Just been checking out the board specs over the last five years, and the trend to get shorter and wider for any given volume just keeps on going. (Like a tin of Berger paint.)

Are we still getting real improvement, or is it just marketing? Will the pendulum swing back?

When you replace your old board, will you be buying one with the same volume (but shorter and wider), or will you get one of the same width (but shorter and less volume).

Where will it all end, and is it for the better ???

I actually much prefer riding the short wide boards rather than the long thin ones. They are much more forgiving, work in a much larger range of conditions and are far better for doing tricks on. They have sort of reached the limit imo, all the current wave/freestyle boards seem to be around the 230-240cm range. I don't think you'll see them get that much shorter. My shortest board is a 105 hypersonic which at 227cm was a shock when I first rode it but these days I don't give it another thought. There is no doubt the boards of today are far far superior to those of yesteryear :)

i totally agree with cjw. short wide boards are more than just marketing hype.

they plane quicker in lighter winds
are easier to pump onto the plane.
they stay in control in high winds.
they are easier to sail allround
they can take a wider range of rig sizes.

volume works the same it is the volume distribution which has changed for the better.

the fact that a pro formula sailor can sail a 100 wide board with a 11+m rig and 70cm fin in 25knots shows just how far we have come with designs.

if you live in an area where it blows a constant 25knots wind every day all day then buy a narrow board. unfortunately the majority of us live in gusty marginal sailing spots.

even with sails i think you can carry 0.5-1m more than was possible ten years ago.

hi vando,

what board did you upgrade to?

nice speeds for the speed weekend. [}:)]

i noticed you were almost as fast as your sandy point times.

jj

your phantasy sounds interesting. would be fun to try souch a ufo. but where should the fin be placed??

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Originally posted by Lou

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Originally posted by backloop

your phantasy sounds interesting. would be fun to try souch a ufo. but where should the fin be placed??

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Perhaps some kind of pedal that moves the fin around the board...

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I reckon there would only be two footstraps, and you'd have a switch under your toes that would spin the fin around each way. So you wouldn't even get out of the straps, just slowly spin the fin around the board, as you head down wind and then back the other way.

Starting to sound like those lazy kities.