which wave board ?

[davide]

Originally Posted by Screamer

Thanks for your thoughts guys
Davide, I remember we discussed this before, and that PA74 wasn't small enough for you. There are a few factors I believe will make it a good board for me:
1. Riding my Kombat86 (59 wide, 39 tail) with a 4.0 in stupid conditions isn't very fun. I guess it will be a good step down.
2. For a lard arse ;-) it should be small enough.
3. Fresh water (a river) and gusty wind.

Fair winds

Edit: I've found an interesting discussion on the similar subject:
http://www.gaastra.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=395

Ops, I think I was replying mostly to Juju who is 68Kg. He is wandering about high-wind performance in chop and I would go for sure with something not so much smaller, but with a less wide outline.

For you I agree 20Kg of lard do add a lot of control!!! (and you'll need the floatation) still ... maybe something with same volume but thinner is worth considering (for example http://www.windance.com/default.asp?...tem~R-Chango75 $499).

[Screamer]

I see you like Changos a lot ;-) I'm sure they're great, and killer graphics!
I've already ordered an Acid a while ago, expecting a delivery.

[davide]

Originally Posted by Screamer

I see you like Changos a lot ;-) I'm sure they're great, and killer graphics!
I've already ordered an Acid a while ago, expecting a delivery.

sounded a little insistent, didn't I? I am sure you'll love the A74

[Jean-Marc]

Screamer,

PA74 2008 has been voted best board tested by the french Wind magazine in winds from 20 up to 60 knots and sail size 3.7 up to 5.3 m2.

Check this out as well : http://www.star-board.com/2008/pages...p?readmore=293

Go for it for what you want to do with that fast & radical beast...

Cheers!

JM

[davide]

Originally Posted by Jean-Marc

Screamer,

PA74 2008 has been voted best board tested by the french Wind magazine in winds from 20 up to 60 knots and sail size 3.7 up to 5.3 m2.

Check this out as well : http://www.star-board.com/2008/pages...p?readmore=293

Go for it for what you want to do with that fast & radical beast...

Cheers!

JM

hum ... just to chat: few (with the exception of a few desperados in the Gorge) go out in 60 knots (dears: that is Force 11 Beufort, more then 110 Km/h). And you'd die if you go out with a 3.7 and 54-55 wide 70-80 liters board!!!!! 20-60 is just plain silly: go above just 30-35 and you'd love something ... smaller! They must be smoking something good in France (Moroccan hash used to be good).

[bigfish]

Originally Posted by davide

hum ... just to chat: few (with the exception of a few desperados in the Gorge) go out in 60 knots (dears: that is Force 11 Beufort, more then 110 Km/h). And you'd die if you go out with a 3.7 and 54-55 wide 70-80 liters board!!!!! 20-60 is just plain silly: go above just 30-35 and you'd love something ... smaller! They must be smoking something good in France (Moroccan hash used to be good).

Recently here in Scotland we have been getting one or more 50Kt+ days each week.

I'm heavier (95kg) than most of you. I have the acid 74 (and 86) and the 74 is nice and quick with a 4.5 and 5.0 in 27 - 35kts but its almost too quick once the wind goes 40kts+ I get a better ride from a Proof 81 even in the 60kts we had last friday. Size isn't everything the proof has loads more rocker and V in the tail so while being a bit more dull for every day riding it comes into its own once the wind goes mental.

[utthita]

At 78 kg, have had some comfort with the '06 Evo '74 in high wind, even overpowered with a flat 4.2 sail in Cape Town, on fast waves rarely over 3 meters. At some point my '06 Evo '83 gets too big and I switch over. Having two boards is a WONDERFUL way to sail more while rigging less!

Can you describe how one compensates for the following, all sideoff, left or right:

Turning the Acid sharply in small waves--e.g., banking the board more and more quickly?

Turning the Evo down the line in big fast waves with lots of wind.

Handling in outrageously high wind on a big fast wave--on my weak side, I force myself to initiate early pointed somewhat upwind and begin the carve facing a bit away from the wave. As the rig, board (and me) bank over, the sail power moderates and I can stay sheeted in (even when jibing gets near impossible on the outside) and the board rocker brings me around. For some reason, once in motion, sail control gets reasonable. Once one learns to trust that board speed in the turn will keep you from being pulled over and down, it is heaven. Otherwise the board takes off down the wave so fast, that it almost leaves the water, and the wave, behind.

Finally, why is it so difficult for shapers to make a light wind wave board for sideoff that brings me around more quickly? Right now, the solution is to use only a small board, or, give up radical turning.

(No need to do all of this, as it may be a bit much to address, sorry)

[Ola_H]

Originally Posted by utthita

Can you describe how one compensates for the following, all sideoff, left or right:

Turning the Acid sharply in small waves--e.g., banking the board more and more quickly?

Acids are fast rockered but have comparatively curvy outlines so you have two options. Of its slow riding speeds, you can let the board pivot on the outline. The trick is then to have kind of a high level of finesse to not stall the board. Work in from forward to the rear when carving. Think surfing. Let the front leg kind of pivot the board up the wave to go vertical. this works best with not to much sail power on.

The second option if for more powered up conditions, ie when you go faster. Then the trick (for me at least) is to enter with a lot of front rail and pretty much power the board through the turn while gradually moving for more back foot pressure.

Hmm, when I write this down I se that the key thing on both cases are similar. You need to enter with some front rail commitment and then work with the rig handling and front foot to kind of pivot the board up the wave. Moving the rear hand backwards on the boom will help.

Originally Posted by utthita

Turning the Evo down the line in big fast waves with lots of wind.

Handling in outrageously high wind on a big fast wave--on my weak side, I force myself to initiate early pointed somewhat upwind and begin the carve facing a bit away from the wave. As the rig, board (and me) bank over, the sail power moderates and I can stay sheeted in (even when jibing gets near impossible on the outside) and the board rocker brings me around. For some reason, once in motion, sail control gets reasonable. Once one learns to trust that board speed in the turn will keep you from being pulled over and down, it is heaven. Otherwise the board takes off down the wave so fast, that it almost leaves the water, and the wave, behind.

A good description of sound EVO high wind sailing technique

Originally Posted by utthita

Finally, why is it so difficult for shapers to make a light wind wave board for sideoff that brings me around more quickly? Right now, the solution is to use only a small board, or, give up radical turning.

Do you mean "bring around" like in going vertical up the face? If so I think the EVOs, particularly the 80 does a great job (its a bit looser than the 83 you have). If it is not SUPER light and very big I prefer the EVO 70 (I'm 70 kilos). Ideally, you could maybe imagne an 80 with a slightly narrower tail and E70 rocker, but from my experience, when you widen a board and keep a curvy rocker, it can get a bit sticky so in the end the compromise that we have on the 80 is probably a good thing. The bottom on the 07 and 08
have a v flow that makes it looser in the tail and it also have very thin rails to give it some extra bite.

[utthita]

Thank you for this insight. Carve AND pivot.

[davide]

Originally Posted by bigfish

Size isn't everything the proof has loads more rocker and V in the tail so while being a bit more dull for every day riding it comes into its own once the wind goes mental.

Well, of course it goes without saying. At my weight the absolutely best high-wind board I owned was a tiny Blair Wave that was both tiny AND with a lot of rocker. The little beast could handle almost anything with no problems (the limit was I, not the board!). All I am saying is actually rather obvious: to claim that the Acid 74. that is BOTH large AND with volume AND with a relatively fast rocker, is an allaround board for a lightweight in B&J 30+ Knots conditions is just ... I don't know ... a bit of advertising?

and again ... there is a big difference between 50 and 60Knots of wind, for a lightweight to go out in 50 is a major, major ordeal. I am not so sure but I would like to count how many light weights (or otherwise) on the planet can go out in real open ocean 60 Knots and come back!