Is There Such a Thing As A Good Combo Downwind/Flat Water Racing Board?

[srfnff]

Is there a board made today that is good at flat water paddling/racing and going downwind in legit conditions? Or, are these separate genres, requiring separate designs using specific elements particular to the purpose?

[kayadogg]

Of course there are boards that will be decent at both but they really are separate genres and there are boards that have specific design elements geared to each condition. Any board can be paddled in any condition, it's just a matter of how much fun you want to have, what type of results you expect and how serious you are about racing or competition.  If you are going to be racing recreationally and don't care about being competitive, get a board that favors downwind conditions and still use it to race flat water.  This is better than buying a board specifically made for flat water and then trying to take it out in some bumps.

I have a custom 12'6 coming to me that is designed with both elements in mind.  Kind of a hybrid design that the shaper and I settled on after many discussions.  I know it might not be as fast on flat water as possible but I don't care, I want one board that I can grab for the majority of conditions and be ok with it.

[yugi]

A good racer will just use a race board and develop skills. The new race boards are looking better for downwinds (2015 Naish).

For a pure downwinder board the Rogue Rage is surprisingly good on flat and excels in light chop or upwind. At 27.5" wide it isn't going to win races against 24" wide boards.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Casper say that he finds the new Naish faster in 26" than 24", but it's always difficult to believe what a spancered rider says about his board.

[mrbig]

Check out Jimmy Lewis M series, Angulo Shaka, Imagine, SIC.

[yugi]

^^^
Jimmy Lewis M14 and SIC Bullet are pretty good on flats but the Rogue Rage is faster, especially in upwind chop. Rogue Rage is no slouch on downwinds either. It's fast, stable at speed and a joy to turn off the tail. It's almost like a downwind board/race combo. Our little band of downwind freaks have these 3 in our quiver and we use them as our everyday quiver-of-one boards for everyday use (includes plenty of flat and chop).

Dunno Imagine Rocket but it looks like it's got potential to be like the Rogue Rage.

Angulo Shaka is too wide to fit the "racing" bill.

Something like the Naish Javelin LE 14' x26 springs to mind for the nimble and light experienced SUper. I have yet to get my hands (or feet) on one but suspect once I do i won't be letting go [until I get a good deal on the 2015 version].

Edit to add:
The F-One Race 14' in 26" or 28" is a race board with which is born and bred in very legit downwind conditions. Just look at the rocker it has. For some reason in south of France, where F-One is designed, the guys (and gals) tend to just use their race boards for downwinders. South of France  Mistral and Tramontane winds produce very serious conditions regularly. I haven't tried  one but they are supposed to be good downwinders, and I believe it. Very cool new handle for next year's boards.

[headmount]

Is there a board made today that is good at flat water paddling/racing and going downwind in legit conditions? Or, are these separate genres, requiring separate designs using specific elements particular to the purpose?

Come on.  After what you've seen here do you really think such a thing exists?  Answer is no. 

[PonoBill]

You'd have to define good as adequate. I race a SIC Bullet all the time in flatwater conditions in Maui--it's what I've got. Boyum does too. But we're just screwing around and trying to beat the other geezers on downwind boards. Anyone shows up with a serious flatwater board and either talent of youth on their side and we're screwed. Of course I don't think a better board would matter that much, but it's a very handy excuse.

It's fun to see Gregg on his Javelin in any kind of chop or downwind conditions. He still beats us, but he's waterlogged at the end.

[paddlestandingup]

Yes a great combo would be a SIC Bullet and a Starboard Sprint

[spookini]

Clearly no such board exists.  If it did, Kaya would have already bought it and then sold it.  (Rinse. Repeat.)   

[cnski]

I think such a board does exist. I watched Travis Grant on his NSP DC 12'6"x25" beat Kai Lenny in their heat on the flat water sprint section at the Payette River Games. Kai was on the 2015 Naish Javelin LE that I believe was 23" wide. Slater Trout won the sprint race title on the new Infinity Blackfish. I think the cutting bow boards are on their way out or will be toned down like the Fanatic FW. I do realize that these boards are not as specific to downwind as others are but they appear to be competitive in a very wide range of water conditions.

[mrbig]

JillRide45 is selling a beauty right here..

[Tecpartner]

If there is, please don't tell my wife.  Might limit my quiver....

[pdxmike]

The cheaper the board, the more likely it is to be "ideal for all paddlers and all conditions", at least according to the ads.  It's the most true with boards that come with a paddle. 

[Area 10]

I think a confusion is sometimes created by the tendency of eg. Hawaiians to use the term "flat water" to describe non-downwind conditions. They are mainly ocean paddlers so don't really have what Europeans for instance would think of as flat water. And to a certain extent there is also the tendency of true flat water paddlers (eg smaller lakes and rivers) to not distinguish between downwinding in the sea and inland downwinding. In some ways it would be better perhaps to talk about ocean vs. inland boards. Most areas of sea can regularly get conditions that render pure flatwater boards almost unuseable. But most inland downwind conditions can be tackled on a flat water board if you are experienced enough, and a ocean board can feel sluggish.

In short, I think the activity (ie. downwind vs. flat water) usually matters less than the location (ocean, inland).

[headmount]

I think a confusion is sometimes created by the tendency of eg. Hawaiians to use the term "flat water" to describe non-downwind conditions. They are mainly ocean paddlers so don't really have what Europeans for instance would think of as flat water. And to a certain extent there is also the tendency of true flat water paddlers (eg smaller lakes and rivers) to not distinguish between downwinding in the sea and inland downwinding. In some ways it would be better perhaps to talk about ocean vs. inland boards. Most areas of sea can regularly get conditions that render pure flatwater boards almost unuseable. But most inland downwind conditions can be tackled on a flat water board if you are experienced enough, and a ocean board can feel sluggish.

In short, I think the activity (ie. downwind vs. flat water) usually matters less than the location (ocean, inland).

I agree.  Great video of Josh Ricco in the Pailolo with breaking waves mid channel in April.  I mean waves that many would consider reasonable size for SUS.  I've shared it on my FB page but it's not a vimeo or you tube.  How can I bring it over here?