DJ, It would need to be or why would people buy them? The lagunas/C4 etc are around $3000 I believe? So the class boards would have to sell for at least $1000 less or I would prefer to by a Laguna etc. Regards, Scott
DJ, It would need to be or why would people buy them? The lagunas/C4 etc are around $3000 I believe? So the class boards would have to sell for at least $1000 less or I would prefer to by a Laguna etc. Regards, Scott
Interesting specs DJ, I thought thay may have gone a couple of inches narrower, but it looks like they have opted to make it suitable to all experience levels. If its the same construction as the other boards, then the price should be the same. It would be interesting to see how it sells with no price limitations. There seems to be a lot of interest in this type of board, have a look at the length of the thread on race boards.
yeah looks fast , i think the stock class is the way to go , you could still surf small waves on it o.k and looks like it would be a good allrounder for those who want to race and surf.
The construction is the same wood sandwich veneer as in the rest of the range which means the price will be inline with the rest of the range.
Price isn't the only reason a class like the 12ft one will be important for stand up racing. One of the advantages of the 12 ft class is that it will limit an arms race that happens in sports like windsurfing. A sad fact is that the guys with the shop or the big wallet in many sports can get faster kit than the average guy.
It could also be wise to have a minimum width laid down to keep the boards more accessible than if people start paddling 20'' wide race needles.
In saying all this it would be pretty cruel to knock back non race specific boards just over 12ft. Starboard like many others have some great boards like the 12'2" and the 12'6" that aren't race specific but would be up against it big time in the open class.
DJ and ALL, I think the answer to my comparison test between the Naish glide and the JL distance is perhaps answered already. If you are paddling flat water, the naish would be the go for sure. The displacement nose would "glide" well. If you are looking to do choppy downwinders, the JL distance would be the board. Its got a more open ocean rocker in the nose and by appearence, would ride open ocean swells well. I like doing paddles in our choppy gulf so the JL would suit me better and SA is a fairly windy. So I guess it depends where you live and the local conditions. Regards, Scott
The Glide still works very well in chop and swell. I was doing down winders in Maui in about 30+knots Hawaiian wind, and knee high breaking chop with the odd waist to should high wave. You do have to pay more attention when paddling the Glide in those conditions, but it is so much easier to stay on runs that it ends up being an easier general paddling experience, and faster. Once your on a good run, you can ride it for much longer than a normal/surf nosed board. It's only tricky for those first few moments as you pick up the swells, and technique cures that. When your distance paddling in windy conditions, you need to time your strokes so that you catch the runs but don't go too fast and smack into the one in front of it (unless your Laird and over take runs 2 and 3 ahead of you). You will find the Glide more suitable for any distance paddling over a conventional surf style SUP. The Glide you can see in the Pic. is actually only 28" wide, and is Michi's personal board. The production board is 29.75" wide.
Once you use a Glide or purpose built distance board, you will not want to do distance paddles on your surf style SUP, it's like trying to race Formula one's with a Landcruizer.
The Glide is a super sweet ride, I hope to have my first sample orders here Mid August.
..I don't know how much it will be and I hope it will be cheaper than the C4 Vortice.
