Why aren't guys making downwind boards in Australia producing a moulded versions.
Like SIC,C4 etc?
these moulded boards are lighter and preform better when going downwind.
I know it is a very new sport but by now there must be a all round shape to make into a plug to take a mould off.
You could have different weight models.
Surf Skis and Racing Skis are not made from foam.
I might be wrong and people maybe already doing it here.
Just thought I would ask.
Sam
Are you talking about hollow boards?? For my money, give me foam.... If you try and go too light weight, I would worry about snapping it on a big ocean paddle, and it would sink... (?? I think ??)....
Stringers also provide a little bit of extra stiffness.... But many SUP's are stringerless....
skis do not snap mid ocean or moulded boards they are very very strong.
Also skis surf quite well
IMO there's no doubt that molded boards will come but it's still early days in design.
Once we have proven designs and confirmed racing rules I think it will happen.
Robby Naish told me that the new 17 would be hollow but it's not.. There must be a reason for that.
Maybe they weren't strong enough.. too flexy.. or too heavy.. or maybe it's the risk of sinking if they get holed.
DJ
they all have shells inside like a skeleton to give floatation.
true we need to get rules in place to give people a good idea of what model to buy.
Race skis are 19 or 21 foot and are so strong. Not sure of OC1 length
Hi Guys
If you were buying a DW board potentially to do the odd race on is there a length that has been settled on to define a class length ie:12 ' 6 and under and unlimited above or something similar?
I know OC racing when through a long period of transition trying to work this out with weights etc.
Usually though there is a premier class where all of the good guys try and compete within in some sort of frame work so that it is as much about the skill of the paddler as the board its self is this happening with in the SUP sport or is it still in the free for all stage?
Cheers
Mick
EPS foam does not suck up water though...
There is potential for a handicap system also... But line honours is always line honours !!
I support the 14' production class as I'm about to get one ; ) 
I gave the Hollow Board a little thought, and the biggest problem would be standing on it. It would need to withstand point loads of around 150kg or so... 85kg person coming down on one heel, would be approx equivalent loading of 150kg in 3 square inches, or about 100 pounds per square inch, which seems to be up around 700kPa !! That's a fair bit of force....
Although deck padding over another sheet layer, would help to dissipate / spread that point load....
EPS foam is about 16-35kg/m3 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene
If you have a 250 litre down wind board, assume 10-20 litres is the case/carcass. Leaves say 235 litres of foam (approx) or 5-8kg of foam, but I would assume you would add back 3-6kg into the carcass (if hollow)?? I would not expect the weight saving to be massive....
I still like the thought of foam in the middle for an everyday durable board.... Even if a hollow board was 1-3% faster.... And I guess we would only be talking 1-3% faster....
i know Hawaii is different conditions but these hollow boards are race proven there.
and there are a lot bigger runners.
what have you ever paddled Ron Burgandy!
maybe go talk to the guys making skis and get their ideas???? i know you know a few of them
So getting back to the crux of the matter is it about time there was some sort of Decision made in the best interests of the sport both manufactures and participants to agree on a length of DW board so that the shapers ect know that they are designing something that has market appeal and consumers are buying something that is as relevant today as it is tomorow?
I only raise this as I have seen the total Sh** fight that OC paddling went through to achieve some sort of uniformity and I want to buy a board that is the same or similarly designed as every one elses
Cheers
Mick
I know that the OC1's had a lot of weight issues too. Some were being made at 16-20kilos and some were coming in at 8-10kilos.
People may think weight does not have to much to do with it but it does.
3 classes.
I think that up to 12'6 gives everyone a chance to have a race, and this class would be fantastic for 10kms and under race like BOP.
fixed 14 ft is downwind proven for all distances.
And unlimited class for all distances
I am in no way qualified to be any kind of authority on the topic of DW BUT:
Here's what I do know:
The C4 Vortice is designed in conjunction with Dave Parmenter, Karel Tresnack and Todd Bradley along with Brian Kealana etc. Who is Dave Parmenter? Dave is arguably one of the worlds great influential surfboard shapers and with designs such as the 'Widow Maker' and 'Stub Vector' have greatly influenced surfboard design in ways you would have to research to understand. He was also a WCT surfer and is extremely highly regarded in surfing circles.
Who is Karel? Karel is the owner of a company called Outrigger Connection. These canoes are the world standard for outrigging and the Mirage OC6 has won more races than any other, it is 'the' choice for racing. The OC1's and OC2's are also prized possessions. Todd Bradley is a world champion outrigger also. Brian K speaks for himself, if you don't know if him, his brother and his dad and their Makaha heritage you could probably be ashamed of yourself.
The SIC F-14, 16, 18 etc
Once again designed by an extremely well regarded OC paddler Mark Raaphurst, SIC also makes OC1's, OC4's etc. These guys have a very strong background in moulding etc. They do it all inhouse and test, refine, test, refine using skills gained over many years to design the best boards they can make.
My point, with so many years of experience in the ocean both of these guys have more than enough confidence to put designs to mould for production.
Here in Australia our best designers are from a surfboard and/or surf life saving equipment background. Apart from Ski's, OC1's etc everything they make is still EPS so it makes sense to use a familiar material that can be changed from board to board in the full steam pursuit of something that works better than the last.
God knows at this stage what works better and I surely don't, all I know that is that if you want to be confident or competitive it is probably a good idea to get boards from guys that have a lot of experience paddling craft in the ocean. IMHO that's why I would always lean towards a Surfboard or OC background for the designer.
To quote the blackboard at my local butcher "If you don't know meat you'd better hope you know your butcher" the same thing applies here.
^ That is exactly why I feel so lucky to be on Maui. The S.I.C shop is constantly pushing the envelope in downwind boards.
The pic DJ posted above is an F-16 that is autoclaved overseas.
My latest F-16 is what we are calling 'semi-hollow'. Not sure what Mark calls it. It's actually a sandwich of styro and carbon, like plywood, wrapped around a mold. It's strong as hell. Stronger than a molded F-16 or a styro carbon custom - and that's saying a lot. The autoclaved pre-preg may be even stronger, not sure about that.
We had our first wild downwinder of the season yesterday - the new board is just unreal. Rock solid stable in steep drops, side chop etc. Surfs like a dream on big rolling swells. Lots of rocker. Designed for wild maliko nuking windswell.
www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=5673.0
I think it's a while before you see moulded boards in Aus.Going by what I have seen in Dale Chapmans factory a new improved design comes out weekly.The sport is still pretty young here and we don't have the volume to commit to a set shape (yet). Lacey's 14 is something pretty special. Watch this space..... and I'm sure the 17's will follow suit and it will look nothing like the F16 or 18.
Rob
SIC f16 are being made in china by autoclave process apparently so i would say they may export them from china to every where that wants one oneday.
All I can say is my F-16 is BULK FAST when the wind is SSE 15 knots plus with 3ft of south swell I go from Snapper Rocks to Seashell Ave Lifeguard tower 24 = 17km in 80 minutes now that's fast. I've surfed ocean swell in surf stance mode for 200 meters & have clocked myself doing 4 minute 15 second a kilometre, all you need is wind & swell & you're just surfing out there. I also have the F-18 for flat days when the wind is under 15 knots. See ya in da ocean.
Yes MickV my 2nd new F-18 its 18'6''will be here in June I cant wait I'm throthing these boards are sooo fast in the flat but no good when the wind is over say 15 knots that when I'll paddle the custom F-16
