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GURGLETROUSERS
Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 2643
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:21 am Post subject: |
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Longboards have become a minority interest but, to those who see the point, an enchanting one. They especially come alive in that 8 to 15 knot wind range. To those of us who are smitten no other type of board comes close in feel. It's not what they do, but how they do it! Short wide super planers may blast past us but it won't be us with the scowls on our faces when the inevitable lull strikes.
There's something about going big. The massive Mahalo tandem when tanking along at a stately trot (it can plane too, of course) has an appeal that's difficult to explain. You either love it or hate it.
I think a lot of long time windsurfers who probably started out on the old longboards would be tempted back on to them by newer exciting designs. At least, Starboard and Exocet are showing interest (new Phantom has sprouted wings, and new Div 2 type Exocet) and some of can't wait to see how they perform in practice.
I rarely buy magazines nowaday, except for the tests. What they depict bears no relevance to the normal windsurfing conditions which most of us are condemned to. Endless articles and pictures of pros doing impossible things in perfect locations isn't going to 'ring my bell', so what's the point! I'll settle for satisfaction over style and image! |
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chas5131
Joined: 01 Jul 2002 Posts: 58 Location: Summit County, Colorado
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:10 am Post subject: |
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What GurgleTrousers said.
Welcome to the real world. Get a longboard.
Preferably a Kona One. |
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cgoudie1
Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 2597 Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:29 am Post subject: |
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I like my fantasy world better, and you might too if you lived in it.
I was on a 5.5 and a 95 Ltr board yesterday, and a 4.2 and 4.7 and
80 ltr board the day before. I've sailed nothing
larger than 5.5 since last November (when I whored myself out
on a 6.7 at Stevenson on a light Easterly). Displacement mode
is for me like sex without orgasm. But I defend your right to enjoy
sex without orgasm if that's what you like. It's probably better
than no sex at all. ;*)
-Craig
chas5131 wrote: | What GurgleTrousers said.
Welcome to the real world. Get a longboard.
Preferably a Kona One. |
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chas5131
Joined: 01 Jul 2002 Posts: 58 Location: Summit County, Colorado
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:16 am Post subject: |
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Don't know "nuttin" about sex without orgasm.
Ok, the real world where I live. When I go to the coast will take a shortboard.
How is that? |
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isobars
Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:37 am Post subject: |
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GURGLETROUSERS wrote: | What [magazines] depict bears no relevance to the normal windsurfing conditions which most of us are condemned to. Endless articles and pictures of pros doing impossible things in perfect locations isn't going to 'ring my bell |
I hear that! I've never even seen those conditions with my own eyes except from shore, too far away to appreciate them and too rarely to give it a second thought. It's just photoshop, not reality, from my perspective. An excellent sailor told me on the beach Monday that he comes to the Gorge each summer because it provides better sailing than his home turf does ... longer rides than the surf and smoother swell outside the surf than he gets at home ... on Maui's windward shore.
Mike \m/ |
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RaceboardDude
Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 86
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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DELETE
Last edited by RaceboardDude on Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:07 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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RaceboardDude
Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 86
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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DELETE
Last edited by RaceboardDude on Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mchaco1
Joined: 08 Sep 2010 Posts: 645
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:24 am Post subject: |
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I just had a good surprise on my "longboard" last weekend. Its a ProTech 185L. I picked it up for $10 at a swap meet thinking it was some relic. I only intended to use it when the wind was so light that I would have to uphaul and plod around. I used it last weekend when the wind was low with my 6.5 cammed sail and it was awesome. There wasnt enough wind to do a real waterstart but, it took off like a rocket once I got on it and was on a plane right away and then just went faster and faster. With the rail dug in it went upwind like it had a centerboard and when in displacement mode it just glided right along. Ive never been on a board that felt so calm on a plane, I didnt even feel like I needed to get in the straps. It went from being the old yacht on the back porch to the one I cant wait to use (It doesnt hurt that its 185L and weighs a whole 18lbs or so, of course its about as impact resistant as aluminum foil over syrofoam, but I could care less how it looks) |
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isobars
Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:40 am Post subject: |
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I have tested many ProTecs, and never met one that didn't perform superbly.
If there's enough wind to plane, there's PLENTY to water start. Work on it. We should be able to WS long before there's enough power to pump onto a plane.
Mike \m/ |
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cgoudie1
Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 2597 Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:34 am Post subject: |
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Just for reference, any board without a dagger (or center) board,
even a 185 ltr Protech, is called a short board.
Enjoy that board, you couldn't buy better cheap thrills.
-Craig
mchaco1 wrote: | I just had a good surprise on my "longboard" last weekend. Its a ProTech 185L. I picked it up for $10 at a swap meet thinking it was some relic. I only intended to use it when the wind was so light that I would have to uphaul and plod around. I used it last weekend when the wind was low with my 6.5 cammed sail and it was awesome. There wasnt enough wind to do a real waterstart but, it took off like a rocket once I got on it and was on a plane right away and then just went faster and faster. With the rail dug in it went upwind like it had a centerboard and when in displacement mode it just glided right along. Ive never been on a board that felt so calm on a plane, I didnt even feel like I needed to get in the straps. It went from being the old yacht on the back porch to the one I cant wait to use (It doesnt hurt that its 185L and weighs a whole 18lbs or so, of course its about as impact resistant as aluminum foil over syrofoam, but I could care less how it looks) |
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