I say get an 85L board, don't fret the box style and with the learning curve you are on youll be looping by the long weekend. giv'er!
look into what it will cost you to fly it home though.. might not be such a smoking deal. espec. if you are driving to the gorge later in the summer.

I think I read somewhere that AirCanada will let me fly it for a nominal fee? I am sure someone like Randy has more knowledge/experience with this though.

Hi nanmoo.

I would stick with the same finbox as the 110L...'cause as you build up a nice fin quiver it is nice when they can be used on either board.

Take a look at a Fanatic FreeWave 86L (powerbox). I bought a 2007 86L Fanatic FW (in 2008) for $1299US when the Canadian was close to par....and sold the G10 fin it came with on ebay for $50 as I had another PB fin that size.

I am not that proficient a sailor compared to most but the Freewave sails itself...I have gone 4.2 to 5.8 on it.

I also have a 2008 Naish 104L All-Terrain (for sale?) but wish I had a 110L - 113L based on the "range" comments that Chris said...at Harrison Lake there are some big wind holes and a 110L would give a bit more float (the water is friggin cold there).

PS - I will ship the Garmin when I get your cheque.

Keith (KC)

reason I was going to get the AHD Rebound 83 was because of the powerbox over the OES Xwave 82...buth OES can but the PB in and I would need it to be more wave oriented at that size for me.
As far as size, it comes to down to body weight. I have in my earlier years owned about half a dozen boards in their mid 80's L and never enjoyed or used them much. Even today. Volume equals comfort in most situations, comfort equals fun. For your size you can probably get away with the 85 (still think a 90+ would serve you better on those better lake and mellower ocean days, but whatever), RRD makes great boards and a lot with PB's. Not the fastest but compfy and respond and jump well. I would also look at the Global Wave Naish, fast, user friendly, unfortunately most are Aboxes.

Have fun shopping. nope, I don't think Air Canada ships WSboards at all anymore....neither does WestJet from what I recall. Fly Northwest out of Seattle and they can do it according to Winger, $75-150.

Unfortunately Naish, OES and many others don't sport fancy graphics and that is what is most important.

The decide-o-meter is tipping towards 90L again, I really don't want to have to deal with a US Box, this sport requires enough tinkering as is!

$1249 US for the LTD version, couple less for the wood version that has less exciting graphics out of Windance, might have to splurrrgeee soon as I can't find a dealer who sells RRD in Maui anyways and I'm sure the 08's are shortening in supply. Speaking of which, any reason to go with the higher end construction over the wood construction other than the said fancy graphics? The weight diference is minimal.

The 2008 Goya One 85L comes with a power box. I have the 77L version and WDoc has the 95. They are FSW boards with a slight lean to the wave side. The 85L should be a 4.2 to 5.3 boards for your weight. I see the 2009 85L version is now US box.
http://www.windance.com/2008-goya-one-8 ... -2219.html

Like DWD said, I wouldn't get too hung up on US or power box. I have 2 US box boards and 1 power box and don't have a problem, although I'm not one to change fins much either. Power box is definitely easier for quick fin changes though.

I agree that with the speed you are progressing that a 85-90L would suit you for <5.3 sailing. The best way is to try a bunch of boards and then decide. Some are better at early planing and some are turnier.

That would be cool to see you looping by the end of summer - you'll turn into a (much) younger version of WDoc.

... and better looking?

Yeah I'm looooking to go pro and leave behind the mundane life of government work, mortgages, committed relationships, cold weather, bad mexican food and 5 minute commutes over the blue bridge. Fingers crossed.