Hi all,
Would appreciate some feedback please.
I am an 83 KG intermediate sailor, started about 2 year ago sailing sups, then bought a Kona longboard, which I really like.
I have progressed well over time, being now competent in the harness and straps, now also able to water start.

I am considering buying a suitable shortboard for 15 - 20 knot range. An easy, forgiving board that I can further my sailing experience.
There are a few new boards around at good prices at present that I feel would suit. Freeride boards such as the Fanatic Gecko, AHD Fast Forward, and JP Magic Ride. I would be looking at a 130 litre board I reckon.

Can you please provide some feedback on these models, and any other models you may know of that are under $2K and would be ideal?
I would like to be able to sail this board in small waves as well, in places like Happy Valley and Maroochy River Mouth. As I would like to progress to wave sailing eventually.

I am also considering an AHD Sea Lion 8.3m, I know it is a totally different kettle of fish, but the ability in waves is intriguing.

Cheers

Nice progression , any of those boards you mentioned will blow your mind compared to what your used to. All capable of handling small waves and getting a feeling. This is an awesome thing your getting into ! Welcome ! Just don't get slack and become a kite surfer !

Mate, I got myself a 121 litre 2015 SB Carve about 12 months ago, 252L x 72.5W, tail width 47. I'm 77 kgs. . Technora construction which brought the cost down a bit and which I was surprised feels so light and stiff. I was stuck in a rut trying to use an older board which was too advanced for me. The Carve has really helped me progress and it's all due to the width for its size. I find it is also way better in chop than I expected and faster than I expected. Easy to gybe and glides on to the plane nicely. I've used it mainly with a 2 cam 6.5 but have used it with a 7.7 and a 5.7. It's a good board.

You need less volume with wide thin free moves. If you can waterstart you should be fine with a 120, maybe even 110.. You need to be a bit more proactive to get them planing - bear off a bit more. But this will make your transition to small boards later on easier.

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Orange Whip said..
Mate, I got myself a 121 litre 2015 SB Carve about 12 months ago, 252L x 72.5W, tail width 47. I'm 77 kgs. . Technora construction which brought the cost down a bit and which I was surprised feels so light and stiff. I was stuck in a rut trying to use an older board which was too advanced for me. The Carve has really helped me progress and it's all due to the width for its size. I find it is also way better in chop than I expected and faster than I expected. Easy to gybe and glides on to the plane nicely. I've used it mainly with a 2 cam 6.5 but have used it with a 7.7 and a 5.7. It's a good board.

NO WAY HOSE!!!!

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KennyK said...

Orange Whip said..
Mate, I got myself a 121 litre 2015 SB Carve about 12 months ago, 252L x 72.5W, tail width 47. I'm 77 kgs. . Technora construction which brought the cost down a bit and which I was surprised feels so light and stiff. I was stuck in a rut trying to use an older board which was too advanced for me. The Carve has really helped me progress and it's all due to the width for its size. I find it is also way better in chop than I expected and faster than I expected. Easy to gybe and glides on to the plane nicely. I've used it mainly with a 2 cam 6.5 but have used it with a 7.7 and a 5.7. It's a good board.

NO WAY HOSE!!!!

??????
Hi ken wondering

why you are dismissing the carve as an option

Cheers Jeff

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jirvin4505 said..

KennyK said...

Orange Whip said..
Mate, I got myself a 121 litre 2015 SB Carve about 12 months ago, 252L x 72.5W, tail width 47. I'm 77 kgs. . Technora construction which brought the cost down a bit and which I was surprised feels so light and stiff. I was stuck in a rut trying to use an older board which was too advanced for me. The Carve has really helped me progress and it's all due to the width for its size. I find it is also way better in chop than I expected and faster than I expected. Easy to gybe and glides on to the plane nicely. I've used it mainly with a 2 cam 6.5 but have used it with a 7.7 and a 5.7. It's a good board.

NO WAY HOSE!!!!

??????
Hi ken wondering

why you are dismissing the carve as an option

Cheers Jeff

Made a mistake Jeff, sorry guys I quoted the wrong post, plus my spelling was off.
I will correct it now.

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Imax1 said..
Nice progression , any of those boards you mentioned will blow your mind compared to what your used to. All capable of handling small waves and getting a feeling. This is an awesome thing your getting into ! Welcome ! Just don't get slack and become a kite surfer !

NO WAY JOSE! I won't go to kite surfing!

Jeff, the carve should go on my list.

I do wonder if there is a stand out in that list either in a good way or bad way?

Any one had experience with any of these?

I sail a gecko 133. Mainly as a lighter wind board when it's too light to get going on my 100lt short board. I'm 93kg. Typically using a 7.8 on the gecko. however I have sailed it ( using a smaller fin) in stronger wind up to 25kt in chop and apart from the odd unintentional air I found it handles those conditions well despite its width. So I'm happy to recommend a gecko.With your weight range tho I think you'd want to go the next size or even the next again down.

I haven't ridden a JP Magic Ride or an AHD and since my Gecko only arrived yesterday the only feedback I can give you so far is that the weight naked straight out of the box is bang on that stated by the brand

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KennyK said...
Hi all,
Would appreciate some feedback please.
I am an 83 KG intermediate sailor, started about 2 year ago sailing sups, then bought a Kona longboard, which I really like.
I have progressed well over time, being now competent in the harness and straps, now also able to water start.

I am considering buying a suitable shortboard for 15 - 20 knot range. An easy, forgiving board that I can further my sailing experience.
There are a few new boards around at good prices at present that I feel would suit. Freeride boards such as the Fanatic Gecko, AHD Fast Forward, and JP Magic Ride. I would be looking at a 130 litre board I reckon.

Can you please provide some feedback on these models, and any other models you may know of that are under $2K and would be ideal?
I would like to be able to sail this board in small waves as well, in places like Happy Valley and Maroochy River Mouth. As I would like to progress to wave sailing eventually.

I am also considering an AHD Sea Lion 8.3m, I know it is a totally different kettle of fish, but the ability in waves is intriguing.

Cheers

I had JP MR118 but not sure that I'd put it near waves. I did like it, wide & floaty for me at 88kgs but have moved to JP SS124 (SS100 soon) for a bit more racy feel.
Keep us all informed. Cheers Dave

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Orange Whip said..

I haven't ridden a JP Magic Ride or an AHD and since my Gecko only arrived yesterday the only feedback I can give you so far is that the weight naked straight out of the box is bang on that stated by the brand

Be keen hear how she goes when you get out there for the first time!

I bought the 2015 Jp Magic Ride pro edition 111. I enjoyed the performance it offered. It planes super early and gybes like a dream as advertised. Board is fast and fun. Down side was, I didn't like the forward foot strap position, as they were either too far inward or outward. Couldn't find a happy medium position. Plus the board wasn't quite lively and sporty enough for me and the board delaminated on my 10th session. I was able to return it for the Naish Starship. Had the starship for about 2 months so far with 20 sessions of 15+ knot winds and it's amazing. Perfect advanced sporty board for me. Good luck with your choice.

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Magic Ride said..
Down side was, I didn't like the forward foot strap position, as they were either too far inward or outward.

You can "adjust" the footstrap position by making the straps wider or narrower. If you use the outboard position and make the straps wider, your foot will slide in more. Or take the inside position and make it tight so just your toes go in. Between those two options, you can have your foot at almost any position from the corner to the inside.

Obviously, you won't be able to have the straps adjusted to your current width preference, but it's not hard to get used to the different settings. On my freestyle boards, my foot slides in all the way, so that I can carve from the straps in 360s etc. But sometimes when I just want to sail back and forth, I make them tight for better board contact. On the slalom boards, the straps are always a lot tighter.

You may have heard that only certain positions are safe, and that other positions are more dangerous to your ankle in bad crashes. I am not entirely sure how much truth is to that, but there are at least two settings that are generally considered safe: very tight, so that your toes are just in the straps; and very wide, so that the top of the strap always touches your shin. Some freestylers also love the "horseshoe" setting: very wide, but with a narrow base that locks the foot onto place when you push down. But if you look around, you'll probably see all kinds of different settings being used.

What I ment was I didn't like the footstrap mounting positions in the front. I would have liked to see mounting position in between the current existing settings. In order to achieve that, I had to turn them a little more in a parallel fashion, which is not the ideal position for windsurfing, but worked. You can see what I mean in this picture.










With the Starship, the foot strap mounts are perfect for me. Not too far in board or outboard. You might be able to see the difference in you look close enough.

I am similar to you wrt weight (83-85 kg), skill level (bought my first gear 2 years ago, OK with planning in harness and foot straps and waterstarting)...I have been sailing with my SB Carve 121 for more than a year now and recently started using a 91 litre board when it is over 20 Knots in Port Phillip Bay.

Based on my experience, I'd recommend a freeride board not bigger than a 120 litre that will still be easy to uphaul when the wind is not strong enough to waterstart but will be more controllable in higher winds and chop than 130 lt...When I moved down from my first board, a 160 lt GO down to the Carve 121, it was far less challenging than when progressing from a 205 lt learner board to the GO 160.

There are very positive reviews about freemove boards such as Atom Iq, Rocket Wide that have wider wind ranges and good for chop.... I haven't got any experience with them..My rationale for 120 lt Carve was to go as small as possible for my weight to still have the safety of easy uphauling to come home :)...in that regard, I did not see the value of the extra width you get with the thinner, lower volume and wider freemove boards.

Now I am pretty happy with my quiver of 3 boards for a few years: A Fanatic Viper (310 lt inflatable WindSup) for really light wind days, SUPping and teaching my kids, Carve 121 for light wind, not so choppy conditions and a 91 Lt F2 Rebel for higher wind and choppy days on the bay.

have you thought of the 125 litre TABOU Rocket.I can highly recommend this board.
great in chop.maybe even the 115 litre rocket ,at your weight.

They go like rockets.

RRD Firemove's are pretty sweet boards. They are not speed machines, but super easy to gybe and get on the plane. If it's 15-20knots, at your weight, you could go for the 112L or definitely the 122L. Stick a "wave-style" fin on it and you can ride waves ok-ish.

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musorianin said..
I sail a gecko 133. Mainly as a lighter wind board when it's too light to get going on my 100lt short board. I'm 93kg. Typically using a 7.8 on the gecko. however I have sailed it ( using a smaller fin) in stronger wind up to 25kt in chop and apart from the odd unintentional air I found it handles those conditions well despite its width. So I'm happy to recommend a gecko.With your weight range tho I think you'd want to go the next size or even the next again down.

For 100kgs what wind range could one expect from the Gecko 156 and 8m sail, average skills but no waterstarts?

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gorgemay said...

musorianin said..
I sail a gecko 133. Mainly as a lighter wind board when it's too light to get going on my 100lt short board. I'm 93kg. Typically using a 7.8 on the gecko. however I have sailed it ( using a smaller fin) in stronger wind up to 25kt in chop and apart from the odd unintentional air I found it handles those conditions well despite its width. So I'm happy to recommend a gecko.With your weight range tho I think you'd want to go the next size or even the next again down.

For 100kgs what wind range could one expect from the Gecko 156 and 8m sail, average skills but no waterstarts?

Learn to waterstart. They are not hard. Always go to the back of the board (none of that oldskool swimming to the mast tip and drowning trying to lift it out of the water), slice the sail into the wind and it's basically a beach start from then on.

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MrCranky said..

gorgemay said...

musorianin said..
I sail a gecko 133. Mainly as a lighter wind board when it's too light to get going on my 100lt short board. I'm 93kg. Typically using a 7.8 on the gecko. however I have sailed it ( using a smaller fin) in stronger wind up to 25kt in chop and apart from the odd unintentional air I found it handles those conditions well despite its width. So I'm happy to recommend a gecko.With your weight range tho I think you'd want to go the next size or even the next again down.

For 100kgs what wind range could one expect from the Gecko 156 and 8m sail, average skills but no waterstarts?

Learn to waterstart. They are not hard. Always go to the back of the board (none of that oldskool swimming to the mast tip and drowning trying to lift it out of the water), slice the sail into the wind and it's basically a beach start from then on.

Bit hard if the rig isn't anywhere near there..

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KennyK said..
Jeff, the carve should go on my list.

I do wonder if there is a stand out in that list either in a good way or bad way?

Any one had experience with any of these?

Everyone will have their preference, usually the one they sail themselves. I suggest you go see any of the windsurfing retailers in SE Qld. They have a good range of Starboard, Fanatic, Naish and JP freeride boards between them and usually lets you try before you buy.

Water starting is an art in itself! Spend time practicing and it will come to you. Watch Utube videos as well and you will figure it out. There is some minor prep work in the water that you need to figure out as your waterstarting. videos will help with that. Make sure you have enough wind to practice the task. In my experience, you will need just enough wind to barely get you planing. That's enough wind to learn waterstarts.

Mmmm , Learning to waterstart an 8 meter sail in the wrong spot , there will be a little drowning involved . With a 156 liter board sometimes its a lot easier to pull start ,it wont look as cool but it may save 50m downwind and a lot of energy.

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Imax1 said..
Mmmm , Learning to waterstart an 8 meter sail in the wrong spot , there will be a little drowning involved . With a 156 liter board sometimes its a lot easier to pull start ,it wont look as cool but it may save 50m downwind and a lot of energy.

Those big boards are much harder to waterstart, but they are great when you can just lay on top of them totally exhausted from trying to waterstart

Well after a lot of browsing and research, reading your advice, I am almost to decision time.
I have found a few good specials around at the moment.
It's mainly come down to a choice between 2 boards, both 2016 models.
A JP Magic Ride 119 ES 8.6KG (the wood is 7.9KG) $1799
Or in wood I can only get a 130 8.3KG at the special price of $2200.
Or Starboard Carve 121 wood 8.2KG $2000.

I prefer the wood construction but the ES may be ok? The difference in weight in the 119 MR isn't significant, only .6KG heavier than the carve wood.
So I would likely go for that or the carve.
The main reasons I like the JP over the carve is the foot strap options. The JP has positions that are really inboard which are similar to a wave board and I want to use this board to progress into small waves. So I can move the straps for what I am doing. I also like that the fin is smaller which should be better for waves and the shallow lakes that I sail at. It is also a power box fin so interchangeable with my Kona. The carve has a Tuttle fin.

I am probably going to decide tomorrow, so any last comments would be appreciated.

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sboardcrazy said..

MrCranky said..

gorgemay said...

musorianin said..
I sail a gecko 133. Mainly as a lighter wind board when it's too light to get going on my 100lt short board. I'm 93kg. Typically using a 7.8 on the gecko. however I have sailed it ( using a smaller fin) in stronger wind up to 25kt in chop and apart from the odd unintentional air I found it handles those conditions well despite its width. So I'm happy to recommend a gecko.With your weight range tho I think you'd want to go the next size or even the next again down.

For 100kgs what wind range could one expect from the Gecko 156 and 8m sail, average skills but no waterstarts?

Learn to waterstart. They are not hard. Always go to the back of the board (none of that oldskool swimming to the mast tip and drowning trying to lift it out of the water), slice the sail into the wind and it's basically a beach start from then on.

Bit hard if the rig isn't anywhere near there..

I think board size is a lot less important than sail size when learning to waterstart. I wouldn't recommend learning to do them with a sail any bigger than 6m, and preferably not cambered. Definitely a skill worth having. Pick a reasonably windy day to practice, its way easier with plenty of wind (OK, not gail force) and a small sail than light wind and a huge sail.

Ok ,go the carve , '131 probably a bit better in the waves. How's that ?

Both boards would do the job for you ,

if you are going out in 15- 20 knots @ 83 kgs ,as said earlier I would lean toward the 121,or 119 . Rather than the 130 .

its more likely to sit down in the water better at that wind strength .and it still is at the volume of being able to uphaul .
and limp home if the wind drops .also better if in some waves,

if given the choice I would go with the lighter board .they are alot livelier .

The thinner Magic Ride may be easier to learn water starting since it sits lower in the water.