Well, got to try the little puppy out this morning. It was only about two foot, pretty smooth, then the onshore hit. Some closeouts but a few little ripbowl right handers.

What a hoot this board is.

It's 7'9" x 33" x 4.25".

It's very weird to look at up close - it looks almost round when you are standing on it. From a distance it really looks like any other Mana though.

Don't try and sit on it unless you go side saddle. Standing on it is a breeze the super width makes it very stable, even for guys over 100kg (I reckon). You need to plan ahead when paddling onto a wave - the biscuit loves to swivel around so you need to counteract that by paddling in a weird direction to start with. Either that or take a very late drop where you only need to do a couple of strokes.

Little sucky waves aren't the best for this board.

Slightly bigger and fuller waves are heaps of fun where you can pump the little fella up and down the face and do little floaters or skatey cutbacks into the foam.

Punching out through waves is surprisingly good.

Highs:
- Super stability
- Great quality
- Really fun on a fuller wave
- Skates across the face well

Lows:
- Hard to paddle in a straight line
- A bit slow to get moving on a quick, sucky section

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Thats how I thought it would go, that kind of width into the nose couldn't go amazing in sucky waves IMO.

Had session on the little puppy myself yesterday also, a lot of fun.

Coming off the 8'10", there were some very distinct differences.

Positives.
7'9" was easier to balance on (I'm 95kg x 6'2"), very loose and loves to spinn (went into a 360 floater on my first wave). Light feeling like it's glued to your feet.

8'10" was much faster, endless drive and power. Much easier to catch waves on. More powerful drivey carves and snaps.

Negitives.
7'9" hard to paddle for waves, I felt at my weight is was spinning 45 degrees every stroke, but found late take offs sideways the go. I sit pretty much underwater on this board apart from about a foot of board at the nose. the side to side stability is awesome, but I found the back and forth was a bit tricky. Casso's call of 100k might be pushing it, I think the board would be under water totally. Hard to drive speed through faster sections. A little bit slidey on bottom turns when driving hard.

8'10" I can not fault this board, I wish i was 5 kg lighter!

Conclusion, the 7'9" would be so much fun on a fat slow cruisey wave cause you can throw it around like nothing else, go into 360's when you feel like it, and impress the crowds by standing up on a board that is shorter than their conventional boards. the 8'10" IMO delivers unmatched performance.

Hanging to spend more time on the 7'9", I think as a second or third board will make those ugly days when it's fat and lifeless a real blast.

JB

Now I will have to buy one!!

Lookie Lookie

Did you follow him and take photos so you could go back to dolphin and "NOT" copy it.

FYI-When you measure someone else's board and punch the measurements in the computer for the shaping machine to shape.....thats copying someone's board.
Thats the way they shape boards at that factory as they no longer have hand shapers.

Interested to see what the boards look like coming off that machine. (one design racing boards)

Your capitalizing on everyone else's hard work and R + D, go come up with your own designs if you got the best waterman and shapers in the world.

Ha, the phantom, you got no idea.
Lookie does not copy so not sure why people like you knock aussies with the skill to shape with this type of rubbish.
People ike you make me sick and put a bad vib just to push I dont no what?
I hope lookie gives you the reply you deserve.....silence......

Good on naish for the 7'9". I have not rode or seen one but its not my cup of tea. My personal preference is to go between 8-9 foot for my weight, that way you can retain drive in your turns. But hey variety is the spice of life and I am sure this board is perfect on some days for some people....

ive changed my mind.
I might come down and visit you at your factory!!!!!

You could not visit the phantom at his factory because I sure he's not the type of person who makes anything. He will be a parking ticket collector or a salesman or something...........

Its a bit of a shame that there are old and bitter guys on the forum.
A simple favour for a freind, turns into a personal attack from someone that doesnt know me and might have met me once.
I wish i was the last true hand shaper in australia..
Buy the way. the 7'9 naish looked really nice. If any one would like the board file ive already copied it. im happy to send it to anyone thats interested in it. I also have c4 and paddle surf hawaii's entire range on file as well. ill be selling them out the back of my car at the alley for $450 each under the "tall poppie" label...

Ha HA how funny is thread now, just got home and had a quick giggle Yeah lookie came in and copied all my boards with his well trained eye and great memory

Will do a little review on the board tomorrow when i have a bit more time.

Thanks for taking the photo's, i was trying to blow up but i let the board down in those epic waves.

Maybe it could be my comp board?? time will tell with this one.

Jacko

NewcastleSUP said...

Go back to the phantoms previous posts and it paints a pretty obvious picture.....

Toughen up jacko

It's pretty simple really.....
You get what you pay for.

QB elite racer by far the best paddle going around and worth every cent.

Didn't the DC come second. If its so fast why are you selling it. What about the winning board, was it a Lahui Kai

Hey Lacey

Thats a pretty fast time. How many kilometers is that.

Someone who thinks jacko is weak, uses a quickblade, paddles a lahukai and can't spell

Oooops........... Hahah.

CMC said...

NewcastleSUP said...

Go back to the phantoms previous posts and it paints a pretty obvious picture.....

Toughen up jacko

It's pretty simple really.....
You get what you pay for.

QB elite racer by far the best paddle going around and worth every cent.

Didn't the DC come second. If its so fast why are you selling it. What about the winning board, was it a Lahui Kai

Hey Lacey

Thats a pretty fast time. How many kilometers is that.

Someone who thinks jacko is weak, uses a quickblade, paddles a lahukai and can't spell

Oooops........... Hahah.

Hey Chris, your original production (not copied) oc paddles left HI today....

go the little yellow jelly bean

it looks wider than it is long in the shot of you coming off the mushy lip

hay jacko will it float an over weight half animal half machine top fueled pie injected lead foot metal head loose on the juice red necked banana lovin cockroach like myself

later

tha dogman said...

go the little yellow jelly bean

it looks wider than it is long

I reckon it feels almost as wide as it is long when you're trying to paddle for a wave.