Hi Guys,
I have recently bought an ancient HiFly 300 and had a great time with it last week after about 30 years away from the sport. Back in the day I used Windsurfer One Designs, Bombora South Pacific,Tri fin etc, and was reasonably competent but then life got in the way.
I can tack/gybe/plane a longboard OK but was never a waterstarter or wave guy.
I would really appreciate advice about a suitable second hand board that would let me improve and learn to waterstart etc as well as be floaty enough for up-hauling.
Modern gear looks fantastic and no doubt a few things have improved since the mid 80s
I am about 95 kg and 190 cm....
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks
Hi,
keep a look out for a second hand freeride board around 130 to 150 litres in volume. Models to look for are the Tabou Rockets, Fanatic Shark, JP Australia X-Cite Ride to name three. They are around 2.4 to 2.5m in length and around 70 to 80cm wide. There may be some variability with these figures. They are good boards to get back into it. All the major brands sell their take on this style of board. When I got back into it, I bought a Tabou Rocket 140 and I was amazed at how easy it was to get on the plane and how stable it was. These types of boards are much better to ride when on the plane and they are much easier to get on the plane. Later on you might want to get a smaller board, depending on how windy and how consistent the wind is where you sail. You can keep this bigger board as your lighter wind board.
In regards to rigs look for a free ride rig. All the major brands have them. They are basically flat water sails with six or seven battens and no cams. Look for a rig around 7.5m in size to start with unless its windy where you live. Get a mast that suits and decent boom.
I agree with Cs66 Free ride gear is the go to look for.
I also am back into the sport after along time, and can't believe the improvements. In my case I have a starboard FUTURA 144 I am 98kgs and after 6 months am now looking for a smaller board.
I was advised by a great bloke to try and keep all my rig components the same brand, for ease of compatibility and optimal rigging, and I took this advise and for me this works . Also use this site I can't believe how much you can learn here.
can't wait for my new board and also my broken rib to heal after a windsurfing crash.
Good luck
cs66, I was in exactly your position 10 years ago. Whatever you buy, give yourself one priority over everything else - that is to learn to water start. Commit yourself to it, and in about 3 sessions you should have it sorted out. Once you can do that, then you no longer worry about the wind being too strong or falling in. Can't believe I went so long without that skill all those years ago.
Thanks for your advice thus far guys.... Harrow, I know that you are right and can't wait to get into that. I was down at Blairgowrie (Port Phillip Bay) last week and wished I was better set up, that part of the bay had some great winds and perfect areas to learn that. V envious of the guys waterstarting around me 
Agree with Harrow, water start is the key, I mastered this this season, big winds know bring them on
I have a Starboard Futura 121ltr (which I think I'll sell). This could work for you. Enough litres to uphaul, planes well and goes fast.
I'd be thinking about something like that. I've used it as a big board, but then I weigh 75kgs.
Thanks Sputnik11, will go with something with a bit more volume to start with I think. The extra 20 kgs I carry are not going anywhere soon :-)
Fair enough, Don't go too big though. I reckon at 95kgs, 135ltrs is plenty big. I think once you get planing and gybing and water starting you'll want something smaller.
Mate I'm 51, just got back into it jp supersport 136ltr having a ball. I was at Blairgowrie all last week think I saw you out there. New gear is expensive but the advances are amazing over the old stuff we used to ride .ill be down there a bit over the next month. Since there's only 3 of us down there say g'day and I'll give you a shot at the new board
once length was the key measure
then it was volume
and now with freeformula and freemove, width seems to be the prime factor
volume will float you and width will plane you early
at 95 kilos you are a heavyweight like me
my first shortboard was 160 liters and 79 cm wide
i still use that board in 15 to 16 knots +
my buddy, another heavyweight went to a Hawk 135 liters 73 cm wide and will not go unless 16+ knots
so, my suggestion for a heavyweight going into shortboarding?
145+ liters and 80+ cm wide
started with a 7.x sail, but now use 8.x on the 160/79 board
if u go for MAX windrange - KONA or old longboard
then again - A LOT depends on your location and the prevailing winds, current, waves, etc !!!
Thanks again guys, 33frupus, thanks for the offer but afraid I was only there for the week that time, but what a great spot!
Hi cs66, I am in similar to you - trying to get back into it after 20 years. Need a modern board to re-learn gybes and water starts. Sputnik11, you mentioned you might be selling Starboard Futura 121. Maybe it might suit me, if you are still thinking of selling.
Select to expand quotenewoldie said..
Hi cs66, I am in similar to you - trying to get back into it after 20 years. Need a modern board to re-learn gybes and water starts. Sputnik11, you mentioned you might be selling Starboard Futura 121. Maybe it might suit me, if you are still thinking of selling.
The Futura is a freerace board - a detuned slalom board. Sure they are good in the ocean but I think something more bump and Jump might be what you are after. In the starboard range the Kode would be the one. You will also find the size of the 121 too much in 20-25 knots. Look for something 90-95L.
He's not that advanced for a small board/sinker. Agree re freeride / freemove/freestyle wave type option..Windxtasy I think you have him confused with the 'new oldie' post..
Select to expand quoteWindxtasy said..
The advice was for newoldie, having read his thread.
Thought so.. Easy to get them confused when your answering a few..
Thanks for all your responses, I now have an almost new Starboard Go 151 and can't wait to have a crack at it!
