Hi All,

I've been freeriding in past few years and recently started thinking about trying out some freestyle moves - pops, jumps, loops, wave riding

Researched a little bit and looks like I need a freestyle wave board like JP freestyle wave

I can't decide whether it should be something like 105 or 115 litres

I'm usually around 90 kg and already have a couple of freeride boards - 132 and 119
Can waterstart comfortably with enough wind, haven't done any light wind waterstarts yet

On one hand, 115 litres seems like a safe bet - can always uphaul if the wind dies

On the other hand, something tells me that the next (higher wind) FSW board, capable of freestyle moves, should be 105
but I never tried to uphaul on something that small and don't see much advantage to not being able to uphaul

Maybe I don't know how the windsurfing progression works - maybe these is an imaginary problem
and people are losing ability to uphaul without even noticing it and just always waterstarting even in light wind.

Forgot to mention that I sail in Melbourne, where the wind changes between 5 and 20 knots or between 10 and 30 knots during one session, so you can't guarantee there's going to be enough wind for normal waterstart.

I feel A good guide for a fsw all-rounder is bodyweight + 15 litres. So for you 105.
You can uphaul it if you absolutey had to, although it's not much fun. But it's the sweet spot between control + a bit of float to keep you planing while trying new things. 115 is too close to your freeride board and would do pretty much the same thing.

10 knots is ok for a water start in 5.x sails. 105 would be a fun 19-20 knots+ board for you. 115 is your want to try and can easily resell later. I went from 145 to 112 to 105 but at 70kg. First times on 105 wasn't too bad, the 112 easy but slow.

Then went from 105 to 77! And with wind, never a problem.

Unless you feel compelled to waste money support your local windsurfing shop, forget about buying a freestyle board until you can at least do fast tacks on your freeride board. Jumping, at least small ones comes naturally when you sail in choppy conditions.

Select to expand quote

Mr Milk said..
Unless you feel compelled to waste money support your local windsurfing shop, forget about buying a freestyle board until you can at least do fast tacks on your freeride board. Jumping, at least small ones comes naturally when you sail in choppy conditions.

I can do fast tacks, they are much lower on the progressions ladder than e.g. waterstart

I don't understand how fast tack is relevant to board pop, vulcan, front/back loops or the other freestyle maneuvers

I understand huge freeride fin and more outboard footsraps positions are not designed for those (at least this is what Peter Hart is saying here )

You've got a very different idea of what's difficult to do than I have.
I can't do a fast tack and know plenty of sailors the same. Waterstarting is easy.
The reason I say that a fast tack is the minimum level to start thinking about freestyle is that it requires speed and balance. Without those, you won't have much luck executing complex moves.

Fast tacking a big board is miles simpler than a small one.

Get a wavey 105L FSW like a Goya, Quattro or similar. The moves you are describing aren't freestyle moves, they are wave sailing and freeriding moves. A freestyle board will not be good for them.

I agree with Grantmac on board advice.

I am the same weight as you are and used to have a 105 L. FSW board as my biggest 'Wavey' board for both flatwater and waves. Then a couple of years ago I replaced that board with a 115 L. board. Not looking back since. Yes the 115 L. is wider, bulkier but that doesn't seem to get in the way, really. It gets me going earlier than the 105 and by the time I would be maxing out on the 115 I am already on my smaller wave kit. Mind you, I have the luxury of having a smaller waveboard thus the FSW is not my smallest board....

Sounds like you're on the right track. At 90 kg, the 115L FSW sounds like a solid, versatile choice a bit more forgiving in variable Melbourne wind and still playful enough to start learning freestyle moves. Once you're more comfortable, you can always size down later. The ability to uphaul when the wind drops is super useful, especially in sketchy conditions. Waterstarts become second nature, but having that backup isn't a bad thing at all.

105 fsw would be a good start. But keep ?n eye out for a good deal on a 100l freestyle board. Once you can land Vulcans you really want a dedicated freestyle board. Assuming you want to be doing spins etc and not just loops. For sure a fsw can be used for spocks, switch moves etc, but it's all so much easier with a dedicated freestyle board for spins, sliding at speed and magic pop. Thats the opinion of a guy that learnt some freestyle moves, but I still suck at it lol.