gbleck wrote:Anyone ever do any empirical testing of identical shapes and layups varying the mass?
Not exactly what you mentioned but I did a kind of testing with a top world rider. We were on different boards. My board was leaky badly through inserts and got 0.7 to 1.2ltrs of water after 1hr. The results were well visible. Within first 15 minutes I was capable to go the very same speed and I pointed even more upwind. 15-30min I was just behind the dry board. It was pointless to compete after 45 minutes. Just pointless...So I got to a beach. Made another hole in a hull, put it vertically and left it overnight.
Such testing was done on at least 5-6 days in different wind and chop conditions. The effect was exactly the same each day.
Amazing sensation was that water gathered in a tail part of hull. I could feel it under my back foot (not physically but by weight board's distribution). In light winds it was like racing with a brick fitted over the middle fin. Sinking...
Silver_surfer wrote:In Italy i've seen 4 athlets with the new North race 2012, two of them have problems with the board that drinks water from the hole of the footstraps screw and/or the finboxes, may be this a reason of the delay of the next delivery ?
Wasn't the same problem with North 69Ltd a year ago?
If it is true I might be screwed for this season
I hope that this rule will soon be changed, it is not good for our sport, only for the major brands. Once IKA have fixed the box rule and a minimum weight, than let everyone free to use the board that he prefers (custom or production).
In my mind I would be positive to change the minimum weight to 6.0kg (reasonable price vs durability factor), withdrawn the amount limit and leave the rest of box rules. Sounds simple from point of view of average rider as I am. Probably big guns having support from manufactures have different opinion.
Wonder to know what other sides of the racing scene thinks about it.