Ideal Board

Can some one suggest a suitable board for a beginner 90kg

Agree with Joe, if you're young fit and keen and only want to wave sail in good winds, then the quickest way to get into it is to bypass the uphaul phase and go straight into beach starting and water starting. That way your first board will become your low wind board when you get into the surf. In that case about 110l wave board is what I'd suggest. If you're not young, fit and keen, or are going to sail in light winds and need to learn to uphaul, then the slow easy way is best. About 150l and WIDE is what you need, a nice stable platform that floats you easily.

104l possibly a little on the small side, but with all your caveats and a good teacher, and no concerns about crashing in front of beachgoers it would get him into the waves fairly quickly.

I think a lot of you are forgetting how hard it is to start out. Putting a 90kg beginner on a 104 ltr board? Unless they have super lessons, a super instructor and a super area (shallow for a long way); and are super, super motivated, you'll see a 104 ltr board in the for sale section in 6 months.

OP, when you are starting out, volume and width are your friends. You can still use that board on light air days with a big sail. Something like the Bic or equivalents from Starboard, etc will increase your chances of actually having fun while you are learning and encouraging you to stick with it immensely. And, if at all possible, lessons.

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Mark _australia said..
Has been done by many if they are able to go out every windy day and try over and over. For those with little money, a small freeride and one sail and start with beachstarts is almost a necessity (big board $$$ and hard to find..)

But I agree big board is the preferred method.

With a good instructor, and the right conditions, there doesn't need to be that many, "over and over"s, but yes there will be lots of crashes, and it is hard work, that's why all the previous caveats, but I'd still recommend a board big enough to comfortably float in light winds. Except perhaps for a Gero local, how many of them have light wind boards?

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joe windsurf said..
NMI = need more info
W5 = where, when, etc
where do you sail
are you fit
previous [url=workout-sportman.com/]sports
good balance
are you rich

yes please provide these information so we can guide you properly.

Progress will also be affected by TOW ( time on water).. How often does it blow where you are?
If you live some where you get ideal conditions for learning and you can get out everyday or 3-4 times a week you will progress a lot faster and with less pain than someone who can only get out once a month...If conditions aren't ideal or you can't get out regularly the larger board option will be safer..

as the thread is revived, i just ask my question here.

i'm an ex windsurfer (harness and gliding, no footstraps), but then changed to kitesurfing 8 years ago.. i want to get back into it and get a new rig. i'm looking at a 6.6 - 5.7 - 5.0 quiver at 80kg. usually only surf in >15kn, choppy, lakes. i would prefer to skip the big board stage and get a tabou 3s 106lt. what do you think about that? i think it will take some time to get used to the volume. i would rent a bigger board for 2-3 times and when feeling comfortable again, go for the smaller one. i used to own a 133l mistral screamer 2008 back then, think it was longer and not as wide. sounds good or should i go for a bigger board? i don't really want to have 2 boards at this stage..

cheers

Can you waterstart?

106 3s may eventually be a good one-board solution but it would be hard to uphaul on a choppy lake. I suggest you first rent or buy a 115-120l freeride board to get core skills such as waterstarting and planing in the straps sorted and then move on to a smaller one-board set-up... Going down to 106l from 133 may slow down your progress. Not sure if it is the same but 2nd hand market for 120l freeride boards is usually pretty good so you shouldn't struggle buying a good one and selling it after you get better. Also at 80 kg you could potentially go for a lower than 106l freestyle wave board as a one-board solution that would extend your high wind range.

Short answer, it is a good light wind board.


Longer answer :
Skates or Freestyle boards in general are very quick to plane but not so great in chop. I don't think they are built strong as they are quite light.

I use a skate 111 as my light wind board with a 29cm wave fin that I converted from us box to slotbox and it works well for me. I am 84-86kg and can plane on it with a s1pro 5.6 that is a very light sail with a good low end .. as good as if not better than my carve 121(a free ride board) with a 7.0 gator. It requires a more front foot style sailing - you don't have a big fin to push against.

I love the stake/s1pro combo because it is so light and lively. Also quite manageable in the bay chop. I use my skate from 17 up to 25 knots with s1pro 5.6 and 4.8 pretty safely but prefer my wave board above 20+ knots.

AFAIK, skate bgs has a power box so you can put a bigger fin and use bigger sails that should help with lighter winds. They are also built stronger than te versions.

Now I see you don't waterstart- its way too small.
Unless you get 20kn 3x a week and want to start determined learning of beach/waterstart

Welcome back Chris!

My advice would be to try to avoid the older (narrower) boards that are typically found at very low prices. The more modern wide, shorter boards are so much better and more versatile as well as being easier. Have a look for any of the Starboard GO. or Carve models from 140L to 170L (75 to 90cm 'ish wide) circa around 2006 on. There are equivalent boards in other brands as well, but I am not so familiar with them. I am sure others can add some suggestions here. Boom to mast fittings have come a long way and Carbon booms are very expensive but great. Aluminium booms are much lower cost and good performance but can suffer corrosion breakage if too old. Look for a 6 or 7 batten free ride, non cambered or 2/3 cam sail and a 30% - 55% ish 'carbon mast. Avoid the full 4 cam/8+batten race sails at first if you can, as they are heavier and less forgiving/more physical/technical.

Good luck and enjoy it.

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Mark _australia said..
^^ agreed with the boards comment but if he was waterstarting can maybe go smaller? Chris - your weight and predicted /desired conditions?

Yes, he said 100Kg so you could possibly go to 125-130L if skills come back quickly and you will be sailing in good winds.

Thanks guys, appreciate the advice. Yeah at 100kg and looking to sail in afternoon NE on Botany Bay. Doesn't seem to be any dealers this part of Sydney. Do you tend to purchase most stuff online these days or travel to a dealer?