|
|
Just wondering why the rs:x for the Olympics? To the untrained eye ( like mine is ) they look like a big beginers board.Lastly what is everyone's favorite type of windsurfing racing?
|
|
|
Olympic racing is one design and generally in crap winds.
The kiters will soon be inflicted with "one design" racing and go WTF??
|
|
|
kpb said...
Just wondering why the rs:x for the Olympics? To the untrained eye ( like mine is ) they look like a big beginers board.Lastly what is everyone's favorite type of windsurfing racing?
"the beginners board' is extremely difficult to ride or turn 
sail even worst..
unless they will invent artificial wind or do Olympics in right place and time that is possibly the only set-up anyway
|
|
|
Plenty of negative comments about the RSX I wouldnt mind betting a lot of them come from people that have never ridden one. Sold mine recently so I could make room for a formula. In the time I owned it I sailed it more than all my other boards put together.
Very easy to sail, but not so easy to sail fast when compared to other sailors on the same gear. Easy to tack, easy to gybe, quick to plane, usable in winds from 3 to 30 knots with the one sail 9.5. Is true to say its not as good as a raceboard in light winds and not as good as a formula in high winds but it was built to do all, a hybrid will never be as good as a board made for specific conditions.
The people sailing it were pretty happy with it and the class voted earlier this year to keep the equipment the same
Biggest criticism I would have would be the weight, especially after a full day racing it always felt heavier.
Olympic sailing has always been one design so the the emphasis is on ability rather than gear. I think presently kiters have a box rule for 2016 so it will be interesting to see how that plays out. Biggest criticism of that is it can become a gear war or cheque book racing and obviously countries with the biggest cheque book have an unfair advantage.
|
|
|
Interesting that the box rule was declined for windsurfing when a new class was being decided a few years back, but when Branson's $$$ are thrown around suddenly kiting is in and the box rule applies  |
|
|
Its not over yet. Windsurfing may yet be back for 2016. Numerous submissions from various countries - including all Asian countries are being sent to ISAF by August 1 for review at the November meeting.
|
|
|
Not fully up to speed on the politics although there was a post about kiters getting into the olympics and windurfing being droped for 2016 
and a perceived perception from kiters only... windsurfing racing was lost and dead and 6 feet under with a total lack of intrest and participation
Intresting to note the KITE RACING TOPIC FOURM has all of 190 views and all of 22 topics ,one would conclude the concept of close competitive even compition around a course in light gusty conditions or in 30 knots could not and would not be any better or gain a grater intrest of kiters and participation than any windsurfing compertition on the worst one design kit out there in the worst possiable conditions,
Sorry but a fad is a fad Kite racers
Surely a freestyle and tricks olympic event would be the go
Like ive said 2 different sports stop even trying to compare ,compete,and justify kiting ahead of windsurfing on all levels slalom speed freestyle course racing and wave riding.
The only comparison is wind and water are required and windsurfing developed kiting as a secondary activity
I will never forgive ROBBY NAISH for that, infact i dont think he has forgiven himself.
|
|
|
cammd said...
Plenty of negative comments about the RSX I wouldnt mind betting a lot of them come from people that have never ridden one. Sold mine recently so I could make room for a formula. In the time I owned it I sailed it more than all my other boards put together.
Very easy to sail, but not so easy to sail fast when compared to other sailors on the same gear. Easy to tack, easy to gybe, quick to plane, usable in winds from 3 to 30 knots with the one sail 9.5. Is true to say its not as good as a raceboard in light winds and not as good as a formula in high winds but it was built to do all, a hybrid will never be as good as a board made for specific conditions.
The people sailing it were pretty happy with it and the class voted earlier this year to keep the equipment the same
Biggest criticism I would have would be the weight, especially after a full day racing it always felt heavier.
Olympic sailing has always been one design so the the emphasis is on ability rather than gear. I think presently kiters have a box rule for 2016 so it will be interesting to see how that plays out. Biggest criticism of that is it can become a gear war or cheque book racing and obviously countries with the biggest cheque book have an unfair advantage.
I had a go at a demo day & hated it.. heavy & glued to the water..the setup probably wasn't tuned to suit me but 
|
|
|
^^ I can understand what you mean, first couple of goes I had of it I questioned whether I should have bought it, but after sailing it week in week out I got to know the board well and started to get more out of it.
Plenty of days blasting around on the plane whilst others were either dogging around or sitting on the beach.
I have a starboard 167w now and I am finding it harder to get planing in marginal conditions and dont feel as comfortable on it yet. I have only sailed it twice so I know its only because I need to get to know the board better, its not because its a crap board or because the RSX is better
|
|
|
kpb said...
.Lastly what is everyone's favorite type of windsurfing racing?
A couple of years ago I did an extensive survey of racing numbers, getting information from Germany, the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, France, etc.
In terms of boards raced at nationals or at regular series* hybrids were No 1 because of the popularity of the Techno 293 for kids. Longboard came in a close second, followed by FW.
The results of the survey were accepted by the head of the International Windsurfing Association.
* this doesn't count the "one off" annual events like Defi or Ledge, because we were trying to work out which were the most popular regularly raced boards. With no disrespect to Defi etc, using them to get a picture of what regular competitors do seems a bit like trying to use the City to Surf or Sydney to the Gong as an illustration of what the average regular running racer or bike racer is like.
|
|
|
Chris 249 said...
kpb said...
.Lastly what is everyone's favorite type of windsurfing racing?
A couple of years ago I did an extensive survey of racing numbers, getting information from Germany, the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, France, etc.
In terms of boards raced at nationals or at regular series* hybrids were No 1 because of the popularity of the Techno 293 for kids. Longboard came in a close second, followed by FW.
The results of the survey were accepted by the head of the International Windsurfing Association.
* this doesn't count the "one off" annual events like Defi or Ledge, because we were trying to work out which were the most popular regularly raced boards. With no disrespect to Defi etc, using them to get a picture of what regular competitors do seems a bit like trying to use the City to Surf or Sydney to the Gong as an illustration of what the average regular running racer or bike racer is like.
Chris, what were the margins? Were all three close or was there clear gaps?
Thanks, P
|
|
|
kpb said...
what is everyone's favorite type of windsurfing racing?
You kidding, right?
If you're asking active racers or avid spectators, then you're asking a very small portion of all windsurfers.
Not having a go, I think all forms of competing are great, there is not enough.
However that's that.
|
|
|
Kite racing is really cool because it's in such an experimental stage, so it's great just like when people first started racing windsurfers and lots of new idea's were tried. But how can it ever work at an olympics, you need to be able to start a race on time no matter what the wind, and in under 6 knots the things just wont fly. How do you uphaul those 9.5's in over 20 knots?
|
|
|
Easy uphaul! makes up hauling easy
|
|
|
um water start
|
|
|
we should incorporate kities in the same race......
hehehe and shotguns, hehehehehe
|
|
|
WA Surf said...
How do you uphaul those 9.5's in over 20 knots?
helluva lot easier than trying to right an upsidedown 49er
|
|
|
king of the point said...
I will never forgive ROBBY NAISH for that, infact i dont think he has forgiven himself.
I used to think that too. Then me said: bah, couple of big names sold out to make big bucks, can't blame them, right?
|
|
|
|
fjdoug said...
WA Surf said...
How do you uphaul those 9.5's in over 20 knots?
helluva lot easier than trying to right an upsidedown 49er
Just seen the German crew have to right their 49er...see what u meen
|
