Need to get a 70L -75L board but for european conditions (no down the line conditions where I live). I sail in onshore mushy conditions where upwind and early planning are vital. I`m a light weight and have an 86L board as my large board. Am torn between a magic wave 75 and a Duotone Freewave 74. Has anyone used either of these boards?
I think if upwind and planing are the priority over waveriding, then a freewave is your answer
I have no experience of the Duotone though
If its for highwind jumping and onshore turns an allround wave shape would be my pick ,whatever the equivelant is to a Pyro ,not sailed any of your picks.
I,m a lightweight and early planing is not such an issue as heavier riders that may need more help with a freewave.
For the kind of conditions and uso that Rango mentions, among the boards I've tried I really like how the Grip4 and Custom4 perform. I haven't tried any modern freewave designs below 95 liters, so I can't really compare, but I'm curious. Not all brands have freewave boards under 80 liters - there must be a reason for that.
I have used both boards in the 105 L size. The Duotone Freewave was the previous generation, not the current generation. The current generation is supposed to be less wave riding oriented and more freestyle/early planing oriented than the previous generation.
For actual wave riding DTL in cross on mushy conditions the Magic Wave is really good. For staying upwind and getting planing really easily the freewave has an edge.
Choose what is more important to you. There are always trade-offs.
Flikka custom freewave boards are great and can be built to suit your needs. Luka the shaper emails back and has really good experience making a board for your conditions, weight and rocker. You can have 5 fin boxes too so you can use as quad or thruster.
I have a freewave 135 and it turns like a 100 litre board, their fins to suit the boards too work really well, especially their angled side fins.
I also have a 105 compact wave in their dyneema construction.
You can go on their design your board thing on their website and get quite creative with sizes and set ups.
