Shopping for a slalom board in the 90-100 litre range and want some rider feedback on the smoothest and most comfortable riding board over choppy water (to protect my old knees!) that is still reasonably quick on flat water

awg said..
Severne fox? I get a big grin blasting at speed through choppy water on my 105 litre. Very soft ride in chop compared to my tabou rocket, although my rocket is 20 litres bigger.

Fox not really considered a 'slalom' board, with my previous board being a Rocket so looking for something more slalom oriented but still comfortable in the chop

GazMan said..
Shopping for a slalom board in the 90-100 litre range and want some rider feedback on the smoothest and most comfortable riding board over choppy water (to protect my old knees!) that is still reasonably quick on flat water

Try foiling, no knee issues then regardless of the chop or waves.

The 2020 and 2021 Fanatic Falcon 97. It's quick and comfortable. Not as comfortable as the Fox, but a major improvement on the 2019 Fanatic. Most of the modern 90 to 100 lit slalom boards brands are good these days in chop. You should also consider a freerace board like the Jag or Futura. They have the same outline and rocker as the Falcon and Isonic, but with a bit more Vee. In the hands of an expert they might be a knot slower, but are probably faster in the hands of a real world sailor, being easier to sail.

MOz Customs Octane97

GazMan said..

awg said..
Severne fox? I get a big grin blasting at speed through choppy water on my 105 litre. Very soft ride in chop compared to my tabou rocket, although my rocket is 20 litres bigger.

Fox not really considered a 'slalom' board, with my previous board being a Rocket so looking for something more slalom oriented but still comfortable in the chop

In bad chop under a average sailer the fox is probably as quick or quicker than a slalom board

My new Patrik F Race 100 is an absolutely dynamo yet sooooo comfortable. My original Patrik Slalom 94 was a huge improvement over my old ISonics for comfort, but this takes it up another level. Can confirm having sailed both on the same day, F Race is way more comfortable to ride, but at the same time, just as fast if not faster, because you can if you want, push it harder.
I also initially got the 120 F Race, but found this a bit 'slow' for my liking although ultra cruisy. Swapped to the Slalom 115 which is just a rocket but a hugely different ride once again as a result.

get hold of Patrik or Karin if you can and ask to try, if they have any stock. They're really great at helping out.

I ride Angulo Magnum Slalomboards from 2016. ( and 115/72 liter/wide). Got the 135l/85cm 2 years ago (used) and bought a 115l/72cm model last year new. Had Starboard Isonic 130 and Futura, Tabou Manta 135, Patrik F-Race120 and 140, Exocet RS6 in the past years.

The Angulos have a really good performance and are a lot easier to ride than older Isoncs, Mantas etc. Can?t comment on actual Slalomboards, but the Angulos were also testet in the french windsurf magazine. The are not produced any longer but if You find a used one or a new one in a shop, this could be an option. They have a 105 and 95 liter model.

BR

Alex

Ben1973 said..

GazMan said..

awg said..
Severne fox? I get a big grin blasting at speed through choppy water on my 105 litre. Very soft ride in chop compared to my tabou rocket, although my rocket is 20 litres bigger.

Fox not really considered a 'slalom' board, with my previous board being a Rocket so looking for something more slalom oriented but still comfortable in the chop

In bad chop under a average sailer the fox is probably as quick or quicker than a slalom board

Fyi Likely a Severne Fox would be ideal if I mostly did ocean sailing and was initially my first choice to replace my Tabou Rocket before I damaged that board beyond repair (as had a good quiver of Powerbox fins). I also sail on the local flat water speed strip (Lilacs Albany) and have spent more time out on the harbour over the past few seasons than on the ocean, so I want a board PRIMARILY for going fast on flatter water that will still be relatively smooth riding over choppy water either out on the ocean or elsewhere on the harbour, which can get quite rough in certain wind directions and locations. I've also increased my collection of Tuttle box fins as was quite limited in my choice of boards (most particularly slalom and freerace) when using Powerbox fins. Also questionable whether the Fox is as good on really flat water as it is over choppy water, based on previous rider feedback via Seabreeze forums.

sboardcrazy said..
Not a slalomboard but fast and comfy with the adjustable tail giving extra comfort and wind range.
Windtechs
I'm no expert but I'm going a lot faster in chop since I got mine and people say I've really improved.I used to sail slalomboards but was never game to really push them in chop.
The WTs are so user friendly ( but super lively) I'm having a ball going for it especially off the wind.They are designed for comfort control and speed in downwind ocean/ rough conditions .
The good guys get great speeds out of them.

Thanks Sue.

Got in touch with Daniel at Windtech today as really like the look of the Silver Bullets!!!

GazMan said..

John340 said..

wa881 said..
My new Patrik F Race 100 is an absolutely dynamo yet sooooo comfortable. My original Patrik Slalom 94 was a huge improvement over my old ISonics for comfort, but this takes it up another level. Can confirm having sailed both on the same day, F Race is way more comfortable to ride, but at the same time, just as fast if not faster, because you can if you want, push it harder.
I also initially got the 120 F Race, but found this a bit 'slow' for my liking although ultra cruisy. Swapped to the Slalom 115 which is just a rocket but a hugely different ride once again as a result.

get hold of Patrik or Karin if you can and ask to try, if they have any stock. They're really great at helping out.

Ditto, the F-face 100 is a great board.

Have been eyeing off the Patriks for some time now as they're close to my dream board!

$$$$$ the main issue atm

People generally ride no more than a very few boards in the same class over the years, and models do keep changing. The Isonic of 2012 is not the Isonic of 2022, and the same for others. So asking around is a bit of a loosing proposition. But the simplest parameter you can look at, size is probably the best predictor of comfort. I owned a Patrik slalom 100 and it was a difficult board to ride, but I am sure the 95 is easier. If you look at the specs the Patrik F-race 100 it is almost 5 cm narrower than the slalom 100, and 2.5 from the slalom 95, and has much narrower tail. No surprise the F-race feels more comfortable. Size is the key. Forget about the model. Sure, freerace will be easier, more V, longer rocker flat, but race will work. Look carefully at the specs, go as small as you can and that will give you an easier ride in challenging situations.

duzzi said..

GazMan said..

John340 said..

wa881 said..
My new Patrik F Race 100 is an absolutely dynamo yet sooooo comfortable. My original Patrik Slalom 94 was a huge improvement over my old ISonics for comfort, but this takes it up another level. Can confirm having sailed both on the same day, F Race is way more comfortable to ride, but at the same time, just as fast if not faster, because you can if you want, push it harder.
I also initially got the 120 F Race, but found this a bit 'slow' for my liking although ultra cruisy. Swapped to the Slalom 115 which is just a rocket but a hugely different ride once again as a result.

get hold of Patrik or Karin if you can and ask to try, if they have any stock. They're really great at helping out.

Ditto, the F-face 100 is a great board.

Have been eyeing off the Patriks for some time now as they're close to my dream board!

$$$$$ the main issue atm

People generally ride no more than a very few boards in the same class over the years, and models do keep changing. The Isonic of 2012 is not the Isonic of 2022, and the same for others. So asking around is a bit of a loosing proposition. But the simplest parameter you can look at, size is probably the best predictor of comfort. I owned a Patrik slalom 100 and it was a difficult board to ride, but I am sure the 95 is easier. If you look at the specs the Patrik F-race 100 it is almost 5 cm narrower than the slalom 100, and 2.5 from the slalom 95, and has much narrower tail. No surprise the F-race feels more comfortable. Size is the key. Forget about the model. Sure, freerace will be easier, more V, longer rocker flat, but race will work. Look carefully at the specs, go as small as you can and that will give you an easier ride in challenging situations.

I do agree with pretty much everything you say, however as you point out not all 90-100 litre boards are equal so it can be a hit and miss affair buying a used board off Seabreeze without having any idea of it's riding characteristics relative to same brand or other brand boards, and a much greater risk if buying new!!! Also not looking for a board for particularly 'challenging' situations as I've got an 85 litre FSW when it gets down to that.

Fyi I haven't owned a board any wider than 58cm and larger than 100L for quite a long time so just looking to get one fast comfortable board around that sizing, no wider than around 60cm, to use in our average 15-25 knot conditions (some might use and recommend more then one board for those conditions but I'm a minimalist and only need one!)

You are looking for that elusive Unicorn.

LeeD said..
Tabou.
Extra v over other boards makes for smooth ride in chop and easy jibing when powered.

Thanks Lee.

Owned a Rocket for many years, now the Manta is on my short list!

Ive been testing a bunch of different slalom boards over the last 2 years trying to eliminate front foot issues, and i have found that the Patrik, Starboard Isonic and Simmer slalom boards all have a little bit more hull shape underneath which make them ride a little bit softer than some others. I have been testing slalom boards around the 106-116 litre range though. I also have a Rocket 105 from 2016 which is full carbon but is so user friendly i can run anything from a 7m slalom sail down to 5m wave sail on when conditions get nuclear and its still well behaved. Hope that helps.

Peter Hands said..
+100 for Windtechs, Silver Bullets are pure joy to sail, 57 for you?

Definitely considering the 57. Appears like an old school long and narrow type board being 253cm long, though bit lower volume/width then I really wanted (would prefer around 60 wide and 95-100L).

Do you have the 57?