Hi all
At the start of this year I bought a 2013Carbon Isonic 106l 69wide, Im 67kgs and used this with a 7m non cam ezzy cheeta and a good carbon 35cm fin.
Its been great for light wind fun , my step down from this is 5.2 fsw kit down to 3.4.
Took me a couple of sessions to get used to it and I've had an absolute blast , I do find it hard to gybe and quite a handful in my usual choppy conditions.
Im thinking about getting something more freerace as I'm definitely not using the Isonic anywhere near its potential, not sure how accurate my watch is but usually around 25- 27knts are my top speeds paired with the non cam sail.
From what I've read I'll probably gain a bit of speed given that it'll feel more comfortable in the chop?
any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks

A freerace board like the Tabou Rocket would be my choice if you arent wanting full slalom for high wind.

Very much agreed

or Fox or Patrik F-ride

Rocket 105 @63 wide is a great choice .Patrik Freerace also good .I have a 120 x 70 wide ,
We have had 34 knots out of our 2017 rockets with cheetahs .put a carbon fin on and a race sail on I'm sure you will
get faster ,a very user friendly board ,5,0 -7,0 sail range .the rocket plus is wider and faster ,it may slap a bit more
The 98 litre x 63 Isonic is a great board also .it surprised me how well behaved it is I would have to say almost as good in the chop as the Rocket just a bit faster .its a 2024 model 2026 is out now ,
the price has gone through the roof now .but what hasn't but what a board .
Starboard Futura or the carve are also worth considering .happy hunting .

Thanks for the reply's , should I be looking at matching the width or more matching the volume on a newer shape freeface style board ?

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Tardy said..
Rocket 105 @63 wide is a great choice .Patrik Freerace also good .I have a 120 x 70 wide ,
We have had 34 knots out of our 2017 rockets with cheetahs .put a carbon fin on and a race sail on I'm sure you will
get faster ,a very user friendly board ,5,0 -7,0 sail range .the rocket plus is wider and faster ,it may slap a bit more
The 98 litre x 63 Isonic is a great board also .it surprised me how well behaved it is I would have to say almost as good in the chop as the Rocket just a bit faster .its a 2024 model 2026 is out now ,
the price has gone through the roof now .but what hasn't but what a board .
Starboard Futura or the carve are also worth considering .happy hunting .

I hadn't thought about a newer shape isonic being more comfortable (for me ) really I'm just after a little more range in sea state from my large board.
The thing that has amazed me the most about using big kit , is how much wind I can hang onto me 7m cheetah in !

if you are going to keep your Isonic ,maybe look at a smaller 95-98 litre board as you are only 67 kgs .It would sit down in the water better with your weight and won't seem so bouncy .

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Surfing Uk said..
Hi all
At the start of this year I bought a 2013Carbon Isonic 106l 69wide, Im 67kgs and used this with a 7m non cam ezzy cheeta and a good carbon 35cm fin.
Its been great for light wind fun , my step down from this is 5.2 fsw kit down to 3.4.
Took me a couple of sessions to get used to it and I've had an absolute blast , I do find it hard to gybe and quite a handful in my usual choppy conditions.
Im thinking about getting something more freerace as I'm definitely not using the Isonic anywhere near its potential, not sure how accurate my watch is but usually around 25- 27knts are my top speeds paired with the non cam sail.
From what I've read I'll probably gain a bit of speed given that it'll feel more comfortable in the chop?
any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks

I'm probably about your weight kitted up. I'm happy with any speeds over 26kts in chop on my 90 ltre freerace.
I use a 57 wide Windtech..it's a big board for my size but handles chop so well I use it when I should be on the wavegear.
It's the one in my profile pic.

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Surfing Uk said..
Hi all
At the start of this year I bought a 2013Carbon Isonic 106l 69wide, Im 67kgs and used this with a 7m non cam ezzy cheeta and a good carbon 35cm fin.
Its been great for light wind fun , my step down from this is 5.2 fsw kit down to 3.4.
Took me a couple of sessions to get used to it and I've had an absolute blast , I do find it hard to gybe and quite a handful in my usual choppy conditions.
Im thinking about getting something more freerace as I'm definitely not using the Isonic anywhere near its potential, not sure how accurate my watch is but usually around 25- 27knts are my top speeds paired with the non cam sail.
From what I've read I'll probably gain a bit of speed given that it'll feel more comfortable in the chop?
any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks

You will find that a smaller slalom board, like a iSonic 90, will behave better in the chop than your 106. The 90 is 60cm wide and has some Vee in the tail. You are light enough to up haul it if necessary.

With regard to speed, you should be able to do 30+kts on your 106. It's a fast board. Try finding some relatively flat water, bear away to 120 to 130 degrees to the wind, keeping your windward rail up, on your speed run. You'll get the feel of it and your speeds will improve.

Chasing speed is infectious.

It's definitely infectious to chase speed but really I just want more comfort and ease of use in light winds than my slalom board so will see if I can find a good used free race board and give it a go !

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Surfing Uk said..
It's definitely infectious to chase speed but really I just want more comfort and ease of use in light winds than my slalom board so will see if I can find a good used free race board and give it a go !

Most freeride/freerace/race boards will do 30 knots and change when sailed overpowered with a freeride/freerace/race sail. And plenty comparative tests have shown that the difference in speed are irrelevant unless you are seriously racing, or going after speed/GPS. And then, if you really were into GPS you would need to be in very flat water, and you would be chasing 40 knots plus, not 30 plus, and using a small slalom/speed board. A different place.

My experience with modern slalom boards, unfortunately, has been similar. Since I left behind my 2008/12 boards, Starboard, Carbon Art, Exocet, for newer models, and especially now that my body cannot take what it takes, my sailing enjoyment and proficiency has been significantly reduced. Some were worst than others (Patrik harder than my current AV slalom), but the reality is that my GPS speed has NOT increased (quite the contrary), my low end is worst, and jibe ease has decreased very significantly.

So ... yes, you should get an easier board. This is supposed to be fun ...

What do you think the Max wind speed you use your current setup in?

Realistically if it's only 18-20 knots then going 30 in chop is hard. Going 8 knots over windspeed (26 knots) is pretty quick freeride speed for the conditions regardless of the size!

But if it's 25 knots and you can find a relatively flat spot then going 30 (5 knots over windspeed) on almost any freeride / freerace/ race gear you can hang onto should be very achievable

I wonder if due to your weight you're actually swapping to the 5.2 and fsw at quite low winds. (18 knots)

I think we would all be curious to see if you borrowed some smaller freerace gear 6.0, 95l board. And went in a bit more wind. The extra 5 knots makes a big difference. You might blaze straight through 30.

There's also the free race boards with the deep V. The Goya bolt is the one I would like to try. otherwise there is the Severine fox/ fox pro

Fanatic Jag is another option...

Thanks all , the jag and Goya bolts are boards that I really like the look of and they seem to get great reviews.

You wont regret a jag!