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Best ~110L freeride board for wind range and heavy chop (?)
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grayson



Joined: 09 May 2003
Posts: 92
Location: Burlington, VT

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 3:10 pm    Post subject: Best ~110L freeride board for wind range and heavy chop (?) Reply with quote

I'm just back from Windsurfing Magazine's "Board Tests Live" in Hatteras where I got to try a good sampling of mid-size freeride boards (see my comments on some of them on Windsurfing Mag's Boards Page). I'm trying to choose one for myself in the 110L kind of range, and looking for help from others since I didn't get to sail the boards in quite the range of conditions I want my new board to cover, and certainly didn't get to sail every board I might be interested in. Hope some of you folks might have some input to help with my decision.

A couple of my faves from the test....
Quatro Freeride 110 = fast & comfy!
RRD FireMove 110 = jibes like a dream!
(follow these links to see my specific test comments on these boards)

Some others on my short-list that I haven't sailed....
Fanatic Hawk 110 (the 100 was at the test, but I never did get to sail it)
Tabou Rocket 105 or perhaps 115 (I sailed the 125 and liked it)

First and foremost, I'm looking for something with exceptional range that does well in heavy chop. Specifically....

1. Covers overpowered 5.2 to marginally powered 7.0 conditions.
2. Planes up quickly and stays upwind well when marginally powered.
3. Handles speed over nasty voodoo chop conditions comfortably.

Beyond that, I'd love it if it jibes pretty easily. And would like if it's fairly fast. But the above 3 items are top priorities, along with comfort. I tend to favor a more outboard stance to really drive off the fin in most conditions, and really prefer boards with a nice domed deck shape especially under the rear (outboard) straps that support this stance comfortably with the heel over the rail of the board.

This board is to fill the gap between my Quatro Freestylewave 85 and my Kona One (after I sell my Bic TechnoE & Techno2).

Thanks for any input!
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boardsurfr



Joined: 23 Aug 2001
Posts: 1266

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 3:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Grayson, I agree with your choices. I sailed the Quatro last Friday morning in 25 mph with a 5.0, and it was comfy and fast. I thought it kept speed going into jibes really well.

I sailed the RRD FireMove the rest of the day with a 7.0, and had a blast. Don't know how it would handle voodoo chop, though, but probably much better than you'd think by just looking at the shape.

I did get to ride the Hawk 100, which also was an absolute blast. You may want to consider a Fanatic FreeWave 105 - I tried the 95 last fall, and it's on top of my list of boards I'd like to buy.

Peter
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jingebritsen



Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3371

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 3:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What about the Cross III 114? Did you get to ride that? I'll PM you some guidelines as to how to keep the peace apre board tests....
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grayson



Joined: 09 May 2003
Posts: 92
Location: Burlington, VT

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey, thanks for the input! I did sail the Exocet Cross III 114 last week, but found it pretty unremarkable. Perhaps it suits a more "over the board" sailing style, as suggested by the smaller fin (29cm compared to ~38cm on most freeride boards in this size class). It's interesting because I was really looking forward to trying some Exocet boards based on what I'd heard/read about the comfy cushioning under the heel, but found it to be useless in my preferred sailing stance with my heels wrapped over the rail of the board. The cushioned area ends up right under the arch of my foot where it's useless!

In general, I'm thinking I'll probably steer clear of the FSW type boards for my 110L (ish) ride. They seem to be under-finned for me, and more biased toward an "over the board" type of stance. I am aware that a bigger fin might be a bit of a liability in overpowered conditions where it'll be scarier to go fast and stay at or below a beam reach. But more fin better suits my preferred sailing style, and is a huge plus on the lighter end of the wind spectrum. YMMV.

BTW, yes I'm aware I could put a different fin on. But I generally think that the fin a board comes with is of the type it was designed to best work with. If you're looking for a truck, you don't buy a car and put truck tires on it, right? Wink

I'm currently leaning toward the Quatro, but would love to hear about the Hawk 110, or any direct experience with the FireMove 110 in powered-up heavy chop, or any other suggestions I might consider.

Oh, and I'm also still keeping an ear open for closeout deals on last years boards, so if anybody is aware of something along these lines for a wicked deal I'd love it if you ping me. Cool
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pirireis



Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Posts: 177

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi grayson,

I recently went through a similar selection process and ended up somewhere slightly different when I determined that requirements 1. and 2. were the most important for me.

Once I determined that upwind and underpowered conditions were the most important and that if requirement 3. was adequately met, then I settled on wide boards.

This ended me in the Tabou's freeride and slalom boards, along with RRD freerides.

I went with a Tabou Manta, and boy that thing is fast. I basically cruise over the holes with no worry. Wind dies down, no problem, uphaul and lazy waterstart friendly.

I sold my Fanatic Hawk immediately, once I noticed the carefree ride of the slalom. I miss the liveliness of the Fanatic, but the wind requirements were not met last year for that board, at least for me and I simply hated many sessions .

Since Coyote and Crissy underperformed last year, I think Slalom and wide freerides is possibly the way to go for a weekend warrior.

I did test it on Coyote chop last tuesday in 28 knots, and as expected requirement 3 was not met, but I did get sailing time in. So for me, mission accomplished.
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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Did you get a chance to sail the Starboard Futura 111? From what I understand, it offers performance characteristics close to a slalom board, and that appears to be what you're looking for.
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grayson



Joined: 09 May 2003
Posts: 92
Location: Burlington, VT

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

swchandler wrote:
Did you get a chance to sail the Starboard Futura 111? From what I understand, it offers performance characteristics close to a slalom board, and that appears to be what you're looking for.

Nope, there was no Futura at the test. There was a Carve 111, which I rode, and is on my list of considerations, but I didn't have the "wow" reaction when sailing it that I did with some other boards. I just took a closer look at the Futura on Starboard's website, and it certainly looks intriguing. It just made the list. Wink Yet another board to consider. Rolling Eyes My biggest concern with this kind of board is the performance in nasty chop, which is a big issue where I sail most. I just wonder if the width is going to be a major liability in that respect. Oh the dilemma of having so many stellar boards to choose from. Cool
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jfeehan



Joined: 27 Jul 1998
Posts: 156

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a Futura 111 - it's about 2 years old.

i would never sail it with a 5.2..., but then i would probably never sail any of the other boards you have listed with a 5.2

i don't think of it as a good board for chop - i rarely use it with anything other than a 7.5, and the water is generally pretty flat, with maybe some swells. It is not so comfortable in powered up 6.5 choppy conditions - even with a smaller fin than the stock fin.

i was recently in cabarete, and i sailed the starboard kodes quite a lot - mostly the 94, but also a 102 or 103. i thought they handled chop very well - for their size.

not sure if starboard has fixed the footstrap insert spacing on their new boards, but it is a big problem on my 111 when i have to wear booties.
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pirireis



Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Posts: 177

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

grayson wrote:
swchandler wrote:
Did you get a chance to sail the Starboard Futura 111? From what I understand, it offers performance characteristics close to a slalom board, and that appears to be what you're looking for.

Nope, there was no Futura at the test. There was a Carve 111, which I rode, and is on my list of considerations, but I didn't have the "wow" reaction when sailing it that I did with some other boards.


I have had the carve for a very long time. It is great workmanship and a solid board. It does everything good, and is good in chop, but it is not an early planer or a fast board.

In your test what was the best board for handling chop and what design characteristics gave it that ability?
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jingebritsen



Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3371

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I gues the webmaster has to take another look at the Cross III 114. Spec. is supposed to say 38 cm fin. A goof.

http://www.exocet-original.com/products/crossIII-spec.asp

Did you sail it lit up, or barely powered? I found the fin to be kinda large. But that's because I sailed the Cross III 104 with various fins and found the stock fin at 29 cm to be as good as larger ones for that particular board.

Some boards were specialists, others old school, still others modern do every thing boards. What suits some in flat water is bad for others. My favorites for flat water depended on wind and water conditions. Too many to pick one or even 2 in certain size classes.

The ones I found unremarkable in the test others liked lots. Guess we all have our own set of likes and dislikes....

SB sent the Carve 111 and the iSonic 117, and Ultra Sonic 147 a nearly formula wide light wind board. No Futuras. I like their offerings far better than the Futura line. Again, personal likes and dislikes will vary widely on forums like these.

http://www.star-board.com/SpringSummer2011/products/board_carve.php

http://www.star-board.com/SpringSummer2011/products/board_isonic.php

http://www.star-board.com/SpringSummer2011/products/board_ultrasonic.php

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www.iwindsurf.com
http://www.epicgearusa.com/
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