I am looking for a big board to spend more time on the water. Are the new wide freerides like the SB 161 as good as they say will they make a force 3 viable and whats more enjyable? Any Experience?

Hey Nick
Have you tryed the hypersonic yet?
Well worth a look.
Will make light wind days enjoyable.
I use 105 with 7.8 9.5 sails brilliant!!!.
Good sailing.
All Best Toddy.

Hello Nick, not used a board as big as the 161SB but I have recently taken ownership of a 2003 JP Freeride 144ES and it flies! Stick a 6.5M in a force3-4 on inland water and it really does go. I weigh 78Kg and this board is very quick on the plane and even goes well in less wind. Can handle upto 9ishM sails realistically. Sails upwind well with the 46cm fin and is fairly forgiving.

Downsides are that it has a wide tail and therefore doesnt initiate carves very well for carving begginers.
The skin like most epoxy boards isnt very robust so lots of boom and mast protection for begginers/intermediates.

If I had the money I would have liked to have got a JP xcite, little more user friendly and better for people on the steep part of the learning curve.

The larger JP boards plane just as well and are well suited to heaier riders/bigger sails.

Hope this helps

Vdubs

[Edited on 4-6-2004 by vdubs]

[Edited on 4-6-2004 by vdubs]