Maddlad said..
Ive been testing a bunch of different slalom boards over the last 2 years trying to eliminate front foot issues, and i have found that the Patrik, Starboard Isonic and Simmer slalom boards all have a little bit more hull shape underneath which make them ride a little bit softer than some others. I have been testing slalom boards around the 106-116 litre range though. I also have a Rocket 105 from 2016 which is full carbon but is so user friendly i can run anything from a 7m slalom sail down to 5m wave sail on when conditions get nuclear and its still well behaved. Hope that helps.

Yeah the Rockets are a well behaved board as had a 95 carbon for many years, just want something more lively around the same size with better top end without sacrificing too much comfort in chop

GazMan said..
Shopping for a slalom board in the 90-100 litre range and want some rider feedback on the smoothest and most comfortable riding board over choppy water (to protect my old knees!) that is still reasonably quick on flat water

im also interested in getting my first slalom board to go faster on flat(ish) water. i just cant work out the wind ranges.


For example, im kind of confused by your request above.
slalom racers use a 90-100 Litre as their smallest board in 30+ knots. usually with a 6.2 or smaller. youre talking about using the same in 15 knots.

- what size and style of sail do you plan to use with a board like this? lets say for reference you manage to find a Patrik slalom 95 (62 wide) in your price range.

how much wind do you need to get a board like this planing with your sails? how easy is it to sail a small slalom board underpowered with a no cam sail?

- at what point is it better to just go for a bigger sail and board (since sailing in less wind on flatish water = a lot less chop) rather than trying to find a small board that handles chop well

GazMan said..

Peter Hands said..
+100 for Windtechs, Silver Bullets are pure joy to sail, 57 for you?

Definitely considering the 57. Appears like an old school long and narrow type board being 253cm long, though bit lower volume/width then I really wanted (would prefer around 60 wide and 95-100L).

Do you have the 57?

I have all the Silver Bullets, 57 is SO SO sweet and sails bigger than its 90 litres eg will take a 7.8 - sadly at 95+kg I need decent breeze to get it flying properly
Just my 2 cents - I much prefer the 57 to my classic iSonic 87, definitely less power hungry - Fox is great but I didn't like heavy V feel of double flat section, or powerbox - still enjoy my classic iSonic 107 wood but Windtechs are way more versatile/less brutal on my 60 yo bones
Check the Windtech reviews, Perth crew get them out in some wild conditions, the extra length and rail shapes give you 100% confidence

duzzi said..
I do realize that simply looking at width has its own problems, you are buying used, and boards got progressively (and thankfully) shorter and wider. But things have sort of settled down in the last six-twelve years. My inherited, venerable 2008 Exocet Warp slalom is 62x235, the 2021 model is 62x230. The AV slalom I am looking at is 60x228. I bet that any slalom/freerace 60-62x230-235, 40 cm OFO tail or so, built in the last 10 years will work great for you.

I noticed a couple of years ago the fastest 1 hour speed at Guissian or La Franqui, French top speed spot in the Mediterranean, was on a Exocet Warp 62. The French forums users still rate them.

Ian K said..

Sandman1221 said..
Try foiling, no knee issues then regardless of the chop or waves.

Get your knees to have a look at this video and ask them if you should give it a try. Foiling first half vs slapping second half.

Yeah I've watched plenty of Andy Laufer's awesome incredibly thrilling vids including the insane rabbit start + defi wind. Tbh I much prefer to watch the slapping and even though the foiling looks cool imo it's not as thrilling to watch as the traditional!!!

Unfortunately foiling just won't work for me as I often sail on a shallow harbour (Albany WA) around 60-70 per cent of the time (a lot of this on the local speed strip) with the remainder out in the ocean.

PS the knees said that mountain biking hurts more than slapping!

mark62 said..
If your after a used board, take a look at either the SB iSonic 90 wood or RRD 90 wood. Both RRD and SB dropped the wood construction option in 2016, shame because the wood construction is way softer than their carbon brothers on chop for all day sessions.

Thanks Mark as does appear that board construction is one of the key considerations in getting a smooth riding 90-100L slalom/freerace board

MHSA said..

GazMan said..
Shopping for a slalom board in the 90-100 litre range and want some rider feedback on the smoothest and most comfortable riding board over choppy water (to protect my old knees!) that is still reasonably quick on flat water

im also interested in getting my first slalom board to go faster on flat(ish) water. i just cant work out the wind ranges.


For example, im kind of confused by your request above.
slalom racers use a 90-100 Litre as their smallest board in 30+ knots. usually with a 6.2 or smaller. youre talking about using the same in 15 knots.

- what size and style of sail do you plan to use with a board like this? lets say for reference you manage to find a Patrik slalom 95 (62 wide) in your price range.

how much wind do you need to get a board like this planing with your sails? how easy is it to sail a small slalom board underpowered with a no cam sail?

- at what point is it better to just go for a bigger sail and board (since sailing in less wind on flatish water = a lot less chop) rather than trying to find a small board that handles chop well

Will try to answer your questions when I've got time soon

Tardy said..
Hi Gaz .agree with MAddlad as the rocket being a good contented ,I have a 2017 LTD 105 rocket and it sure is incredibly smooth in chop ,and is quite a good slalom board with race sails ,how ever I have a 100 litre exocet RS3 that keeps blowing my mind how well it goes in chop ,mine is a older 2015 model ,with no cutouts ,and yes it is faster than the rocket and really gives you that blasting feeling ...very smooth gyber too ..I paid 1400 3-4 years ago ,new, as it was old stock ,and have not looked back ,it is carbon ,and very very light ...i have not found its top speed yet ..i might have to bring it to WA .and get some real wind .
I do have a 92 v2 Patrik slalom board which is very fast ,but is ouchie on the ankles if the chop gets up, where both the rocket ,which lives in west oz ,and the exocet both keep going hard in the chop and keep excellerating with out having to adjust your stance ..good luck in your search ..i hope you find one to suit ..there are some good ones out there ..

I've got a 2013 RS2 and it is a lovely board - gybes like a dream( for me in flatwater ) and plug n play use.
I do find the Windtech a lot more comfy in chop than the Exocet RS line . Especially in messy moguls..
I generally love the Exocets in flatwater ( max 15cm chop) but I was getting shin splints on the RS2 ( 90ltres) in 15cm+ chop at Lake George and switched to the WT57 for greater comfort.

GazMan said..

sboardcrazy said..

Tardy said..
Hi Gaz .agree with MAddlad as the rocket being a good contented ,I have a 2017 LTD 105 rocket and it sure is incredibly smooth in chop ,and is quite a good slalom board with race sails ,how ever I have a 100 litre exocet RS3 that keeps blowing my mind how well it goes in chop ,mine is a older 2015 model ,with no cutouts ,and yes it is faster than the rocket and really gives you that blasting feeling ...very smooth gyber too ..I paid 1400 3-4 years ago ,new, as it was old stock ,and have not looked back ,it is carbon ,and very very light ...i have not found its top speed yet ..i might have to bring it to WA .and get some real wind .
I do have a 92 v2 Patrik slalom board which is very fast ,but is ouchie on the ankles if the chop gets up, where both the rocket ,which lives in west oz ,and the exocet both keep going hard in the chop and keep excellerating with out having to adjust your stance ..good luck in your search ..i hope you find one to suit ..there are some good ones out there ..

I've got a 2013 RS2 and it is a lovely board - gybes like a dream( for me in flatwater ) and plug n play use.
I do find the Windtech a lot more comfy in chop than the Exocet RS line . Especially in messy moguls..
I generally love the Exocets in flatwater ( max 15cm chop) but I was getting shin splints on the RS2 ( 90ltres) in 15cm+ chop at Lake George and switched to the WT57 for greater comfort.

Hey Sue,

do you have the Magic Bullet or Silver Bullet?

Both. An 85ltre Magic Bullit for B & J .
Silver Bullits for go fast fun and comfort in the chop- 112ltre WT64 as my big board ( they've sold out of these) and the WT57 ( 90ltre) Silver Bullit. Ideal is 15 -20kts for me but I use it in 10-24kts patchy winter wind and messy chop. I used to avoid sailing my slalom boards in any messy moguls / chop over 30cms as with my sailing it was just too big a handful and I got bashed to bits . My slalomboards were Excocets and they are very comfy slalomboards.
The Silver Bullits are fast and lively . I was never game enough to get a slalom board up on the fin but I've found with these that the boards do it for me..I've probably improved a lot and could try the slalom boards again but it's just so nice to go for it on the WTs and not worry about the board spearing into a wave or misbehaving.. With my lightweight and small size initiating gybing requires me to get really far forward with the front foot which can be a stretch. You can gybe forgivingly without doing that ( they just bounce around) but if you want to engage the rail it's best to have the front foot just behind the frontstrap. Bigger guys don't have that issue as they are taller so it isn't as much of a reach for them.
Once I've run out of adjustments ( tailflex- smaller fin- mastfoot etc ) on the Silver Bullits I go to the waveboard. Generally for me the chop has built up and I then want something slower.
For me on a lake at 64kgs that's about 25kts mark and 90-120cm chop / windswells.
I'm addicted to trying bearaways on the Silver bullits..
Re speed ( these are in flatter speed sailing conditions) I've heard the WA hotshots have had the WT57 to 43kts.
Ps- With both Silver Bullits if the water is flatter I have not much tailflex for early planing and max speed. As the chop increases I increase tailflex for greater comfort.It gives a softer spongier ride - you're not ricocheting off chop. Max flex for comfort and safety when it's getting really choppy.

Must be true. I think my carbon rocket is smooth but the Severne must be awesome. I thought the old school PE boards were smooth but they were too heavy.

Hi Gazman I don't know if you have already made your choices but if you are still undecided I also bring you my experience. I have used the Exocet RS2 my14 for some years and in the last year since it was used and abused a lot by now I replaced it with a Patrik slalom 92 II. In a year of surfing with all the conditions and the same sails and fins as the RS2, the Patrik was unable to break the Exocet records, especially in jibing, perhaps because he is slower? absolutely not in fact it will certainly be more performing but it is also more technical so in the end with a more user friendly board it is easier to go fast expecially in rough water. In your question there is already the answer the comfortable slalom boards are called freerace. If you look here Patrik explains the concept exactly
The F-race 100 is sure a perfect choice, don't know Windtech but reading what write other guys seems really good. As alternative keep a look at Atomic surf Masterblaster 59 designed by Martin Love and made by Carbon Art could be a realy good board

forsyth said..
Must be true. I think my carbon rocket is smooth but the Severne must be awesome. I thought the old school PE boards were smooth but they were too heavy.

To be honest my old 2006 JP FSW 85 is smoother and faster in choppy water than my now deceased Rocket 95 carbon LTD

Good call Gazman ,yes you can certainly end up with a few wall hangers ,
as I've got older ,i expect a lot more from my boards and tend to go for or ride the faster board
eg,Frace or slalom ,mainly because I'm alway trying to bust my PB speed ,I am in a pickle here as I only have shorter runs ,
unlike your (beautiful) WA Long beaches ,which i come over ever year for ,
So What it boils down to with full Slalom boards vs free ride or freerace .is FULL slalom board will always get to top speed
quicker ,have fantastic top speed and as said in all the promo vids ,no compromise in performance ,maybe some will ride harder than a FRACE ,But the trade off is so worth it ,for that extra speed and pointing ability ,slalom boards have really turned a corner in comfort in the last 4-7 years ,Tabou and starboard ,and a few others and still improving ,they have really been focusing on control and user friendly ,
earlier slalom boards were a bitch to ride ..had a few yeah ...but the new ones are cool .I never brought slalom board in the early days or if i did sold them ,but really if you have sailed for a while ,and I'm guessing you have ,a full slalom race board will be no prob .
I am looking at another
I have mostly slalom boards now ,I jump on some of my free ride boards now ,and think ok its going to kick in soon ..lol.
kinda boring ,but modern slalom boards are exciting to ride and really gives me a buzz to ride ....so much performance ,lively ,gybe wow and top speed ,it really is a great feeling ,I still keep the freeride handy in case it gets too nasty ,but push your limits ..but i reckon Gazman ,you will love a full Slalom board .I would buy the latest model you can afford ...but a manta ,isonic ,or falcon ,you can't go wrong ...they are always improving them because they want to win ,
over and out
tardy .

RobITA said..

Tardy said..
Good call Gazman ,yes you can certainly end up with a few wall hangers ,
as I've got older ,i expect a lot more from my boards and tend to go for or ride the faster board
eg,Frace or slalom ,mainly because I'm alway trying to bust my PB speed ,I am in a pickle here as I only have shorter runs ,
unlike your (beautiful) WA Long beaches ,which i come over ever year for ,
So What it boils down to with full Slalom boards vs free ride or freerace .is FULL slalom board will always get to top speed
quicker ,have fantastic top speed and as said in all the promo vids ,no compromise in performance ,maybe some will ride harder than a FRACE ,But the trade off is so worth it ,for that extra speed and pointing ability ,slalom boards have really turned a corner in comfort in the last 4-7 years ,Tabou and starboard ,and a few others and still improving ,they have really been focusing on control and user friendly ,
earlier slalom boards were a bitch to ride ..had a few yeah ...but the new ones are cool .I never brought slalom board in the early days or if i did sold them ,but really if you have sailed for a while ,and I'm guessing you have ,a full slalom race board will be no prob .
I am looking at another
I have mostly slalom boards now ,I jump on some of my free ride boards now ,and think ok its going to kick in soon ..lol.
kinda boring ,but modern slalom boards are exciting to ride and really gives me a buzz to ride ....so much performance ,lively ,gybe wow and top speed ,it really is a great feeling ,I still keep the freeride handy in case it gets too nasty ,but push your limits ..but i reckon Gazman ,you will love a full Slalom board .I would buy the latest model you can afford ...but a manta ,isonic ,or falcon ,you can't go wrong ...they are always improving them because they want to win ,
over and out
tardy .

I agree with you about that the new slalom board are more user friendly then in the past but don't confuse freeride with freerace, a freeride is slow and easy to use but a freerace equipped with a cambered sail and a top quality carbon fin it's almost as fast as a pure slalom and the difference are smaller the more choppy is the sea unless you are a top rider

Gday GazMan, I gather people call the rocket a free ride so my thoughts since I've had both boards, the Manta is a sweet board and to get the most out of it you have to fin it right. But I also highly rate the Rocket finned right, yes it has a subdued feel compared to the manta and in short runs I.e slalom or short burst doesn't match the manta but wind the rocket up across chop keep the foot to the pedal and the rocket will surprise you. My best GPSTC speed is still with the rocket (41.08knts) but the manta has more constancy hitting 40's if that makes sense. The manta I normally sail is the 88, but for speed runs and ocean sailing the 74 manta 2012 is board of choice, which surprisingly has deep double concaves like the rocket and apart from the width very similar. With any of these boards if you have the right conditions heaps of wind flat water and prepared to send it you'll be quick. Comfort wise rocket hands down, 98 manta is great when she's finned with a pointer and your on the limits for the 98, the 2012 manta 74 is different as this shape is not made by tabou anymore and is my favourite whether flat water or ocean sailing and has the same controllable feel as the rocket.

I designed my Masterblaster board to be smooth on old knees. It certainly felt very smooth this day.