I'm 85kgs beginner/inter but looking to advance to my next board,
preferably 120L - 130L. Currently on JP Funster 160L
With all the different makes of boards it can get pretty confusing as to what is best suited for me.
Most of my sailing will be around Safety Bay area
I want to start wave sailing but not until i'm competent on gybes.
What are your reviews on the boards you have used?
Any and all information would be great.

What board are you currently using?

I started on a 148 litre Bic Techno and moved down to a 107 JP FSW and I weigh 95kgs (sail at Safety Bay) so you may be able to go a bit smaller that 120-130 if your water starting is good.

( I see there is a 100 odd litre Kombat in the buy and sell that you might want to consider alongside JP, tabou, RRD)

As for being competant on gybes I believe only professionals reach this level of Nirvana.

Also are you going to be keeping your 160 litre? If so I would go smaller than 120-130. If not and you are going to go to one board maybe 120-130 would be better

I love my Rockets.Good guys quote them at 30kts..( not with me on them.) I'm intermediate level.
Very gybe friendly , fast and easy to sail.Mine are 2008 so I imagine the more recent ones are even better. I can find them a bit of a handful in chop but that may be because I'm using too big a board for the conditions -I'll be on my 125ltres in c 20kts ( 63kgs) if its gusty while the guys are on 110ltres ( 80kgs).
I've got a 95Rocket I use in 20-25kts & it's great fun with a 5 or 4m.Blitzed along last sail..15-25kts S..
I tried a JP 120 excite ride..hard to tell how it compared speed wise but it seemed more stable to uphaul..wider ? flatter deck..?

My thoughts, don't do your head in on which brand board, probably all good now days. I'd go a freeride about 110L, I have a Futura 111L which is a good board. When you're ready for proper wave sailing then go a wave board, which I can't advise on as no experience

In my opinion go for 110-115L freewave or 105-107 freestyle

why?

My situation:
85kg...bought a freeride 113L as my small board when moving from 180L
Loved the board, but could not do anything else but ride (wide space between front straps and similar...)
I managed to exchange it to a 105L freewave...I like the board a lot, first experience with waves etc., bad side (when its light wind, it's a bit too small because of low tail volume)
I recently bought an 88L wave board, now the gap between these 2 seems a bit small and will try to get a bigger board, if I manage to sell the 105L...otherwise I'll have to buy a bigger board about 130L for light wind, which is not my best choice, since I would like to have a 2 board quiver.

BTW...do not sell 160L for some while, you'll appreciate it when there's not much wind and to learn some basic moves and transfer them on a smaller board later on.

if you eventually want to get into wavesailing maybe just get a 90-100L waveboard so you can start in the waves with that when you get better?

the starboard kode 103L would be perfect as it's fast for blasting and good in the waves

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Stuthepirate said...

I'm 85kgs beginner/inter but looking to advance to my next board,
preferably 120L - 130L. Currently on JP Funster 160L
With all the different makes of boards it can get pretty confusing as to what is best suited for me.
Most of my sailing will be around Safety Bay area
I want to start wave sailing but not until i'm competent on gybes.
What are your reviews on the boards you have used?
Any and all information would be great.

To answer your original question, at your level there is very little difference between them, all the brands supply similar boards across all sectors, they are all to fragile, to expensive and each have there fan boys, everyone will tell you some thing different, but I would go for one of the following JP, fanatic, starboard or tabou.... Maybe consider RRD or Exocet ? Hope this helps

I submit you want something that still feels a bit like a freeride but has wave ability later. Going to a pure waveboard would be a big step.
110L FSW would be spot on, just freeride it for a while with outboard staps then use it somewhere like Dutchies with outboard straps, then later on at Coronation or Lano where it is flat on the inside and you can play in the waist hi reform wave without getting trashed.

THEN we you have the wave sense after a couple of good seasons on the FSW go grab a waveboard.

Getting a 100L waveboard and hitting a wave spot will probably demoralise you unless you get heaps of time on water

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Mark _australia said...

I submit you want something that still feels a bit like a freeride but has wave ability later. Going to a pure waveboard would be a big step.
110L FSW would be spot on, just freeride it for a while with outboard staps then use it somewhere like Dutchies with outboard straps, then later on at Coronation or Lano where it is flat on the inside and you can play in the waist hi reform wave without getting trashed.

THEN we you have the wave sense after a couple of good seasons on the FSW go grab a waveboard.

Getting a 100L waveboard and hitting a wave spot will probably demoralise you unless you get heaps of time on water

Oh I wish I had access to there..