Hi everyone so I am new here, though over the years I have popped in to view posts. I live all the way over the other side of the world in Bermuda and more recently had a renewed interest in windsurfing again. I was into the slalom side of things back in 1995 - 97. I have mostly new gear now, Isonic 80 - 90 with 5.4, 6.2, 7.2 8.4 RS racing and slalom sails and just ordered a new 7.8 RSS.

So the other day I decided to bring out from the basement one of my old slalom boards which was a wickedly fast board. It was build by Fiberworx in Aruba probably in 1994 and was silly light being a honeycomb carbon board. As racing in Aruba is very flat with off shore winds the rocker is very little. I had a blast on it until 6 - 7 years ago when I speared it going banzai in open water deep off the wind and catapulted ripping the track and splitting the nose.

So I measured the width and tail 30cm from end and it's very speed board like I imagine! It's 49cm at mid point and 30cm at tail. Volume wise must be low 70's. So I am thinking to repair it and move the track back a bit, but wondered does she look like a speed board?

I can't spend dosh on a new speed board like an Isonic speed, but figure there might be life in the old girl yet! I'm thinking paired with the 5.4 RSR it should be lots of fun!

Is that an old Caveman? it looks very similar to the old 275 caveman slalom board I have out in the shed and I recall Andrew was messing around with nomex construction for a while.

hers a similar board re vamped

Cheers guys, I like the positive vibe!

Was worried everyone was going to shoot down the idea as being a stupid one!


So year I was thinking to move the track back and round off the nose as Bonominator mentioned. I just looked at the rails and they are not tucked once you hit the last 1 1/2 foot point. I have to say I have found the Isonic 90 amazing, gybes like a bump and jump board and even if I spin out in a gybe can usually save it without much effort!

The Aruba boards built by Geert Van Den Berg were know for being missiles! There are still a few in bushes here and there. This board was apparently 9 pounds originally, but the bottom was redone a year or so later in 1994 - 95 without the honeycomb. The owner a late friend of mine said as a fill in he used his wives Tiga 260 while this board was being repaired. The water at Eagle beach was so choppy he was blasting by all the $1800 custom boards and he was shouting back at them and pointing to his plastic board!

This is the firm now, they don't make boards these days. www.arubasurfshop.com/about-us/

So because all my windsurf mentors were slalom racers with big budgets, all my beginner boards were full on custom racing thoroughbreds! The mid 90's were a great time I thought, I still have a pair of VX LTD and VX3 sails.

But anyway this should be fun! Not sure I'd go as deep as the revamped Sputnik, that looks like a full on job! I just need to source some 1/8" high density foam and a new mast track. I have 50 yards of carbon and equipment to do the vacuum bagging.

The GPS thing is making it interesting again for me. I am basically the only slalom sailor left here, everyone else wave sails, cruises or kites! At least with the GPS I can see how I compare to elsewhere and improve on setup etc. I have the gear for the most part. I went out with a go pro 2 weeks ago a bit under powered but still was good for 28kts which still seems miles off the speeds I see on the forum!

But we do have some flat water spots so be fun to head out an see what can be done!

.be

scottydog said..
Cheers guys, I like the positive vibe!

Was worried everyone was going to shoot down the idea as being a stupid one!


I just looked at the rails and they are not tucked once you hit the last 1 1/2 foot point.

The last 2 feet aren't a problem, it's no tuck forward of that where the trip is caused.

Yep the rails would be harder all along in general. I wouldn't tamper with the rails much as this creates a hell of a lot of work to ensure you maintain the strength of the board.

So back in the early nineties when I started my first board was a donated dusty faded Diamond Head. The rails were almost completely super rounded. My Peter Hart boom showed hard rails for upwind and speed so out cam the epoxy / filler and some aluminium tape and I added on some sharp rails up to the first 2 feet off the tail. Also fitted a new mast tracknset back 4 more inches which when i look at now should have been a foot! Lol

Pulled out the old race sails from back in the day. Still in amazing shape as I lost interest in windsurfing around 1998 for a fair period of time. The size of the luff sleeve on the newer sail is amazing as compared to the VX series!

Love it. Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Marty

Great Vid

AUS4 said..
I've done 42+ on a Drops SX Slalom 8'10". Great speed board.

Freaking hell would love to get there, but I'm seeming to peak at just under 32knots! Seems like I get better speed in open water than the flat areas, where the wind might be slightly disturbed or sheltered? Going to hook up an adjustable outhaul for the small boom see if that helps! Saturdays session, 5.4 Isonic 80 in 25 - 34 knots of wind.