So this summer didn't deal up the usual epic conditions we're used to at Heckscher. Don't get me wrong, we had plenty of wind with a bunch of 5.3 and 5.9 days. It even was pretty good in August which along with September are the two least windy months of the year. This September has been very different. Very, VERY different. today was day 13 that I sailed this month and it looks like we're going out with a bang. I've also been swamped with work, so I've missed a good bit of wind too. we've got to be on day 17 or 18 of sailable days for Sept. The first week in Sept. we had a streak of 7 windy days of which I grabbed 6. Right now we're into day 4 of which I've nailed 3 and it looks to stay windy right through the weekend.
Not only have we had lots of wind, but we're still getting some summertime temperatures. I managed to get not 1 but 2 of the best low tide, full power freestyle West Meadow sessions this month. Not only were they incredible, but they were also in board shorts. I don't think board shorts and West Meadow have ever been mentioned in the same sentence before. We've also grabbed a few perfect sessions at the training grounds, a little freestyle spot we found this past winter. So far so good for the "fall" season.
GEAR:
New gear has also been arriving. The 2011 North Ices and Dukes are even better than ever. I've had them for a few weeks now. North has just keeps making little tweaks the past few years. This year they're more locked down when they get really powered than last year and so the upper range has increased even more. They're also even lighter while tossing them around and maybe ever so slightly more springy in feel. Anyway, I've been making moves easier than ever. I'll be posting up a full review when I finally manage to grab some pictures. For now we'll just say that they rock!
NoLimits shipped out my 2011 masts today. They've got few tricks up their sleeves with the 2011 design. Rumors are that they redesigned the bend curve ever so slightly for the new generation of sails. So if you want to try a mast that just might work better than your sail manufacturer's mast at 1/2 the price, give the new NoLimitz a shot. I'll post up a review on the new masts after I've had a few sessions on different sails with them.
Chinook is also redesigning their carbon wave booms. no word on exactly when they will be ready, but I've heard rumors of some 1-offs already floating around some shops to see what they think, so it should be shortly.
Maybe some BIG news in the board dept. for me. We'll see if things come through.
That's it for now. I feel like I'm on Chachi's schedule. Work, sail, eat, sleep, repeat.
About Me
- Mike Burns
- Nags Head, NC, United States
- Windsurfing has ruled more than 1/2 my life. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about how it feels to fly across the water, fly through the air, or spin around in circles on my windsurf gear. So to help spread the stoke (and further give in to my addiction) I started this blog. I hope you find it entertaining and a place to go for some useful information.
Hello Mike,
ReplyDeleteI saw that you where using a mistral style 85 in one off your videos.
I have the same model but 105l (white) and I was thinking off buying a the same model but in 85l as well. Would that be a good choice? I am weighing around 75kg and have 4.0, 4.7, 5.3 and 6.2. and sail mostly in bump-jump waters trying a bit of freestyle, but also sometimes in waves up till 3 meter (Denmark Klittmoller).
Could you tell me a bit more about the 85 board when it comes to planning, biggest and smallest sail, more freestyle or more wave, maneuverability, fintypes, speed etc. Would it overlap my 105?
Nice wipeouts and website by the way!
Greetings,
Wytze
wytze_hoekstra@me.com
Hi Wytze,
ReplyDeleteThe 85 would compliment your 105 nicely. I used it together with my 2009 ltr joker. The 85 liter style is the perfect mix of freestyle and wave. I used it for 5.3 to 4.2 in head to mast high waves, and it was also great at freestyle down to a 3.7. I was using a 3.7 on it in that video. If you can get your hands on an RD (pro model) it makes a good bit of difference for freestyle, especially for some more advanced moves. I would have paid way more than the extra $200 it cost for the RD over the regular. The regular version is bombproof though. It's not as easy to learn freestyle as using a pure freestyle board, and it's not as good in waves as a pure wave board, but it works VERY well in both. Much better than say a JP freestyle wave.
Hé Mike,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response. I regret a bit not buying the 105 RD or a joker instead. But like you said it is very strong and all-round. There is a shop which sells the white edition for about $950. Is it a good price you think? Maybe I should wait a little till they drop the price.
Sounds like a good price to me for a new board. All the brands are up over $2,000 for a new one now! Just got the 2011 JP prices. $2,400 for the freestyle!!!!
ReplyDeleteHe Mike,
ReplyDeleteI have been looking around and thinking for a while. I am doubting between the following boards:
Mistral style 85 2009 (white one) 600 dollar
Mistral Wave RD 76 2008 800 dollar
Mistral Wave fish 84 2008 800 dollar
Sailing most of the time in bump&jump conditions but I am planning to go to Ireland, Norway and Denmark more often, which can be good frontside-wave-ridingspots. I am just wondering if the style still works good in these conditions as well. Maybe the other two will work good as bump&jump/freestyle as well.
I suppose you haven't tried the other two boards but I am curious anyhow which one you would pick for me. Smallest sail i am gonna use is a 4.0/4.2.
/Wytze