Hi guys

I was just wandering around the Starboard site on a rainy morning and saw an article by Tiesda where he mentions that one of his favorite boards to test is the new Super Slim. Anyone know what this is?

I read in one report Tiesda referred to the new Futura as being "super slim" in comparison to the Carve. Maybe that's what he meant!

speed?

My understanding was, Tiesda was thinking there was too much volume in windsurfing boards, and that the characteristics and performance could be improved by building a super-slim board, same plan shape, rails, hull, rocker etc, but super-slim volume?

i'm pretty sure it refers to the thickness. as hardy pointed out somehting would need to give and i suspect it's the volume as well or maybe the volume distribution has once again been revised.

i had a look at some of the *board formula boards at the oceanics and they are amazingly thin at the nose and rails. still a fair bit of meat in the tail though.

here is what *board say about the futura which is a slim board.

Wind range: 15% slimmer shapes combined with wider widths and low-nose rockerlines boost the Futuras' wind range at both ends: they plane up earlier and effortlessly in lightwinds and offer more control and comfort in highwinds.

Pure speed: the Futuras were benchmarked to beat the S-Types in speed. With concepts brought over from the development of the iSonics, the Futuras are faster with a sweet spot that covers a wider wind range.

Comfort: wider and thinner inherently means a more stable shape, before planing and when moving into the footstraps. The bottom line: it's just easier and more comfortable to get going.

Ride, handling and control: with its lowered centre of gravity, the Futura rider experiences a razor-sharp riding sensation with impeccable control. It's like switching from a truck-driving experience to that of a sports car.

Maneuverability: the team tested side by side two identical Futura 122 prototypes with identical rail shapes, identical bottom shapes and with only the thickness and the width changing: the wider and thinner Futuras respond quicker, faster and with more ease.

Upwind: Increased width makes the Futuras plane upwind with ease, which means more time spent riding free than trying to get back upwind to where you started from.
Summary:

I've seen the 2009 Futura board prototypes, as tested by Kevin Pritchard, and as none of youse are in any position to buy me beers, my lips are sealed!!!!!



They are very THIN, though, so I guess that means the volume exists in the width and not in the thickness, which makes more sense when you think about it....


Attention board manufacturers!!! You guys are so smart, so why can't you make a perfect board yet? How about aiming for one new board design every 5 years??
Why do they keep changing?? Wider/thicker/thinner/narrower etc..make us one board for life please??? Unbreakable, undingable, lightweight, with a drink holder???

I think Super slim was the name of the Futura prototypes