Weight, the factor I hate the most about speedsurfing, the factor that makes me wonder about my own potential.
In la franqui the difference was way to big between without or with weightvest. When I see a difference like 3-5kmh or even more it makes me sad. Is speedsurfing really that technical??? In the end I have problems trimming the gear. Lightweights just can't put enough weight down.
Also my first session on "de Houw" (IJselmeer), the chop didn't allow deep downwind. I didn't want to sail a weightvest and my speed showed. The difference was just to big. Will it be possible for a 80kg to constantly top 3??? Or just when deep courses are possible??? I think about 120 degrees downwind is the point when weight mathers or NOT.
Is there a holy grail, a solution???
I am looking in all kind of ways, weightvest is quite good. with 5-7kg it should be quite OK for me. Another solution is longer harnasslines. Think that your heavy. These things have helped me... Anyone other suggestions? I would like to get rid of that weightvest, don't like it @ all.
June firsts
1 hour ago
4 Responses:
Hi Erik,
when you cannot change weight you have to change other things. For me (77kg) I try to find more speed by changing to boards with more control i.e. Ray instead of Falcon. Also I use a little more downhaul than the heavy guys. I'm still progressing every session so I think this is a good approach that works for me.
Otherwise you just have to eat more and get fat. ;-)
Best regards,
Mark
Hi mark,
I think eating more & get fat is quite a good strategy. Maybe the best?
When putting more downhaul its just decreasing drive... Drag is the same, it could feel a bit better balanced, but in fact you're just loosing acceleration. I sailed over 1/2 year with more downhaul than other pryde riders, when I changed back to 'normal' settings it was often as fast or even faster. More difficult to sail however..
The fanatic ray trims more automatically, I am convinced if the chop is very regular you can sail over it without even feeling the chop. IN irregular chop the falcon is quite a bit faster if the sailor has good feeling/respond.
I am thinking of 1 custom made board for my requirements. First I have to earn a few bucks to finance it. I also think changing board to your weight-ratio is one of the keys to perform well. I think we "lightweights" just should ride way smaller to get a fair challenge. Sadly there are not many practical boards below 48/49cm wide.
Cheers,
Erik
Interesting post, I read it the first time today.
Was it difficult for you to surf with a weight-vest? I'm thinking about trying it myself, but thinking is nearly the same like buying in this case :) (The shops around my surf-spots havn't these vest, for exampple Pro-Limit in stock, it would be buying without testing and without fitting :( )
Maybe you can write another aritcle about this aspect, the different feelings with or without a vest.
Keep Posting
Pat
I will write a nice weightvest article. Thanks for the tip!
Cheers,
Erik
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