I want to get into short board freestyle sailing. I currently use my GO155 for old school freestyle transition tricks and for teaching.

I'm about 80kgs and I am looking at about 15knots to 20+knots flat water. Where I sail and when the weather is cross shore the wind is up and down too much to enjoy lock down sailing. I use to do freestyle sailing on the old Wally days a long time ago and this season I have started back on the big board freestyle sailing with the GO155, which I am re-enjoying the fun I had in the old days. Now I want to take this further on a short board.

The board I am after would be more suited for light to medium wind transition tricks and then progressing up to more jumpy tricks later. This would be my first time short board tricks, out side of duck gybes on my wave kit.

Any advised would be great.

99L (possibly 109L) freestyle board would be the go. something like JP freestyle 99. I'm about 85kg and use a 99L JP freestyle from 15knots - 25knots. great for sliding transitions and jumping freestyle tricks. Good luck - the possibilities are endless with freestyle and it's great fun!

By 'transition' tricks I assume you mean flashy gybes and tacks (donkey gybes, helitacks, etc?)

I'd say that you probably don't need a specialised freestyle board for this kind of move - a nice freeride board should do nicely.

However, for heading into the Vulcan end of things I would definitely say that a freestyle board is in order. I'm 80 kgs and for flatwater freestyling I use an F2 Chilli 99. They're pretty difficult to get hold of in Australia though. Anything dedicated Freestyle or Freestyle Wave around about the 100 litre mark should do you nicely (JP, RRD, F2, etc).

My limit on a Naish Force 5.7m and the Chilli is about 17 knots. On properly flat water (Sandy Point) the board will hold it's own right down to 4.2m weather, but it starts getting a bit scary in bay chop.

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FlickySpinny said...

By 'transition' tricks I assume you mean flashy gybes and tacks (donkey gybes, helitacks, etc?)

I'd say that you probably don't need a specialised freestyle board for this kind of move - a nice freeride board should do nicely.

However, for heading into the Vulcan end of things I would definitely say that a freestyle board is in order. I'm 80 kgs and for flatwater freestyling I use an F2 Chilli 99. They're pretty difficult to get hold of in Australia though. Anything dedicated Freestyle or Freestyle Wave around about the 100 litre mark should do you nicely (JP, RRD, F2, etc).

My limit on a Naish Force 5.7m and the Chilli is about 17 knots. On properly flat water (Sandy Point) the board will hold it's own right down to 4.2m weather, but it starts getting a bit scary in bay chop.

You love that F2 Chilli !!

maybe ill get get a go on one whilst im away!

Mate - I'll lend you mine for a spin when I get to Vass in June!

Actually, when are you off? Can only be a couple of weeks away now? Might get you to take some kit over for me if you want to use it for a month... maybe even the Chilli... lemme know bro.