In search of bigger shortboard for lighter Gorge conditions

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

I spoke with Jurg of WindsurfDeals, who carries SeaLions. He's really stoked about them, as is a customer who bought some for his extended family. Jurg sez ...

1. Planes extremely early given nudges from a piece of chop/swell + a pump + proper foot placement, then stays on a plane extremely easily.

2. A 7.0 should be compatible with the 8'3" as long as the sail's not too powered up, and even powered up if I put on bigger fins.

3. The thing glides so well that you barely feel the forward pull that, on an ordinary board, would yank you forward (not fun with a new ACL) towards the nose if not in straps.

4. Can turn very tightly even when barely planing, if at all, with proper foot placement on the appropriate tail.

5. Can provide a dynamic experience even on calf-high terrain just because it planes and carves so well.

6. Actually SUPs very well.

7. And slogs in a balanced fashion.

8. This thing sounds like it has much more potential for giggles than most boards in its displacement range, even for a slogophobe like me, in 5-15 mph winds, and even remains fun when there are gusts into the 20s on hand. Right now I can't even plane consistently on my 6.2 and 114L Syncro until Roosevelt's averaging 21. It sounds like this board will actually be fun, dynamic, and maybe even planing fairly often in 5-15 mph winds given any swell to boost it (e.g., during long lulls after a better breeze), especially if I add a very powerful 7.0 to it for the really pitiful days. It also sounds effortless to slog home on when 5-15 turns into 3-5, or to slog out on when there's 15 mph beginning 500 meters offshore and only 5 mph inside that line.

This board sounds (and looks in videos) like a whole new venture, rather than just a bigger same-old. The idea of wandering around that big deck looking for different sweet spots for different objectives sounds like fun; if it also planes in an assisted whiff and maneuvers in the process, where's the downside in light air?

Sure, Jurg sells them, but my bud agrees with him.

cgoudie1 · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:50 am Post subject:

Something you might consider is that the motion of a water start with your
injured leg in front up on the board puts serious stress right on your ACL as
you pull the board under you.

I might suggest that you always water start with your uninjured leg as the
one up on the board. It will be a little awkward when it's your back leg, but
you get used to it pretty quickly.

-Craig

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9299

Iso, it is a well known fact that Exocet boards are the easiest on your knees because of their superior deck padding and shock absorber. They make a 111 wave board, and have a Wind-SUP that is very cost effective. The problem with the Wind-SUP, the Sea Lion, or any other combo board is they are much heavier. This is not good on your knees. Whereas the X Wave 111 will give you the float, padding with built in shock absorber, great turning, and half the weight of any combo board. They also make the Cross model in many sizes.

J64TWB · Joined: 24 Dec 2013 Posts: 1685

Can you find a offshore site with flat water to sail? Thigh high chop without footstraps sounds miserable. Calm water, lighter conditions, use footstraps (at times), take it easy for a Summer and enjoy just being out? Nothing wrong with that.

U2U2U2 · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 10:03 am Post subject:

umm I think the Sea Lion may be a nice option, any cost comparison to the Exocet boards ?

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

For those sailors worried about injuries from using footstraps, I would suggest sailing with just your toes in the straps. That's how I sail, and I've never really had a problem releasing from my straps. And, I should point out that always use booties too. It's a technique that has lots of benefits, and very little downside.