I'm thinking of getting a free race board in the 120L range (so about 70-75cm wide). I like slalom/fast boards but dedicated slalom boards are hard for me to ride for long sessions so I like the little bit "easier" handling of the free race boards. Any body have input on the SuperSports (in particular the 2013), Futura, Manta, Hawk, Rocket, RRDs, Mistrals, etc.? It would be really excellent to hear some A/B/C comparisons amongst these boards (front runners for me are probably the SuperSport and Futura).
Thanks,
Adam
Went through all of this a little while ago and settled on the Futura. Just bought one (122L) haven't sailed it yet. Stay tuned . . . . . .
hey man,, where do you get the free race boards from? ha, if your coming off a slalom 120l about 75 wide and want to stick with that width the freerace boards are usually narrower for the same volume, eg, 120l hawk about 68 wide,, i rode the 2012 super sport, it was great, i thought it felt abit slower but definately softer feedback through rails to legs, the freeride boards from most brands look great, i think a bigger freeride board would be a sweet way to cruise around,, goodluck
Hey Adam, been using a Futura 111 for 18 months now with sails from 7.8 down to 6 in open bay conditions. Have to say I love this board, and a few or other sailors here have the same. It handles chop no worries and is easy to ride. I like that it takes tuttle fins too so if you change back to slalom you can keep your fins if the size is right. The lower range for the 7.8 is about 10 knots, so if light wind is your thing you might want the 122. I hav'nt ridden other freerace boards so cant compare, but I rode iSonics for a few years and definitely prefer the Futuras when the conditions are tough. The Futuras dont feel as lively as a slalom board, but for me go as fast or faster in less then ideal conditions, hope that helps mate 
the futura would be a great choice, try to get the carbon edition, it won the windmag test this year.
Thanks for the info so far.
I have been leaning towards a Supersport cause the shape just looks better to me ("eye test"), but I have heard good things about the Futura and would prefer the tuttle box (already have quite a few tuttle fins, although I have some powerbox).
Hope to hear some more feedback - especially on the current (2013) models. I have ridden some friends boards with the concave front to V back and really like the ride so I definitely want something along those lines for the bottom shape.
I rode a futura back in like 2008 and didn't love the feel of it - felt big. I think the board was thicker back then though - it has gotten thinner (which I like better). But it also looks like it might have gone a touch more towards "free" than "race" and I would prefer a more slalom-y board.
To give an idea of my expectations, I live in the midwest of the USA and compete in the local regattas. In the spring and fall it is not uncommon to do slalom races (figure 8) when we have 20 knot winds so I want a board that can do that, or even course races (with upwind legs - I don't need a full on slalom board cause I'm not racing against PWA guys) in 20 knots+ as well (although I also have formula board and 155L board that could do that as well). I also want to use the board for GPS competitions which usually are on relatively large inland lakes with chop that can get up to waist high - not to mention just generally blasting around in free time (although most of my sailing is during competitions due to typical life responsibilities).
More history - I got a 2008 118L supersport last year (brand new sitting ina shop so it was a good deal). I thought it was a great board, but too free-ridey for me (quite a bit of rocker still in the shape back in 2008), so I sold it after the season and am looking for a replacement. I would sail that as a recreational "fun" board, but it didn't satisy what I wanted for racing/GPS (woudl ahve been ok, but just want something more slalom-y, cause I can grab another "free ride" board pretty cheap around here since those are pretty common).
I'm a pretty advanced sailor so I'd say I like more of the race side of the "free race" boards (for example, the hawk is not particularly interesting to me, but I'd be interested in a Fanatic Ray - it is the same as the falcon in 2013, right? just with more inboard straps? - they aren't very available near me though).
Hope some of this background helps, and thanks for the info so far. Looking forward to reading some more.
Adam
@Haggar - I'm just under 100kg and primarily use an EVOIII 7.8 and 7.0. Where I sail the winds can very gusty and have large holes/long lulls so I prefer a little more volume. It also helps when I want to do the slalom races. Also, my other boards are a CarbonArt 62 slalom (about 100L) and an F2 Hornet 155L, so the 121 fills the gap better.
Along those lines, I have seen that that 2013 Futura 121L is a V bottom (so is teh 131) whereas the other sizes are V to double concave. Any input on this? If the V to double concave bottom is quite a bit nicer, that could be enough to talk me into the 111L size...
So in those days with 20kts you are currently sailing the CA SL 62 and find it too uncomfortable to sail as a dedicated slalom board? If so finding a detuned 75cm wide board to replace it in those sort of conditions is likely to be disappointing from a performance perspective as you seem to be finding with some of your comments. If it's a bigger board for cruising around in conditions that are too light for the CA I can kind of see the logic. Saying that at 100kgs I think you might need to look at some bigger sails also to get the most out of a 75cm wide board.
Personally I'd get a bigger CA if you like the performance of your current one (which I assume you do given that you have found some of the other boards you've tested disappointing). Now assuming the discomfort you refer to in sailing slalom shapes (referring to the CA?) is a result of higher wind/chop conditions I'd be thinking of replacing the smaller CA with a similar or smaller sized Freerace. So higher performance slalom shape for lighter conditions when the comfort comparison should be less of an issue.
I went the other way from freerace to CA SL on the basis it was as easy to sail (and certainly easier to gybe) than the JP I had. Not sure how much things have changed in the last 3 years since I compared these types of board and settled on the CA SL. I found comfort was on a par though so I might be missing something?
Hi Adam I have a big Ray that I use with sails up to 8.5 and love it as it's very fast and easy to sail,very comfortable and has good control.I would get another without a doubt.
@underfinned - I had been sailing a 118L 2008 JP SuperSport in 20knots (more like a range of 15-30knot depending on what I decided to take out). About 120L/70-75cmish seems to be the right size for me in those conditions. It is just that I sold that board and am looking to replace it.
It is tempting to pony up for the CarbonArt but it is an extra $1k (or more depending on which board I would get). My 62cm CA is awesome and I have also sailed my oldest brothers 75cm and 80cm CA SL which are awesome. To me, they sail much easier than the other "dedicated" slalom boards I avhe sailed (my other brother has an iSonic 122 that I think is a 2010 model, and I have also sailed JP slaloms). The CA seems to less aggressive rails and more inboard straps - much like what I consider free race boards to be. Not to mention, I think the 2013 SuperSport looks very much like a CA. It seems to me that most of the boards have moved more towards a CA shape in 2012 and certainly 2013.
Were you sailing a SuperSport or Slalom JP before moving to a CA?
Lots of good information so far.
OK, I get the idea now. I was kind of wondering if the CA was the issue as it seems to stack up well in terms of what you're looking for (except for the size!)
It's a p!sser the CA's are that much more expensive in the US - must be a freight/FX thing? They are "generally" cheaper than equivalent new boards in Aus.
Solution = steal your brothers 75 and he can upgrade to the newer 78 
Just get a RRD X-fire 114. With the bottom concaves they are really easy on the legs in chops and they gybe like waves boards.
I opened this discussion asking a very general question cause I was interested in hearing some unbiased opinions on boards (opinions not skewed by saying "what I want"). However, to give you an idea of what I would like: I would say that 70/75cm CA slalom is what I really want. What board is most like that? The only reason I'm not buying a CA is really due to cost. An extra $1k is just more than I want to commit to this board.
I have heard lots of great things about RRDs and they look pretty nice to me too, but they are about the same price as the CAs. I'm basically looking at getting a JP (2013) for just under $2k, a Futura (2013) at $1300 (cause my one brother can get me a deal), or getting an older model (probably used) for a bit cheaper.
Again, I would be very interested in hearing any opinions on what board is closest to a CA.
Adam
If you look at Starboards website they have made the rails on the Futuras a bit more slalomy in the larger sizes over the last several years. I have the 2012 F111 which is easy to ride, albeit it still does feel a lot detuned compared to an iSonic. Looks like the 2013's just have different cutouts. I'd like to try a CA in a similar size if it sort of fits between freerace and the other slalom brands 
I had a 2008 futura 111 and loved it, now have the 2011 and its quicker and planes earlier, has a smaller tail to the 2012 and less of a deck concave, me and Haggar put them next to each other and there is a definate difference in the 2 boards. I'm 75kg and can get going in about 12kts with a 7.0 on it with the 40m venom and have had it up to 33kts with the 7.0 on it so its not slow,. Mine is wood not tried the carbon but i found the carbon Isonics were hard through the chop,I have had a broken ankle and now have screws holding it together and the timber seems to be a bit of a softer ride.Not tried any other brands cause I am happy with the Starboards.
