Hi All , I'm 67kgs and keen to get a fast light wind set up. A few years ago I did have a rrd firemove 112 paired with a 7m ezzy cheeta 460 mast. I could get going in around 12kts I would say but felt the board was a little slow after a couple of seasons.
Then like many others I went winging for a few years and sold my big set up but now I'm finding wing in light winds unless there's waves a little dull. So I'm keen to get a slalom or fast free race board and after some advice.I only want to use this board upto around 15-16knts with a 6.5 (non cam sail ) as after that I can be in a 5.2 FSW board.
Any advice on what board would be much appreciated, will be looking at older boards in the used market. Thanks

Fanatic Blast: It's not free race or slalom but it's fast enough. I've been enjoying mine quite a lot paired with a 6.5 no cam sail. For your weight and winds up to 15 knots go for 117l. The 100l is another option but probably the gap too close with your FSW plus you can hold the 117 up to 20+ knots.

Severne Fox! Amazing light, early planing, and fast free race board. I'm similar weight and use the 95 litre as my light wind board paired with a 5.5 which gets me going from 17 knots.

Go 105 or 115 if you want to get going in lighter winds.

Funny to see these two suggestions. The Blast was also the first board that came to my mind. Loved it when I tried it but that's a few years ago. One local guy who likes to go fast but stays away from slalom gear was on Blasts for a few years, but since has switched to the Fox. The Blast may be easier to find used.

Where abouts in the UK are you?
If you are looking for fast secondhand kit then look at Fanatic/Duotone as Nik Baker seems to sponsor 1/2 the UK slalom fleet. There should be plenty of slalom kit on the market at a reasonable price as slalom kit isnt a big seller for the non-racer.

A local here wanted fast kit but not large sizes, so got GA slalom sails. The 1st board he tried was the Fox 95l. Not fast enough or didnt give him that flying off the fin feeling. So he got a Fanatic Jag. That was better, but now he has a JP slalom. The Blast isnt a fast board compared to slalom boards, its probably slower than the Fox. still a decent freeride board. The speed differences aren't massive, but you will feel the difference and if racing against others of the same skill you will creep ahead.

I bought a new freerace board in 2022 and went for a freerace as they arent built down to a light weight like slalom boards, which can be very light but maybe not so durable. The freeraces are slightly easier to sail. If my back wasnt knackered I would go for a 3 cam freerace sail and either a decent freerace or slalom board. And a decent carbon fin. As I've a bad back I use Ezzy Lion as I dont need to sail them maxed out all the time to get the best out of them, I can cruise along.

There is a good article from Surf magazine which shows the different between freeride, faster freeride and freerace kit. They only test Gun sails and JP boards to give an idea of the differences.
www.surf-magazin.de/windsurfen/how-to/tipps-und-tricks/tuning-special-so-machst-du-dein-freeride-material-schneller/

At your light weight and if you really want a 6.5m no cam, I wouldnt go larger than 105l on board size. Anything larger will feel out of balance. I think our local light lady sailor uses a Sailworks 6.5m no cam on a 99l Falcon, as her largest kit.

eg, My local shop has this for sail, I thought they had the 106l as well but maybe thats sold. Worth ringing them anyway as they might not have the website up to date. GBP1050 for a board thats probably not been used much is a decent price.
www.pooleharbour.co.uk/collections/second-hand-boards/products/fanatic-falcon-slalom-fin-90l-2022?variant=43686644416751

Thanks for all replies, I did recently have a go on a blast however the wind was dropping off so difficult to really get a feel for it. I definitely want something faster than my old firemove but unsure on slalom boards as lots of people seem to say they can be tricky to tune. I do remember quite a few years ago having a go on a friends 130 manta , I used it with a 5.8 wave sail ! Bizarrely it felt ok to me and I had a great sail , although I didn't go for a gybe as I felt totally on edge. Apart from the insane speed I remember how it blasted through lulls. But again tricky to tell after just a few runs !
@Phil I'm based in Eastbourne so choppy sea state , thanks for the link but it's well over the budget. I will try and get something a bit older.
My Firemove was 112L and I wanted to stick around this size as it was easy to tack and wobble back in if the wind drops.

Fanatic Blast end of story. Test one you will be convinced instantly.

Yes, a freerace board will be faster but unless you're willing to pair with a 2-3 cam sail... the Blast seems a better choice to me. I've not tried the Firemove so I can't compare.The Blast replaces the old Hawk in the Fanatic range although behaves in a different way, the nose sits lower on the water, more planted, turns better, etc.

How fast can fast be in light wind? I am 67kg and use my JP SLW 165ltr alot at flatwater spot. With 7.5 Ezzy Lion and 8.5 Cheetah.
I could probably get going on my 120ltr f-race, but it feels slow in light wind.
One thing the big board does not do, is feel slow!
Even if it is not going fast, it constantly feels like it is maxing out in top gear and i love that.
10kts wind and it is in blast mode

I use a Tabou Rocket Wide 100 with a 6.2 for this application, 34-36 fin or 31 weedy fin. Gets going in around 15 knots to 22. Sweet spot 18-20. About 75kg.

Rocket wide is a Fast Freeride board, leaning towards Freerace.

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peterowensbabs said..
Fanatic Blast end of story. Test one you will be convinced instantly.

I had a go on one and convinced it wasnt for me. Admittedly it was the 130 with a 8.5m, but even maxed out it felt too bland and unexciting. A friend also had a go on one and felt the same. He bought a Jag, for fin & foil. Maybe it depends upon the type of sailing and conditions you are used to.

As the UKWinger sails at Eastbourne, maybe a full on slalom board isnt the most suitable, although some freeraces have a longer planing flat and low entry nose rocker for better early planing, but arent so good for going over the back of swells. My AV Nuvolari has the same rocker as the slalom board, so its ok with that respect, but the rear footstrap is a little harder to get the foot in and might be trickier on the open sea.
It looks like Surf Mag did their test on Lake Garda. It would be interesting to repeat the test on the open sea.

You also have to consider your preferences and conditions. Part of the fun with slalom boards is that they feel fast. They demand more attention, commitment, and better technique. On flat and shallow water, I'd always pick a slalom board and 4-cam race sail. Flat water helps because your technique and commitment don't need to be spot-on. Add chop and deeper water to the equation, though, and I'd prefer something that's easier to ride, like the Blast, and a sail that's easier to waterstart. In these conditions, the Blast can be faster for someone with more limited skills who does not always want to sail right at the edge.

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UkWinger said..
Hi All , I'm 67kgs and keen to get a fast light wind set up. A few years ago I did have a rrd firemove 112 paired with a 7m ezzy cheeta 460 mast. I could get going in around 12kts I would say but felt the board was a little slow after a couple of seasons.
Then like many others I went winging for a few years and sold my big set up but now I'm finding wing in light winds unless there's waves a little dull. So I'm keen to get a slalom or fast free race board and after some advice.I only want to use this board upto around 15-16knts with a 6.5 (non cam sail ) as after that I can be in a 5.2 FSW board.
Any advice on what board would be much appreciated, will be looking at older boards in the used market. Thanks

Hi, I am 68 Kg and for under 15-16 knots I would use a slalom board, or a very aggressive free race. The reason is that you do not really have to deal with water conditions at those wind speed and you might as well take advantage of the increased speed potential of the slalom. Then is just a matter of volume. Under 15-16 I would go 110-125 depending on how much you want to target lower wind speeds.

I'm about 64kg, and usually sail anything from Formula to wave boards. I once rented a Blast while windsurfing in Lake Garda, and I wasn't impressed at all, just felt awkward in the chop compared to e.g. the Gecko that is much more all-round and fun to gybe etc.

A board that really impressed me is the Goya Proton, both fast and easy to jibe, that was at a different sailing spot though (flat water Pozo). I would recommend to rent a board or at least to have a go at a friends board, before you commit to buying anything. These things are really personal, and it is more a matter of feeling than an objective opinion in finding a suitable board.

Below 16 knots I would usually use my Formula board with an 8.6 Overdrive, feels like a light-wind slalom board with the added benefit of actually going somewhere, rather than just back and forth at the same place.

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PhilUK said..

peterowensbabs said..
Fanatic Blast end of story. Test one you will be convinced instantly.

Is there a was of translating that test review ? I think I'm really governed by what comes up second in my price range and then just giving it a go !

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SurferKris said..
I'm about 64kg, and usually sail anything from Formula to wave boards. I once rented a Blast while windsurfing in Lake Garda, and I wasn't impressed at all, just felt awkward in the chop compared to e.g. the Gecko that is much more all-round and fun to gybe etc.

A board that really impressed me is the Goya Proton, both fast and easy to jibe, that was at a different sailing spot though (flat water Pozo). I would recommend to rent a board or at least to have a go at a friends board, before you commit to buying anything. These things are really personal, and it is more a matter of feeling than an objective opinion in finding a suitable board.

Below 16 knots I would usually use my Formula board with an 8.6 Overdrive, feels like a light-wind slalom board with the added benefit of actually going somewhere, rather than just back and forth at the same place.

That seems like very big rig for your weight , you must be flying ! I reckon I'm good from 14-15kts on my 5.2 and fsw , it does seem that people sail very overpowered on slalom and free race kit.
I really didn't want a rig bigger than 6.5 as that still rigs on a 430 mast. I used to find my 7m 460 very heavy it handle if the wind wasn't consistent.

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SurferKris said..
I'm about 64kg, and usually sail anything from Formula to wave boards. I once rented a Blast while windsurfing in Lake Garda, and I wasn't impressed at all, just felt awkward in the chop compared to e.g. the Gecko that is much more all-round and fun to gybe etc.

Gecko's only advantage over Blast is that it's more stable off the plane, which is better for begginers. Straight line speed, chop, gybes, jumps, etc. way better than the Gecko IMHO.

Blast: you love it or you hate it!

If your were finding the firemove a little slow then the Blast wont be any different. You will need to find a free race or even a slalom board. The blasts are fun and easy to gybe, but no faster than any other freeride/freemove board.

I agree. Fanatic blast it's too freeride for excitement in 15 knots with your use case.

You need a board that flies on the fin when moderately powered.
I would say to with the current fanatic jag 110. The current one is on the faster side of freerace.
It comes with a great carbon fin to fly the board , and would be easier to get planing and go fast at the low end compared a slalom board that's more set up for powerful pumping by a big rider at the upper end of the wind range.

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UkWinger said..

PhilUK said..

peterowensbabs said..
Fanatic Blast end of story. Test one you will be convinced instantly.

Is there a was of translating that test review ? I think I'm really governed by what comes up second in my price range and then just giving it a go !

On my laptop, on websites in foreign languages I right click with my mouse and there is an option to translate to English. On Surf Mag's, there is a tab on the top right to switch between German & English.
They used to sell older tests and articles for 2 Euro, and you could download the PDF. For those I had to copy/paste the text into google translate.
I guess it comes down to what device you have to browse the web.

Out of interest, I had a look at a few of the main shops online and for a budget of GBP500-700 where you can buy a board which is in good condition, there wasnt much available in the fast freeride/slalom. Maybe there is more available privately, but shops dont want p/ex gear in the size you are looking for as the market isnt very large and they might have difficulty in selling it on.

I only found 2, both 105l RRD Firestorms. Both look in good condition, but the OE fin is 38cm, which is large for the board, especially if 6.5m is the largest sail you want to use with it.
24-7 say 100 quid for delivery. It would be cheaper to drive over to Calshot where they are based. They are on the Solent so you could have a sail to make the trip more worthwhile. Maybe even try before you buy. They also import Select fins, so if you wanted to get a deal on a new fin at the same time that could be an option. Their shop on the beach is quite small and most of the stock is in a warehouse nearby. So if you wanted to look at fins give them a ring a couple of days in advance to make sure that size is in the shop.

www.boardwise.co.uk/collections/used-windsurfing-boards/products/2017-rrd-firestorm-ltd-101
24-7boardsports.com/used-rrd-firestorm-105-ltd-windsurf-board/

Surf Mag tested that board in one of their 2018 board tests of freeride/freerace in 105 size. I'll PM you with details of that.

Just spotted this as well on Boardwise site.
www.boardwise.co.uk/collections/used-windsurfing-boards/products/2019-tabou-rocket-plus-ltd-103

Surf Mag in English URL

www.surf-magazin.de/en/

www.surf-magazin.de/en/windsurfing/windsurfing-sails/freeride/tuning-special-how-to-make-your-freeride-equipment-faster/

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flyingmujol said..

SurferKris said..
I'm about 64kg, and usually sail anything from Formula to wave boards. I once rented a Blast while windsurfing in Lake Garda, and I wasn't impressed at all, just felt awkward in the chop compared to e.g. the Gecko that is much more all-round and fun to gybe etc.

Gecko's only advantage over Blast is that it's more stable off the plane, which is better for begginers. Straight line speed, chop, gybes, jumps, etc. way better than the Gecko IMHO.

Blast: you love it or you hate it!

I own a Blast 130 and I feel that it's superior to the Gecko in every aspect except gybing while out of the plane. The Blast is a lot harder to gybe when slogging, because it tends to go straight. But on the plane, it does everything better. The manager at Fanatic rental in Dahab told me the same exact thing, so I guess it's mostly true.
To be honest I also reckon that it's not the fastest bord, as it requires more of a standing stance than a slalom and it's not made to push heavily on the fin. It's a thrilling freeride, great for intermediates.

BTW, at the beginning of this video you can see a Blast easily smoking a Gecko.

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Brienno said..

flyingmujol said..

SurferKris said..
I'm about 64kg, and usually sail anything from Formula to wave boards. I once rented a Blast while windsurfing in Lake Garda, and I wasn't impressed at all, just felt awkward in the chop compared to e.g. the Gecko that is much more all-round and fun to gybe etc.

Gecko's only advantage over Blast is that it's more stable off the plane, which is better for begginers. Straight line speed, chop, gybes, jumps, etc. way better than the Gecko IMHO.

Blast: you love it or you hate it!

I own a Blast 130 and I feel that it's superior to the Gecko in every aspect except gybing while out of the plane. The Blast is a lot harder to gybe when slogging, because it tends to go straight. But on the plane, it does everything better. The manager at Fanatic rental in Dahab told me the same exact thing, so I guess it's mostly true.

To be honest I also reckon that it's not the fastest bord, as it requires more of a standing stance than a slalom and it's not made to push on the fin. It's a thrilling freeride, great for intermediates.

I wish I had a board to compare to my Blast 145. The only thing close to the style and size that I've ridden is the JP Magic Ride 129 as a rental, and I was able to use a good straight fin vs. where I normally need to use a weed fin on the Blast locally. I found the JP felt better on jibe entry and carried more speed, but that could have been the fin/conditions. My older JP XCite 120, which I don't take out as much, feels quite a bit different with more length.

I'm | | close to coming out of my jibes on plane on the Blast, which I ride sometimes when not foiling in lighter winds. The locals on Fox's or Goya bolts I'm pretty sure are faster than me. But that also could just be my skill level. I think I've done 24-26kts max on that board with an 8.0, and a bit less with my 9.5 when it's lighter. On average I cover more distance and make more jibes on small foils than that board, as here I'm more wind limited on days where I can get a fin planing. I'm also quite a bit larger at 94kg.

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Brienno said..

flyingmujol said..

SurferKris said..
I'm about 64kg, and usually sail anything from Formula to wave boards. I once rented a Blast while windsurfing in Lake Garda, and I wasn't impressed at all, just felt awkward in the chop compared to e.g. the Gecko that is much more all-round and fun to gybe etc.

Gecko's only advantage over Blast is that it's more stable off the plane, which is better for begginers. Straight line speed, chop, gybes, jumps, etc. way better than the Gecko IMHO.

Blast: you love it or you hate it!

I own a Blast 130 and I feel that it's superior to the Gecko in every aspect except gybing while out of the plane. The Blast is a lot harder to gybe when slogging, because it tends to go straight. But on the plane, it does everything better. The manager at Fanatic rental in Dahab told me the same exact thing, so I guess it's mostly true.
To be honest I also reckon that it's not the fastest bord, as it requires more of a standing stance than a slalom and it's not made to push heavily on the fin. It's a thrilling freeride, great for intermediates.

BTW, at the beginning of this video you can see a Blast easily smoking a Gecko.

That's also my experience.

As mentioned by others, the Fox is another board that, on paper, ticks all the boxes for me; although I've read somewhere it feels draggy due to its pronounced V.

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Brienno said..

BTW, at the beginning of this video you can see a Blast easily smoking a Gecko.

Gosh. Someone with a 6 batten 6.6m freeride sail (E-Type) is faster than someone with a 4 batten 5.3m wave sail (Super Hero).

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flyingmujol said..

Brienno said..

flyingmujol said..

SurferKris said..
I'm about 64kg, and usually sail anything from Formula to wave boards. I once rented a Blast while windsurfing in Lake Garda, and I wasn't impressed at all, just felt awkward in the chop compared to e.g. the Gecko that is much more all-round and fun to gybe etc.

Gecko's only advantage over Blast is that it's more stable off the plane, which is better for begginers. Straight line speed, chop, gybes, jumps, etc. way better than the Gecko IMHO.

Blast: you love it or you hate it!

I own a Blast 130 and I feel that it's superior to the Gecko in every aspect except gybing while out of the plane. The Blast is a lot harder to gybe when slogging, because it tends to go straight. But on the plane, it does everything better. The manager at Fanatic rental in Dahab told me the same exact thing, so I guess it's mostly true.
To be honest I also reckon that it's not the fastest bord, as it requires more of a standing stance than a slalom and it's not made to push heavily on the fin. It's a thrilling freeride, great for intermediates.

BTW, at the beginning of this video you can see a Blast easily smoking a Gecko.

That's also my experience.

As mentioned by others, the Fox is another board that, on paper, ticks all the boxes for me; although I've read somewhere it feels draggy due to its pronounced V.

There is no free lunch: want more "control" in high winds and chop? the board will be draggy in medium winds and flat water.

UKwinger: follow the advice already given. For under 16 knots get a slalom board.

I use Patrik boards, slalom boards when the water is best and FRace in other conditions. I also use 3cam sails for wind range & control.

I use Patrik boards, slalom boards when the water is best and FRace in other conditions. I also use 3cam sails for wind range & control.