Nice day at sea
Good wind: 20 to 25 knots predicted, all day and evening wind. In the morning a lot of showers, even with thunderstorms. So first bit work and then of topass to Zeeland.

On arrival Marvin was on the shore, eating something, has was using his 5.3 (Freak, so not super much power) many others with 4.7 a 5.3 on the water.
So took the Ice 5.3 with the JP Single Thruster 99 Pro, more volume, in case the wind would not be enough.
Nice day to test the 2011 99 Pro for the first time. Started the K4 12cm and JP 20cm.
Wind in the beginning more south, therefor waves almost side-shore. As is more common at the Blockendam: near the beach less wind.
It was high tide, almost no steep waves. Stance on the board did not feel secure, front foot not fixed, footstraps too big.
On the beach: adjust the straps: Da Kine Core Contour broken, that is a first, both sides the plastic broken through.

With a different footstrap, feeling on the board was much better, more secure.
Jumping was not the best, too little experience with left foot in front. Wind turned to more SW, so the more normal direction.
Waves easier to jump, on-shore waverinding possible.
Getting upwind needed work, fins probably just too small, though I had no spinouts.
The Ice 5.3 was big the hole time.
Switched the 20cm JP (actually only 19cm) for the Select X1 21cm.
Board ran a bit loser, but in the on-shore bottom turn it did some times spinout.
Close to the dam and beach some beautiful lines. Tried a couple of times to go really front-side, one success full hit: Nice.

To compare the boards, took the Freestyle Wave 102. Used the Makani 26cm.
Feels very familiar. Jumping still not great, boards are big, and this is not my favorite direction.
Control is very good with both boards.

Switched to the 99 again, now with 22cm with 10cm Makani thrusters. Less spinouts. Board is still slightly looser.

Today, the Single Thruster was more fun than the FreestyleWave 102. But normally I would get my 84 on a day like today, which is still a bit nicer.
I still need a few good test days to make my choice.
Was nice to sail together with Martijn and Marvin.

Blokkendam

Present: Martijn (Volvosurfer), Marvin

13:15 1.25 hour Wind: S/SW
Board: JP Single Thruster 99 Pro - JP Wave 20cm/K4 Ezzy Asymmetric 2x12cm
Sail: North Ice 5.3 - North Gold(b) 400cm - AL360 E3 Carbon 160-220
  First time with the Single Thruster 99 Pro. This fin set seems to be on the small side, had get upwind all the time. But no spinouts. Sail was on the big side. Board gave enough control, water had a lot of nasty chop/waves. Wave riding was pretty good, but I didn't manage to make board do tight turns. Slightly wider curves are going very well. Jumping was ok at best, but that was probably me.
14:30 0.75 hour Wind: S/SW
Board: JP Single Thruster 99 Pro - Select X1 21cm/K4 Ezzy Asymmetric 2x12cm
Sail: North Ice 5.3 - North Gold(b) 400cm - AL360 E3 Carbon 160-220
  With the X1 21cm instead of the JP 20cm the board runs slightly looser and easier to get upwind. But in backwind buttom turn sometimes spinout. Board slipped away from me, probably wanted to run too tight, board not carving enough? Control still good, water was very rough.
15:30 1 hour Wind: W/SW
Board: JP Freestyle Wave 102 Pro - Makani Kaku 26cm
Sail: North Ice 5.3 - North Gold(b) 400cm - AL360 E3 Carbon 160-220
  Set worked really wel, relaxed stance. Predictable. Turns clearly less tight than the Single Thruster 99. Fin works well with the 5.3 max powered. Jumping going out not much better than the Single Thruster, but that was more to me.
16:45 1.75 hour Wind: SW
Board: JP Single Thruster 99 Pro - MFC 2K 22cm/Makani Walu 2x10cm
Sail: North Ice 5.3 - North Gold(b) 400cm - AL360 E3 Carbon 160-220
  With the 22cm and 10cm thruster board was bit more loose then with the 21cm and 12cm thursters. Only few waves, so almost no waveriding. 5.3 still bit too big.