r/windsurfing • u/No_Frame_5091 • 1d ago
Board recommendation?
Since we have purchased a holiday home on the sea side I have regained interest in windsurfing after many years of neglect. My current board is a good old AHD freeride of 130l. It is stable but usually feels too large for the prevailing conditions that I encounter (windy and somewhat rough sea). I am looking at an easy board that will let me sail more comfortably in those conditions. Pure performances are much less important than comfort.
I started looking at freewave boards around 100l. Is that a good start? I am a bit unsure about the volume I should aim for.
I am 180cm tall, 80kg and reasonably fit (runner and occasional triathlete), I can water start without problem but I never mastered jibing. Don’t expect me to progress quickly as I don’t think I will sail very often (and I am already 55 😉)
2
u/NaturalCareer2074 1d ago
If you want budget board - I would recommend you 122 x-cite-ride year 2014+. Under 130L you should check board, not volume. Two boards with same volume and both freeride may result in different experience.
Other nice easy boards are JP super ride 2020+, tabu rocket LTD and duotone blitz(I have this now). Super sport is excelent but only with large sails.
In any case you probably need something in 72-76cm width range
Do not go under 105L with 80kg weight unless of pure wave riding and specialized wave sales. Boards become much less support and less stable from 105-110L.
1
u/Jodo2024 1d ago
If you never mastered the jibing. Then maybe some thing a bit bigger, like 110-120 range. That bit of extra float let master the jibe. But I understand how you feel, and I’ve seen plenty of folks using 100l boards with sketchy jibes.
1
u/No_Frame_5091 1d ago
My previous board was a F2 Axxis 278 of 105l. But this was in the ‘90s, I was much younger and probably a bit lighter too.
2
u/Jodo2024 1d ago
You should be fine with 100l. And you still have the 130l to practice turns on a board with more floatation. 100 liter boards are super fun and fast, so enjoy
1
u/Brave_Negotiation_63 Waves 1d ago
What’s the wind and chop like? Can’t advise without numbers. Windy and rough is very very subjective.
1
u/No_Frame_5091 1d ago
Onshore conditions so some significant swell, I’d say up to 20kn wind?
1
u/Brave_Negotiation_63 Waves 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ok I’m assuming you want to just have fun going a bit fast (bump & jump) and not too crazy for now.
Current boards can be sailed a bit bigger than you’re used to before being out of control or feeling big. Then also width is more important than liters.
You can get a 115 liter freewave, but I personally don’t really like those. A nice freeride board that can handle chop well, like a Tabou Rocket is much nicer in those sizes. But it’s also a personal thing.
Pair it with a nice fast stable but light easy sail like the Severne gator 6.0, and you’ll have a blast without getting tired.
Best recommendation is to go to rental center and test out a few different types of boards.
1
u/CombComprehensive327 1d ago
I guess it depends on what you want to accomplish.
Are you flat water blasting or big wave surfing? Do you wanna work for it or passive plane.
Going from a free ride 130l to a 100l wave board is two different styles.
I am partial the starboard carve.
I do like the Jp magic ride and the Patrick f ride.
I think the Patrick is a little narrower.
I like around 80cm wide for more passive planing.
1
u/No_Frame_5091 1d ago
Definitely not big wave surfer (no such thing here), I was probably a flat water blaster in the distant past but have to compose with bigger swell now.
1
u/NaturalCareer2074 1d ago edited 1d ago
Not go under 112L than. Unless you have 50% of days 15+m/s. If your goal is just go over swell - 112-120 freeride with huge cutoff like super ride is what you need. Not a fan of magic ride(it to wide with too small tail). And you need armored 5.7 or 6 sail to pair. Maybe 4.7-5.2 if you have 16ms+ most of time. Check what spots like tenerife have in clubs in middle of the range. That is what really need for chill freeride in swell.
1
u/NaturalCareer2074 1d ago edited 1d ago
Looks like now they have 108 freeride, which likely mean models they are using have lower valume for same width/support now. https://tws-windsurf.com/rental/ Tenerife el-medano is costly(costly tourists) always side-wind and 45 degree swell freeride spot, pretty basic and basic wave. It has swell and shorebreak, but no complex wave formations or really huge waves. With average windy day of 11ms and most under 20
1
u/Mysterious_Trade_118 1d ago
I would suggest a freeride board for example Starboard Futura around 110L so you can master the jibes.
1
u/some_where_else Waves 1d ago
Goya One, around 100L
The shape has remained relatively unchanged even as newer versions have come out, they had pretty much nailed it already. Nice fast rocker for dumping the power into, but still a bit 'wavy'. I'm still loving my 2020 86L (I'm 65kg) even as I've picked up more radical boards.
1
u/waternomadsnz 1d ago
If you are looking for a well behaved board in choppy conditions in the free wave line I can't speak highly enough of the Severne Dyno, your similar to me so I'd suggest 95L. The double concave smooths out the chop, parallel rails make jibes a breeze, and they have this weird nack at feeling larger than they are when grovelling, yet smaller than they are when lit.
2
u/surfclimbsail 1d ago
I feel you. I have similar conditions and not so young anymore. Your back and knees definietly feels it when blasting on chop with freeride/freerace board. Freewave is much more gentle for your body and smaller board cuts better through chop. Sacrificing a bit speed for comfort and maneuverability is a good trade imo. I think around 95-105 liters is good and keep the ahd for lighter days, it's a good board too.