I'm tossing the idea around of replacing my 120l xcite freeride with a slightly smaller 100 - 110 slalom board to use as my light wind board, always looking for more time on water.
Am i likely to see any real performance benefits eg; upwind, easier planing, better speed etc.
I'm "just" intermediate i guess, (managed a couple of crazy uncontrolled planing gybe's) and weigh around 70 kgs. Mainly bay sailing though obviously for use in fairly flat water/small chop conditions. Biggest sail 7.0 two cam, maybe have to get another bigger 8.0 - 8.5 possibly
All opinions apreciated
Why not keep the 120 and buy something in the 90 to 95 litre range to complement it? You'd cover more wind range that way.
Might need to check the 100-110 l board's specs as it may not be suitable for a 8+ m sail. I think they recommend my 101 litre take up to 6.9m sails in the upper limit range so if you kept the 120l (if $ allows) for the bigger sails and get something smaller still as Mrgob suggested, you will probably be better off.
Hey,
Slalom boards tend to be more technical to ride, You won't find it as easy to ride as the X-cite(awesome, still love mine). If your going to run with an 8.5 keep the 120, I run my 8.5 Helium on mine and it's a treat in light winds....It's a good flat water blaster with a 7.2.
You might want to start looking for your next board, you will get better quick and when your out in high wind you'll need that smaller board, at your weight you'll be looking at something around 70-80 ltrs. If you can blast around on a 120, you would be able to ride a sub 100 no problems, It's just when the wind drops off, or you stuff your tack or gybe that you'll have problems...but It'll force you to get better.
If coin is not a problem keep the 120 for another season as your light wind board, but get your improver for next season, If your just looking at flat water or bump and jump why not try a freestyle wave, When things get hairy these boards really perform. I've just picked up a JP 112FSW Pro and it's awesome, It's much smaller in volume then it states and it planes super early, I can actually get it going in less wind and with a smaller sail then the 120...but it's harder to keep on the plane in marginal conditions.
After next season your newly acquired 100-110 would become our light wind board, you'll sell your 120(good resale on the X-cite) and buy a 70-80 ltr for days when it's nuking. Then the following year it'll be a sub 70 ltr and you'll be popping loops everywhere, Then you'll have the perfect three board combination.
There's nothing wrong with slalom boards, but I just find the FSW boards much more versatile, If your going to be a speed guru or race maybe slalom will be right for you....But if it's just freeride go the FSW, confused yet.
The Excite 120 planes reasonably early and your going to need a lot more technique to plane earlier on a smaller slalom board. You may want to try a bigger or more upright fin, it could give your X rite ride the planing boost you're looking for.
Coool, thanks people.
Shoulda mentioned before that i've got stronger winds covered with a smaller board too in my origional post.
Didnt think the xcite could carry a much bigger sail than the 7 but just checked the specs and manufacturer suggests up to around 8.0 could be ok, understanding that slaloms with their wider tail and further outboard straps therefore bigger fin potential, is what got me thinking of a slalom.... however with jh saying that the bigger sail is sweet on the 120, maybe Pammie is right and just a bigger fin to compliment a larger sail may be the go, and spread those rear straps apart.
