kona surf 170 - beginning in waves ?

wsmtbskate · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 34

I would like to start wave sailing and a kona surf 170 came up for sale locally. I already have a Kona One, 110 liter Skate, 85 liter RRD FSW. I've just been mainly free riding, trying to ride swell when I can, but waves look pretty damn fun to try.

I'm just wondering how the Kona Surf 170 (from 2006 or so) would compare to my Kona One for my 160# intermediate sailer, beginning waves. I understand its 30 cm shorter, 4 cm narrower, 50 liters less than the kona...or would I be better off getting a 115 liter'ish FSW down the road instead? Haven't tried the Skate in waves yet, although I know it's not an ideal wave board.

thanks in advance

formerly Greyghost

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 2060

kona surf would be a great addition. i've surf sailed it. it is lots of fun. surf sailed the kona one tons too. ditto.

tricktionary, get one. hey tricktionary publisher, do a reprint!

wsmtbskate · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 34

hi John, can you tell me if it's a little better than the kona one or much better than he kona one in surf ? thanks

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 2060

kona surf for a used purchase is probably a great addition to your bag of tricks. it turns on a wave easier than the one. that's about it. the one gets a sailor thru the break easier, has a better dagger slot, and is a bit heavier. other than that, the surf is a bit livelier in more wind.

d0uglass · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:36 pm Post subject:

I enjoyed putting a smaller fin on the Kona ONE to ride it in "Gorge" style swell or "easy" wave conditions, but it was tough for me to manage in pounding surf or shorebreak.

The Kona Surf might help some, but finding an easy spot with small waves and sideshore wind would probably help the most for learning wavesailing.

The 110 liter skate should also be good in the waves.

Good luck.

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 2060

james, the skate will neither bottom turn nor top turn worth shiites. yes, it'll be fine for a few trials, but will become quite frustrating to truly get the most out of wave riding, long term. and, it's fragile.

d0uglass · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:25 am Post subject:

I had an older skate- I think a 2001 or 2002 model, 114 liters, and it was fine in the waves once I found a fin I liked for it. Not as good as my Exocet Cross 106, but good enough to learn wavesailing. Didn't you used to ride waves on a big slalom board? What I'm saying is, a board may not be ideal for wavesailing, but since the original poster already owns it, I reckon it would at least be worth a try.

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 2060

yes, i rode large free ride boards in the surf for years before the konas, now curves, were available. yes, the first forays one can do fine with any schtick, but after a few good BAF'ings in the ocean, it's time to find something more suited.

here we go with the debate as to what a free ride board is. some are very good at wave sailing. some far better than more recent boards with the sexier label, FSW...... free ride got a stigma because it was labelled "for intermediates?" sad, since most can be very good if pushed to the limits of windsurfing, if one can get over the vanilla image.