I tried the naish 9'6 fish this morning with star and naish lads at cottesloe this morning.

I should point out that at this stage I am a gumby on the wave and cannot surf properly yet in normal prone surf style (not sup). I have had a few weeks now on the star 11'2 though in the surf.

If you do surf or are charging on your sup you will really like the looseness of this board.
It feels like it is ready for any type of turn you can manage from graceful carves to full on cutbacksin the pocket. I don't have the skill to do much with it but can see the potential for real waves as if feels just like my small windsurf wave boards, loose and pivoty and easy to set a rail once you stand in the right spot.

Don't take too much from this as I only managed one good wave ride of note on it, but I can see for the right surfer this is no rigid, boatie type sup. It floats and paddles straight enough to get used to quite easily with an hour or two to get used to it.

I can't think of a better recommendation than a self-confessed gumby actually catching a wave and riding it on a 9'6" SUP.

How did it paddle on the flat?

oh great .... can see the line up being filled with midget yellow canaries with a weight problem!!!!!!

Paul...Just wondering..How heavy are you..and how was the floatation and tippyness compaired to the Naish 10'6"?...have you used a 10'6"?

Did it want to turn with every paddle stroke?..Was the board the real deal or a prototype?..Did the lack of glide make it harder to catch waves?

Is that why you only got one good wave?..or was it a lack of time thing..or just a lack of waves?..

DJ

I am 75kgs and the board was not super stable, but as jb pointed out if you go with the motion and don't fight against it you could stay comfortable with the, odd fall, fairly easily. I think heavy people may find it too tippy.
It does not flow forwards like the long boards but is surprisingly easy to paddle in a fairly straight line. I got tho the line up and around it simply. The hard bit would be getting over large white water.
I had only one wave for real as I was in two minds as to what boards to try and wanted to get on a couple rather than stick with one, and bad timing and haven't paddles for a few weeks.

I don't think this board would be hard to get on with once you have adjusted to it. It is nothing like the 11'2 type boards as far as ease, but many say these are too easy. So I would say that if you like surfing short boards you will love the 9'6.

cheers