Hi all, Im thinking of getting a freestyle board to learn some new tricks , have been looking at the fanatic skate but dont know whether to get a 90Ltr or 100Ltr. Ive been sailing for 20+ years & weigh 70kg. All advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I'm 78kg and have always sailed 100 litre FS boards. However, definitely seeing more and more people a little lighter than me sailing the smaller boards.

Not much help I know...

EDIT: I landed my first vulcan and grubby on an 84 JP FSW Pro... thinking about it I would say go for the 90 if you're going to be sailing sails smaller than 5.7.

It really depends on the conditions, im 75kgs and im riding a 91ltr Starboard Flare, and it is the best freestyle board ive ever ridden.

The skates are good, but what year are you getting, some of the skates can be very unforgiving especially when your just starting.

Ive taken my 91ltr out in everything from 15kts to 25kts. Really is a great board!

i'm just like you but 74kg

i trialed the 94 litre starboard kode. its an awesome board. goes up wind easy. pops up on jumps but easy to control in 25 knots. but in 18 knots and a 5.7 sail it didn't plane. given you are 4kg lighter this could be perfect.

i also trialed the 84 litre kode. i found i could apply no pressure on the fin at all - kept sliding out. i didn't enjoy it at all. but steve at Zu sports (a good freestyle rider) thinks its the best.

i ended up buying the JP 101 freestyle wave. and love it. it feels great in jumps and devine to jybe. its fast and goes up wind nicely.

i agree with albently. if you mainly sail 18 knots buy the 100 litre board. if you mainly sail 25 knots buy the 90 litre board.

Heya, I would advise you against a fanatic as the boards simply aren't being made properly and you will struggle to get proper warranty for it....

Board size, the 90 would be best, 100 starts to get a bit too big

Thanks for your input everyone,I do a bit of kiting so ill mostly be going out in 23 knots + & have the choice between chop or flat water on lake Illawarra.Ive never tried any freestyle moves but would like to attempt as many as I can manage also how hard is it on the knees & ankles

I've had the Mistral Joker, Fanatic Skate & Starboard Flare, I reckon they are all pretty durable, especially on flat water, haven't even dinged the nose on any of the boards, and I've done some pretty spastic stacks. Haven't sailed them much in waves thou, I reckon if you land any of them flat from big jumps they probably won't last too long!

I've always had the 100L versions cause I mainly sail in 15-20kts. But definately have thought a 90L board would be sweet when its choppy and 20kts+, 4.2-4.7 weather, thou in flat water, the extra volume and width of the 100L doesn't really hurt.

btw, I reckon a good freestyle fin is definately a nice to have, especially in light winds. The 20cm choco starfish that came with my flare is pretty sweet, anything bigger is kinda suck. Landed my first vulcan and first spock only a month or so later with that fin. Doesn't really matter if its super windy, you could stick a paddlepop stick in the bottom of the board and still sail upwind easy.

Yes fin is super important, you can be sailing the sickest board out there but with the wrong fin it won't work.

I recommend an 18cm, can do all the sliding stuff and its not too small.

It might take you a while to adjust to sailing with small fin, just push with the front foot more and sail with back foot out the strap.

If you kite in light wind, and sail in strong, go 90l if you can, it will be more fun.

Don't be tempted to compromise with a freestyle wave board or a Kode if you want to get into real freestyle, those boards are **** for learning despite what many people say :) of course you can learn to vulcan on a 60l wave board but it will take you 5 times as long

If you just want to blast around and do chop hops however a freestyle wave is ok

Are some boards more fragile than others? No they are all made in the same place, any 90-100l freestyle board from the last 6 years from any of the major brands will be fine, there is no real difference if your going to land the move you would land it on any of the boards.

Freestyle is not that hard on knees, ankles maybe just stretch first and keep the board level you will be fine ;) Not using a 25cm fin helps with this a lot.

Enjoy!!!

Al