TooMuchEpoxy wrote:what about the 2010 north race ltd? Checking online they look plentiful at about 750 new.
Do you think the 70cm models are lightyears different to ride or would that board get the job done for learning technique?
haha, I was just sending you a PM.
The North board is a fun board to ride, but it is very much a mix between a raceboard and a conventional directional. I found it a little hard to ride it flat, but it is easy to ride in general.
They will not even be close to a 70 cm wide board in the light wind / upwind comparison, but still fun to ride. Personally I would go with something with more fin..more race...maybe they have an option to get other fins? The reason is that it is not a good surfboard, and if you already have a surfboard (I suspect you do), then you want to use that in waves....
Also see if the fins boxes are tuttle boxes, because then you can get other fins for it. A board with a little more volume sits better down IMO.
What are your goals for the raceboard? Definitely some development from last year to now, but that doesn't mean last years boards aren't fun
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..so if you can get a North board cheap then I would look a step up.
Obviously I like the Naish boards..its what I've been riding by far the most..but not only because it is a Naish board...last years model already had the thruster that most brands and pros are using now...the only issue is that the fins are medium sized, which is good for learning and downwind speed, but not *as* good as bigger fins. However the boxes are tuttle, so supposedly you can just get some, any, tuttle fins. The thruster gives a better mix of up upwind drive and downwind control.