as a heavyweight - now about 105 kilos+, i wrote a post a while back on heavyweights and windsurfing
definitely included Dave White in that discussion, but he is SPECIAL
joewindsurfer.blogspot.com/2011/06/heavyweights-and-windsurfing.html
Select to expand quoteTiny said..
Have a look at attached technique for us big guys.
guycribb.com/userfiles/documents/HavingItLarge.pdf
Yes I've seen this ,and it was gospel to me. Now things have apparently changed. Now the thing for heavyweights is to pull even more down haul than the average person , reason is we bend the mast more which which will deepen the draught. Opposite to what we thought. This is now what Whitey says , full circle. ,!! I've tried all combos and more , and it's hard to tell in my gusty choppy conditions. Less down haul and size down or more down haul and upsize ?!?
I have now moved my straps back 8cm ( step one ) , ( halfway between stock and where I had them )
longer lines and some wind , here we come 
Massive respect to whitey but last I saw he was a shadow of his fast self. Actually you just touched on a contentious issue we discussed on here many years ago with each view going their own way.
My 2penny worth, im 105kg. For freerace and slalom definitely try outboard straps. Heel the board away and get it flying on the fin and it will glide over chop. This also needs the rig racked back more and that is less catapulty. You cant do that properly with inboard straps.
Mistral137 is a dream in chop. Long and fairly flat.
I go for the biggest rag i can hang onto and winch for downhaul. Never had the feeling of catapults with the new gear. Way better than the mid eighteenth century stuff.
Jp super light wind is a dream board but i havent used it in big chop. With the slw and a 9.7 i am planing as soon as the lightweights when i would be wallowing with the mistral 137. Heavy is fast.
Select to expand quoteImax1 said..
I don't catapult that much , it just feels catapulty . Unless the fin digs into the sand. I also used to sail in the nineteenth century , even made my own boards. Back into it for 3 years now after 25 years break. We used to carve boards along in a streight line . Now the board is flat and pushing on the fin. I love the new gear and style of riding even though the sails are as fragile as f@&'.k. I think I'd just like a little longer board.
Thanks to all u guys I'm going to try some things.
lm going to move my straps back and get some adjustable lines and push my bloody harness down.
In the name of science I'll give it a go , 
Done some testing.
Moved my straps back 8cm ( front and back ) now its ok to use the mast back.
Using longer lines and trying to keep my harness down.
Feels less catapulty and fast.
Happy
Only problem is my harness riding up after a few runs , geeze its hard to push the harness down while riding. My trick is to get planing then a sharp upwind whilst letting go of one hand to push down the harness , repeat with other hand. then quickly downwind before you stop planing.Works most of the time
Select to expand quoteImax1 said...Imax1 said..
I don't catapult that much , it just feels catapulty . Unless the fin digs into the sand. I also used to sail in the nineteenth century , even made my own boards. Back into it for 3 years now after 25 years break. We used to carve boards along in a streight line . Now the board is flat and pushing on the fin. I love the new gear and style of riding even though the sails are as fragile as f@&'.k. I think I'd just like a little longer board.
Thanks to all u guys I'm going to try some things.
lm going to move my straps back and get some adjustable lines and push my bloody harness down.
In the name of science I'll give it a go ,
Done some testing.
Moved my straps back 8cm ( front and back ) now its ok to use the mast back.
Using longer lines and trying to keep my harness down.
Feels less catapulty and fast.
Happy
Only problem is my harness riding up after a few runs , geeze its hard to push the harness down while riding. My trick is to get planing then a sharp upwind whilst letting go of one hand to push down the harness , repeat with other hand. then quickly downwind before you stop planing.Works most of the time
Or get a seat harness ...much less movement
I had a 20 year layoff and then came back last year, 20kg heavy (95kg) and stuck with 80's technique because its all I know. I use a seat harness and like the mast much further forward than modern gear. I like to sit in the harness and drive the board forward pushing on my toes to let the board ride up on the fin. I get along ok on my old gear but probably shouldn't have bought at 75L board.
Select to expand quoteAgrid said..
I had a 20 year layoff and then came back last year, 20kg heavy (95kg) and stuck with 80's technique because its all I know. I use a seat harness and like the mast much further forward than modern gear. I like to sit in the harness and drive the board forward pushing on my toes to let the board ride up on the fin. I get along ok on my old gear but probably shouldn't have bought at 75L board.
If thats you in your picture , definitely stick with your 80s technique
The Tabou rockets are kind of narrow , but long for their volume compared to many other modern freeride boards.
This combined with nice rocker line and very deep forward double concave makes them a real favourite for the heavier free riders.
But i wouldnt know I'm a lightweight. Just making some observations from the feedback i've heard.
Select to expand quoteImax1 said...Imax1 said..
I don't catapult that much , it just feels catapulty . Unless the fin digs into the sand. I also used to sail in the nineteenth century , even made my own boards. Back into it for 3 years now after 25 years break. We used to carve boards along in a streight line . Now the board is flat and pushing on the fin. I love the new gear and style of riding even though the sails are as fragile as f@&'.k. I think I'd just like a little longer board.
Thanks to all u guys I'm going to try some things.
lm going to move my straps back and get some adjustable lines and push my bloody harness down.
In the name of science I'll give it a go ,
Done some testing.
Moved my straps back 8cm ( front and back ) now its ok to use the mast back.
Using longer lines and trying to keep my harness down.
Feels less catapulty and fast.
Happy
Only problem is my harness riding up after a few runs , geeze its hard to push the harness down while riding. My trick is to get planing then a sharp upwind whilst letting go of one hand to push down the harness , repeat with other hand. then quickly downwind before you stop planing.Works most of the time
Try another harness. Mystic majestic stays low and is super comfortable. Mine still looks new after 2 years.
I would break every bone in my body if I tried that these days (assuming I could actually get going fast enough). The other thing I forgot to mention is that My harness lines seem much longer than everyone else's.
Was 105 kg now im 92 kg my floatboards now go 13 percent higher faster more vertical and fly over and hit lips 13 percent harder
Aiming for 15 percent and I'll fight anyone / especially spooky assed deseart car park specialists whom cry wolf / Now if you want to get back to your fighting weight / Divide your Hieght by 2 and your on your way punk
RED ALERT 90.5 RED ALERT ................
heeeeeee
182 CM tall DIVIDED BY 2 = 91KGS
Select to expand quoteking of the point said..
RED ALERT 90.5 RED ALERT ................
What's your secret for dropping the weight? Catching a stomach bug in South East Asia?
www.windsurf.co.uk/peter-hart-big-men-small-problems/
Good tips for all. I'm interested in the extra downhaul thing. Definitely makes the huge rigs easier to handle but when I have been sailing for a bit & relaxed with the power I havnt found that it's made me quicker to plane both with my race sails & wave sails. What I have found is certain sails just dont work for my size mostly in freeridey stuff 7m & up, they would benefit from the extra downhaul as they tend to umbrella dont put power in right place. I can put the extra downhaul on but plane at same time as dropping to 6.2 wavesail which is much nicer to use. Power wave sails & loft race sails ive found can go a little less downhaul, but outhaul is critical to keep foil nice (but I do use rdm with the above). Severne r7 race sail have found need to use recommended downhaul, less does not work.
Definitely might try the extra downhaul when I start sailing again regularly. Gotta love that about windsurfing, always more to try & learn
HEAVY WIEGHT? ????????????
Frothie hear I'm still in the learning stages and I weigh in at 155kgs.
I bit the bullet and got a custom Carbon Art its 225L and totally awesome!!!
It was fully worth scrapeing the Bucks together.
Then I got hold of some bigger second hand sails and it's changed the rules. I just gotta stop breaking my gear? Good Luck!
OK , this is what I have learnt about sails recently being a heavyweight.
Go big , huuuuge down haul .
Take a big gulp of downwind to get going because the sail feels weak.
Once going it feels good and were fast even with a big board and fin.
When a big gust hits , it's painfull , but that's as good as it gets so get used to it. Racer guys think this is normal so stop being a whimp.
Or get off the good life and be 90kg .
Im 120. and I'll wrestle the gusts
Select to expand quoteFrothie said..
HEAVY WIEGHT? ????????????
Frothie hear I'm still in the learning stages and I weigh in at 155kgs.
I bit the bullet and got a custom Carbon Art its 225L and totally awesome!!!
It was fully worth scrapeing the Bucks together.
Then I got hold of some bigger second hand sails and it's changed the rules. I just gotta stop breaking my gear? Good Luck!
Nice work with the custom ( jealousy ). All I can say is , carbon boom , bend alloy like havin a Sh....it . One little fin dig catapult = bent boom ( and may I say , warranty means Diddly squat when going back to shop with bent boom ) , it wasn't a manufacturers fault when , ( let me calculate ) , 120 kg at 30kn in harness in 30cm water with 40cm fin = half a ton bend force.
Stuff em I say , keep on truckin .
Boards well techically the rockers have to match with minor variances due to "repair". That said prior to Patrik, the production records were mostly held by massive 130kg+ units.
Masts no, pwa guys try many different mast & batten combos. I have found alot of race sails ive had to stiffen cross batten.
Yes re. carbon booms, is most important bit of kit for big guy. Also look for a harness line which may snap in the event of catapult, $70 line saves you $1000+ boom.
Frothie wow 155kg's! I couldnt imagine windsurfing that heavy.
Frothie 155 is relative ,
Stiff mast. Tight leech , old Starboard go 155 , big fin , 105kmph , here we come.
Dont laugh.
Hi Guys,
This looks like the thread to post on for a bit of advice given the gear of today has changed so much since I was regularly rigging up on the beach.
I am just getting back into things myself after 16 years of sailing once every second year or so & hit the scales at 115. I use to use a 124L drops free ride, 61 cm wide (from memory) mostly with an 8.5 or 7.5 when I use to sail 3-4 times a week in 98/99 at 105 kg (still have the drops)
Beach/water starting, foot straps, harness were no problems & dry gybing most of the time, though some weren't pretty & got about half the tacks I tried, so would consider myself to be intermediate back then.
I am after some thing to get on the water/planning a bit earlier as my wife has decided to "learn" (have invested in lessons for her) & want something to do in winds she wants to practice in (I got her a 2011 JP funstar 180L) .
Having said that I have a 10.4 north ram with the kit to rig it up & looking at pairing it with a suitable board with the potential of maybe going to a bigger sail later once the ram is no longer sailable/a good deal comes up.
With this set up I pretty much just want it to cruise/blast around in light winds before going down to the 8.5 & the drops. I was thinking of maybe going with a starboard express (100cm wide 180L) wide or perhaps a smaller GO 161 -141 or similar or perhaps a starboard formula, though would welcome any suggestions. (I have put these boards down as they are what are currently available on the second hand market)
What are peoples thoughts on the early planning/ease of gybing on the express vs the go or similar vs the formula?
On the carbon booms, I have mixed experiences having destroyed 2 fiberspar booms early on & repairing another 2, though have gone through more then a few alloys in my time as well......but still use carbon as I found they out lasted the alloy booms by about 3 times, so same time on the water vs money spent, with a more stable sail shape & less catapults
I also think longer lines & seat harness gave me a much more 'secure feeling' about catapults
Thanks in advance
Geoff
^^^
Positively stay away from the formula board ,( i have one ) as best i can describe they are absolutely horrible . They are hard to get planing for us big guys ,handle like a beanbag , are extremly fragile , u need the big fin (which is about half a mile long , so forget step starting ) and are scary gybing in chop.
I would suggest the Starboard Go 161 ( great board i have one ) Does everything easy and goes fast.
Watching the Froth go down the run at Budgey is a sight to behold. Nature meets an immovable object. 
On a sail 3 meters and board twice that of everyone else!!!!!!
For a bloke who hasnt been sailing long and does 32 knots out of the straps its inspirirational. Go big fella!!!!
Select to expand quoteFrothie said...
HEAVY WIEGHT? ????????????
Frothie hear I'm still in the learning stages and I weigh in at 155kgs.
I bit the bullet and got a custom Carbon Art its 225L and totally awesome!!!
It was fully worth scrapeing the Bucks together.
Then I got hold of some bigger second hand sails and it's changed the rules. I just gotta stop breaking my gear? Good Luck!
Can you share some pictures of your kit. It sounds like you're doing very well. Great work!
