Axxis 278 vs. Gecko 278?
David H. Mark MD
very similar in design, shape, volume, weight, and other characteristics.
I'm thinking the only differences lie in the extras like the Fanatic foot
strap setup and Trim box. I'm thinking of replacing Screamer, weigh about
155, sail mostly choppy L. Michigan that would sometimes have 4 foot swells
in the wind range that this board would be used. How would these compare to
Screamer in 5.5 to 6.5 range? Thanks for comments.
David H. Mark
L. Michigan, L. Winnebago, L. Mendota, SF(home visits)
Colas Nahaboo
MD) writes:
|> Any opinions on the relative performance of these two boards?
the new french mag test issues are just out (and they actually review
boards seriously, unlike Windsurfing Magazine).
The F2 Axxis 278 won the tests for its class hands down (second was the
seatrend 8'11" and 3rd the AHD "Free Ride"). The fanatic was classed nearly
last.
They says that the F2 is fast and lively, and handles rough chop and waves
like a breeze, whereas the Gecko is stable, but "dull" and handles less
chop. Apparnetly the shape is quite differnet altough it doesnt show by
just looking at them.
WRT a screamer (I owned one), these new boards will not doubt be MUCH
more fun to ride. The screamer is very "user-friendly" but not the best
board in chop, and when you turn you slow down (narrow tail), wheras the
new design keep speed or accelerate in turns if you push them... uphauling
is a bit more tricky due to the (moderate) no-nose shape...
--
Colas Nahaboo, Koala, BULL @ INRIA Sophia, http://www.inria.fr/koala/colas
Carl Edgar
>Any opinions on the relative performance of these two boards? They sound
>very similar in design, shape, volume, weight, and other characteristics.
>I'm thinking the only differences lie in the extras like the Fanatic foot
>strap setup and Trim box. I'm thinking of replacing Screamer, weigh about
>155, sail mostly choppy L. Michigan that would sometimes have 4 foot swells
>in the wind range that this board would be used. How would these compare to
>Screamer in 5.5 to 6.5 range? Thanks for comments.
Just bought a Gecko 278 to replace my trusty Screamer and, so far, I'm
really impressed. The board is faster and more comfortable to sail fast
than the screamer, carries a bigger sale better and planes earlier.
Initially I found it took more effort to gybe (fatter, high volume tail)
but I quickly got used to this and now find I plane out of more gybes
(for the same reasons). For the record I weigh 190 lbs.
Carl Edgar
Gecko Fanatic
Steve Honey
|> The F2 Axxis 278 won the tests for its class hands down (second was the
|> seatrend 8'11" and 3rd the AHD "Free Ride"). The fanatic was classed nearly
|> last.
|>
|> They says that the F2 is fast and lively, and handles rough chop and waves
|> like a breeze, whereas the Gecko is stable, but "dull" and handles less
|> chop. Apparnetly the shape is quite differnet altough it doesnt show by
|> just looking at them.
|>
|> WRT a screamer (I owned one), these new boards will not doubt be MUCH
|> more fun to ride.
Another Screamer owner here, interested in the new crop of no-nose boards.
What other boards were in the test? Did they include some older style
boards for comparison purposes (i.e. Screamer or Bic E-Rock)?
I've been looking at the Mistral Energizer and B ic Vivace 282 to replace
the Screamer (for sailing with a 7.0m to a 5.0m). Mainly interested in
slalom and bump and jump. Any comments how these boards might compare
to the F2 Axxis 278? Which would be best for bump+jump?
Steven J. Honey
email:s...@uni.wsicorp.com
WSI Corporation
Mistral Screamer, Wind+Surf 8'6" Custom
Sailworks Sails
Colas Nahaboo
writes:
|> Another Screamer owner here, interested in the new crop of no-nose boards.
|> What other boards were in the test?
new ones + the screamer
|> Did they include some older style
|> boards for comparison purposes (i.e. Screamer or Bic E-Rock)?
the screamer was rated as easy to gibe, and good in waves, but feeling
"dated" (less fun) and hard in chop. Having had a screamer, I'll add that
the screamer turns in waves by sinking the tail. sure you turn and it is
safe but you cannot accelerate by pushing weight forward into the turn as
you may block on the rails or pearl, and thus cannot experience the
exhilarating surfboard-like turns allowed by modern design.
I have an AHD 267 (tri-fin) which is a PURE joy and won the test hand
down. A real modern (read: fast) waveboard that can go upwind reasonably
and fast in chop, but it is only 86l in volume. but I have a light-wind
wavebord too for my 200lbs...
|> I've been looking at the Mistral Energizer and B ic Vivace 282 to replace
|> the Screamer (for sailing with a 7.0m to a 5.0m). Mainly interested in
|> slalom and bump and jump. Any comments how these boards might compare
|> to the F2 Axxis 278? Which would be best for bump+jump?
these boards were not tested against the F2, but in the slalom 280 group
(they split boards by groups of 5-6).
I think that the vivace and energizer are more "light wind slalom" and you
will get out of control very soon. better with 7.0 upwind, but with 5.0
the axxis will deliver more fun.
Carl Edgar
of the UK Windsurf Magazine in which they test the F2 Axxis
278 and AHD275 Freeride.
Comparisons drawn with the (Pure) Gecko 278 are:
- The AHD's performance is closest to the Gecko, but a LOT more
expensive (at UK prices anyway).
- The F2 has superior handling and ease of gybing at the expense
of upwind performance, top speed and acceleration (and early
planing?).
They also comment favourably on the F2's gybing abilites in
comparison with the Screamer (as good for standard gybes, better
for lay downs).
Basically, it would seem that all "convertible" boards are a
compromise between wave and slalom disciplines. The F2 has
softer rails and less flat in the rocker profile and is,
therefore, closer to a wave board whilst the Fanatic leans
more toward slalom.
This is fine by me as I use my Gecko 278 for light/medium wind
blasting and have a Gecko 265 for high wind B&J anyway.
Carl Edgar
Gecko Fanatic
Jack Faller
:
:
: |> The F2 Axxis 278 won the tests for its class hands down (second was the
: |> seatrend 8'11" and 3rd the AHD "Free Ride"). The fanatic was classed nearly
: |> last.
: |>
: |> They says that the F2 is fast and lively, and handles rough chop and waves
: |> like a breeze, whereas the Gecko is stable, but "dull" and handles less
: |> chop. Apparnetly the shape is quite differnet altough it doesnt show by
: |> just looking at them.
: |>
: |> WRT a screamer (I owned one), these new boards will not doubt be MUCH
: |> more fun to ride.
:
: Another Screamer owner here, interested in the new crop of no-nose boards.
: What other boards were in the test? Did they include some older style
: boards for comparison purposes (i.e. Screamer or Bic E-Rock)?
: I've been looking at the Mistral Energizer and B ic Vivace 282 to replace
: the Screamer (for sailing with a 7.0m to a 5.0m). Mainly interested in
: slalom and bump and jump. Any comments how these boards might compare
: to the F2 Axxis 278? Which would be best for bump+jump?
The Mistral Energizer is probably too big. You might want to look into
an Electron (about 15 L smaller), it was designed for bump & jump and
is fairly easy handling. You might want to check into the smaller Axxis
as well.
I sailed my Screamer on Saturday with a good small fin and a 5.6 M-6
Gastra and still love it. If you're interested in something for
b&J, I'd look into something smaller than the energizer.
--
Jack Faller
Deparment of Chemistry
Yale University
jack....@yale.edu
Elijah Elmo Stewart
: I have an AHD 267 (tri-fin) which is a PURE joy and won the test hand
: down. A real modern (read: fast) waveboard that can go upwind reasonably
: and fast in chop, but it is only 86l in volume. but I have a light-wind
: wavebord too for my 200lbs...
Curious, what light-wind wave board are you using?
Brian M.
Colas Nahaboo
Stewart) writes:
|> : and fast in chop, but it is only 86l in volume. but I have a light-wind
|> : wavebord too for my 200lbs...
|> Curious, what light-wind wave board are you using?
Custom-made from a local shaper, Jerome Caillet "Radical". Not very well
known, but he only wavesails (very competently) and have a team member
spying all the new designs in hookipa :-)
In fact I tried the famous shapers (Fabien Wollenweider, Jean-marie
Guiriec, Fred Meunier), but if you are not a professional, you are in for
6 month wait and an amount of about $2000.
Jerome lives 5km from home, and made me the board quickly after long
discussions on what I wanted. It was the biggest board he ever made :-)
He made me a nice board. I think he could have spent more time refining
the rails but otrherwise its Ok :-). And it was cheaper than production.
It is a modern shape (not unlike the new bic saxo), very light (sandwich
epoxy) for early planing, not jumpable, waveriding-only.
Before that I used to buy production for my ligh-wind board, but I found
that wave performance is the only thing you need. Going straight is boring
:-)