purchase tip - Flare vs Kombat
 

hi guys

I am making the transition to B&J after a few years of freeriding. Given I am planning to keep my 2003-old Fanatic 135L board, my aim is to buy a 100-110L board that allows me some funny B&L and lets me try some wave riding, with medium winds (mainly in Italy where I live), especially inshore. And, of course, keeping freeriding with stronger winds. I am not into freestyle tricks.

I am about to buy a 105L Kombat, looks great and I was told it's a very good board. The only think is, I read some reports claiming the Flare would give me more instant power and early planing capabilities, especially in lulls and lighter wind conditions.

Should I go for a Flare even though I am not into freestyle? Wouldn't it be too bumpy on chop and waves and unfit for freeriding with just one back strap??


thanks a lot for your help, guess this might interest many like me who are scaling down in size from a big board and geting into B&J from some freeride experience. could find much on this in previous threads
cheers
domenico

Hi,

The kombat would be a very good choice for you as it also have two footstraps in the back.

I believe that you are pretty much looking for more a freeride board rather then a freestyle board. The kombat is for sure a great board and you will enjoy it.

I would choose the Kombat.

Taty frans NB-9

thanks somuch for your ultra-quick reply,Taty -- will follow your tip
bests
domenico

Hi dominic

I have a Kombat 105 and it feels great.

My case was exactly the same as yours. A freerider making the transition to B&J. The kombat is a good choice. The difference I felt was that it is much alike a freeride board, with much easier - and higher - jumping abilities.

The only weakness of this board is the fin box. The US base was a bad choice from the designers, because you just can´t find suitable fin sizes for sails up to 6.5.

Bons Ventos
José

hi José

I bought the combat eventually, sailed it a lot over the past month and I can suscribe to your view it's a great board. I love its early planing, manoeurvability and ease at jumping, if feels great in choppy seas but if the wind drops I can even uphaul if ever needed despite my 85 kilos.

Re fin, how about those true ames fins? I read a posting where you were sugested such a fin for larger freeride sails. So far the biggest sail I have rigged on a kombat was a 6.3 North DUke, how about larger sails?

for those light wind days I am thinking about buying a 7-square meter Severne or an Ezzy, are you managing to rig an 8-meter on your Kombat?

cheers
dominic

Hi Dominic

The 8 meter severne ncx on the kombat wasn´t a good match. I tried the combination using the original 30 Drake fin (I could not find any bigger US box fin here in Brazil). Maybe, just maybe, if a used a bigger one, it could have worked. The sail felt very unconfortable and unbalanced.

I´m still trying to get one of those True Ames (34).

The 7.5 and the 7.2 sails have worked better, indeed.

Bons Ventos
José