Anyone using a freestyle board for bog standard bump and jump and flat water? Wondering about the merits/demerits of these boards for the garden variety ordinary sailor?
A freestyle board is a great option in my opinion. They plane super early, centre back strap so good for chop hops etc. and very easy to gybe. I have found freestyle boards to be great for learning new stuff as they are forgiving and plane earlier than anything else.
The only downfall can be they get a bit slappy in choppy conditions.
Yep thats what I was thinking, the thicker tails must get you on the plane earlier. They seem to pack a whole lot of volume into a realy compact package.
Just picked up a second hand 2010 SB Flare and am keen to get out on it at the first opportunity. From what I have read and heard some are also quite good bump & jump and freeride boards, and still quite fast. I have some issues with my ankles on the flatter decked freeride boards and this was another reason for going with the Flare.
I just mentioned in another post that I have a 100 lt freestyle jp and I am 92 kg I use it with a 5.5 and a 6.5 free race sails and it really good it will plain in 18 knts and really eats up chop top end it's not supper fast but it hits it top speed really quick and is really easy to sail
I really only use the free style 26 fin but I reckon a race fin is flat water would see it go faster but for me it's my bump and jump or as I like to say bump jump and crash board it's great fun very forgiving board
First time out on my new (second hand) Freestyle board. A 2010 Starboard Flare, 6m sail and 26 & 28cm fsw fins. Conditions 15-20 knots and flat water to start with and choppy 12-16 knots towards the end of the session. Pretty gusty through out.
Impressions & Observations from a newbie freestyle board user - Loved it. Acceleration was impressive, jumping on the plane very quickly. A few Pumps needed towards the end of the session as the wind weakened in strength. Tracking upwind no issues which was a total surprise to me - I am use to using 10cm more fin on a my freeride board in the same conditions. Some adjustment was needed to my stance however. Again, I'm use to being able to apply quite a bit of back foot pressure to my freeride board to head upwind. Didn't work so well on the freestyle board. A more upright stance and a very light back foot and more rail saw me heading upwind without any issues though. The deck shape on the Flare is very comfy especially in the chop. Corners - Most impressed here! I have never planed out of some many gybes in one session (I figure the extra buoyancy in the tail has much to do with this?). And the forward rails seem to really hold well through the chop in rougher conditions. I also found the deck groove nice for a little bit of leverage in the turn - felt more secure and confident in the chop while gybing. Also, I expected the board wouldn't perform so well in chop, I was wrong. It felt quite controlled and comfortable.
On the downside - It didn't feel as fast as my freeride board (obviously). But I didn't purchase this board with speed in mind. It was fast enough and I actually found I enjoyed the conditions more due to it being a little slower than I normally go. More time to concentrate on technique. With a little bit of tuning - fin position and type and stance/technique I think I could get things going a bit faster if I felt inclined.
All up a good buy. I can certainly see a board like this being well used. I'm certainly just a ordinary sailor and like to dabble in a bit of most styles of sailing but mostly interesting in bump and jump, slalom, small waves and even a bit of old school (basic) freestyle. Seems good enough to cover most of those on first impressions.
had a fun day ysterday with freestyle board- 2nd sail with it but first in good conditions. Lots of holes in the northly so chose the freestyle board instead of waveboard. Glad i did. Too much fun with the ramps, the wind getting under the board took a little getting used to but it was almost too much fun.
Gybing was a bit different- bouncy in those conditions. and volume in tail seems to bite a little on gybes. Ill work that out.
But lots of fun even when gusting over 30knts.
Think the FSW will get sold now :)
