jaysen5 wrote:
most of the people riding in my spot have been riding for 5 seasons or less. they are not crazy freestylers - just regular kites. we ride in moderate to strong conditions. rarely do we race in sub 12 knots.
Like most of us
Though I think the boards are like made for ultra light wind. In 12 mph, we're going fast!!!
those that chose sectors picked up riding big finned race boards much faster than those that went to more pro orientated boards. the guys are on the pro boards have spent ages in the water with a much slower learning curve.
..but the wide boards are barely out in the stores? We are comparing the 70 cm to the free race boards right?
two riders of the same experience level 6 months into riding wide body big fin directionals, the sector rider was winning the races. no doubt the rider on the pro board should be winning the races in a years time. has he/she had fun getting to that position? will the sector rider jump on a new pro board in a years time and beat the guy who started off on the pro board?
Well I guess it would depend a little on which board. When we were racing, I was consistently point higher than the guy on the free race (I'm using this as collective term for the small fin slimmer race boards now to avoid this become a brand vs brand thing). I didn't always win...it seemed mostly random who would win since neither of us had any idea when to turn to hold the best line, or what kite to put up...but the board with bigger fins would go upwind way better.
I dont think everything else being the same a pro board will win. in our races the guys on the pro boards get worked in the chop, have a hard time gybing them and then have a hard time controlling them on the down wind leg, by the time they are 1/2 way through a race their back leg is burning they are fatigued and can no longer keep up the pace. they are much harder boards to ride and get the most from. (newer designs may have changed in this respect.) in super light sub 10 knots they certainly have an advantage.
Were these mainly quads? I have a hard time imagining that the freeraceboard would both win the upwind, AND not have burning legs. To me it sounds like things were not the same. It seems your contention is that you have to be a pro to win with a proper raceboard? Saying that people spend months in the water sounds like a *slight* exaggeration. Sure riding on a small fin is easier, but it will not win a competition. Even if the price is only a sixpack....
as a starting point for those that want to get into casual racing and be competitive (i would consider most regional races as casual) . the sector is a great choice.
I'd say for those who just want a great light wind board, but have no ambition it might be
Same with the north one and the naish one that has medium fins...actually it would be interesting to see how the sector would do against that board, since the medium fins are bigger than the sector fins.... I still think learning how to ride properly is easier on the bigger boards.
Downwind well the reason why the big boards moved to thruster was downwind control (if I remember that correctly)....but in general going on a reach is going to feel nuts on whatever board you are on..even in chop. I think the bigger boards feel like they are above the chop..kins of what I imagine the windsurfers feel like when they go fast, and in many ways going fast on the board I have now is easier because don't feel the bumps as bad...but I have not ridden it in monster chop as much.
Is the sector moving towards a thruster setup too?
Oh well I might not be able to convince you..but maybe if someone gets to demo..remember to demo WITH someone...much easier to see how the upwind angle is if you have a stake to measure it against