goodbrewster said...
Windsurfing Magazine runs an article in their April '08 issue by a couple in California who own a rig rental service and claim to put in 300 days a year on the water. They claim that these older boards in this catagory are the best ones for high winds and chop. According to them, the newer designs aren't as good.
True and not so true.
Newer designs have a few things working against them-
1. Lighter weights bounce around alot more.
2. Width, a comparable volume board now days would be up around 65cm.
3. Shorter lengths can result in more abrupt rocker transitions which make the ride a bit jarry through the chop, most shapers have this sorted now or are going to slightly longer lengths again.
Working for them though is-
1. Softer rails, since the boards are wider they have better grip so the rails can be softened for comparable upwind.
2. Light weight and a good rocker skims over the top of the chop only hitting every 3rd lump instead of each one.
3. Better bottom shapes. The 90's was the dead flat bottom generation, freeride boards now have quite generous concaves etc resulting in softer ride.
4. Less length the the wind/chop to catch.
5. Most boards now have much wider stance than older boards.
6. More intelligent designing- dual density pads, easier stances etc.
7. More stable platform for turns.
There is no disputing that a narrow board is great through the chop, and some weight is good when the wind is there but the conditions have to be more consistent otherwise you would easy have a better time on newer designs.
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