.....a windsurfing shop is selling stuff most people would leave for kerbside pick-up by council. Seriously if they think this is "A perfect entry level board for sailors who want to learn short boarding skills." then I've got a Bombora south pacific going as a great beginner's board. Where's Greenie's chainsaw when you need it. Grrrrrrrr Rant over

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~te81b/Bic-Astro-Rock.aspx?search=Ya!6AFVcXZbuU7aRndf!wg==

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sausage said..
.....a windsurfing shop is selling stuff most people would leave for kerbside pick-up by council. Seriously if they think this is "A perfect entry level board for sailors who want to learn short boarding skills." then I've got a Bombora south pacific going as a great beginner's board. Where's Greenie's chainsaw when you need it. Grrrrrrrr Rant over

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~te81b/Bic-Astro-Rock.aspx?search=Ya!6AFVcXZbuU7aRndf!wg==

Ahh yes,. the South Pacific - this was my first ever new board as a kid many many years ago. Funny thing is I bought it from this guys shop, or at least my old man did.

Sorry mate I dissagree. The ad is very clear what it is and the price is fair (ish). Not sure the volume but these boards are pretty easy to ride as the straps are not too extreme. Looks like it's got deck grip too. I rode an old Sputnik today and was reminded how extreme new short boards have become. Faster yes, but full on. A season on this if someone is ready for a short board would be ok.

...comes with fin!

Brendan,
It's not so much about the price (although I don't believe it's worth more than $100) but rather the fact a shop would happily sell a very old board that won't really work well with a modern rig as the mast track is too far forward. Also look to the right of the ad and compare all the other second hand boards that you can get for the same sort of dollars.
I just find it disappointing that this could possibly be fobbed off to an unsuspecting newbie who relies on honest advice from the retailer.

PS I didn't red thumb you either.

No worries there, all good. I always get a bit worried if someone uses Greenie and chainsaw in the same sentence though.

And.. Good luck finding a Trim Box fin if you break or lose it !
I'm with You Snag.. not cool for a shop to be pushing gear this old for this price ^

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da vecta said..
Sorry mate I dissagree. The ad is very clear what it is and the price is fair (ish). Not sure the volume but these boards are pretty easy to ride as the straps are not too extreme. Looks like it's got deck grip too. I rode an old Sputnik today and was reminded how extreme new short boards have become. Faster yes, but full on. A season on this if someone is ready for a short board would be ok.

...comes with fin!

On an unrelated subject - Tell me how was the old Sputnik Brendan?

the owner of that shop still hasn't learnt after 30 years is that if you burn a sailor starting off he will find out as soon as he starts sailing with other people & never go back. Personal experience!!!!!!

Sublime! I really love it thanks Marty. I think it's so easy to ride and surprisingly fast even by today's standards (apart from the rider that is). I just used a Hellcat with it and yes, you do need to set the mast track at the very back. So easy to jibe (its actually fun like a wave board in the corners) the the slight vee seems to help that too. Even at Shearwater the chop didn't feel overly bad. It's a thin board so maybe that helps cut through the chop and there is some flex in the board. Of course much slower to accelerate than a modern slalom board but the top speed is right up there. Also used the original Concrete Wave fin. You'll probably want it back mate.

Looks like a very well kept board! I remember when F2 was untouchable on the water being so bloody fast!

I still want a an F2 missile!

I still have 2 F2 Sputniks, a 280 and 290 the all white version, can't remember the year, still in mint condition. They are a super fast board but very technical to sail fast and need constant trimming to stay fast. I changed over to the F2 ride which didn't hurt the brain so much to sail and more enjoyable to jump on and blast around.

Is

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da vecta said..
No worries there, all good. I always get a bit worried if someone uses Greenie and chainsaw in the same sentence though.

Al still around?
Still sailing or kiting?

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da vecta said..
Sublime! I really love it thanks Marty. I think it's so easy to ride and surprisingly fast even by today's standards (apart from the rider that is). I just used a Hellcat with it and yes, you do need to set the mast track at the very back. So easy to jibe (its actually fun like a wave board in the corners) the the slight vee seems to help that too. Even at Shearwater the chop didn't feel overly bad. It's a thin board so maybe that helps cut through the chop and there is some flex in the board. Of course much slower to accelerate than a modern slalom board but the top speed is right up there. Also used the original Concrete Wave fin. You'll probably want it back mate.

Oh how I miss it and your comments pretty much sum up my feelings. When I started windsurfing again I figured I needed all new gear but don't think I've been as fast on the new stuff as my old F2 World Cup Slalom and Neilpryde VX sails. Plus the older Sputnik ate up the rougher stuff way better than my newer Slalom gear. Anyway glad you were out on it and had a blast. Did you change straps or put covers on them? They were in pretty good condition and light weight compared to offering these days.
Cheers
Marty.

PS - Sorry for the hijack and for what it's worth the above pictured board was bought brand new in the 90's from the shop in question.

^ I've got some crusty bread here, do you think that machine would be able to handle it?

Marty, you're welcome to take the Sputnik for a spin any time. BTW, they're just covers on the straps to keep the original ones in good nick.

you know what you don't need new equipment to learn how to sail ,and a beginner doesn't need much to learn how to sail, even better if we keep telling them that the only way you can learn this sport is to spend 4 or 5 grand we will never attract new comers to this sport
ive been teaching a kitter who is curious of windsurfing, 20 miniutes of teaching and he is able to sail 50 meters and he is ecstatic i taught him on my old f2 xantos .iv also been burnt by a popular shop in brisbane as well who sold me gear that was not suited to some one coming bck in to this sport .

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sausage said..
.....a windsurfing shop is selling stuff most people would leave for kerbside pick-up by council. Seriously if they think this is "A perfect entry level board for sailors who want to learn short boarding skills." then I've got a Bombora south pacific going as a great beginner's board. Where's Greenie's chainsaw when you need it. Grrrrrrrr Rant over

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~te81b/Bic-Astro-Rock.aspx?search=Ya!6AFVcXZbuU7aRndf!wg==

Snags one thing I am seeing a lot of down here is the retro/early boards are popular and I have seen private sellers and shops sell them for more than they are worth.

Have a look at the price of some "SPEED" boards that have been for sale over the last year - they get sold quickly and for way too much!. Also I have spoken to a few sailors who are after an Astro Rock and are willing to pay what ever it takes to get one so I guess this filters its way to the shops!

After sailing some retro and early boards I know why I love then new boards!

I am always inclined to buy private if it is a bargain.

I won't criticise the shops - although I agree with you - The shop you refer to has actually helped me when I needed gear pretty quickly and negotiated a deal to get me back on the water ASAP (this happened 3 times). Just got to take the good with the bad from what I experienced.

I have an old BIC Metal rock (in profile pic), awesome fun board to ride, cuts through choppy water with ease.

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deejay8204 said..
I have an old BIC Metal rock (in profile pic), awesome fun board to ride, cuts through choppy water with ease.

exactly what i mean, and you will learn every thing you need on that board, it will take a beating and still come back for more.
has any body thought that this board might be on consignment.

It's disappointing this forum is used to bag the shops.

The shop in question is one of the longest established windsurfing shops in Australia and has probably introduced more people to our great sport than any other. I am sure they have helped and set up hundreds of windsurfers over the journey.

Any one who has worked in retail will attest to the fact that no matter how hard you try you cannot please everyone all the time.

I personally sold a decent number of Bic Astro Rocks and remember the pure delight of my customers who discovered the joy of short board planing and gybing for the first time on that board. Back in the day the Astro and Electric Rocks were my go to boards for early planing, easy gybing and heaps of fun and even today I would be very confident to recommend either board to a first time shortboarder.

As a windsurf retailer who has been in the game since 1985 I would say the add description is spot on.

As to the price...well who knows how the price was arrived at, was it traded? is it on consignment ? is it in pristine nick? Who cares? If it is not the right price it will not sell.

I do know that any board with the performance (even with a modern rig) and volume of the Astro Rock are sought after and hard to come by and always fetch a higher price than the Storm 8 type boards that are regularly seen on the verge.

And PS to S018

No trim box on any Astro Rock as far as I know

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SurfSailAUST said..
It's disappointing this forum is used to bag the shops.

The shop in question is one of the longest established windsurfing shops in Australia and has probably introduced more people to our great sport than any other. I am sure they have helped and set up hundreds of windsurfers over the journey.

Any one who has worked in retail will attest to the fact that no matter how hard you try you cannot please everyone all the time.

I personally sold a decent number of Bic Astro Rocks and remember the pure delight of my customers who discovered the joy of short board planing and gybing for the first time on that board. Back in the day the Astro and Electric Rocks were my go to boards for early planing, easy gybing and heaps of fun and even today I would be very confident to recommend either board to a first time shortboarder.

As a windsurf retailer who has been in the game since 1985 I would say the add description is spot on.

As to the price...well who knows how the price was arrived at, was it traded? is it on consignment ? is it in pristine nick? Who cares? If it is not the right price it will not sell.

I do know that any board with the performance (even with a modern rig) and volume of the Astro Rock are sought after and hard to come by and always fetch a higher price than the Storm 8 type boards that are regularly seen on the verge.

hear,hear, said perfectly i am pretty sure they use a US box that is still avalable

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grich62 said..

SurfSailAUST said..
It's disappointing this forum is used to bag the shops.

The shop in question is one of the longest established windsurfing shops in Australia and has probably introduced more people to our great sport than any other. I am sure they have helped and set up hundreds of windsurfers over the journey.

Any one who has worked in retail will attest to the fact that no matter how hard you try you cannot please everyone all the time.

I personally sold a decent number of Bic Astro Rocks and remember the pure delight of my customers who discovered the joy of short board planing and gybing for the first time on that board. Back in the day the Astro and Electric Rocks were my go to boards for early planing, easy gybing and heaps of fun and even today I would be very confident to recommend either board to a first time shortboarder.

As a windsurf retailer who has been in the game since 1985 I would say the add description is spot on.

As to the price...well who knows how the price was arrived at, was it traded? is it on consignment ? is it in pristine nick? Who cares? If it is not the right price it will not sell.

I do know that any board with the performance (even with a modern rig) and volume of the Astro Rock are sought after and hard to come by and always fetch a higher price than the Storm 8 type boards that are regularly seen on the verge.

hear,hear, said perfectly i am pretty sure they use a US box that is still avalable

Yo.

I feel really sorry for people who buy some of the **** on
Gumtree!!!
The buyers in Tassie often come to me to buy spares, or advice and I sadly have yo.inform them of what they have wasted money on..
At least on seabreeze there is a chance someone asks for a,bit of advice first.
If you ever see real trash on.gumtree please do the sport
A favour and message the seller that it should on.the tip.

I agree with geared4knots, it is the clowns on gumtree that are the biggest problem.



In all fairness, they did not mention the word "beginner" in the description.

If they had used the word "progressive" rather than "entry level" to short board skills, it would have not even been noticed.

SCS have changed the wording of the ad by the way.

The astro rock is far nicer than the old dog I learned short boarding skills on back in the day

Clarence

These are the sellers that are far more of a problem (as mentioned above). First challenge here would be getting the mast foot to fit the track on the board.

"A GREAT ITEM FOR THE BEGINNER" according to the ad on gumtree.

Good luck beginners. Would put them off windsurfing forever, guaranteed.

Did someone say something about old mast tracks being too far forward?

I think they'd have a better chance with the BIC.

Clarence

I originally learnt on an antiquated board and rig which most people would have just thrown out. It cost me a whole $100.

It was the best 100 dollars I spent in the previous 30 years.

It took me all summer just to be able to sail out and back without falling off, no gybes, no water starts, no harness, no foot straps.
It was one of the best summers I had on the water after many years of surfing, all for about one hundred dollars.

I then 'splashed out' on another slightly more modern junk rig for a whole $300 and had the most fun ever for three or four summers getting water starts to work, getting into the footstraps, perfecting catapaults to look entertaining, and eventually getting the gybes to work reliably well.
In spite of it's antiquity, and mine too, it was still almost as fast as a lot of the better rigs.
Best of all, it sailed in quite light wind and could glide through a lull, even though it was small.
Fun per dollar,.. exceptionally good.

Since then I've spent thousands on boards, sails, carbon masts, new booms, harness,.. etc etc and although they are mostly ok, I don't think I have ever come close to the fun per dollar ratio that I got out of my original junk rigs which most people would have thrown away.

The thing about junk rigs is you can cane them mercilessly because even if the thing explodes, it cost you nothing.
I caned these to death and the boards never broke even though I sometimes did.

I would never say a bad thing about junk rigs.