Finally got to take my F2 SX M (mid sized) out on Tuesday night after getting it back from repairs.

The SX's are the Slalom boards in F2 range.

The specs on this one are:

Size .......... M
Length........ 235cm
Width......... 69cm
Volume....... 103L
Weight........ 5,8kg
Fin size....... 40cm
Fin box........ tuttle
Fin range......34 - 44cm
Sail range.... 5.5 - 8.5m

Unfortunately it was one of those horrible squally, gusty sessions where you had to rig for the gusts which were diabolical. The chop was interesting to say the least.

The initial part of the session was establishing Weed fin selection as I'm a bit afraid of slalom fins. Starting out small (30cm) and pregressively getting larger till I settled on my largest (34cm).

The sail I was also using was a 5.0m NP search, which was smaller than the recommended sail size.

The only problems which I had with the smaller fin selections was some minor crabbing on water starts, and some recoverable cavitaion mid Gybe.

Once I'd picked the best fin Gybing was sweet (if only I could do this in the surf)

Board control was excellent, this board motors over chop with little effort.

I had also taken out my Mistral Flow (my quickest and easiest riding board)and got a bit of brain damage bouncing over the chop.

After a dozen runs on the Flow I hopped back on the SX and it went as smooth as can be in comparison.

The board went upwind and down wind with a minimum of fuss.

Give this board a bit of power and it takes of like a scalded cat with great smooth acceleration.

Footstrap position (for me) is very natural and comfortable, footpads are good as well.

The thing which Impresses me the most is that you don't feel like you are working hard to make this board go fast, it dosen't have that technical feel about it.

I'm looking forward taking it out some more and getting the tuning refined better.

Will keep posted with more info as I play with this more.

I think these may be popular once Reg at WSP gets his shipment in

But this ones Mine

Alby

Alby, I've just purchased an SX M and L. Tried both of them yesterday. I tried the L with an 8 mtr and 50cm fin in 10 knots and couldn't get it planing. Then the wind kicked in at 15+ and after flattening the sail I sailed for 10 minutes at speed. It is a radical board. I was keen to try the M so I went in and rigged a 7 mtr but it was one of those days and the wind dropped off as I hit the water and I got one reach and one jibe in 15 knots before slogging back to shore. I have stepped off two old school designs from 2002 and the SXs felt radical after these boards. I had a carbon Aguera 73 and carbon Aguera slalom 276. I rode a new 140 litre Fanatic with a 9 mtr on Lake Garda in July similar plan shape to the SX L but twice the weight, sailed it well but that was my only prior experience of the new ultra short wide nose design. Is there a secret to planing earlier on these boards (like pointing off the wind and pumping?), didn't have time to experiment much yesterday, or do these boards just jump from slogging to full speed? I also railed up yesterday in one gust and tail walked more quickly than ever before. These boards seem to be off or full on. Paul.

G'day Paul,

The SX's are all quite short boards, so I've found that they need a bit more front foot pressure than back foot, give it a pump and your off. I tend to not so much pump the sail with my arms but more bounce the board down and sideways with my legs whilst hanging of the boom (it looks unco but works for me)

Regarding fins, I only run with weedies, for the L I used a 34cm (well down on recommended size, on the M I'm using up to 34cm. the slalom fins will give you a bucket load more lift but get you up and going easier.

What I found with the L is that on a lightish day tou'll get it up on the plane and go along quite contentedly and you will notice the wind dropping of but the board will quite happily keep ripping along, this is where my inexperience caught me out, I'd then plane into a Gybe come out of it and find myself almost becalmed!! (once giving me a 5+km chugg back) once planing they take very little effort to keep planing. the sails I used 7.5m ezzy free radical and 9m arrows dragster on this board

The M is the board I currently have, and I love it!
I don't do the racing scene (splatt to many gybes still) I have it primarily for speed sailing and dealing with our local estuary chop.

Same again I run Weedies on this board, smallest I've used is 30cm up to 34cm.

For myself (and I've only just learnt how to pump a sail) i have found that with this board for what I do I have to put a larger sail on than what I would normally use

This is not to get it up onto plain, but for when at speed I find I'm running out of sail energy (a bit like driving in second gear) and with a bigger sail I would have gone faster. When I see the gusts coming it's just lean back a bit more and point the front toes and yeh-har!

Chop dosn't worry it, just deal with it quite easily (what I was after).

One thing I noticed with mastfoot positioning is to start in the back half, I only push it forward if I'm getting to much nose lift from the wind getting under the front of the board (it's only happened once).

Overall I love these wee beasties, I think the biggest thing you have to get used to is the shortness of the board. But once you sort this out with a minor technique change then you're laughing.

all the best, let us know how you've gone or drop me a line through the internl mail for a chat.

Alby

Alby spoke to Reg about the F2 and your slant on it a few weeks back.
In the end the discussion ended up me purchasing a new JP, but that’s not the issue. He told me you had dented the F2 "slightly".
Bit of humour in the shop, mainly from me about you denting the F2.,,,
Well old Karma must have been watching and listening, as first day out on new JP I gave it a belt across the nose. Glad not too many people down at Melville at the time, a few well selected words muttered for a few minutes. And yep young Steve has a new customer
Got it back now, not even a hint that I marked it, he sure does a bloody good job.

Mineral

Mike,

Yes you don't half recon I was calling myself a few choice names

One run out, turn around start going and then a stupid over the handlebars, heard the crack as I hit the water.

Got Steve to reinforce the nose with a bit of Carbon Kevlar during the repair, Decrepit had done this also to one of my wave boards as well realy toughens up the nose.

Oh well, once you get the first ding out the way you enjoy the sailing more.

Alby

I got a SX 106 and I have to admit it is the best light wind board Ive ridden for a while. Its quick and predictable.

Chad

Chad,

I'd heard a vicious rumour of you belting around the swan on your new toy.

Alby

Another posting on this board.

Have been rather crook of late, so I haven't had much of a chance for extensive riding.

Took the board out at Sharkies (next to gearies) in 16-22 knots S-SW with seas and chop chest to shoulder high, Had to use my 6.2m RS4 as my smaller sails were in the panel beaters, so I was a tad over powered.

On flat water and small chop this board is great, on the open water heading out into large seas and chop this board is a machine[/red].

It handled like a wave board allowing for selection of lines on the way out to avoid the more vertical ramps (although I did manage a few jumps) on the way in it just powered over the back of the waves and down the faces, never once did the nose get anywhere near digging in.

Was real happy with my speeds for this session as I wasn't really pushing for speed, more for staying upright.

Looking forward to doing this again and rebuilding my fitness to be able to hunt it's limits.

One happy camper

Alby