as it is boards, and just because a fin is good in one board doesn't mean it will suit others.

I have found that the anxiety i have about whether my gear is good enough or modern enough evaporates about 1 second after my not new sail fills with wind, my not new fins bite, and my not new board lifts onto the plane.

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Bluefusionman said..

1 Mistral 104 from 2009.

I have been told by a very good windsurfer that I should replace the 2 older boards asap as they are irrelevant shapes by todays standards. He was talking about the bottom shapes widths etc

Looking for opinions on this .. I am at the intermediate stage and have only just managed to get onto the 104 ..

Which Mistral board? If it is the Syncro, then that is a very good freeride board. I compared one (which the owner still uses) to my 2008 Exocet Cross 106l (242cm * 64cm) and they were very similar. No tail rocker, planing flat to 6-10cm in front of the front footstraps, thinnish rails, hard release edge at the back becoming fairly tucked by the front footstraps. It remains the easiest gybing board I've every had. Fast enough going into the gybe and didnt lose much speed in the turn. Really easy to sail.

Where it wont be as good as a modern board is its quite narrow so less steady slogging, but if you think of it as a 95-100l board, because of the width you will be fine. Sail it with 5-6m. Or spend a lot on a modern board, which wont be that much better.
boards.co.uk/boards/freestyle-wave/mistral-syncro-104.html


ps. Exocet have changed their Cross shape a bit. Its now shorter at 230cm and they have added thrusters, but its still 64cm wide for the 104l size, still has a longer planing flat than the wavier freewaves/FSW. This means you cant wave ride as well, do really tight turns and gybes. But as a smaller freeride the shape is still ok. It will just feel a bit long and narrow if sailors are used to modern sub 230cm boards.

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PhilUK said..

Bluefusionman said..

1 Mistral 104 from 2009.

I have been told by a very good windsurfer that I should replace the 2 older boards asap as they are irrelevant shapes by todays standards. He was talking about the bottom shapes widths etc

Looking for opinions on this .. I am at the intermediate stage and have only just managed to get onto the 104 ..

Which Mistral board? If it is the Syncro, then that is a very good freeride board. I compared one (which the owner still uses) to my 2008 Exocet Cross 106l (242cm * 64cm) and they were very similar. No tail rocker, planing flat to 6-10cm in front of the front footstraps, thinnish rails, hard release edge at the back becoming fairly tucked by the front footstraps. It remains the easiest gybing board I've every had. Fast enough going into the gybe and didnt lose much speed in the turn. Really easy to sail.

Where it wont be as good as a modern board is its quite narrow so less steady slogging, but if you think of it as a 95-100l board, because of the width you will be fine. Sail it with 5-6m. Or spend a lot on a modern board, which wont be that much better.
boards.co.uk/boards/freestyle-wave/mistral-syncro-104.html


ps. Exocet have changed their Cross shape a bit. Its now shorter at 230cm and they have added thrusters, but its still 64cm wide for the 104l size, still has a longer planing flat than the wavier freewaves/FSW. This means you cant wave ride as well, do really tight turns and gybes. But as a smaller freeride the shape is still ok. It will just feel a bit long and narrow if sailors are used to modern sub 230cm boards.

other likely candidate is a Screamer, longer and thinner, good for outright blasting in chop. I've got one in the OPs size in the shed, don't use it anymore but cant quite bring myself to can't get rid of it. Also have syncro, 90 lt, above is a good summary of it's qualities. Honestly, if you can have fun in either, keep em and don't worry about what some expert says. Try some modern boards if you can before forking out for something you might not like much

Those screamers were great all around boards.

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Bluefusionman said..
I have a question re my quiver ..

I have 3 boards - 1 Naish 130lt from 2019,
1 Naish 120 ltr Freeride from around 2012
1 Mistral 104 from 2009.

All freeride boards

The two older ones I got for a good price and they are in great condition with plenty of life left in them.

I have been told by a very good windsurfer that I should replace the 2 older boards asap as they are irrelevant shapes by todays standards. He was talking about the bottom shapes widths etc

Looking for opinions on this .. I am at the intermediate stage and have only just managed to get onto the 104 ..

Looking at newer boards they do look amazing and it is very enticing to update the quiver but wondering if that is a must as I have been advised ..

Thanks all.

Thanks mate, yes it is the syncro 104, it feels great to me, thanks for all the feedback, I read some good reviews before I bought it but thought maybe it was outdated now, will stick with it I reckon

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Bluefusionman said..
I have a question re my quiver ..

I have 3 boards - 1 Naish 130lt from 2019,
1 Naish 120 ltr Freeride from around 2012
1 Mistral 104 from 2009.

All freeride boards

The two older ones I got for a good price and they are in great condition with plenty of life left in them.

I have been told by a very good windsurfer that I should replace the 2 older boards asap as they are irrelevant shapes by todays standards. He was talking about the bottom shapes widths etc

Looking for opinions on this .. I am at the intermediate stage and have only just managed to get onto the 104 ..

Looking at newer boards they do look amazing and it is very enticing to update the quiver but wondering if that is a must as I have been advised ..

Thanks all.

Thanks mate, yes it is the syncro 104, it feels great to me, thanks for all the feedback, I read some good reviews before I bought it but thought maybe it was outdated now, will stick with it I reckon

The Synchro was a great board in its day, sail it, get used to it and try other peoples boards when you get the chance and then when the times right upgrade it.
They Gybe nicely and are ok with their early planing etc and are comfortable in chop too.