hot lookin board
If it goes as good as it looks it would be great over this side of the country as well
W

BTW it has a stringer in it so you can surf it with a kinf of a peace of mind

looks like you could ride Waimea Bay with that one.

Looks like it will go good in the flat not sure about in the winder conditions though. I have to disagree with you on those brands not been made for these conditions as i do about 100 km's a week on the Naish and for a 14 foot board i doubt there would be faster at the moment for our 20 knot downwind runs.
I think some of us have already gone down that road of flatting out the rocker to get more board speed but the big down side is they spend most of there time with the nose under water in the wave in front and become hard to handle

I agree with Johnathan it looks more like a big wave Gun and not so much a down wind board maybe would be fun out big bombie... and with you saying that you are taking it out surfing i would presume you got it more for that rather than the downwinder which then i do agree it looks like it would surf better than other 14's.

Cheer Jacko

lacey said...

i might just add something on al for everyone, hope he doesn't mind. he surfs the byron bombie on dc 16's and i'm talking some big waves. i have seen some photos. and it seems,if he is not doing that, he is doing down winders.

Thats what that board looks like it would suit. I think a better comparison would be between 12ft gun PSH and that board? as i would not surf a bombie on my 14 Naish as it's not made for that.

Jacko

look, I did not have time to have a downwind with a lot of wind. But I am convinced the nose won't be under water.
Simply because the plan shape is really good and it is very easy to control back and front without having to move a lot on the board.
In fact I assume this board won't be at its best on flat water but the more wind and the bigger the runners the better it will be.
Jacko I was at mooloolaba with you (behind you...) and I am convinved this is the minimum conditions for this board to be at its best.
This will definitely be my board for downwind. Less wind, less runners then I'll take the 16'
And please ok for me to add volume from mid to back but not in the nose!!
You would have to try it to beleve it....or wait next week to see what lacey is thinking
I won't be at the mambo
Cheers

Have to agree. On first appearances the Naish rocker looks extreme and almost wrong, but having ridden it a number of times over the past month I think it is spot on. I have used it on downwinders on the river and also on the ocean and it is common for the nose to be just above the water when riding a runner into the trough in front, wouldn't want it any flatter.

paul.j said...

Looks like it will go good in the flat not sure about in the winder conditions though. I have to disagree with you on those brands not been made for these conditions as i do about 100 km's a week on the Naish and for a 14 foot board i doubt there would be faster at the moment for our 20 knot downwind runs.
I think some of us have already gone down that road of flatting out the rocker to get more board speed but the big down side is they spend most of there time with the nose under water in the wave in front and become hard to handle

I agree with Johnathan it looks more like a big wave Gun and not so much a down wind board maybe would be fun out big bombie... and with you saying that you are taking it out surfing i would presume you got it more for that rather than the downwinder which then i do agree it looks like it would surf better than other 14's.

Cheer Jacko

Have to say that the 14 Naish really surprised me, the board is deceptively simple, flat bottom, nothing fancy but in 20 knots or more catches anything. It will perl but once you get to know it a little it becomes second nature to prevent it, so different to boards that you constantly tread a fine line between catching the wave and stuffing the nose.
My only criticism is that it feels a little stiff to turn when it's surfing but haven't ridden it long enough to really be sure.
I'd love to try the DC14 too!

I thought the flater rocker deal had been well proven in the battle of the paddle with Jamie Mitchell and Shakira coming first place and Billie taking out 4th on a locally built Lahui Kai board , so much so that they scored a contract with Surftech and over the last 2 years Dale Chapmans boards have either won of placed in every race here in Oz.

Alain's point is a good one ...boards built to suit our conditions. I'm yet to see a race here in (Australia) that has been a pure downwinder at some stage during all the races it's been cross wind or even into it.

The new Lahui Kai & DC 17's are under continual development and come race day they will both look nothing like the imports.....

Next month there is a Sup race here on the Gold Coast and there will be some great paddlers on imports and local boards and hopefully we will get some good downwind conditions.
Good luck to all it should be great race.

Piros

Hey Piros, were we talking about race boards?

Race boards are a different thing IMO. Look at the Lahui Kai boards in the BOP photos and videos, seems to be more about getting back on the board and trying to keep the nose up rather than surfing. Of course they are awesome boards, but I don't believe there is a "right" rocker and a "wrong" rocker for Aussie conditions.

Ive got one of those , pretty fast very stable and picks up runners with ease.
DC17

well, i just went for a paddle out of palmy parklands to the alley mouth and back a couple of times, riding a few of the mini swells coming in. ______firstly, this is more of a surfboard in it's present state_____________. the board has a concave into double. when you paddle there is no much wash because the water is sucking/flowing straight under the board. when i stand on it, there is about 7.5 to 8" lift in the nose and as AL said, it's so controlable. with the lift, concave and easy control, nose diving to me would be a non- issue. board thickness is about 5.5". i stand about just a bit behind the handle, but where you stand really doesn't matter, because the water is just feeding through the concave. actually, i'm pretty happy, because i have been pressing for a nose concave, works real well on my short sups for getting on to waves.

to convert it to a d/w- easy. square up the rails, thicken the tail up a bit( i would leave the shape i think), get rid of the stringer and weigh- go carbon-lite weigh, the board has been beefed up for surfing. next recess the deck a bit for comfort and lowering your centre and knock an inch or so off the width .for me this would be a good board and if the conditions were cooking this would rock and i think you would be having a ball without your feet turning into claws

what i'm thinking of doing- all of the last bit and go 16' with steering and rudder.it's either that or a tricked up version of teatrea's dc17 and i will look at jacko's newie, but i think this 14' out to 16' would be an absolute pleasure to be doing real d/wer's on
cheers

mikeman said...

Hey Mark,

Wait till I get back from China and we will go for a few nice downwind hits. You really need to get out into the deep blue to really have fun doing this stuff. The Coolie gold is over so its back on the DC16 for me. You are welcome to come along for the ride...

yeah, i'll be up for it, would be nice to check it out in the blue. al reckons it can keep pace with the 16', even in it's current version as a surfboard
cheers

Thanks for injecting some wisdom and experience here Wuduku. Great to hear from top shapers and designers on the forum - although I'm surprised you have time to do anything but take orders after BOP!