Gentlemen... Start your engines!

[Gebi]

Old Man Kent, you just switched from windsurfing so you don't get your ass kicked by the other older man.... namely me. I will still hunt you down and beat you in your sleep; that is if you are not sleep walking. Lets get some training in as we don't want to let the left coast boys get too ahead of the game!

[ricki]

So that explains why I hung on to directionals two years longer than most everyone else before going to twin tips. Now you want me to change back? Well, still have five to choose from, bounce like hell though. Wonder how I ever go so used to that? Never used to bother me.

Do you find directionals help to avoid wipeouts on high speed downwind runs more than on twin tips?

[Gebi]

A well designed and tuned directional does not bounce out, but it will probably take a custom built board to get it right.

[Gebi]

Directionals jump insane as well...and toe side turns have serious holding power. If your board is well designed and tuned, you can spend a 3 hour session and never switch stance, because the toe side riding is so locked in. Especially if the surf is good and your doing all the jumping on a north wind (for example) riding heel side and the just crank some nice turns to toe side when riding the waves.

These are not your mothers old directionals they are generally smaller something like 5'3"or smaller and narrower with surf boar trifins or quads just on the tail for maximum grip and control.The racing directionals are relatively flat like a windsurfing slalom board as a flatter rocker makes for good control at speed if all the other factors banance out.

Back straps are quite far back usually. My racing directional is 4"11" by 16 wide and single concave with a relatively straight outline; tri fins. Witt back strap 9 inches from the tail. Front strap is centered as well.

This board is notably faster than a twin tip in every direction except an overpowered reach in super choppy water. Upwind and down wind it will smoke most twin tips easily. I am normally faster toe side than most people on a heelside riding twin tip. So these newer directionals are pretty sweet.