We are buying our child a shortboard and hope to get opinions from experienced windsurfers on our two options.

Option one is the JP Funride 120. Our child has tried this and feels confident riding it, but we are worried it is so easy they won't learn much on it, so it won't be a good long term option.

Option two is the JP Freestyle 99. Our child has tried this too and loved it, but the worry here is that it won't be so good in light winds, and that it is a much steeper learning curve.

We would so much appreciate any opinions and advice as we are feeling rather lost on the whole matter!

Thanks!

If your child has sailed the 99L freestyle board without trouble then get that for sure. Cons are you might lose 1-2kts early planing if that (only if you buy like an 8m sail for the funboard), it will plane just as early on equal sized sails. Pros, much more fun to sail because its more maneuverable, lighter, larger wind range, and they won't outgrow it in 2 months unlike the 120L.

Thanks so much! I did wonder about the outgrowing because our kid is learning fast. They did ride the 99 litre relatively well - really sped along, loved it, and said it felt easy to manage - but found gybing difficult. Mind you, it was 20 knots at the time. It's the board the kid wants, but some people are urging a slower progression. And we've been told its not very good in light winds. Also, sail size is currently 4.5m in moderate winds, smaller in heavier winds.

I'm with swoosh.
But don't encourage him to go out when it's light as he'll just get frustrated and the poops. Sounds like he has an idea what he's doing and will enjoy the challenge of learning on a smaller board and some wind I hope so anyway

That's the problem - light winds. He's only ten, so we want to keep him safe while learning, and while he can sail 20 knot winds, sometimes its stressful, mainly with pulling up the sail. What qualifies as light winds for a 99 litre freestyle board?

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suzy2 said...

That's the problem - light winds. He's only ten, so we want to keep him safe while learning, and while he can sail 20 knot winds, sometimes its stressful, mainly with pulling up the sail. What qualifies as light winds for a 99 litre freestyle board?

@ a touch over 70kg i'm planning on a 99L freestyle board with a 5.9m sail from 13kts. So thats light wind for me. At his weight he could probably be planing a touch earlier. If he's only 10 sounds like he could even do with a smaller sail? In subplaning conditions I actually go to a smaller sail size because its easier to handle and uphaul.

About light winds, I find that going out in sub-planing weather and learning sail handling tricks has improved my sailing massively. And you will find that many of the windsurfing coaches guycribb/jemhall both recommend sailing in subplaning conditions as a good way to train. I'm usually on the water having fun from about 6-7kts up, when most other people are just standing around wondering what sail to rig.

One thing you would have to consider i guess, is does he want to go down the speed/slalom side of windsurfing, or the freestyle/wave/trick side of sailing.

Good step to speed would be the funride.

Good step to freestyle would be the freestyle.

You'll proberbly get mixed answers from windsurfers, as the ones that like to do tricks will say freestyle, and the ones that like flying along in a straight line would proberbly reccomend the funride.

I would personally go for the freestyle, you can have so much more fun with them.

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swoosh said...

Cons are you might lose 1-2kts early planing if that (only if you buy like an 8m sail for the funboard

lol can you imagine a 10yr old holding/uphauling a 8metre sail :P

Thank you, that is so helpful. Speed is the priority, and its great to know the funride is good for this! :-) I appreciate everyone's input.

the freestyle will be a faster board as it is smaller. Speed tends to come relatively naturally- neither board will hinder that. They are going to want to jump for which the 120 will be too big. While young & flexible kids should have the option of freestyle- anything that will keep them keen. By going big & playing safe you are limiting their options.

If they can already sail with the 99 it should be perfect. & swoosh is on the money sub planing- small sail, shallow water & practice tacks, heli-tacks etc

Thanks. I agree with you.

You guys are so great helping out with this question, thank you!

Freestyle!

If he ever loses interest, go buy "Four Dimensions" the dvd, from almost any windsurfing store. that will give him some serious inspiration and motivation to get out on the water again.

www.fourdimensionsmovie.com/

hi,suzy2

i am 8 and have tested these boards.

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jp freestyle 99-too big,but great for experiencing planing for the first time and learning to use the footstraps and harness. your dad would love this board and mum will love how forgiving it gybes with a freefide fin. i highly recommend the pro version for them.

jp funride 120-too big,too heavy,got to pull too hard to get planing,if ever.only good for novices.
can be used to learn to uphaul,basic rig steering and tacking(with a cut down fin)

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This is me on a 48 litre board with no white caps in sight!

kids need kids boards

if you are planing and in the footstraps,you are ready for a proper board your size

most kids boards are around 60-70 l,but they are designed for 12-15 year olds and adult boards are like boats.i am 26 kg,a 99 freestyle for me is the same as an 80 kg adult on a 320 l
board,so it dosn't matter if its a 320l freeride,freestyle or wave board,its a boat!

before i recommend a board,how heavy and tall are you?what gear do you and mum and dad have?where do you sail?what skills have you learnt so far?how often can you go windsurfing?

ALEX

Alex, thank you! Very cool photos! We ended up buying a Freestyle Wave board. You are right about anything above 99 litres being too heavy, although our kid is older, so bigger, than you. But where we live we have predominantly light winds, and the small freestyle boards were ultimately too light to get up to speed in them. Speed was the priority - next step, a slalom board!

Thanks everyone, your help was excellent.

Good one suzy2!

Perfect choice - a freestyle/wave is far superior to a freestyle for a child.

For adults, a freestyle has quicker acceleration - it has a wider, thicker tail. This is excessive for kids.

A child will accelerate quicker on a f/w - it has a much higher top speed, cuts through rough water far better and has a huge water state and wind range compared to the freestyle.

This board will teach him a lot, building up hours in the footstraps and harness in a wide variety of conditions. He will go faster than he ever has before, get his first air and a manageable board to start mastering the waterstart.

I am guessing you probably got about a 92l. The larger f/w boards have a option for 4 straps. This is a real bonus. After his skills and confidence improve, you can try 4 straps and a larger fin. This will help adopt a stronger, faster and more powerful stance and he will go faster again, now getting much closer to the speed of the adults.

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Freestyle wave 78 - the board that taught me planing carve gybes.

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Freestyle wave 78 - great for fast flatwater blasting and will even cope with a rogue wave!

suzy2, you will be amazed at the speed of his progress. You should be applauded for your leap of faith and for the $ you spent (and the time you will give). You will be SO rewarded in what you are about to witness!

If all goes well and he gets plenty of good quality sailing time then I think that as soon as next Christmas, Santa will probably realise that he deserves a 60 or 70l kids freestyle board. That's when the real show starts!

I have tried a lot of boards and sails so try me again if you have any other questions.
Rip it up!
Alex