Thanks! I can’t wait to ride it!
It’s done.
WOW, that is a gorgeous surfboard!
RIDE REPORT!
Ok, after a few months of riding this board, i can finally give a good conclusion on how good this board works. The first few times I paddled out, the thing felt like a freaken alien. I almost had no idea how to ride it or what to do. Basically I turned into a kook when I tried to ride it. After riding it without a traction pad, and having my back foot slip off a few times, I slapped a traction pad on, there we go, that’s better.
But in one session, I got a taste of what this board can do… I finally got a good wall (waves are sorta scarce around here) and gave it a good downward pump - SLAM, it flew so fast it blew my mind.
Then another session, the thing came alive. The drops were fun but they mushed out before you could use the speed to hit a turn. I caught everything I went for, but somehow it handled late drops extremely well, probably because of it’s shortboardy rocker and the rail hold of the quads. I remember just freefalling at least a few feet from the lip with ease, like I do it in my sleep… it was a really relaxing session for me. I also found out that it is really easier to ride backside… this board is very loose on it’s fin cluster, but you can easily lay it on rail for a nice rail slice or even a cutback, I havent got the board completely dialed in yet but I’m starting to get a feel for keeping the extra volume from bogging in the chest area.
Although it manages to catch waves well in small surf (knee-waist), the volume makes it difficult to pop up since the board doesn’t move anywhere with waves that small. It seems that the thickness gets in the way… but stick in waist -chest high slopey surf (not pitching, but with some power) this board is that only board I want to ride. It glides over choppy sections with it’s heavy double 6 oz glass job and grabs speed from every section imaginable… it just feels sooo good to rip a turn on this board and I am more than satisfied with this board. Once you get used to the weight, it becomes an after thought, and this board works so well for the waves here in Wrigthsville beach.
I’ll post some ride pics once I get some good shots.