tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post2570403792451540730..comments2023-11-19T23:49:24.377-08:00Comments on Pure Windsurfing: 2013 Northsails Idol Review: taking the red pillMike Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327446505009898256noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-58223758991289668642013-12-07T11:24:39.397-08:002013-12-07T11:24:39.397-08:00Hi Sel. You're more than welcome. Your'e...Hi Sel. You're more than welcome. Your'e going to be really happy with those idols and skate. I'm looking forward to trying the Idol LTDs also! I think for the ducking moves they might be even better with the shorter boom, but the downhaul range on the LTD isn't as much as the regular Idol. So I'm hoping the LTD's have nearly as good a range as the standard Idols. We'll see... <br /><br />And yes, a 4.7 idol to finish off your quiver would be perfect!!<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />MikeMike Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285682079469302733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-92134229208823651832013-12-07T08:04:45.680-08:002013-12-07T08:04:45.680-08:00Hi Mike,
Thank you for your response. It helped me...Hi Mike,<br />Thank you for your response. It helped me more than you think. I went with the 5.3/5.9 Idol Standard and Skate. 2014 ltds seemed lighter and had a narrower boom length. It would be interesting to try them. In the summer time, I am thinking of ending Idol 4.7 to my set. <br />Best Wishes,<br />SelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-91953688784729956872013-12-05T06:09:16.683-08:002013-12-05T06:09:16.683-08:00Hi Sel,
Congrats on your new toys!!! You're ...Hi Sel,<br /><br />Congrats on your new toys!!! You're going to love everything. As for your choice of Idol or Volt, it depends on what you want to do. The idol 5.9 will probably have more get up and go than the volt 6.4, and the 5.9 idol is also much lighter for freestyle. MUCH lighter feeling through the transitions. But with the volt the sail will be a little faster and more responsive than the idol and will also have a little more upper end to it. The volt also has the x-ply panles if you're going into the surf. If waves aren't in your future, go with the idol 5.9. If you're doing any sort of freestyle the idol 5.9/5.3 combo will be the perfect choice maybe even think about idol 5.9 - 5.0. And if you do want the volt for the big sail, it wouldn't be a stretch to do Volt 6.4 and idol 5.3 instead of 5.6. My quiver that I settled in on this year was actually x-type 7.3 and Flacon 125 straight to idol 5.0 and 99 ltr skate with plenty of overlap..... The idols have a TON of low end and still really good top end. So far the idol is by far my favorite sail I've ever tried. One of the main things I like is the total control and constant feel through an incredible wind range. I'm hoping the idol ltds I ordered for 2014 will have just as nice a range....<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />MikeMike Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285682079469302733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-76803232082027362102013-12-04T00:50:35.297-08:002013-12-04T00:50:35.297-08:00Hi Mike,
Great review on Idol. Finally, I am order...Hi Mike,<br />Great review on Idol. Finally, I am ordering Skate 110 and two new North Sails to start with. I am 78kg. We have usually light wind condition here around 14-22 knots. I am thinking about ordering Volt 6.4 and Idol 5.6. Do you think Idol 5.9 or Volt 6.4 and Idol 5.3 would be a better choice?<br />All the best,<br />SelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-61652780960179237812013-07-12T13:28:29.355-07:002013-07-12T13:28:29.355-07:00Thanks.
Phil.Thanks.<br />Phil.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-66581624004288762112013-07-12T07:18:38.594-07:002013-07-12T07:18:38.594-07:00Hey Phil,
the Idol is a full monofilm sail. I ha...Hey Phil,<br /><br />the Idol is a full monofilm sail. I have no worries when I take it out in the waves. I think I actually give the sails more of a beating doing freestyle. I've bounced off these things more times than I can count. So far, so good. I think it depends more on what the bottom is like in your shorebreak area. If there are a lot of shells and junk on the bottom that can cut the sail like a razor blade, then it might get shredded in the break if you're in there a lot. If it's a nice sandy break, then you shouldn't have to worry too much. If you're only going in the waves once in a while like me, then you shouldn't be worried about it. The idol does use a thicker monofilm than the ID, so it can take a little abuse. I don't think some chest/head high waves are anything to worry about. It will hold up to the force of the waves, it's just a matter of if you hit the sail on anything and cause a tear. The funny thing is that the only sail I've ever shredded beyond repair was a full x-ply "totally bombproof" sail while using it in flat water bump conditions before I even started with freestyle.......<br /><br />And if you should happen to dive headfirst through a monofilm panel, they can be repaired for pretty cheap, and is an extremely easy repair. I had my 4.7 Ice's main panel repaired a couple years ago. Fell on it from about 20 ft up. They had it back together the next day and I couldn't tell any difference in performance.<br /><br />Soooo, Idol all the way!!!<br /><br />Hope that helps,<br /><br />Mike<br /> Mike Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285682079469302733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-5323833366386181842013-07-11T10:52:55.665-07:002013-07-11T10:52:55.665-07:00Thanks mike.
Two more questions.
What do you think...Thanks mike.<br />Two more questions.<br />What do you think about the idol construction ?<br />May I go to the small waves (one meter) with it ?<br />Best regards.<br />Phil.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-44507564552112529342013-07-11T07:07:12.070-07:002013-07-11T07:07:12.070-07:00Hi Phil,
For bump and jump sailing, the Hero shou...Hi Phil,<br /><br />For bump and jump sailing, the Hero shouldn't be on the list. It's a dedicated wave sail for use with multi-fin boards. I heard the 2013 model is better balanced than the 2012 I sailed, but it had a long way to go to be comfortable in flat water..... So it's between the Duke which was discontinued and merged with the Ice in 2013 to make 1 sail range, the Volt. Any which way you put it, the Idol will be your pick. It's very stable, more power than the volt and so much lighter feeling. The Idol has been the biggest leap forward in sail design than I can ever remember (I've been windsurfing for 23 years) My 5.0 and 99 ltr skate is a perfect match, so I would imagine it would be perfect on your 99 ltr JP as well. Don't even hesitate to pick up a 5.0 Idol!!! The only problem is that soon after you try it, you'll be ordering a full quiver....<br /><br />My wife who only sails a few times per year and is working on her jibes tried my 5.6 5.6 idol for the first time yesterday and said it was the most comfortable sail she's ever ridden. I've gotten the same reaction form every single person I've let try these sails. Much more power than what they are using while at the same time not being overpowering. Just smooth acceleration much sooner than you would think. <br /><br />Enjoy your new idol!!<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Mike<br /><br />Mike Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285682079469302733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-34714290845599507792013-07-11T02:47:24.243-07:002013-07-11T02:47:24.243-07:00Hello mike,
I hesitate between a north idol,a duke...Hello mike,<br />I hesitate between a north idol,a duke or an hero 5,0. It's for bump et jump with a jp freestyle 99 de 2009 and a jp freestylewave 78. My weight 70 kg. Can you help me ?<br />Best regards. Phil (sorry for my English)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-84106949003216461942013-02-26T06:17:16.064-08:002013-02-26T06:17:16.064-08:00Hi Andrew,
As for the 4.0 idol having the same ...Hi Andrew, <br /><br />As for the 4.0 idol having the same top end as the 3.7 Hero? You said 3.7 idol, but I'll assume Hero since there is no 3.7 idol. I think there's a good chance it will be right there. The boom is really, really short on the 4.0 idol which makes it very controllable on the top end. I also have a 3.7 volt. I picked that up because when I went from my 4.5 ID to 4.0 Ice last year, there was a bit of a gap. Now with 4.5 and 4.0 idols, everything is perfect. I still haven't had to break out the 3.7 Volt, so it's hard to say what the spacing will be like for that one. <br /><br />Anyway, if you get a 4.5 idol, get the 4.0 idol as well. The sizing is perfect!! I spent 3 days on the 4.0 last week with the 89 ltr skate and that sail is a dream. I never had so much control ducking a sail in 30-35 knots.<br /><br />There are a couple of things I can think about with you remarks about the Hero. One is that one hero is a 2012 and the other is 2013 which would make them sail a bit different and rig different. Another would be that, yes masts do loose some liveliness over time, but it's a looong time! The more likely scenario is that it sounds like somebody (you) are getting way more use out of the 4.5 Hero than your buddy. After a dozen or so uses, the sail materials start to stretch out. They stop noticeably stretching after a while, but when the sails are new, they need a chance to fall into their natural shape. So If you have a sail that was used 20 times, and he only has used his sail 5 or 6 times, you might need 2 more cm of downhaul to get the same shape from the sail that he does. With the sails on the same downhaul settings, you wouldn't have enough downhaul making the sail feel heavy and slow. I noticed that the past 2 or 3 years, my norths would get rigged with at least 2 cm less downhaul than recommended when they were right out of the box. Then after a bunch of times using the sail, they would stretch and fall into the specs written on the sail. So the easiest thing would be to rig to the min/max marks on the top of the sail for downhaul to be sure to get the proper leach tension every time. <br /><br />As for the Aero Mast, I haven't used one yet. But I do ride for another mast company, and we've been testing prototypes for that are actually lighter than the Aero! What a difference!!!! I've had it since August and so far, so good. When I tried someone's North Platinum in Bonaire, it felt like a tank. The proto is only 0.1 Kilo lighter than the North Aero, so the Aero should have the same effect. Holy cow those things make such a difference. Like making the 5.0 feel like a 4.5! The only problem was that I only have one prototype! So all my other masts feel like crap now! I would definitely recommend the aero if you can fork over the $$$.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />MikeMike Burnshttp://aol.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-4652239077671963472013-02-26T01:10:25.518-08:002013-02-26T01:10:25.518-08:00Hey Mike, Andrew from Melbourne Australia here, gr...Hey Mike, Andrew from Melbourne Australia here, great review on the idol couldn't agree more I'm going to get rid of all Hero's except the 3.7 and get idols! Do you think a 4.0 idol would have almost the top end wind range as a 3.7 idol? Had a wierd scenario the other day my friend and I were both on 4.5 Hero's with exactly the same 400 platinum north masts with the same downhaul setting yet my sail felt more draggy and unstable. Even to look at on the beach his seemed to have a better foil shape with the draft much further forward I don't get it???? Our masts are the same year production and have had similar use, do masts reflex and curve deteriorate over time? Mine had slightly less batten tension but not a huge difference! Might just get rid of the mast and sail anyway and get a 4.5 idol and platinum aero 400!! Thanks AndrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-39813993928637989352013-02-05T16:49:55.809-08:002013-02-05T16:49:55.809-08:00The hero is a great sail, but it only really shine...The hero is a great sail, but it only really shines in the waves, where the Idol is more of an all around sail with a much lighter overall feel than the hero. This is exactly what each sail was designed for! If you like the hero, the Idol will blow you away!!! Northsails really has everything dialed across the entire range. It's not like many companies where one size of the sail can be good, but the next is funky feeling. The whole range is really really well thought out and put together.Mike Burnshttp://aol.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023908475196539570.post-88031706860099282722013-02-05T16:09:41.910-08:002013-02-05T16:09:41.910-08:00Thanks for this great review. North sail has crea...Thanks for this great review. North sail has created some insane sail with the Hero and now the idol. I own the 5.3 and 4.5 hero 2012 and I would say they are just incredable sail. What you say about the idol reflect almost exactly how I feel about those Heros, except maybe for the high end as the hero lack a little bit of stability. Anyway maybe (or not) I should try those new idols. It might be tough for my budget though...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com