Interested to see what Slalom riders favour in board size and sails.
I am starting to consider something 90-95 ltrs for blasting and some friendly social races, but also possibly 100 ltr mark.....
What's your favourite size, and why?
Cheers!!!!
I like my 100L SuperSport for the bay, while the SuperSport is not a full on Slalom board its suits me as most of my sailing is in the bay or the odd trip to Sandy Point.
The SuperSport is a little more user friendly than a slalom with a bit more nose lift and the straps probably not as close to the rail as a slalom, not as fast but not far off and still cranks up wind with a decent fin.
As for sails I use a 6.2 mostly or 7.2 as the bigest but the 6.2 is the sweet size.
I would prefer to be on a fsw board in bay chop or swell on a 90 - 95 .
Never really sailed a full on slalom just like my Supersports
Also these boards are more suited to slalom sails that give more down force.
My favourite is my 90 litre sonic with 5.7/6.3m as has such a large wind range. The 4cm narrower 87 litre sonic has very small wind range in comparison!
If i go too big like the 107 litre sonic,i lose topspeed.
Had a go of the 64cm wide Patrik 100 litre and was impressed no-end by it's feel and topspeed.
KURT STOP IT!!![}:)][}:)]
Since you started all these slalom, racing and other threads here & in Vic page as well as starting to upgrade your equipment we've had no wind at all!!![}:)][}:)]
My fave is my 90L 62cm board. Very versatile, I've used from 5.8 to 7.8m sail on it. It's a good size to get through nasty chop, it's fast with good control. Ideal sails 6 - 7 m and I'm around 92kg.
Has to be for me the Carbon Art Sl 52 (87lt) and i run 5.0 through to 7.5. Smashes through chop,jybes like a wave board and its no slowcoach on a speed run (39.8k) The only disadvantage with it is i carn,t uphaul it, but then i don,t own an uphaul .
I to will back Dans call for Kurt to stop buying gear,we need some wind!!!!!
Futura 111.
I'm around 105kg and this board just floats me if the breeze drops, any smaller and I'm swimming in.
Great top end (cracked 35K a few times) and good fun on the ocean as well.
Paired with a 7.6 TR7 + 38 Sting this is my bread and butter combo for summer sailing in WA, sweet spot is around 18-23K.
I've also used 6.6 and 8.4 and she comfortably handles both
At 97 kgs a Carbon art SL /62 , 104 litres ,great board from 5.8 to 7.5 race sails ,
Kills the chop , need a solid 18 knots + to keep it going , also do not own a uphaul
At 94 kgs (me) the iSonic 86 with 5.6 or 6.2 Reflex. Planes early in the lighter stuff, over 40 knots in the rough and over 42 in the flat ...
At 86Kg my favourite board is a Carbon Art SL58 at 95L and I mainly use a 6.8 with it mostly open ocean. It's a replacement for my last SL58 and I guess I'll replace it with another one next time again.
It would have to my beloved 2007 F2 SXExtra large. i sold it to Ratz but it was unreal. sails from 7.2 to 9.0 and it just motored. for a 80cm wide board it was quick too . i got it to many 35knt peaks and still holds my hrs and alpha pb's. it has been replaced with a xfire 122 but reckon old pong was better
Isn't the question of favourite size somewhat moot - a 80kg guy in WA will use different size to a 100kg guy in Vic which is different to a 50kg gal in QLD..... etc
Thanks all. Very interesting.
Sorry Dan / Craig - I'll dial it back on the purchases and new gear discussion
Mark, its just general question, most guys here have put their weights in, so I have an idea now of what works for people, which is helpful.
Hey Kurt,
Probably not too helpful as I have only just got my slalom gear (so your not totally to fault for the lack of wind) and have only VERY briefly used it once in a dying 15 knot breeze. Anyway, 82kg rider - Isonic107 carbon & 7m twin cambered freerace sail. Plan is to be using it in our typical seabreeze season, 14-18 knots. Will be matching it with a 7.8m 3xcam sail, eventually and probably a 42cm Venom fin.
20+ knots I'd rather be on my fsw gear, esp. in the bay.
Just like Vando and when not in two pieces my iS97 (2012), Loft Blade 7.0 and CL-KA 37 Slalom fin. The board has incredible range and I use 7.8 down to 6.3 comfortably.
PS - I'm 93kg
woops my typo
The fin is a 46cm Decrepit Custom weedy. It started life as a 46cm Maui fin tha twas useless and way to flexible. Decrepit laminated a layer of carbon on each side and refoiled it, as it had flat sides. It's now a great weedy. It's pretty quick too as i have done 33knts on it times with max Pb of 35knts
Kurt, For your size/ weight using in PPB seabreezes I would think 100ltrish 65ish wide will get the most use.
For me at 90kgs my time on the water would be pretty well shared between my RRD FSW 96 ( 60 wide) and my Slalom 112 (70 wide, my design)
Depends what you are after. As we all know the bay gets pretty rough so in the winds you are going to be using a 90-95 slalom board in most of us are on FSW/ Wave gear as it,s not heaps of fun on Slalom gear north end of the bay in 25knots.
If it,s a board mainly for Sandy Point and not the Bay then you can go smaller.
Probably confused you more!!!
A 100 litre slalom board 6.5 sail and 34cm fin are the default flat water sizes for 95% of sailors 95% of the time. I would think .
DanP said....... "KURT STOP IT!!!
Since you started all these slalom, racing and other threads here & in Vic page as well as starting to upgrade your equipment, we've had no wind at all!!!".
No wind means that you can go around looking at prospective new windsurf vans