Demoed a heap of boards now. Looking for something to get out into the ocean in windy conditions and ride. Want to be able to surf fat waves on the way in and maybe a fat bommie. Will cruise the lake too. I surf.

Here is my newb's take on it all so far;

2010 14' Angulo Shaka (used) - very stable in the ocean. I think I could surf this with my feet and it would turn without the nose tracking in a straight line due to "surfboard" shaped nose. Too big and heavy though, maybe an old construction type. If it had been lighter I think I might have bought it.

2012 14' x 28" Deep (Thanks to a generous Seabreeze member, cheers Paul) - Nice and fast with good glide. Beautiful looking board. I paddled on flat water. Only doubt is how "surfable" it would be with its slightly knife like nose. Would it track too much when trying to surf it? The owner said you just get on the tail and raise the nose to avoid this. This aspect is my only doubt (note I have next to no ocean SUP experience). I went through a boat wake and the nose pearled and popped straight back up nicely. Not as stable as the Shaka but a lot lighter, faster and easier to handle. I really liked it.

Today I went to Toowoon Bay and did some demos. Awesome demo day by the ESS crew and Starboard. Thanks a lot. I got out beyond the point and into some wind to see if I could stay upright. Mostly I managed it. I kept away from the point lest I mow some poor soul down or put the board on the rocks. These were my favourites;

Starboard All Star 14' x 27.5" carbon - fast and light. The nose also had a bit of a rounded belly underneath it so maybe it would side slip when turned in downwind runners better than a knife nose. Maybe it is kind of surfable with the feet as the nose area shape is between a "surfboard" nose and a "knife" nose? It felt a little unstable once I got farther out into the ocean, especially when side-on to swell. Maybe the belly in the font area of the bottom added to this "rock the cradle" effect. Not sure about that sunken deck and handle under my feet setup when shuffling around on the board. Paddled beautifully on the flat.

Fanatic Falcon 14' x 30" - more stable than the Starboard All Star. This board felt really good. However it had more of a pronounced "knife-like" nose than the All Star. Would this cause it to track too much when surfed on fat waves or in large downwind conditions? That was the only negative I could think of with this board.

In the carpark I saw a black 14' Coreban Dart. It had the extra width for stability being close to 30". It also had more of a "surfboard" nose which I am thinking I might need if I want to "surf" the board in any manner without it spearing off in a straight line of its choosing. The 14' Coreban Dart looked like it might fit what I am after. I'm looking into checking one out.

The other boards I am looking at checking out are a SIC 14' x 27.25" Bullet. After today I am wondering if it would be too unstable for me in messy ocean conditions? I heard this referred to as a "race board", I had previously thought it was just a good ocean DW board. I don't want to be spending all my effort balancing, winning races is not my priority at the moment. However my second run on the 27.5" wide All Star today showed improvement in my balance on it from the first run only a couple of hours earlier. Maybe a 27" > 28" board would become second nature balance wise after a while?

Also considering a Walk on Water 14' x 29" which someone told me is a really good and stable ocean board that surfs well. A Seabreeze member has offered a demo on his (thanks) so when I can get to it I will.

Getting closer.

HumanCartoon said...
It's probably fair to categorize them this way:

The WoW, Dart, Bullet (and shaka?): DW-oriented boards that you could race. Wouldn't be the fastest in flat water.

Falcon, Allstar and DEEP - Race/allround-oriented boards that you could DW. Quicker in flat water than the ones above but likely a bit more technical on DW.

Good summary. Your comments are ringing true.

From your other thread it sounds like you're leaning towards the DW boards? As you know I own the WoW & I'm a big rap for it - I like it a helluva lot. Been on the Dart too, yeah it's super stable but dunno...just didn't feel like what I was looking for but I wasn't on it long enough to give it a fair shakedown. I had just a brief spin on a 14' bullet one day in some messy chop and very small runners but if I had to pick an adjective for how it felt I'd say "dialled". I reckon there's some secret sauce in that recipe...if I wasn't such a fat bastard I might have one. Try the Dart, try the WoW, try the Bullet...and no DW board selection would be complete without a run on the Naish Glide. Fun times ahead for you eh?

DavidJohn said...
How old/tall/heavy are you?

DJ

I'm 174cm (5' 8.5") and 94kg (207 lb) at the moment (how did that happen? I stopped surfing and kept eating). I've got a solid build. Think Occy type body. My "fit as a Mallee Bull/not an ounce of fat on me" weight is about 78kg. I will drop to 85kg with exercise very quickly as I was there 6 months ago and for a few years before that. I am aiming for 80kg via SUPing within 12 months.

Your right about the Shaka it is heavy, there is a lighter version EST, than probably the one you picked up which is some 18+ kgs..............and to be quite frank your too punny for it

At 125 kgs when I bought it 18 mths ago it was perfect for me.

The advantage is the Shaka is tougher than nails................those little carbon things move out of the way when I'm headed for them

But I digress, you might also (if you can find one) the PSH 14' Hull Paddler.......I liked it and when they arrive again, planing on demoing again..........I'd jump on a SIC excepts its only 28" wide

Good luck with your search

Where are you located in Aus ?

windup said...
Where are you located in Aus ?

Newcastle NSW

IMO a good choice for you would be the WoW board that Stu (HumanCartoon) is flipping over at the start of this vid (4 second mark).

DJ

DavidJohn said...
IMO a good choice for you would be the WoW board that Stu (HumanCartoon) is flipping over at the start of this vid (4 second mark).

I agree. I am hopefully going to demo one when I can get to it and also talk to Mr WoW. Looks like a sweet board and have heard good things.

ShireSUP said...

Snowie said...

ShireSUP said...
Your right about the Shaka it is heavy, there is a lighter version EST, than probably the one you picked up which is some 18+ kgs..............and to be quite frank your too punny for it

At 125 kgs when I bought it 18 mths ago it was perfect for me.

The advantage is the Shaka is tougher than nails................those little carbon things move out of the way when I'm headed for them

But I digress, you might also (if you can find one) the PSH 14' Hull Paddler.......I liked it and when they arrive again, planing on demoing again..........I'd jump on a SIC excepts its only 28" wide

Good luck with your search

Shiresup, I was parked beside you at the Summer Series on Saturday and mentioned your Shaka as I have a SIC Bullet. The Bullet feels more like 30" wide with all the rocker and the double concaves under it. Beautifully built. The TWCC (AST) isn't particularly light nor fast on the flat though vs a similar width Fanatic or Starby. That just isn't what it is made for.

Aw thats funny..........and you didn't introduce yourself, or did you only just realise.........anyway interesting comment about the SIC, someone else put me off it as they said it was 27 wide and felt tippy.........think I need to call Sam @ WSS...........

Say hello next time lol

Too busy trying to get my boards on the car before that storm! Mind you, I could just be comparing my SIC with my 26 1/8th" Jav. Def more stable than a Fanatic Falcon 27.5" though. Dunno about your weight, but at mine, it is pretty much my 'act of god' all weather board. PM me when you're in Rose Bay next and you can have a go.

If you want to try out some of the Starboard boards give Pete Cox a call. He now has his own business running in Newcastle (Stockton) and he mentioned to me that he will have the Starboard trailer in his possession in the coming weeks. Pete guided me through the process of getting my first 14 footer and is super knowledgeable. He is on FB at either Pete Cox or 2UP SUP. Tell him Matt Scott sent you.

Pete will be able to sort you out one way or another. He is part of the Starboard "Dream Team" so has a lot of insight into the boards and what they can actually do.
Good luck

I asked the same question here last year and ended up buying the WOW 14' GSR carbon, my first board. I love this board (& the sport), now totally addicted, out there every chance I get and I know I made the right choice, as I only paddle in the ocean the width and surfboard type nose ( which I can just watch the cross chop wash over) give this board excellent stability allowing me to concentrate on paddle technique. It may be a little wider but suits the conditions I mostly paddle in. It has a gun surfboard type bottom which I really like. I think this would be a tough board in heavy downwind conditions.

I think they're all good boards and you can't really go wrong just get one & get out there and enjoying yourself.

Just had a C4 V1 at a good price thrown into the mix. I demoed one on flat water and it was pretty good but the radical bottom shape seemed to make the board feel less stable than the 14' WoW & 14' SIC Bullet I demoed.

The V1 had this really full on rounded out vee throughout the board. It was like the bottom of a bathtub. I'm not sure how this would go surfing small waves and may be more work than the WoW & Bullet to keep balance in the ocean.

I'm looking at a Jimmy Lewis M14 soon but won't be able to demo it. Have heard good things about this board though. I think this board has more of a traditional surfboard rail to rail bottom curve profile.

I just bought a Jimmy Lewis M14. Analysis fatigue got the better of me. I am going away to paddle for a while before my head explodes from reading reviews, posting and staring at a screen. Thanks very much for all the help. I will report back when the salt air has blown the computer fuzz from my head.