Isthmus Sailboards is your #1 source of everything windsurfing. This video presentation features our wide selection of Entry to Intermediate windsurfing boards with Jon Massmann. It will give viewers a chance to learn, view and compare this category of 2013 boards head to head. Boards featured are: Bic Beach, Bic Core 293D, RRD EasyRide M, JP Funster 180 and Starboard Rio M. Board Pricing starts from $899 while complete packages start from $1375 including shipping.
We do offer more board options and sizes of beginning to intermediate boards. Call for more details.
800-473-1153
Jon Massmann from Isthmus Sailboards introduces the New RRD M & MR series Aluminum Monocoque booms from Roberto Ricci Designs. Available in 2 grip sizes options (26 and 29mm boom grip) and boom sizes of 140, 160 for MR 26 mm, and 140, 160, 180, 200 for M 29 mm series. All have 60 cm of adjustment range, Twin pin adjustment system and die cut boom grip. T9 Aluminum for max stiffness and quality you've come to expect from RRD products.
This video shot on location on north shore of Cyprus, Turkey in the Mediterranean where Jon Massmann was invited to test out the latest RRD designs. Roberto Ricci takes the 92 WC for a spin with the Mast camera mount. On-shore conditions with 1-4 foot swells and 15-25 mph winds during this footage.
The RRD Wave Cult Ltd V5 is the “wider is better” Wave On-shore solution. Parallel hips in the mid 1/3, ultra thin rails and pulled in tail shape are key for early planing, speed and maneuverability. Quad fin design works great, especially in on-shore sailing environments as well as bump-n-jump type sailing. This board is a blast to sail and inspires confidence, is fast and fun!
If you have any questions, always feel free to contact us at 800-473-1153 or isthmussailboards.com.
The newest construction offering of the Firestorm 120, the LTD is an excellent freeride slalom board designed for speed, yet forgiving in the transitions. Not as aggressive in the turns vs. the FreeRace or X-fire series, it is well suited for speed slalom types with more maneuverability in transitions. Jon Massmann tested the board in Cyprus and found it to be a very comfortable and fast freeride design. With a narrower profile vs. the FireMove 120 it helps with the top-end speed to achieve its design objectives. Call it a fast performance Freeride with a slalom pedigree. Beautiful finish in LTD with DaKine straps and MFC RC2 G10 fin. Please call Isthmus Sailboards staff - for more info and details of this board.
For more info on Isthmus Sailboards, visit isthmussailboards.com or call 1.800.473.1153
The new 2012 RRD Freestyle Wave boards are amazingly comfortable, maneuverable and super fun to sail in a huge range of conditions. Whether you are a recreational freerider pursuing an exciting and very jibe capable board, or an aggressive freestyle wave/ bump-n-jumper looking for years of adrenaline fueled riding, the new Freestyle Wave series is simply impressive!
This video blog footage will take you through onshore wave sailing in Northern Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. Come along as Jon takes you through his first rides testing out the 102 FSW LTD.
If you have any questions, always feel free to contact us at 800-473-1153 or isthmussailboards.com.
Isthmus Sailboards Jon Massmann interviews Starboard chief board shaper Tiesda You during a recent visit to our shop in September. The topic of discussion is Starboards Phantom series of boards for 2012. Additional video footage of the Phantom 295 hull was taken by Jon at Surf Expo show in Orlando FL. Please view both videos.
Tiesda discusses the Phantom 320 and the new BatWing design that he and shaper Remi incorporate into new 295 and 377 model boards. Tiesda breaks the new features down and shares How they will benefit riders.
New notable features include:
• BatWing Rail Flares on rail of board that increase wetted surface when in planing mode.
• Angled Mast Track – to increase forward nose pressure in light winds and pointing to greater control and recessed mast foot – when planing in the straps with the mast foot back in the track.
• New Dagger board construction to improve low wind performance.
Isthmus Sailboards’ Jon Massmann discusses the details of the newest version of the RRD Longrider that targets expert to entry level sailors. He nicknames it “insurance board” for getting out on the water and having fun in 0-20+ mph winds.
The RRD Longrider is a combination of a long board shape with a short board planing qualities. Its length of 340 cm and width of 70 cm provides a very capable windsurfing touring shape. Combine this length, low wind wetted surface area and the use of a dagger board to increase stability and upwind pointing potential. As winds and hull speeds increase, the unique step tail design frees up the boards long board feel. This freer sensation occurs with little effort on the part of the sailor as the boards wetted surface decreases at the nose and tail areas. This provides riders with the short board sensations without them having to move their body position much at all. The wide range of strap position options allows users of all abilities the chance to access straps and planing with relative ease. I call this - accessible short board sensations. The boards soft – tucked rail shape, nose scope and tail rocker (due to step tail), provide easy jibing and maneuvering qualities regardless of the water conditions. These same features also allow the board to work well in waves and surf. If the wind dies, the board can also double as a SUP (stand up paddleboard). The RRD LongRider is your “insurance” to getting out on the water and having fun regardless of the wind conditions.
Features:
340 cm length by 70 cm width
180 liters of volume
4x’s Dakine foot straps
Maui Fin Company FreeWave 34 cm fin
Powerbox fin system.
Construction:
Full Sandwich wrapped epoxy
EVA pad throughout entire deck and rail
Interview with windsurfing tester Shawn Kempton and the development of the new True Ames Blade Weed 2 fin.
Shawn, you recently assisted Chuck Ames of True Ames Fins in developing a new weed fin design to replace the popular BladeWeed model. Would you please share a little insight to yourself, your windsurfing background, and how this R & D experience came about?
I have been windsurfing on and off for 35 years. I started to get serious about it in 93. I moved to a new home with the bay right out back. I grew up racing sailboats on the Toms River. By age 22 I had won 11 national championships and competed in the 80 Olympic trials in the Finn Class.
Barnegat Bay gets a phenomenal amount of weed from July right thru September; last year there were no weed fins that you could buy that would work. I explained my frustrations to Gary at Isthmus and he thought Chuck would have a solution
What were your goals in assisting Chuck Ames in redesigning his BladeWeed fin?
We needed fin that would clear the weed. I don't care how fast a
more vertical fin is, if it doesn't clear the weed it is USELESS. Not
just one that would clear when you were already planing. We needed a
fin that would clear in marginal conditions WHILE PUMPING UP ON A
PLANE. When you are trying to get out of the hole in marginal
conditions, and are just about on a plane and then you hit the weed
and you have to start all over .Extremely frustrating.
We also needed big weed fins that would work. The newer sails are so
rangy 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 are now common sails. Also, the newer boards are
wider in the tail, requiring larger fins. I personally don't think
enough emphasis is placed on the fin. When you are fully powered up I
will bet, there is more wetted surface of the fin, than the board.
Making the fin as important or more important than the board.
I see people sometimes rig three different sails in one session. I
find it mind boggling, that is a lot of work and you are missing
sailing time. If you are overpowered just switch to a smaller fin and
chances are you will be fine.
The image of test / comparison fins is impressive! How many weed
fins did you test in this R & D process?
All of them, well all of them that could be purchased. I even
had some sent over from Germany and just last month I received some
Makani weed fins.
Chuck Ames has been a long time master fin designer for: Windsurf,
Surf, Kite and now SUP boards. Did you learn a lot from Chuck through
this experience?
I can tell you this, Chuck will listen, even if you are not a
pro or have a big name in the industry.
What performance advantages do find the Bladeweed 2 provides over
it's predecessor and the various competitors weed fins?
Thru testing, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best
weed fin on the market today. It clears the nastiest weed, it is fast
and it corners.
Thank you Shawn for taking time out of your schedule to share your
insight and experience with Isthmus Sailboards customers!
Isthmus Sailboards’ interviews Tony Kardol, the RRD US distributor, about one of RRD’s new midseason board models - the FireStorm. The FireStorm is designed to maximize speed and freeride performance for a broad range of sailor skills.
The FireStorm is all about FreeSpeed / Freeride excitement. Designed as a more user friendly Freeride Slalom board vs. the X-Fire race design, it is more suitable to a broader skill range of riders. It planes in very marginal conditions and delivers more responsive drive and cornering capabilities. It features a scooped out deck shape for better nose control while experiencing rough waters and high speeds. The FireStorm is available in 3 sizes: 138, 120 and 111 liter models. Specs are: 138 (240 x 77 cm), 120 (238 x 72), and 111 (236 x 68). It has power box and includes a MFC G10 RC2 fin and 4x’s DaKine foot straps.
Isthmus Sailboards’ interviews Tony Kardol, the RRD US distributor, about RRD’s newest model board - the FireMove. The FireMove Hero Cam action footage is of Isthmus Sailboards’ Jon Massmann testing the 110 LTD in Avon, NC this past April.
Jon Massmann shares a few notes about the performance qualities of the new RRD FireMove 110 LTD that he tested in Avon, NC during the Windsurfing Magazine Board Tests this past April.
The FireMove is all about Freeride / Freemove fun. I sailed the board in relatively light wind conditions with a 7.5 sail. Due to its thin rail and side thickness profile coupled with a relatively wide midsection, this board planes in very marginal conditions and delivers a surprisingly loose sensation under foot. It goes against conventional wisdom with its unique width and volume distribution. But the overall impression by all testers about this board is: it was a blast to sail.
Tester comments like: “What was that board, it was just unbelievable…I couldn’t believe how easy it planed and turned…it doesn’t feel like it is 75 cm wide…it is so light and responsive…It went through the chop so effortlessly…it is comfortable, fast and fun…”
The FireMove is ideal for persons looking to add a little freemove excitement to their freeriding sessions. Expect this board to replace modern freeride boards that have 10-20 liters more volume.
Aeron produces the smallest diameter aluminum boom in the windsurfing industry at 26mm. Isthmus Sailboards’ Jon Massmann discusses the features and benefits of this design along with Aeron's new front end for 2011.
The 2011 Aeron MCT 26 Monocoque boom is stiff, light and includes a new boom head with a larger bearing surface area to increase contact height and support relative to the mast. It is ideal for windsurfers seeking a small grip diameter performance boom loaded with features. The Monocoque construction refers to a single tube used for the boom arms and a separate tube for the rear end to maximize perimeter stiffness and strength. Boom front end includes a built-in yet removable shim for RDM masts. The MCT 26 is available in 140, 150, 160 and 175 sizes, each with 50cm adjustment range. Combination of 2 tubes, 26 diameter grip and new clamp-on head delivers fantastic boom performance.
Isthmus Sailboards’ Jon Massmann and Gary Stone test the GT1 sails in Avon, NC and Bonaire.
Jon shares details of the sail and performance qualities.
The GT “GT1” is a no-cam 6 batten sail ideal for freeride and bump-n-jump oriented performance. It has 5 battens above the boom, 1 batten below, and deep draft profile shape to deliver excellent low-end pull and upper wind range stability. Constructed entirely of x-ply warp
weave sail cloth, and use of a vinyl window are big advantages for long term durability. RBS epoxy battens are the strongest in the industry. This sail also features rigging guides, 3 pulley tack, mast pad, adjustable top haul system and very strong mast sleeve material. Nice graphics too!
Isthmus Sailboards’ Jon Massmann tests the New 2011 Starboard iSonic 117W Carbon at the Board Test Live - Windsurfing Magazine test in AVON, NC on April 1, 2011. He used a GoPro helmet mount camera and Garmin GPS to document his testing experience and share his perspectives.
The Starboard iSonic 117W is all about early planing and speed in moderate wind conditions. It’s incredibly light and stiff with its Carbon lay-up, yet very comfortable and efficient. The board is more rig steering oriented due to its 80.5 width that limits foot steering sensitivity. The hull is based on their ultra thin profile shaping along with the deep deck concaves to increase control, stiffness, speed, and lower center of gravity. The bottom shape has cut-outs around fin box and small cutaway along the rail for better water release and top end speed. The winds were a bit marginal when I sailed it – roughly 10-15 mph, yet I was able to achieve 25 mph on my GPS. I believe it best suits 190 lb and larger riders seeking an efficient and fast race slalom board to ride with 7.5 and larger sail sizes, or smaller riders who desire a 117 liter wide and compact planing machine. Everyone who tried this board at the board test was impressed by its performance!
Isthmus Sailboards’ Jon Massmann tests the new 2011 JP All-Ride 106 wood-sandwich during the Board Test Live - Windsurfing Magazine test in AVON, NC on April 1, 2011. He used a GoPro helmet mount camera and Garmin GPS to document his testing experience and share his perspectives.
The JP All-Ride 106 is a very fast yet user friendly freeride / freemove design that provides riders with good foot steering qualities. It’s great for persons seeking a board to chop hop and maneuver with confidence, while providing excellent top speed potential. The All-Ride is more foot sensitive vs. most modern performance-freeride designs, yet is not quite as loose in turning qualities vs. modern freestyle wave shapes. It proved to be the fastest board during my testing experience in Avon, NC, with a top GPS reading of 29.8 mph (wind conditions were 25 mph or less during all of my test sessions). This board best suits advanced-intermediates to expert sailors seeking a fast and maneuverable oriented freeride board that provides fun and exciting performance.
Chinook Sailing Products national sales manager Dan Van Hoose
discusses the new Chinook Pro 1 Carbon Boom with Isthmus Sailboards at the industry trade show in Hood River Oregon. He shares insight on construction, manufacturing, sizing and the loads of features found on this impressive carbon boom.
Isthmus Sailboards staff member – Jon Massmann – recently tested this
boom for a week in Hatteras, NC. Feel free to contact him for personal
insight. 800-473-1153
Wdsf mag editor Josh Sampiero with Frank Messina (background)
Board Toss Action
Board test line-up
Week 1 testers with board test gear
Avon Sunset at Guest House #2
Board test action - April 2
Isthmus staff member Jon Massmann just returned from the Windsurfing Magazine “Board Tests Live” board test held in Avon, NC from March 26 – April 10. The test revolved around the newest 106 liter – 160 liter Freeride / Slalom / Light Air Freeride board designs and a field of testers from consumers to shop employees from across the USA and Canada. All the participants were dedicated windsurfers with great spirits, capable short board skills and a fun group to be around.
The venue and conditions proved to be excellent for testing the latest designs in these categories head to head. Jon’s week-one weather conditions were cool with winds from 5-25 mph. Many of the testers had GoPro cameras and or GPS devices (Jon had both) which added to the mix of test results, daily video blogs and spirited end of week discussions.
Notables were: Pro sailor Josh Angulo 2 day visit from Africa. The Board Toss – NCAA basketball tournament style - using some late 80’s glass boards. Testing conditions were relative to most consumer base sailing experiences (not Maui).
If interested in learning about the boards Jon tested, feel free to contact him via phone 608-849-0601 (direct line) or email jon@isthmussailboards.com.
In this video our friend Al from Long Island describes his experience riding this board in the flat water and chop of Bonaire. The Fireride Twin is an awesome plug 'n play board that feels comfortable from the first moment you ride it. It offers early planing, amazing resistance to spin out with its twin fins and jibes beautifully. Its twin fins also allow it to be used in very shallow water conditions. There is also a single fin version available. For more information on RRD boards check out isthmussailboards.com.
DaKine team rider Whit Poor shares his personal insight on DaKine's newest T5 waist harness with Isthmus Sailboards this past fall in Hood River Oregon. He speaks from the perspective of his hands on testing and development with DaKine in their quest to create the most sophisticated, comfortable and supportive waist harness ever. The T5 is designed to fit the contours of your body from day one, and continue to do so for many years and long hours of use. Get in touch with us at 1-800-473-1153 to learn the details of all our harness offerings or check them out at isthmussailboards.com.
We discuss the merits of aluminum vs carbon booms everyday with our customers and have always wanted a way to show people how big the difference in stiffness is. These GoPro action videos show very clearly the difference in deflection of carbon vs aluminum booms. The aluminum boom is a full monocoque aluminum boom with 29mm grip from HPL and the carbon boom is a Streamlined 100% prepreg carbon boom. Whena boom flexes, the clew length changes, forcing the draft to move back and forth as the amount of flex is varying continuously. A carbon boom has dramatically less flex, delivering more stable and comfortable power delivery and making your rig far easier to manage particularly in overpowering conditions. Get in touch with us at 1-800-473-1153 to learn the details of all our boom offerings or check them out at isthmussailboards.com.
Isthmus Sailboards owner Gary Stone just returned from a great trip to Bonaire. He met up with a lot of avid windsurfers . One in particular was Dave Moomaw. Dave is an amputee who has built an entire system to adapt his prosthetic leg to windsurfing. It is fascinating to see Dave sail, he is truly an inspiration. In this clip Dave explains his research and development of his adaptive equipment and his kind and most generous offer to other adaptive sailors. You may get in touch with Dave at davemoomaw@gmail.com.
Stay tuned for more videos as we begin our journey into the blogosphere.
For more info on Isthmus Sailboards, visit isthmussailboards.com or call 1.800.473.1153