Airush Sector 60 Review
Wed, 09/01/2010 - 19:32
Perfect storm arrives early today along the Mashpee-Hyannis Corridor.
New airush Sector 60 arrives at 3pm (earlier than the usual 5pm UPS delivery),
the SW winds kick up on my day off and the lifeguards leave Kalmus early. Got onto the water by 5pm and caught that small wave shown on the graph averaging 12mph, with gusts to 13-14mph. Lasted for about 15 minutes before dropping to average of 8mph.
Sector was GREAT but only a short session so far. Flew the 2009 14m nemesis, during the 12mph interval the board tacked upwind really well and seemed to plan effortlessly, what a change! Rode the fins some and in the lighter winds stayed planing as I brought the backfoot forward out of back strap. Nice jumping on the chop, feel like the board could go bigair with a little more wind. Love the three footstrap arrangement, oh the comfort of it all.
Wind did drop to 8mph and at times seemed to go to zero on the water, then had to stand straight up on board (which did not sink the board !), fly downwind back to where I started while concentrating on flying kite almost as if I was flying it on the beach in very low wind. The nemesis is especially prone to backstall while riding downwind so had to really concentrate on flying kite well.
I am betting the board will bring me upwind with that kite in 10 mph wind, more experience will tell. So far have to initiate turning the board way before the kite, such a different turn with the flat rocker compred to the Stretch Yes, but the board is not really for turning. Board even got the windsurfers talking to me about equipment, which in all these years of kiting is a first, but maybe its me. It did feel like a Starboard Formula at times.
Great quality out of the box with no problems with fins as some have reported and I like the foostraps, no velcro footstrap adjustments but just like the North wave straps without velcro, the Sector straps have really nice stretch to them and you can adjust with screw placement etc. I only adjust straps twice a year anyways and need to check foostraps screws more often that that. Although I have heard others complain, I personally like the deckpad borrowed from the Airush Monaro. Board feel really light in your hands and I can carry (carefully) under one arm even at 23" wide, 5'8" long (and maybe 1.75 " max thickness).
Really psyched, wicked board. Nothin like new toys that very admirably fill a gap, especially a gap recently created by the loss of another great low wind board (Cab Autopilot). Will let you know what I think when I get more time on the board..... may the Race begin!
Wed, 09/01/2010 - 20:06
#1
Thanks for the report! The
Thanks for the report! The thing I don't get about using a directional board for light wind is that it's hard to stay upwind, toeside, in light wind. Do you jibe the board and switch your feet each time or are you just really good at riding upwind toeside in light air?
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 06:48
#3
I've got a hard time
I've got a hard time switching my feet after I jibe on my 6' Caution surfboard. I'm sure you have better skills. Also, the width of the Sector might help.
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 11:42
#4
toeside is tough on that
toeside is tough on that board for sure! The board is meant to be ridden flat, edge against the fins.. just like windsurfing 
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 11:38
#5
Great review Robert! Stoked
Great review Robert! Stoked that you like the board so much!
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 06:38
#6
light wind mania
Got out for a longer session at WB on Thurs pre Earl.
I weight 215 lbs and flew nemi 14m again. Kited my local spot and by 6pm everyone had drifted downwind back to shore as wind hovered around 9-12 mph. I was able to tack upwind
and practice jumping and even tried some tacking. Board is hands down best lightwind machine I have ever used. Could get the board to plane up on the fins by pushing out with both feet (in the straps) and pulling upwind with forward foot and pushing downwind with back foot. I suppose a zephyr kite could be a good compliment to this board but I like the way I can move the nemi 14m around in the sky and create some more apparent wind!
Nice kiting post Earl but on my smallest Stretch Yes.
Oceanextremesports.com, your far away kiteboard supplier that feels like its just down the beach! Thanks Brian for hooking me up with that demo board that feels brand new.
Mon, 09/06/2010 - 20:01
#7
High wind mania
Rode this board again this past Sun am at WB in early morning 19-24 mphish wind and was really impressed with how it handles the wind and the chop. It was surprisingly good jumping, feeling lighhter than its size, but had to keep plane of board parallel with wind or the board would end up spinning you unintentionally on the jumps. Downwind performance was pretty good but board didn't seem to want to ride straight downwind, but I was on a nemesis kite again (10m) and that adds confounding factors for downwind riding.
I tend to gybe a lot, I did go toeside a very little today but mostly as I was going downwind in very low wind. Need to try toeside on that board some more.
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