I just bought my first slalom board ( JP VIII 118L)
What could be different in comparison to my all other all rounders boards ?
What is specifically distinctive about slalom boards ?
Disclaimer: I've ridden one once. Which might actually make for a good comparison.
They are light. Holy crap they are light. You'll start planing before you are even ready to get your feet in the first time. It's like they take off without you. Then they accelerate away like nothing else I've ridden. Definitely power up wind faster and higher than a FreeRide or FSW etc., I think it's the lack of drag that keep the apparent wind pumping through and you can really push on the fin. GET A DECENT FIN, if not already. They fly upwind really high, really easy.
And then off the wind... sheesh! This was at Kyeemagh (SYD airport) by the way on a NE so I got the full flat run down the side of the runway. NEEEEEeeeooooooooooowwwww!!!!! K-kk kk-k -k k -kkkk -k k k k WHoooooooosh!!!!!!
Does that explain it?
I found gybing to be a non issue after some apprehension about how technical they were. I don't know what you're talking about.
I found it a little rough in the chop, but, because of the speed you could simply put more weight under the sail and kinda float over the worst bits anyway.
Overall: A lot more fun than it may appear. I think mostly due to being able to be powered up a lot more of the time than on, say, a wave board. For blasting in a straight line there's nothing like it. More exhilarating than a fast car.
Agree with the above comments I have a freeride and a fsw and I bought a 110lt slalom just over a year ago now I want to trade the other 2 in on a smaller slalom so I can have two.
A bit of exaggeration going on here, one or two knots in it at most. The placebo effect will however have you sailing five or six knots faster.
Slalom are'nt for the fainthearted as i found out when i brought my first one 96 litre j.p it throw my off like a rag-do'll. They are rockets in their Elements especially dumping the outhaul on a slalom Sail on a downwinder in high winds scary stuff. That's what we buy for you do get use to em.Happy Sailing.
there definitely a few knots faster but it feels like heaps more because they skip along the top of the water alot more the up wind is heaps better too. Just make sure you use the rite fin and sail with it , thats a big sail with lots of down haul .
What about sails for slalom board ?
Should I use cam racing sails ?
I have 2 in bigger sizes - 8.0 RAM and 6.7 Severne then 5.0 KA
or camless will be as good ?
To be fair found the big RAM a bit heavy when gybing, means a bit more difficult to flip, but that could be also TOW issue.
I recently bought a slalom board- an F2 SX 106- which i primarily use with a 6.6 cambered sail. Coming straight from the comfort of a FSW with spongy wave sails the SX is quite challenging to ride. Agreed with all the above, these things take off like rockets- that takes some getting use to. But the biggest challege for me at least has been the rear foot strap. It just seems oddly placed compared the verticle stance on the FSW. It seems the only time you should put your foot in it is once you're fully powered up- which is scary...lol Anyway, yep definitly fast, plane super easy, gybing doesn't seem any harder than the FSW, but the foot strap position on some models may take some getting use to. Happy with mine but would still like (prefer?) as fast freeride board of the same volume.
It can be costly jumping them Mac,but once you master jumping them Mac,it can still be costly but not as costly Mac,,,its like walking on air and floating like a butterfly,,,they can turn on a sixpence,,,sharp rails going in to slightly rounded rear end works,,,selective ramps plays a big part in not snapping them in half..Throttle on throttle off, hold the head up high and look ahead.
I agree with the first comment "You will see"
I just did the same as you, have had freeride boards for the past 15 or so years, and just brought a 90L Exocet Warp Slalom (2008 model). Main board has been 2010 JP Xcite 110L, so moving from that to a 90L slalom at 62 yrs, is a big step. But I think its been a positive one - its faster and more exciting, but how much, dunno as I don't have a GPS. I think fin and sail combinations make a bit difference, so you may need some trials to work out the best combination. I've only had 3 sails so far then stacked the board with a harness hook through the deck due to hitting some flood debris, so board is still in for repair. Can't wait to get back on it to continue my learning path. Will have to say its tougher on the legs/ankles but that could be my age!!
Good luck, you'll enjoy it, takes sailing to a new level!
Cheers
Hey Felix - re the JP Xcite - I really like mine, being the 110 its pretty light and gets me up planning pretty quick and its very stable in most conditions. I have tried the bigger models but find them a bit sluggish. Maybe when I get older and can keep up this sport, I may revert to a larger size, time and body condition will tell!!!
Cheers
