With so many board types and brands in the market place, I have found myself sticking to the one brand (JP) since starting only 2 years ago in this sport.
Last weekend the misses decided that she wanted a learners board so I immediately went for the JP Funster which I learnt on. However since the JP dealer we were at weren't able to serve as quick as we would have liked we decided to look a bit deeper and decided to look at other brands. We ended up coming home with the 151 Starboard Go, which now having discovered this board I actually like it even more than the JP Funster, as it is much lighter. And the misses is happy too!
I guess there are few things I am trying to understand.
One, what is the direct correlation between boards from different brands I.e JP x-cite ride and Starboard ???
Also what conditions these boards are designed to be used in.
And what conditions is a Slalom or Formula board used in? I get freestyle, and freestyle wave thats a self explanatory.
Alistair,
All brands have the same style of board whether it be entry, freeride, freerace, FSW, wave, and freestyle. They will all have similar characteristics, but as they have different designers, they may suit certain sailing styles differently. Obviously then there is the construction, the looks and the price. Think of it like cars - there are different brands, but they all make the same types of cars in the same markets. You choose the one that suits your needs the best or you buy a ford cause you are a ford person etc.......
In windsurfing, limiting yourself to one brand means you may actually never ride the board that suits your needs perfectly. I believe in trying as much gear as you can whether it be demo's, or rentals, or borrowing mates gear if you are able. I personally have found a shaper whose boards i find suit my needs perfectly. But ill keep trying other gear if able.
Formula and slalom boards are essentially designed for racing. They are fast and can be unforgiving if you are not used to them. Formula boards are designed to race upwind / downwind courses, while slalom boards are generally raced on reaching courses.
hope this helps
Here's how I picture it, with Beginner boards and race boards like the RSX omitted.
Wave FreestyleWave FreeStyle FreeRide FreeRace Slalom Formula Speed
They *kind of* get less manoeuvrable going to the right, and prefer flatter water. That's the simplest I can make it.
Wave, FreestyleWave and Freestyle are self explanatory.
FreeRides are like the X-citerides. Usually the first board you'll get after a beginner one (or just your first board).
Slaloms are made for broad reaching, or as the name implies, blasting downwind.
The above are the most common you'll see around here.
Formula is made for course racing, high upwind and downwind angles. Huge wind ranges. Harder to sail. *Big* sails.
Speed is self explanatory.
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Most of the brands have a board for each category, sometimes more. You'll learn to recognise them just by the outline. X-cite Ride = Starboard Carve for example.
Same as above for the sails. You can mix and match a bit, each type of board or sail overlap each other's parameters/usage/performance/style.
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The X-cite Rides/Carves/Eagles/yada yadas/FreeRides are made for anything from flat water to small surf. Probably the best board after a beginner board (but I find the FreeStyleWaves much easier to gybe).
