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WAVE & FREESTYLE RIG COMPONENTS GUIDE
BUILD YOUR WAVE RIG.
Your level, your spot, the conditions and the type of sailing you enjoy should decide how reactive, forgiving or impact-resistant you want the complete rig to feel.
Slash
Freestyle. Maximum pop, reflex and precision. For the Slash, component choice is about pure performance.
SPY
Bump and jump, onshore waves, strong wind and freeriding. Build the rig around the conditions you sail most.
SALTpro
Pure wave performance. Choose your components according to wave power, chop, jumping and how much security you need.
THE HIGHEST CARBON % IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER.
Choosing components for your wave sails is extremely important because the best setup changes according to how you use the sail, where you sail and your level.
We are not talking about how much you want to invest in equipment. We are talking about the performance, control and security you want from the rig when conditions become difficult.
REFLEX.
CONTROL.
SECURITY.
A wave sail with a high-carbon mast such as the K99 feels more alive, lighter and more reactive.
It helps the sail accelerate quickly over a short distance, which can help you reach a ramp with more speed, jump higher and react faster through rotational moves. If you sail unhooked for long periods, the lighter and more reactive feel can also be more pleasant.
But maximum reflex is not always what you need.
If you regularly get hammered by heavy breaking waves, travel without a backup mast or sail in violent chop, a mast with a slightly softer response can add forgiveness and security.
Planning a trip to Gnaraloo, Western Australia? A K91 can be a smart choice when you want high performance with additional peace of mind far away from a surf shop.
Sailing 30 knots plus in Gran Canaria? A more forgiving mast can help absorb brutal chop, landings and wave-to-wave impacts.
Sailing your wave gear on a local lake or in clean, glassy down-the-line conditions? The precision and reflex of the K99 are difficult to beat.
Slash: no compromise
For the Slash Freestyle, our performance choice is simple: K99.
Freestyle needs pop, reflex, precision and an immediate response. The sail needs to load quickly, release quickly and disappear through the rotation. Choosing a lower carbon percentage for the Slash is therefore mainly a budget decision rather than our first performance choice.
Explore RDM masts
PUT THE RIG
WHERE YOU WANT IT.
For both wave and freestyle, the boom needs to be light, strong and direct enough to put the rig exactly where you want it, when you want it.
A full-carbon boom is the ultimate setup.
On the short boom sizes used for wave and freestyle, however, the difference in weight and reflex between our C80 and full-carbon boom is not enormous. This means the C80 can be an excellent choice when you want strong carbon performance at a lower price.
With booms, the logic changes. A full-carbon boom gives you maximum stiffness and response and is our first choice for riders who regularly land hard jumps, stalled forwards, tweaked backloops and freestyle moves.
For more general freewave, bump and jump and SPY sailing, the C80 works extremely well.
An aluminium boom is still a reliable option when budget is the priority. The trade-off is mainly extra weight, a bulkier feel and less direct response.
Our recommendation:Slash: Carbon+ Pro.
SALTpro: Carbon+ Pro for maximum wave performance. C80 for an excellent performance/value balance.
SPY: C80 for freewave and bump-and-jump. Carbon+ Pro when maximum precision and jumping performance are the priority.
Carbon+ Pro C-Carbon 80 ALU+ Pro
SIMPLE.
FAST.
EASY TO RIG.
Wave sails do not require extreme downhaul loads, so for most riders we recommend the ALU+ Double Pulley Extension.
Its XXL pulley system makes the sail easy to downhaul by hand and keeps the complete setup simple.
Choose the Double Pulley Extension.
Still using a winch?
The Double Cleat Extension is often the more practical layout.
And carbon?
If you freestyle on the Slash or choose the Q-Bond SALTpro because you want the lightest, most reactive complete rig, then the Carbon Pro extension completes the concept.
Is it essential? No. But if the goal is maximum performance and minimum rig weight, why stop halfway?
Double Pulley Double Cleat Carbon ProCompare extensions
HANG.
RELEASE.
MOVE.
In wave and freestyle sailing, harness lines should be a simple tool that allows you to relax between one move and the next.
Fixed harness lines are our preferred choice.
Many professional riders use longer lines because they give more freedom around the rig and allow the rider to remain hooked in during some jumps and one-handed movements.
We still see many riders using 22-inch lines. That comes from an older windsurfing stance where the rider stayed much closer to the boom.
Longer lines allow you to relax your arms, use your body weight more effectively and move more freely around the rig.
Start around 28 inches and move longer according to your height, boom position, harness and personal style.
Fixed harness lines
LESS PARTS.
MORE CONFIDENCE.
The mast base is one component where performance is secondary to reliability.
In breaking waves you do not want unnecessary complexity between your rig and your board.
Our Pro Base 2.0 is made in Italy around a simple, strong concept: urethane tendon, monoblock pin construction and a four-line safety system.
START HERE.
THEN TUNE IT TO YOUR SPOT.
| Sail | Mast | Boom | Extension | Harness lines | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLASH |
K99 Maximum pop, reflex and precision. |
Carbon+ Pro |
Double Pulley or Carbon Pro |
Fixed 28-32" |
Pure freestyle and maximum performance. |
| SPY |
K91 / K99 Softer option for extreme conditions where compatible. |
C80 for freewave Carbon+ for maximum performance |
Double Pulley |
Fixed 28-32" |
Bump and jump, onshore waves, strong wind, all-terrain sailing. |
| SALTpro |
K91 / K99 Choose according to wave power, chop and level. |
Carbon+ Pro C80 also excellent |
Double Pulley Carbon Pro for ultimate Q-Bond setup |
Fixed 28-32" |
Wave riding, jumping and demanding wave conditions. |
Always check the exact mast length, extension range and boom setting required for your individual sail size.
DON'T CHOOSE A COMPONENT
FROM THE CARBON % ALONE.
The best wave and freestyle rig is the one that matches the conditions you actually sail.
More carbon can bring more reflex, less weight and greater precision. A more forgiving component can bring control and confidence when the water becomes violent.
Start with the sail. Think about your spot, your level and how hard you push. Then build the complete rig around the feeling you want on the water.
Slash SPY SALTpro
