Sorry to bore you but we're a little bit quiet at work today so I've been doing some checking of some my kit for Sandy Point. 2 fast boards within a litre of each other with some big differences.

54 Slalom
1' = 34cm, 2' = 45.3cm with 1cm of rail tuck at the widest point. Bottom shape is single concave into double almost to the tail.
54 Speed
1' = 33cm, 2' = 42.2cm with 1.8cm of rail tuck at the widest point. Slight double concave with slight chine fading to v.

I've used the slalom and loved it. She was a dream in the chop but it looking at the Speed 54 it should almost as sweet in rough water despite less nose rocker and quicker down a course.

Bring on the smaller ones and Sandy Point with wind.

Looks nice Sam, I would be interested to know how little nose rocker the speed 54 has?

What I want to know is, why is there concaves on a speed board...?

Hi Martin, the nose rocker is 3cm less on the speed board at 15.5cm than the slalom.

HI Matthew, from the 2' mark towards the tail the concaves have gone just leaving subtle V. Try it out at the speed fortnight if you can get the boys from our house of it.

Sam.

Thanks Sam , I have an 85 litre Slalom/Speed design in the CAD tube that I hope to get built. I was a bit unsure as to how much nose rocker to put in it as I want to use it on the bay as well as at the Pit. If it was for the Pit only I would go 135mm but thats too low for open water. 155 might be OK. My big Slalom is 170.
Thanks, Regards Martin

The slalom is longer... how much nose rocker at an equivalent distance from the tail compared to the speed 54?

I note Antoine had a speed 53 at le Defi (as well as a 45 and 49).

So are the smaller ones going to be slightly different to his boards (protos?) as well?

Those straps on the 54 look familiar Sambo???
As long as I get to ride it who cares!!

Are you talking about the Dakines? I am sure I went looking for them in the shop and I am sure they didn't stock them the last time I looked. Must be an optical error or something...

Don't know what you're talking about Larko. The good news is that we will get DaKine back in store over the next few weeks.
Will check the rocker closer a bit later on.

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WINDSURFnSNOW said...

Sorry to bore you but we're a little bit quiet at work today so I've been doing some checking of some my kit for Sandy Point. 2 fast boards within a litre of each other with some big differences.

you lucky bast..d sam how many guys can have these two boards in there kit ( 1ltr difference now thats splitting hairs) i'm guessing there's not much between the two boards except the slalom looks more user friendly as in jibeing and chop, the speed's outer profile looks fairly straite from around 500 to about 1800 but then i guess these boards aren't ment to jibe like a slalom, it will be interseting to know the difference, let us know

Yo Sam have you used the JP speed yet in real conditions ?
Had a quick go in Fiji on the 54 ( you wimped out !), but light wind & only on the Hellcat . It did plan very early and felt very comfortable in the chop . Would be interested in your thoughts .

HI Al,

Can't wait to get it on the water but sadly Sydney has dishing up no wind at all lately.

Let you know when I've had a spin.

Sam.

Has anybody been able to compare the JP 54 speed and 54 slalom? Would be interested to hear you thoughts................

Sorry about that Matt. I was meaning to put something up about this.

I've sailed the Speed 54 in very gusty wind with short sharp chop and it did really well in it. The acceleration was amazing once on the plane, a step up from the slalom 54. It keeps on going to what feel like a slicker feeling top end which makes sense as it's a speed board.

The Slalom 54 was designed to give ultimate control in wild wind and water like Pozo or Gran Canaria which it does beautifully. Super smooth and easy to sail on the days where your slalom sail is a 5.0 to 6.0. I had a ball on this in choppy Botany one day and it was very clear how much less tiring it is to sail fast and gybe when it gets a bit scary when compared to 90l slalom or a speed boards. Sweet board that will still let you get over 40 when the water flattens off.

How to choose? Tough to answer as they are both very versatile and will both cross over nicely. If you mainly speed sail get the Speed board, if you sail in the ocean or heavy chop get the Slalom. Either way you'll happy.

Sam.