I'm 76 plus wetsuit, and I wonder what's the optimal board volume for doing a squat start with straps ie. I would put my feet in straps, then press the board down (sink it), and stand on it, and get the wing, and then pump myself up.

I have seen somewhere an equation of half the body plus 10% in litres, ie. in my case about 80kg => 40litres plus 10% = 44 litres. Is this correct, and how much bigger/smaller can I go and not get it too hard, as I have read that in between sizes are tougher, ie. a bit too big (what's too big?) they don't sink and are like a small piece of cork making balancing difficult?

Thanks very much!

Well I'm about the same and using a 34L. Here's the issue. The wing you need to get going can be one size too big once up. That's a pain when wave riding etc, not too bad downwinding, but flagging the smallest wing is the name of the game. So I am planning to go up to the 39L mark (next board size up) for that reason.
go too much volume and it's painful to keep it under and steady before you start. I rode with Larry foiler and Nathan and they have settled on the mid fortyish board and are about at the 75kg mark if that helps


Be honest though The stink bud method gets your board up and out the water far easier than squat start. Have been using both methods for a while now.
but at low to mid forties with some practise you will be able to squat start for sure. Wouldn't go any bigger but if you do - learn the stink bud. Well I'd learn that anyway I think it's better overall because you can put a smaller wing up.

Im 96kgs and can squat start my 75L 5'4 F-One Rocketwing with ease, do it a lot too. You dont have to go tiny at all for the squat start.

Really. I'd like to see that? I'm sure it's possible but man that's a lot of volume pushing back up against you even at 96kg. And you've got some length there as well to keep balanced. Impressive. That being said i did watch my son squat start my old 40L amos and he weighed only about 50 odd kg so you may be right here. My perspective also comes from the need for a board to prone as well so I'm always looking for the smallest possible board.


Plus . I'm not sure why you would squat minus 20 L when you can stink bud it?


What I did is actually try a number of boards with different volume - just paddled them out on a no wind day and got in the squat position. I just found even the mid forties and above a bit tricky. But then again you are always getting better and can make it work it seems.

Well, I only do the squat start if I fall strapped in, and I dont know if we have the same technique. The strapped squatstart I do is:
- start with feet in straps, board upwind, wing downwind, lying in the water on my belly
- push myself up from the wing
- getting weight over the board & sink the board
- get the front handle
- get wing overhead and power up

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WhiteofHeart said..
Well, I only do the squat start if I fall strapped in, and I dont know if we have the same technique. The strapped squatstart I do is:
- start with feet in straps, board upwind, wing downwind, lying in the water on my belly
- push myself up from the wing
- getting weight over the board & sink the board
- get the front handle
- get wing overhead and power up

That's really great work! So in essence you do this: www.instagram.com/p/CU8B6TnDT_L/?utm_medium=copy_link

Are you able to do this with your 75L board even in very choppy condition too? If so, this would widen my range of boards volume wise because I have been in the impression that only the clearly sinker boards would work.

Thanks!

Select to expand quote

WhiteofHeart said..
Well, I only do the squat start if I fall strapped in, and I dont know if we have the same technique. The strapped squatstart I do is:
- start with feet in straps, board upwind, wing downwind, lying in the water on my belly
- push myself up from the wing
- getting weight over the board & sink the board
- get the front handle
- get wing overhead and power up

Ah right. The belly squat method lol. Yeh man I could see how that would work actually on a bigger board. Cool info thanks.