Looking to clarify why you would choose a freeride over fsw and the volumes of both board types.

I see that generally speaking freeride boards are made in larger volumes and aren't offered in lower volumes. Whilst the fsw boards are available in lower volumes and the largest available volume of an fsw in close to the mid sized freeride.

So my questions are;
Are freeride boards supposed to be ridden well over your weight? I weigh 72kg so none of the freeride boards are close to my bodyweight.

Are FSW boards supposed to be ridden in smaller volumes and are the larger volumes in fsw boards meant for larger riders? i.e me being 72kg, would it be advisable to purchase the JP fsw 114 for example or the Tabou 3s at 117? Not buying anything right now just looking to make sense of the different options available in boards

If I had decided I wanted a board around 115 what would be the difference in an fsw or freeride of the same volume?

Thanks in advance, some examples below of what I am raving on about

For example;
JP Super Ride - 92 - 102 -113 - 124 - 139 (freeride)
JP FSW - 78 - 84 - 94 - 104 - 114

Tabou Rocket - 105|115|125|135|145
Tabou 3S - 97|107|117

Starboard Carve - 99 ? 109 ? 119 ? 129 ? 139 ? 159 ? 169
Starboard Kode - 85 ? 95 ? 105 ? 115 ? 125 ? 135

A freeride board is going to be wider (earlier to plane), and less technical to sail than a wavy board, and will hold a larger sail for the same volume. They will also have wider strap options and let more easily sheet in and to go harder upwind.

I'm still working on my stance with my 115 Dyno. It takes a lot more skill to get planing and to push upwind than my 145 Blast. I've done it, but it requires more concentration. However, the Dyno steers much much more easily up and down waves and goes through chop better. I haven't ridden a freeride board that small but I did do a session recently, both boards running a 7.5. I weigh ~88kg.

A FSW is also likely easier to sail than a wave specific board as long as it's appropriately finned. The JP FSW looks like you can run it thruster or single. Lots of guys here will run boards like that as singles in bump and jump conditions and switch to multifins when the waves are bigger.

I have a FSW JP 102 and it's easier to sail than my 115 Dyno. I mean, it planes much more easily. It has an older shape though so the nose catches gusts and is harder to deal with in <5.0 conditions than a more modern, shorter shape.

IF you are mostly in flat water conditions a freeride is probably what you want. If you start getting in conditions where the waves are over 2ft valley to trough then you may want to start looking at more wavy boards, as it'll be more fun. You can run smaller freeride boards but they just aren't as maneuverable. It seems to be more of a question of what you want to do and what your conditions are like. You could make either work in flat water, and the freeride will then be faster and easier to get going.

A FSW might turn, a freeride won't. The freeride might be a bit faster or handle more sail.

At your weight a 95-100L FSW could be your biggest board.

In the for sale section there is a naish starship 100litre board. I don't know the seller, but I do have the 90 litre version of that board, and I find it brilliant for many styles of sailing from small waves (footstraps in) bump and jump, and free ride blasting with the straps in the outer position. Even some fun speed on Lake George. Changing the fin radically changes the character of the board. I'm 85kg, and it it is my favourite board with sails 6.2 down to 4.5.
At your weight I think 100 litres would be a great allround board even in pretty light winds.

Also 72 kilos....
Wave boards, around 78 liters.
Fsw, around 85 liters.
Fast freeride, 85 and 95 liters.
Slalom, 84, 94, and 111 liters.

Bluefusionman, At your location (being exclusively ocean sailing), I think you will be happy with either styles IMO. Just note that the JP FSW boards (in my experience) are happier with wave sails.

Think in terms of a FSW being an easier-to-use-waveboard, and a freeride being an easier-to-use-slalom (or easier to use flatwater early planing lighter winds) board.

The usual progression is - 200L beginner board, then big wide freeride / formula / slalom (still uphauling) about 40 - 60L over your weight, then smaller freeride board say 20-30L over your weight.

FSW does not fit in that equation unless you're very small or in a very windy locale, in which case it may take the place of the freeride.

You do not get a smaller board to progress - in my opinion you get a smaller board because you're progressing. ie: waterstarting on a 130L board and its a major handful in over 20kn and you need more control = smaller board (and more FSW oriented)

FSW is for wanting to progress to waves, or an accomplished freerider's 25-40kn board.

Are u currently planing out of control sometimes and on what board?

In answer to your questions about differences for boards of the same volume - freeride will be faster, quicker to plane, a little less control at the limit (and I mean really at the limit which I do not think is an issue for you currently)
FSW will be slower to plane, more control at the limit and if you are planing fast they gybe better so MAY be better to learn carve gybes on
There is a massive difference in freeride oriented FSW (like 10-15y/o ones with single fin) and newer ones that are more wavey (thrusters, like new 3S, Dyno, newer Goya One...... or the superb MOzCustoms all-rounder FSW)

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Bluefusionman said..
Looking to clarify why you would choose a freeride over fsw and the volumes of both board types.

I see that generally speaking freeride boards are made in larger volumes and aren't offered in lower volumes. Whilst the fsw boards are available in lower volumes and the largest available volume of an fsw in close to the mid sized freeride.

So my questions are;
Are freeride boards supposed to be ridden well over your weight? I weigh 72kg so none of the freeride boards are close to my bodyweight.

Are FSW boards supposed to be ridden in smaller volumes and are the larger volumes in fsw boards meant for larger riders? i.e me being 72kg, would it be advisable to purchase the JP fsw 114 for example or the Tabou 3s at 117? Not buying anything right now just looking to make sense of the different options available in boards

If I had decided I wanted a board around 115 what would be the difference in an fsw or freeride of the same volume?

Thanks in advance, some examples below of what I am raving on about

For example;
JP Super Ride - 92 - 102 -113 - 124 - 139 (freeride)
JP FSW - 78 - 84 - 94 - 104 - 114

Tabou Rocket - 105|115|125|135|145
Tabou 3S - 97|107|117

Starboard Carve - 99 ? 109 ? 119 ? 129 ? 139 ? 159 ? 169
Starboard Kode - 85 ? 95 ? 105 ? 115 ? 125 ? 135

I understand why you're asking this question. I'm about 75kgs and I deliberated for a while whether a FSW or free-ride board would be best for the 63-65 width section of my quiver when buying a new board about 12 months ago. 60 and below is easy, FSW for sure (no waves here) and 70+ easy, free-ride (not interested in slalom boards or gps sailing). The equation for me was comfort in chop/turns easier gybing vs extra speed/ earlier planing. Went for a 102 ltr 63 wide free-rider on the basis that I could target flatter water at my local by waiting for for the tide to run out a little. (very tidal, shallow spot but gets rough on full tide if windy). Happy with my decision, the board has double concaves and the nose rides high which I find assists with negating any chop.

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Mark _australia said..
FSW is for wanting to progress to waves, or an accomplished freerider's 25-40kn board.

Or you could get one to go fast in messy ocean chop and feel comfortable doing that. They are very fast boards and easy to gybe in messy chop.

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Mark _australia said..
There is a massive difference in freeride oriented FSW (like 10-15y/o ones with single fin) and newer ones that are more wavey (thrusters, like new 3S, Dyno, newer Goya One...... or the superb MOzCustoms all-rounder FSW)

Sad that the freeridey FSW are out of fashion. I don't want a wavey three-fin for ocean blasting.

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Shifu said..

Mark _australia said..
There is a massive difference in freeride oriented FSW (like 10-15y/o ones with single fin) and newer ones that are more wavey (thrusters, like new 3S, Dyno, newer Goya One...... or the superb MOzCustoms all-rounder FSW)

Sad that the freeridey FSW are out of fashion. I don't want a wavey three-fin for ocean blasting.

The Fox 95L is your board then. Perfect for ocean blasting!

Thanks everyone great insight once again