How many paragraphs will Lacey write on this one !

Here's my 2 cents on where is seems to be heading....

Various race organisers have various classes to race within.... It seems to have settled into 3 classes;
- 12'6 or under
- 14' or under
- and Unlimited, or over 14 foot.

12'6 seems to be the BoP Standard Class (Battle of The Paddle style event, often in and out through some waves) Get forward, and the nose is often cutting through the water, and get back, and you can surf off the tail a bit...

14'0 is turning into a class for pure flat water distance. Flatter rockers, and the nose cutting through the water.

Of course there is also 14 foot Down Wind Class, with more rocker.

Unlimited is the preference for Elite (Extra) Long Distance Events. Such as Hawaiian Inter-Island Crossings, and long distance Down Wind. Of course, 14's can perform well in this arena too.

That's a bit of an overview anyway.


--------------

Lacey is a good person to answer your specific question. But the short answer is probably;
- depends which races you are planning on entering.... and / or - depends which you prefer to paddle regularly

Scotty, I think you said you are up in the 100 kegs range ? 14 should be a faster board for you.

Also, keep in mind that DC (and others) do 14' Down Winders, and 14' Flat Water Racers..... eg, Naish Javalin (14' flat water), and Naish Glide (14' DW). These two Naish boards have surprisingly similar "templates" but vastly different rockers and rails!

For me, I quite enjoy my Naish 17 on a regular basis. Covers me for distance touring, down wind, and flat water, and even little knee high peelers that are barely surfable on anything else. When the waves move into thigh high+, I'll be on "surf" equipment of some kind !

Cheers Simondo for the response. Bloody iPad froze up and sent after your post. Appreciate the feedback

Hi PeterP,

I see where you're coming from, but as a lightweight rider (circa 70kg) who also happens to currently live in a location with limited storage space, I find 12'6 to be a good length.

I kind of disagree regarding the 14' being pointless. The latest 14's by DC, Fanatic and Lahui Kai are ultra fast in the flat and the ocean. They have IMO made specialized boards like the Javelin and 14' Glide redundant. If you want one board that you can surf, paddle in the flat and in the ocean a 14' is the one you want. 12'6 are great in the surf and that's what they are designed for but the 14' is the best length for all round.

PTWoody said...

12'6" boards are awesome

If you're a whippet

CMC said...

I kind of disagree regarding the 14' being pointless. The latest 14's by DC, Fanatic and Lahui Kai are ultra fast in the flat and the ocean. They have IMO made specialized boards like the Javelin and 14' Glide redundant. If you want one board that you can surf, paddle in the flat and in the ocean a 14' is the one you want. 12'6 are great in the surf and that's what they are designed for but the 14' is the best length for all round.

I'm trying to bite my tongue but what the hell is the point of racing on a standup anyway, knowing just about any water craft is going to be faster OK, so I get on a 14 foot "race board" at St. Kilda and head of into the distance. Within 5 minutes I'm going to be hauled in by a 20 year old riding a Starboard Whopper. It's the paddler not the boat and if you really want to go fast, paddle a ski or a k1. I must be missing something here but the stand up forum has become more and more the "racing forum". That's ok but lets face facts here, most posters on this forum are between 30 and 50 years old and we all know that any half fit 20 year old with a mild cigarette habit and a decent technique will whip our asses, so what's the point. Added to this we are paddling the worlds slowest watercraft(I think my old 3 man Canadian canoe would be faster). SO......

log man said...
...lets face facts here, most posters on this forum are between 30 and 50 years old and we all know that any half fit 20 year old with a mild cigarette habit and a decent technique will whip our asses...SO......

Shhhhh...

Simple answer log man: because you may go faster on a surf ski than SUP but there will still be someone faster. It's all relative.

log man said...

CMC said...

I kind of disagree regarding the 14' being pointless. The latest 14's by DC, Fanatic and Lahui Kai are ultra fast in the flat and the ocean. They have IMO made specialized boards like the Javelin and 14' Glide redundant. If you want one board that you can surf, paddle in the flat and in the ocean a 14' is the one you want. 12'6 are great in the surf and that's what they are designed for but the 14' is the best length for all round.

I'm trying to bite my tongue but what the hell is the point of racing on a standup anyway, knowing just about any water craft is going to be faster OK, so I get on a 14 foot "race board" at St. Kilda and head of into the distance. Within 5 minutes I'm going to be hauled in by a 20 year old riding a Starboard Whopper. It's the paddler not the boat and if you really want to go fast, paddle a ski or a k1. I must be missing something here but the stand up forum has become more and more the "racing forum". That's ok but lets face facts here, most posters on this forum are between 30 and 50 years old and we all know that any half fit 20 year old with a mild cigarette habit and a decent technique will whip our asses, so what's the point. Added to this we are paddling the worlds slowest watercraft(I think my old 3 man Canadian canoe would be faster). SO......

dw ings biggest problem is the perception you've got to race -crap

most other craft go faster for sure, BUT WE GET TO STANDUP AND SURF THE OCEAN.

THATS THE DIFFERENCE.

i've got something to do in the ocean on most days instead of leaning on the beach fence looking a bad surf
cheers

Downwinder said...


G'day CMC
Downwind SUPing is for a surfer to do something when the surf is s##t
(surfing the trough)

Exactly !

------

On a different note, that reminds me of Zackery's Disease. Your face looks exZachery the same as you bum ! (Not you Downwinder!)

Depends on how many turns are in the course PT ! But yes, it's a pretty quick SUP.

PTWoody said...

Simondo said...

CMC said...

I kind of disagree regarding the 14' being pointless. The latest 14's by DC, Fanatic and Lahui Kai are ultra fast in the flat and the ocean. They have IMO made specialized boards like the Javelin and 14' Glide redundant. If you want one board that you can surf, paddle in the flat and in the ocean a 14' is the one you want. 12'6 are great in the surf and that's what they are designed for but the 14' is the best length for all round.

I tend to agree CMC. 14 is a great length for an all-rounder. And yes, there does seems to be a few good all-rounders popping up.

Lets make a 14'0 to 15'3 class for Lacey.

Not sure about Lacey's 15'3 but I reckon the K15 would absolutely smash any 14' in flat water.

probably gets down to who's on what i would say.

jacko is pretty dam quick on a jav.

andy beat everybody, including some very big boards on this



its about 24.5 " wide. with chines in there, you are probably standing on about 22" in width
cheers

this is all bull s--t scotty 88 just trial a few boards and find one that u like AND JUST ENJOY IT eveyone to there own IM 6'5" and love my fanatic 12'6" the white version

Scotty,

Technically, the Glide 17 is a Down Wind Board. But it is very stable, and is a really good Open Water Ocean Tourer, and enclosed water tourer. It has really soft round rails up the front, and a rudder, so it is actually quite controllable paddling at 45 degrees into the wind. Most boards hate that angle. It's competent in flat water too (quite quick). But other boards are quicker on the flats.

But as they say... some boards might be all-rounders but masters of none.

Hey Logman, not sure what point you are trying to make. You can always buy a jetski.

I also can't agree with you about a 20 yo on a Wopper - in downwind or flat conditions they would be left miles behind.