Hey everyone: Interested in getting back into the sport after long hiatus but need a board that has enough float that I can uphaul if necessary. I'm 98kg. I was checking out the Goya Volar 145 and JP Magic Ride 149. The boards seem similar but I don't know and don't know anyone that does. If you have a preference or another suggestion, it would be greatly appreciated. I don't intend on doing anything crazy - just want to sail, have fun and develop. Thank you.
Magic Rides are a fun platform that are based on Fanatics Gecko range from a few years ago.....Starboard followed suit with the AtomIQ and a bunch of other board builders with their products coming out of the Cobra factory in Thailand.....choose the colour you like best or base your choice on the best resale if you wish to upgrade later. No doubt JP is the up there contender for that.
Select to expand quotegreenleader said..
Magic Rides are a fun platform that are based on Fanatics Gecko range from a few years ago.....Starboard followed suit with the AtomIQ and a bunch of other board builders with their products coming out of the Cobra factory in Thailand.....choose the colour you like best or base your choice on the best resale if you wish to upgrade later. No doubt JP is the up there contender for that.
The very first brand in making a "freemove" board (that is, a widish and slim freeride), was RRD, with the Firemove. Thanks to the success with intermediate riders, all the other producers followed suite, with Magic Ride, Atomic, Gecko, Rocket Plus, Volar, etc.
@ Boobah: the boards you mentioned are equally good, but the Volar is only full carbon, hence very delicate. I'd suggest you a Gecko in HRS construction or a Magic Ride in ES build, which can take a few hits without damage.
I had a Magic Ride 111 and it was a dream to gybe. I went from 2 out of 10 to 8 out of 10 gybes on that board in no time. I havent tried the Goya but the Magic Ride is a great board.
Thanks everyone. Appreciate the input. Funny - I'm not quite 98kg - missed up on the lbs to kg conversion. I am 200 lbs. Can I uphaul on a 140 liter board in choppy water? This is another issue for me - water starts weren't great when I was in good shape so need some volume but not sure how much.
Agree, no board jibes as well as a Magic Ride.
140 liters is floaty enough for a 115 kg rider to uphaul.
Wide makes more stable than narrower but thicker.
Those boards were called "New School Freeride" boards. A bit wider and with some differences in rail and rocker.
I have the AtomIQ 120 liter. At 200 lb I can uphaul it.
I started on a classic freeride - Tabou Rocket 125. My next board was a Tabou Rocket Wide 108 and it was a game changer for me. Go for width.
Had a 2011 Magic Ride 142 L in full wood sandwich (FWS) great board and a reasonably stable platform for me (6'0", 85 kg) after coming from a Bic Nova 180 L. Used MR in up to 22 knots, never tried higher, just slipped up onto plane and fairly light at 18lbs. Was easy to dig through the wood veneer with my harness hook, just used epoxy to seal dings. Sold this year after I got into foiling, got $650 US for board (with multiple repaired dings and dents only on topside) with bag and extra fin. I needed a 54 cm True Ames Sweeper fin to get up early/easily, board came with a 46 or 48 cm fin.
I am 220 lbs and could uphaul comfortably on Magic ride 130 lt. I am an intermediate windsurfer. I also have the 118 lt Magic ride for strong days. I love both of these board but now I am mostly foiling and getting into wing foiling.
I am 220 lbs and could uphaul comfortably on Magic ride 130 lt. I am an intermediate windsurfer. I also have the 118 lt Magic ride for strong days. I love both of these boards but now I am mostly foiling and getting into wing foiling.
Select to expand quoteBoobah said..
Thanks everyone. Appreciate the input. Funny - I'm not quite 98kg - missed up on the lbs to kg conversion. I am 200 lbs. Can I uphaul on a 140 liter board in choppy water? This is another issue for me - water starts weren't great when I was in good shape so need some volume but not sure how much.
200 lbs = 90 kg add 15 kg for wetsuit and rig and theoratical you should stay afloat on a 105 liter board.
I would suggest looking at a board in the 120 to 130 liter range. Those should be between 74 and 78 cm wide. This will give you a stable enough platform to uphaul. Plus they are easier to handle in choppier condities and when the wind picks up. The learning curve might be a bit steeper, but in the long run you'll get more board out of it. The wind and sailrange compared to a 140+ board isn't much different. A 75 wide can easily handle a 8.5 and has the benefit that it also holds a 6.0.
The 140+ boards are generally over 82 cm wide. That's a lot of board! The lowwind range is where these boards are most comfortable. You can sail these with 9.5 sails. But since you're getting back into the sport I would stay clear of anything over 8.5. The downside of such a big board is that they really don't like the smaller sails and stronger winds. Unless you're a real heavy weight and skilled sailor you might get a 140+ board to work with sails smaller than 7.0 but otherwise the sweetspot of these big wide boards is 8.0+
Tested both in two volumes but not those big ones.Volar was super easy and super early planing (without pumping), really efficient and fast in straight line, running quite low on the water. IMO ideal for flat water blasting and lakes for its ability to get the planning at the first gust and point immediately. Not super fun to turn, can be more tricky in rough sea.Magic ride super easy too, maybe even more stable at rest. Needs to get back and pump a bit to start super early and after it flyes on the fin, high fast and playfull. Ideal in open seas for its chop handling, not the best for pointing high but the curves and gibes are super rewarding and easy.Two very good boards
