hello every1..
i have found two nice freestyle boards to buy.
starboard flare 2007 88l
starboard flare 2008 99l
i live in israel and windsurf at lake kinneret and the conditions there are:
25+ knots and the lake is in a bump n ride condition but i can go upwind to get some flatter water.
my purpose is only freestyle but because of the bumpy conditions should i get the 88l? because a smaller board would fit better to the conditions or should i stick on 2 the 2008 99l for better freestyle and more float and slide between moves...?
please tell me if one of u guyz riden on them n what would u suggest that will be best for me and my freestyle.
im 60 kilos if it will help..

thanks, amir.

at 60 kg i'd say the 88lt is about the right volume for light winds.

but for 25+ knots i'd go smaller. is it that windy all of the time?

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Gestalt said...

at 60 kg i'd say the 88lt is about the right volume for light winds.

but for 25+ knots i'd go smaller. is it that windy all of the time?

well the winds here start at may and finishes at august september
and yes it is very windy here..u should come for a vacation :P

with a smaller board than a 88 u cant really do freestyle lol..
its hard for me to pick one of the boards because the 88 is better for the condition here but it is older than the 2008 99l and isnt better than the 99 for freestyle use because of the new feutures that the 2008 has...
i can go upwind to get flatter watter which will suite better the 99l but at the same time maybe i would want to go downwind and enjoy some of the bump n jump conditions.
but still my main purpuse is freestyle.

jeez you're right there.

i didn't realise they don't come smaller than 88lt. i'm a lot heavier and i always just get a custom board made to suit what i need.

only being available in 88lt is not much use for a lightweight.

get the 88lt.

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Gestalt said...

jeez you're right there.

i didn't realise they don't come smaller than 88lt. i'm a lot heavier and i always just get a custom board made to suit what i need.

only being available in 88lt is not much use for a lightweight.

get the 88lt.

okay then 1 vote for the 88 but i still want more comments about this..

There is quite a significant difference in volume between the boards, the only thing I would suggest is make your decision based on your skill level. As I am a very poor freestyle sailer, my 99lt makes life easier, while the 88lt could make my life hell :P

If your an aspiring freestyler with nothing but a duck gybe, a helitack and a couple vulcan attempts under your belt, then go the 99lt.

Otherwise if your already pulling vulcans there would be no reason to buy the 99lt. Just get the 88lt.

for qld type winds i totaly agree scully. but in 25+ knots i htink the shape of the smaller board will be much better.

other than volume it has a narrower tail and i understand more v up front. exactly what is needed in 25+ winds.

plus between the 2 boards there is only 3cm max width difference. so for slides etc the difference is marginal. at the end of the day a board still needs to be sailable in a given wind strength.

I would still say it depends on skill level.
Freestyle isnt like wave or slalom, where you ride a board thats 10kg less volume than your weight when its hitting 25knots. The pro freestylers would be riding 60lt prokid flares if that was the case.
Yes they ride the 88lt flare but they can pull cluefirst air chachoos :P

Amir,
Whats your skill level?

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Scully said...

I would still say it depends on skill level.
Freestyle isnt like wave or slalom, where you ride a board thats 10kg less volume than your weight when its hitting 25knots. The pro freestylers would be riding 60lt prokid flares if that was the case.
Yes they ride the 88lt flare but they can pull cluefirst air chachoos :P

Amir,
Whats your skill level?

im down with the spocks startin to learn flakas and grubbys...im a fast learner so ill give those 2 a week or two

^ well you're miles ahead of scully or me, amir.

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Gestalt said...

^ well you're miles ahead of scully or me, amir.

lol what level u at?
and even if your better than me i have loads of years to get better n kick your ass in the end XP

flash git

y not look for a nother brand of board that is say a 93l inbetween ..

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nick0 said...

y not look for a nother brand of board that is say a 93l inbetween ..

well here in israel there aint alot of freestyle boards..
or u need to buy a new 1 which will cost to much for me
or youll need to wait that the eilatis will sell there boards but the only problem with that is that untill u get to eilat by car its 5 to 6 hours wich aint worth it and im only a student i aint got a car..
sooo getting the rite board is to hard..

still trying vulcans and unsuccessful. sometimes get 3/4 way around and sometimes barely leave the water.

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Gestalt said...

still trying vulcans and unsuccessful. sometimes get 3/4 way around and sometimes barely leave the water.

how long u been trying vulcans? what helps me spin 180 is by looking back (were your head goes the body goes) and before jumping go forward a bit and always let go the back hand before jump and after u get the 180s good and clean start tryingg to switch sides with the sail while in the air and thats it.. i got a vulcan down in 2 days so i dont think itll be a problem for u but just get a proper fin to do it ^^

i've been trying them for a while now.

thanks for the tips, i'll give them a go. one of the other guys on the forums has said very similar things.

boy you picked it up quick,,,,,

best tip i got was to concentrate on puling the rig across you early in the pop and getting your hands round. don't even concentrate on spinning the board as it will just sort of rotate when you pull the rig across you. the more successfull one are with less air and more of a down wind little pop with some speed and spin.

i am no expert though as my success rate is very low

^^^ Practice the movement. Don't let the rig get away from you. Keep it very close and upright. Lean forward!!!!

cheers guys.