Forums > Kitesurfing Gear Reviews

Long distance race boards - F - one gun 6ft 9

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Created by bermand > 9 months ago, 19 Jan 2013
bermand
WA, 247 posts
19 Jan 2013 11:47AM
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Rider: Weight 80 kg Level intermediate
Weather: 15 - 25 knots
Build Quality: 8/10
Satisfaction: 8/10
Disclosure: surf net trying to get info on this fledgling part of kiting, self sponsored

My Comments:
A bit of history, first got into this part of kiting with initial L2l event. So far have owned and tried :- Cabrinha trigger 6ft 1 & 6ft 3
Cabrinha transport, North freerace and most recently F1 gun.

Basically have been searching for a board that is
1. Very quick above 45km/hr
2. Comfortable in swell, chop and a variety of wind conditions
3. Not too difficult to get hold of

So after trying multiple boards, decided that F-one was best production option. I am convinced that custom is probably a better way to go.

The board is nicely constructed, though a bit on flimsy side prone to cracks and chops of surface layer. It came with only front inserts, which is a pain, but with NSI stick on's the issue is soon resolved. It does take time to get position right, that is personal preference. Too far back you lose speed, too far forward you will nosedive into swell.

So how does this board perform, well from struggling to average mid 30 km/ hr over 1 km, it has allowed me to average mid to high 30's over 1 km. It does this with comfort. Handles swell and chop exceptionally and probably main limit of board is skill of rider great board to get into long distance kite racing.

Out of interest found cab transport a bit out of control in strong wind due to its width. The NKB freerace is super quick but a handful to control, and takes a lot of practice to get it. The triggers are great boards, a bit wide, but still quick and stable.

Long distance is a great discipline, lets hope it grows and we get to have a few more of these events on WA and around Aus.

SugarQube
WA, 490 posts
23 Jan 2013 10:35AM
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This is an interesing subject for me, I built a board for the L2L race and used it in the LOC race as well.
The main problem in the LOC race for me was that I hadnt anticipated the heavey chop, which wasnt an issue in the L2L race, and it was hard to keep the nose from digging in.
The board had heaps of potential for going faster but control is the point I am working on over the winter period to end up with a perfect ocean race machine.
I probably would make a board available to a faster kiter, which is another thing all together.
No matter how fast the board, the rider neads to be a super fit athlet.
Which I am not.




AndyHansen
WA, 278 posts
23 Jan 2013 2:53PM
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Anybody up for some informal longer distance races?
Big things start from small begins, and its needs to start somewhere.

bermand
WA, 247 posts
23 Jan 2013 10:16PM
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Very keen, what did you have in mind?



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"Long distance race boards - F - one gun 6ft 9" started by bermand