Hi All.
I am returning to sailing after a looooong break. We are talking before the internet and carbon fibre....think stone age.
Help me choose a Freeride board to carve up flat water on the Gold Coast. I was a fairly good intermediate sailor in the stone age so was thinking my 78kg frame should be on a 120-130 litre board with a 6.5m sail. Ideally If I could buy second hand that would be awesome to save some $ initially and see how things go. Obviously I am not familiar with any brands or models new or used so let me know what boards you suggest I should look at and if you may have a complete rig for sale send me a PM for that.
Cheers and thanks in advance.
A good board for you would be a Starboard AtomIQ 120, but shipping mine to you from eastern WA (as in Washington state, USA) to the Gold Coast would be nonsense.
Since you might very well get interested in windfoiling at some point, you might want to consider only those boards with deep tuttle finboxes. Even better if the board is "foil ready." Good luck. Welcome back.
I'd say the opposite, the AtomiQ was not real popular
I reckon you're onto it with size, and for boards anything that is under 5 y/o would be tops. A no-cam freeride sail like Severne NCX is what you want to be looking at. But again, all no cam freeride sails will be good and this time anything under about 10 years old thats not all crinkled. You'll be able to spot stuff with less use.
All Id' say is if you sailed in the stone age you need to know....
Modern boards are more delicate and styro cores suck water. Don't get anything that has soft spots, especially in the rear half - check it WELL. Get a feel for weights and don't get anything heavy or with badly done repairs (or with holes stillin it!!). Unless of course its a bargain and a tactical buy knowing u have to repair can be OK.
We don't use sails all on the one mast anymore with 2ft of mast sticking out the top. The Qld guys will let you know what sizes, so as 6.5 is right on the cusp of where you need a 430 mast and next size up (likely a 7.5 for you) needs a 460, you might want to change that a bit based on whether your next sail purchases will be a size down, or a size up, from your first.
Use the right mast. They have different curves and some won't work on other brands well. Watch some rigging videos to seehowmodern sails set
I think any freeride board would suit, and a 125L board would be perfect for your weight.
I tried Fanatic Shark, Tabou Rocket, JP Xcite ride, F2s. All nice and friendly.
I would not buy a board characterised as "wide" at this stage. I.E. there are Tabou Rocket standard and wide. Stick with the standard.
The Seabreeze buy/sell section is the best place too look for a board.
Agree with the above and would add boards these days are wider per volume so going off width is just as important as volume.
Generally speaking;
Larger freeride is 120/130l and 80cm wide.
Medium would be more 110l and 70cm wide.
Sails are larger per given wind strength as well, but far more efficient. A 6.5m sail isn't considered 'large' any longer for freeriding. For a 120/130l board a 7.5m+ would be a better fit. A 6.5m would be good for 110l board. Then once you get your skills back up to scratch, you could buy a sail 1m larger to use on the board (8.5m on 80cm or 7.5m on 70cm). I'm not keen on overly wide boards, so maybe a bit biased, but I've seen people put smaller sails (6.5m) on wider boards and whilst they get planing easy enough and feel safe when the wind drops, they cant go upwind/downwind fast as its the sail that provides the power. When the wind picks up to be well powered up on a 6.5m they width of the board has them bouncing around all over the place in the chop.
The other more recent change on kit is more brands are using longer RDM masts. In the past they stopped RDM at 430, but now some are making up to 490 RDM. It saves having 2 sets of extensions just having RDM masts. For freeriding, a 490 RDM is fine (so long as the sail is designed for it). Some brands are now using RDM masts in smaller/medium sail sizes in race/freerace sails, although some are sticking with SDM only.
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
I'd say the opposite, the AtomiQ was not real popular
I always though it odd that on a freeride board they gave it the rocker from their slalom board, iSonic, a relatively short planing flat which might be faster with a fast sail but isn't so good for passive early planing and requires a bit more technique when the wind picks up.
From Starboard's brochure for the Carve (Atom replacement)
The secret to a whole new level of freeride performance: a 15 cm extended flat section in the rockerline. This gives a longer, more efficient planing surface that helps get you planing, keep planing and accelerate more with every gust.
I'd agree with that. Maybe it was just hype about original Atom, they said it had the rocker from their iSonic to give the impression it was fast, but it didnt have the same rocker.
Absolutely awesome information guys keep it coming. It is very much appreciated. Cheers
At 80 kilograms, you can uphaul a 93 liter board with a 6.0 sail.
So, any freeride board from any company that is over 100 liters is plenty big enough.
However, if you actually gotten out of shape, gained weight, or can only sail twice a week, then you need that 120 liters.
More important, a 6.5 sail is good from around 15-22 knots breeze. What are you doing for more or less?
Hey Cool Dollar, as a local GC sailor, there are plenty of guys that can guide you in the right direction. We have a very good windsurfing club on the Goldie, check out the face book page . Gold coast windsurfing club.
Come down to the "train" the boat ramp at the northern end of the broadwater parklands during any south Easter and we will be there and a little further north during a nor easter. You never know , someone might even have some gear for sale.
Also pop in and see Ian and the guys at surf FX for a chat and advice.
Michael
I sold my Starboard Atomic and bought the Severne 95 and 120 liters FOX boards.
The 120 liter fox is better in all meanings and specially in choppy water and is also quicker than the starboard Futura when choppy.
I feel the Atomic is a bit too wide and more difficult to control:
Go for the Fox-boards, the 120 liter board is perfect from 6,5 to 8.0 m2.
With regards,
John (Sweden and Norway)
Hey cooldollar,
I used to sail a 122L starboard carve (38cm semi-raked fin) with an 8m (Naish rally - no cams) in 13+ knot seabreezes. It was great fun. Since we get lots of days where seabreezes are sub 13 knots, I've complemented my gear with a dedicated windfoil board. Depending on how much sailing you want to do and what the local breeze strength commonly is, a foil MAY be a worthwhile thought?
I now have a 105L severne Dyno which in single fin config (34cm) is good fun on flat water to about 13-14 knots with a 7.5m. Below 13 knots I get the foil out. The Dyno is good in the waves too (tri fin config). Not awesome, but good. It's not foil compatible. If you want to wavesail a bit as well, then a lot of the freewave boards can give you a bit more wave fun but will sacrifice a little bit of the early up and go of a freeride board. If you're dubious about your ability to uphaul, the 115 Dyno might also be worth a look?
I also bought a 6.5 Severne NCX but have found it to be gutless. I reckon my 5.3m North Volt (4 years old) has almost as much low end grunt. Maybe it's me, the mast I rig it on or maybe it is the sail, but I'd try out an NCX before you buy one.
WINDTECH boards get my vote, a whole different approach and freeride heaven, but unlimited performance to grow/push into 
You can take a look at Exocet too, French company so maybe more expensive then Severne or Windtech at your area, but normally they are well priced in Europe.
Exocet cross carbon is more versatile, cross planes earlier, cross carves better(?), both very comfy and easy to use, fox has the straps more outside so it can handle more power/bigger sails, fox is faster, fox is more fragile.
As an over 65 good intermediate 83kg who returned to windsurfing Cooldollar beware of thinking you are still 35. Waterstarts are hard work, uphauling on 120 litres in a chop also a balancing nightmare. You just cant spring into action like you used to and for some reason your body doesnt cooperate as you go into a fast carve gybe. I started again with a 130 Atomic but the short nose meant it sank if foot pressure on uphauling was a bit erratic. You get erratic (terrified) way off shore and after trying to waterstart but cant quite get out of the water. Sitting in a chair with coffee watching You tube Naish has real appeal.
I went to a 141 Starboard carve. Extra volume was nice ahead of mast. Took it out today in gusty 20. Great when up and planing but hard work trying to get back upwind or uphauling 6.5.
My favourite is now 90cm wide JPslw 160 litre . Takes a foil too. Certainly it gets a mission in strong wind with my usual 7.5 gator but all the normal brisk days its great. You just dont fall in as often and thats energy saving. Starboard do a similar board. Lighter the better.
So reflect on when you really are going out. Is it going to be Hookipa , white caps everywhere, strong wind warning etc or is it going to be 10 to 15 knots? If you find you are coping and are ready to try gale force 5.5 and 6.5 stuff there are dozens of 70 cm wide boards . Despite all the marketing speak anything after 2015 or so will be fine. Match sail brand with mast is safest. A couple of cams is ok too.
Just saying dont spoil your return to the sport by half drowning yourself on a 120 litre slalom carbon thing that you fall off everytime you do a half complete gybe..Younger guys that can swim miles can manage them but you must be over 50.....by the way foiling is wonderful fun but one thing at a time
Def a good idea to get back on the board!
Here's some thoughts on free ride boards I have been on lately...But I would say any modern, around 110L free ride board will do at first.
I tried out my friends Gecko 107, I think I was on 6.7, light day, something 2015 model I think. Absolute chill board to sail, and goes faster than it feels, really smooth in chop and you can still get it up on the fin and go fast. Gibes with no effort. Being80 kg, I'd say up to 110 is enough if there's some width to the board, lot of stability there.
105L and 120L, these first version Severne Foxes I have sailed a fair bit. On lighter days if no wave sailing can be done. Mostly on 5.0 or 6.something. Once maxed out it felt more nervous but fast and jibing takes more skills on this one. Kind of had this feeling I have to be alert all the time.
Good thing is boards can be changed. Finding out what's best for you is a fun part too!
Cheers!
Hey Guys Gals.
Thanks for the awesome info.....What about a 2010 BIC Techno 125 litre anyone have one of those?
er.....cancel that I just checked it is a 2002 model. King of the stone age!
Select to expand quotecooldollar said..
Hey Guys Gals.
Thanks for the awesome info.....What about a 2010 BIC Techno 125 litre anyone have one of those?
er.....cancel that I just checked it is a 2002 model. King of the stone age!
So many good advices here. But I think, I doesn't matter so much, what brand you buy. Freeride boards 120-130L are fairly similar. And also older boards are still really good to use. Longer boards have their benifits.
Why not buy even an old Big board. Everything younger than 1999 is not stone age. Be assured, that it will not be the last board you will buy, if you stay with it.
JP Magic Ride around 142L max in full wood sandwich is great up to at least 22 knots and lots of flotation for the size, double concave to a shallow Vee, that is what you want in a board bottom, other boards out there have the same. Goya Bolt Pro 135 is similar, but lighter and faster, and probably not for 18 knots. Just be aware the new generation of boards are light but rather fragile in comparison to that old Bic Techno, so I would not discount it because of the age, but Bic is still building boards with the plastic shell, very durable but a little heavier. Who is going to fix your dings? And really think about a board with a foil ready box like the Goya Bolt 135, can not over emphasize that, foiling takes some learning and balance, but in the end is a lot less physically demanding compared to windsurfing as long as you match your sails and wings to the conditions.
