Helmy said...
Earth to DarthSUP - report on the Naish 10'6.5" please?
OK fair enough... guess where I have been however.
So I went down the board shop here and they only had a GS in stock. Obviously with money burning a whole in my pocket and burning desire to have my own board - I couldn't wait 3 weeks - so bought it!
Since then I have been riding it at every opportunity so feel I can comment from a place of experience.
The Board
----------
Looks great, the grip deck on top is super grippy without getting in your way. The carry handle is a little back from centre and more to the right when looking top down. This is a seems odd, I am sure the R&D department came up with a reason why but for me it seems I am fighting to keep the nose off the ground when walking with it.
Quality so far seems excellent - can only comment on the finishing of the board.
The River Test
--------------
I do BOP training and fitness training on the Swan River. BOP is quick sprints, pivot turning around buoys etc. Here I find the board handles beautifully, I can get her up to speed quickly, the stability is great and she can turn beautifully with some pressure on the tail. I beat the Whopper (same experienced male rider) and Fanatic Fly all rounder.
It cannot compete with the race boards of any type... it simply does not have the glide and "cut through" physique of these boards. This means I am on the look out for race board (second hand).
The Ocean Test
---------------
Only paddled in small waves and chop, pretty **** conditions really. I am a real novice wave catcher and it seems to pick up on them with out trying. Here is where I need to comment on the stability. I read about primary and secondary stability and was unsure what it meant. Boy do I know now.
The stability on the board is excellent (doesnt mean i dont come off) however the primary stability is low - that is it seems tippy. There is a lot of movement (I dont know the correct term) in the pitch - a bit like a skateboard with the speed wobbes..
HOWEVER the secondary stability is really high. i.e you can get some mad angles doing some crazy balancing dance and she wont tip, you really need to be right off balance for her to throw you. I think this is excellent.. it is help teaching me balance while being forgiving and not throwing me
every time.
Float
----
When I bought the board I was 95kgs... I am now 91kgs. It makes a slight difference but I am absolutely at the top end of this board. My feet are wet from the moment i am on, and with any waves/chop etc the nose is under. I have seen friends jump on and it sits much better.
So if I keep losing the weight it will get better and better, however I think 90kgs should be the max for full enjoyment.
Overall
-------
I am very happy with it, and can see why it is a keeper. I do see myself growing out of it real quick and using individual boards for individual conditions. However part of my plan was to have board that my wife and daughter (eventually) could use and join in. Here I think it will come into its own.
I would recommend it 100% for someone less than 85kgs, who wants to cruise and surf good conditions who doesn't play with chop and race boards.
I think I have covered everything so....
Any questions?
And have spent hours and hours lurking here, and reading reviews etc etc.. and am fully set on the Nalu 10'6 GT. 
