DvB wrote:
I wanted a Sector as an all purpose board, but after waiting for months for the local distributor to get their act together, I decided rather on a two board combo from North, the Free Race, and the Race Ltd 2011. The Free Race will be arriving tomorrow, and the Race Ltd hopefully in the next few weeks. I live and kite in predominantly light wind areas, high altitude inland, and the Seychelles. I've never owned or even ridden a directional before, apart from being an avid surfer when younger, so I won't be able to give any expert opinions or comparisons, but it is going to be an interesting exercise for me. My current light wind board is a Spleene Door 164, and I use both inflato's and foils, so I will be able to do back to back comparisons with all my gear and see what works best. I'll try my best to give some honest feedback from an average, joe public kiters point of view on these boards.
Here's hoping for some wind for this weekend!
It wil lneed some time to adapt...especially the jibing...
Also I prefere a tube kite above the foilkite, reason..it is faster, you can use smaller kites and due to their fastness in sining...you create aparent wind in the kites, whcih goes pretty easy with thos race/freerace boards, due to the fact that you are not drifting sideways but only forward due to the long fins.
Just be carefull when you fall off the board and are readjusting it to start, not to hit against the fins, they are extremely sharp and will cut you instantly.
The same with taking the boards in your hand and walking over the beach with you kite in the air, you pay attention to your kite, and slowly the back of the board tilts more towards the ground, in the same moment you lift your foot upat the side of the board, ( as you are walking) and you hit the fin...Just a warning...I had these things...and can tell you these fins cut!
If you like lightwind, you will have a lot of fun, your jibes will improve, and yiou will cruise !
I do not say the boards do not work with foils...but you wil lneed a good depower foil for when the wind picks up.
I have a Ozone Zephyr 17m which is possible to fly from 8 knots till easy 15 knots...but it has a huge depower...and in lightwind it is faster...
I flew a 12m Ozone C4 on the freerace board in 10 knots ( me 82 kg) while the others were still flying 21m flysurfer ( Guy is 90kg) and Spleene X19 ( guy 80kg)...and had a blast, you could play with the kite..the others could not believe I was only on a 12m kite...
You will find out, my Airush is a funboard compared to the raceboards, so I hope yo will have a lot of fun with yours !!!
Good luck and good cruising!!