Messages

31

Gear Talk / Re: Toothpick, ultra narrow tippy race boards. What would you want to know ?

« on: August 13, 2018, 12:05:18 PM »

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to try the Fanatic 14x21.5. Incredible stable for the width unlike the Starboard Sprint 14x21.5. It was just a quick test to see if I can stand on it without falling into the water. And it worked pretty well, although it was quite wavy. But under racing conditions certainly no chance with my size and weight. Actually, not much more tippy than the lightcorp/nelo. The Starboard Sprint 14x21.5, on the other hand, was a disaster for me.
I did not fall in the water, but it was very very tippy.

32

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: August 09, 2018, 10:45:21 PM »

... You can also see in the video how their flatwater board handles chop and wake from other boards.

Saw that.

They guy on the green Lightcorp race really struggles and then gets bogged down once the wake from the Orange GT hits him. Same for the guy on the Pink Lightcorp race.

That's my problem with my Lightcorp V1. Very fast and nice in flat conditions, but when something comes from the side, it is a pain. But I know paddlers, they have no problem with that.
I'm too tall and too heavy (ok, actually I'm not good enough but too big and too heavy sounds better ) to handle this in the race. At the start I lose a lot of meters.
The new GT with 23.5 width is too narrow for me. Maximum rider weight according to specification at 90 kg.

33

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: August 09, 2018, 09:55:47 PM »

A word from the maker
https://www.facebook.com/100004232409595/posts/1098957243588679/

34

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: August 09, 2018, 02:27:07 PM »

mr_proper: where to stand on the RS depends on the conditions. In flat water I stand either side of the handle (which feels too far forward but is fastest, at least for me). In mild bumps I move my feet back a little, eg. so my toes are level with the back of the handle. In bigger stuff it gets complicated... in general I find that speed on the RS is more about what the tail is doing rather than the nose: IMO it’s usually better to plough the nose than drag the tail (assuming one or the other has to happen).

Thanks a lot.
I think it also depends a bit on the weight and size of the paddler.
It seems that the best position for me is when the front third of my foot is at the level of the rear drainage hole. Maybe an inch further, if it is really flat.
But I will watch and report it.

35

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: August 06, 2018, 11:11:18 PM »

Area10, one question... where do you place your feet on the RS? Between the drainage holes or further back? I am not sure which position is best for speed.

Thanks :-)

36

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: July 31, 2018, 01:26:57 AM »

Crikey - the 14x28 RS is gonna be a seriously stable board! 330L too. That should please some big guys. Would be great for very long trips I guess.

Oh, I actually meant that the 24.4" and 24.5" wide models have different specifications.

• 24.4": 297 L, 25.8 lbs
• 24.5": 288 L, 24.7 lbs

That's what made me wonder whether one of them is obsolete.

The link from Area10 seems to be the right one. Because there are 315l specified for the RS14x26 and this value is also printed on my board.

37

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: July 29, 2018, 09:24:24 PM »

I already had that idea   

38

Gear Talk / Re: Need help: flatwater hard boards for long-distance racing/touring

« on: July 29, 2018, 12:00:55 PM »

I doubt comparing two tests 10 months apart of a single run says much but then you're not the only one saying how good a board the RS is.

Yes that's true of course. And of course I paddled the route much more often within the 10 months. But unfortunately the conditions were not comparable. Either too high water level and thus more current, too much wind from the wrong direction or I was unfit etc.
But I think I know my boards and myself well enough.
When the water is flat, I can paddle the Lightcorp the fastest. With the Lightcorp I have made my fastest kilometer (within a 10 km tour).
As soon as the water gets more choppy, the RS is faster (my fastest km is only 0.1 km/h slower than the Lightcorp, though I'm not sure how much the conditions were comparable).
The Allstar is also a great board, but for me the slowest of the three.

What is still a mystery to me, how it can be that the RS 14x26 can be so fast despite the width and weight in relation to the Allstar or Lightcorp.

39

Gear Talk / Re: Need help: flatwater hard boards for long-distance racing/touring

« on: July 29, 2018, 08:05:59 AM »

Nice photo Mr. Proper, thanks! The SIC RS does seem to be a nice option for me, too. How does it compare to the Allstar 2017 that you once owned?

I also tried the RS 14x24.5 and I can say that it was more stable and faster than the Allstar for me. Even the RS 14x26 is a bit faster for me than the Allstar 14x24.5. I have no idea what it is. But in the conditions where I paddle, the RS works amazingly.
I am 6.4 ft tall and weigh 202 lbs and maybe the >24.5 wide boards dive too deep or are too tippy. Anyway, right now the board is the best I've ever had.
Boat and ship waves from the side? No matter. Cross chop? No matter. buoy turns at waves? No matter.

10 months ago I had my fastest time on the 10 km of my home track with my Lightcorp.
Yesterday, in very similar conditions, I was only 7 seconds slower on the RS.

The RS makes so much fun. It glides on every little wave. Also drafting behind slow boats works better than on all my boards so far.

My recommendation is therefore a RS in 24.5 or 23 width, depending on your ability.

40

Gear Talk / Re: Need help: flatwater hard boards for long-distance racing/touring

« on: July 29, 2018, 01:54:20 AM »

I have a question that is slightly off topic. Today I went to a garage to see what kind of solution they offer for the transportation of a 14 ft (ca. 4.27 m) board. One guy suggested that my car, being ca. 4.44 m long, is too short for such a task (or conversely the board is too long). What do you guys think? Is it really the case? Which vehicles do you normally use for transportation? Below are some dimensions in mm.

btw
After paddling with a 28" board for half a year, I tried a 23" Sprint and thought that was really great. Even 10km worked, although sometimes a bit shaky. Then the first race on a river with a lot of current and I fell off the board 14 times.
Immediately sold the Sprint and bought a 25" all water board (Sidewinder) and that was ok.
Now I have a 24.75" racer and an 26" all-water and only if it's really flat, the racer is faster. Starting in the race is much better with the all-water and as soon as there are just some waves, the racer loses.

41

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: July 28, 2018, 11:59:40 PM »

Perfect. So I will sell my Boards 
Thanks again.

For two weeks I have the RS 14x26 and since then paddled 150 km with it. I'm very satisfied. Stable as a tanker and under normal conditions almost as fast as the Nelo. Unbelievable actually.

42

SUP General / Re: What does your SUP carrying vehicle look like...?

« on: June 11, 2018, 02:24:16 AM »

My new board van:

43

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: June 05, 2018, 11:38:52 AM »

Perfect. So I will sell my Boards 
Thanks again.

44

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: June 05, 2018, 07:28:31 AM »

hello Area10, thanks a lot for your detailed statement. this helps me and confirms my assumption.
Unfortunately I do not have the possibility for a big downwinder and it is rather downbreezer on lakes and sometimes river. Or a lot of boat wakes on our river.
So your example with the eurotour fits perfect.

45

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: June 04, 2018, 10:19:13 PM »

I paddle a SIC RS at 306L.

I would like to buy a board for all conditions that are to heavy for me with the lightcorp. So my plan is, to sell my Bullet V1 and my Allstar 14x24.5 and buy the SIC RS 14x26. Would you recommend this board and the width for a 203 lbs and 6.4 ft paddler?