I am a 14 yo rider capable of doing a jibe,duck jibe,high jumps,heli tacks and donkey jibes. I decided to get into the freestyle world. For my first equipment riding in between 15-20 knots (50kg) , what would you suggest? Btw I currently have an offer for a 2012 Jp freestyle 99L and a Fanatic skate 100L. Also looking forward into buying a 2018 Wizard (what size??)
Mike,

Get an 80 litre at your weight. 100's are too big for learning aerial moves (vulcan/spock) for your weight. Not all brands do freestyle boards for kids/small riders, Starboard have a Flare 80 and only 6kg. For 15-20 knots a 3.6m sail is ideal and a 4.0 for lighter wind.They should both run on a nice light 340 mast making a super easy rig to throw around.

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KA360 said..
Get an 80 litre at your weight. 100's are too big for learning aerial moves (vulcan/spock) for your weight. Not all brands do freestyle boards for kids/small riders, Starboard have a Flare 80 and only 6kg. For 15-20 knots a 3.6m sail is ideal and a 4.0 for lighter wind.They should both run on a nice light 340 mast making a super easy rig to throw around.

Thanks for the response but Im not that light as you thing, I sail my 4.7 combat in 17kts plus. I wish I could get an 85-90L board but I can afford a new one.btw what move should I be learning next in your opinion? And how long does it take to learn the forward loop and vulcan??

Post your question to the West OZ Freestylers group on Facebook. They will be able to help you out with all your freestyle questions.

www.facebook.com/groups/108486659192238

80 litres is a big board for a 50kg rider. Freestyle boards accelerate very quickly and have a very buoyant tail so you can get away with a much smaller sail than you could on freeride or slalom gear.A smaller sail will help greatly with technical sail manoeuvres. Hunt around for an 80 litre. Where do you sail? Where have you looked for boards?
Start with body drags and carving 360s. Unfortunately you will soon need the vulcan to progress into modern freestyle.They say the hardest (for adults but not kids) manoeuvre]skill to learn in windsurfing is the carve gybe. Well with the vulcan you need to complete the gybe in the time it takes from takeoff till landing during a jump.Start now,it takes quite some time and hundreds of attempts.
The loop is technically very easy,but frightening psychologically.it goes against the reflex windsurfers have learned to resist the catapult.Use the Remko method to practice in light wind before you have a proper crack at it. Then if you try it 10 times you will for sure have landed 3.

50kg at 14? If you would stay at 50kg, that would be an easy call. But if you want to keep that board for 3-4 yrs, harder. I use my weight + 25-30, last yr and this yr, my weight + 20-25 would be better, boards do now ride bigger.

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NordRoi said..
50kg at 14? If you would stay at 50kg, that would be an easy call. But if you want to keep that board for 3-4 yrs, harder. I use my weight + 25-30, last yr and this yr, my weight + 20-25 would be better, boards do now ride bigger.

So, i'm 68 kg +25= 93L. This is for light wind, with a powerfull 5.3.

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NordRoi said..
50kg at 14? If you would stay at 50kg, that would be an easy call. But if you want to keep that board for 3-4 yrs, harder. I use my weight + 25-30, last yr and this yr, my weight + 20-25 would be better, boards do now ride bigger.

So, i'm 68 kg +25= 93L. This is for light wind, with a powerfull 5.3.

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KA360 said..
80 litres is a big board for a 50kg rider. Freestyle boards accelerate very quickly and have a very buoyant tail so you can get away with a much smaller sail than you could on freeride or slalom gear.A smaller sail will help greatly with technical sail manoeuvres. Hunt around for an 80 litre. Where do you sail? Where have you looked for boards?
Start with body drags and carving 360s. Unfortunately you will soon need the vulcan to progress into modern freestyle.They say the hardest (for adults but not kids) manoeuvre]skill to learn in windsurfing is the carve gybe. Well with the vulcan you need to complete the gybe in the time it takes from takeoff till landing during a jump.Start now,it takes quite some time and hundreds of attempts.
The loop is technically very easy,but frightening psychologically.it goes against the reflex windsurfers have learned to resist the catapult.Use the Remko method to practice in light wind before you have a proper crack at it. Then if you try it 10 times you will for sure have landed 3.

I bought the JP freestyle 2012 99L with a Choco royal flush 19 fin since I dont have an other option(I live in cyprus where there arent many freestylers to buy used boards from). I will go for the body drags, 360s and hopefully the forward loop. Wish me luck!!

Try a slightly larger fin(22-24) to get used to the board.That will help with carving moves (especially 360s) big float jumps and coping with chop.You won't need the freestyle fin till you start sliding tricks. Vulcan and loops don't require the freestyle fin.

Try a slightly larger fin(22-24) to get used to the board.That will help with carving moves (especially 360s) big float jumps and coping with chop.You won't need the freestyle fin till you start sliding tricks. Vulcan and loops don't require the freestyle fin.

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KA360 said..
Try a slightly larger fin(22-24) to get used to the board.That will help with carving moves (especially 360s) big float jumps and coping with chop.You won't need the freestyle fin till you start sliding tricks. Vulcan and loops don't require the freestyle fin.

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KA360 said..
Try a slightly larger fin(22-24) to get used to the board.That will help with carving moves (especially 360s) big float jumps and coping with chop.You won't need the freestyle fin till you start sliding tricks. Vulcan and loops don't require the freestyle fin.

If I use a bigger fin will I feel the difference between the freewave and freestyle board?? What are the benefits of a freestyle Board??

The freestyle will have Faster acceleration and more pop. The thicker tail helps for exiting moves planing. The free ride will have a greater wind rage and be much nicer in chop. You will learn more and faster with the freestyle. Have fun with your new board.

Hey man,

Sounds like your at a perfect stage to get into freestyle.

Boardwise anything that is 90l from the last 5-6 years is fine. Your 50kg but not super small so its fine and you'll grow anyway. Its good to start big.

Sail wise don't go bigger then 5.2, if your 50kg 4.8 should be normal.

Invest in a decent sail and mast, it will pay off!

Tricks wise start learning the vulcan on the side with your handiness foot at the back (usually right). At the same time start practicing getting into switch and switch sailing on the other tack. This helps as its the position you land in.

In light wind I'd get really good at upwind 360s in the straps and you can also practice `ducking ` the sail on both sides.

If there is a bit of chop try shuv its and loops out the straps. There is a good loop tutorial by Remko. Once your really comfortable jumping and popping the loop is very easy.

After you've got the vulcan if go straight into learning spocks, grubby and flaka. On the other side learn the switch vulcan and all the various switch moves.

Don't get too obsessed with all the sliding moves, most the new style tricks aren't like that, they are based on sail ducking. Such as culo, funnel, bob etc

Good luck let us know how you go!

Al

I tried Goolge translate on this thread and it is still not in English...?

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albentley said..
Hey man,

Sounds like your at a perfect stage to get into freestyle.

Boardwise anything that is 90l from the last 5-6 years is fine. Your 50kg but not super small so its fine and you'll grow anyway. Its good to start big.

Sail wise don't go bigger then 5.2, if your 50kg 4.8 should be normal.

Invest in a decent sail and mast, it will pay off!

Tricks wise start learning the vulcan on the side with your handiness foot at the back (usually right). At the same time start practicing getting into switch and switch sailing on the other tack. This helps as its the position you land in.

In light wind I'd get really good at upwind 360s in the straps and you can also practice `ducking ` the sail on both sides.

If there is a bit of chop try shuv its and loops out the straps. There is a good loop tutorial by Remko. Once your really comfortable jumping and popping the loop is very easy.

After you've got the vulcan if go straight into learning spocks, grubby and flaka. On the other side learn the switch vulcan and all the various switch moves.

Don't get too obsessed with all the sliding moves, most the new style tricks aren't like that, they are based on sail ducking. Such as culo, funnel, bob etc

Good luck let us know how you go!

Al

I ordered a fanatic skate te 2016 94L, I had the option to buy the 85L one but where I surf its not windy often. How long would it take me to learn moves such as the forward loop and vulcan?

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Mikeptld said..

albentley said..
Hey man,

Sounds like your at a perfect stage to get into freestyle.

Boardwise anything that is 90l from the last 5-6 years is fine. Your 50kg but not super small so its fine and you'll grow anyway. Its good to start big.

Sail wise don't go bigger then 5.2, if your 50kg 4.8 should be normal.

Invest in a decent sail and mast, it will pay off!

Tricks wise start learning the vulcan on the side with your handiness foot at the back (usually right). At the same time start practicing getting into switch and switch sailing on the other tack. This helps as its the position you land in.

In light wind I'd get really good at upwind 360s in the straps and you can also practice `ducking ` the sail on both sides.

If there is a bit of chop try shuv its and loops out the straps. There is a good loop tutorial by Remko. Once your really comfortable jumping and popping the loop is very easy.

After you've got the vulcan if go straight into learning spocks, grubby and flaka. On the other side learn the switch vulcan and all the various switch moves.

Don't get too obsessed with all the sliding moves, most the new style tricks aren't like that, they are based on sail ducking. Such as culo, funnel, bob etc

Good luck let us know how you go!

Al

I ordered a fanatic skate te 2016 94L, I had the option to buy the 85L one but where I surf its not windy often. How long would it take me to learn moves such as the forward loop and vulcan?

Congrats, nice board.

Forward loop with right motivation and preparation can be learned in a day. Vulcan is harder and will take much longer, try to find some flat water and somebody to watch and give you some tips.

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Mikeptld said..
How long would it take me to learn moves such as the forward loop and vulcan?

The fastest I've ever heard for the Vulcan was one week. That was an crazy good (olympic-level) athlete working at it every day at a spot with better freestylers. For "normal" windsurfers, getting the first in 200-300 tries is quite good; 1000 tries is not unheard of. But you're young and good at old-school freestyle, so there's a good chance you'll get it (somewhat) quickly.

Forward loops can be a lot faster. There's some danger of damaging yourself or your gear if you try it the wrong way. I know at least 4 people who did one or the other. I also know guys who got around the first day they tried. If you follow the 4-step approach (check the video in the "Forward loop journey" post) or something similar, it's (mostly) harmless to try.

Thanks, can you tell me the link of the video?

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Mikeptld said..
Thanks, can you tell me the link of the video?

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Forward-loop-journey
or you could Google "Forward loop journey" site:www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/

Btw, theres only an 86L available. Is it good for 15-20 (I'm 50kg)

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boardsurfr said..

Mikeptld said..
Thanks, can you tell me the link of the video?

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Forward-loop-journey
or you could Google "Forward loop journey" site:www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/

Btw, theres only an 86L available. Is it good for 15-20knots? (I'm 50kg)

Get the 86. It still has plenty of volume for you. My wife is a few kg heavier than you, and has sailed a Skate 90 from 2011 the last few years in 15-30 knots. She tested the 86, and says it planes earlier and feels bigger than the 90. It also has more pop, great for Vulcans. So she ordered one.