Took a 9 6 Wide Ripper for a spin thanks to AA being a trusting soul with me being in WA and not so petite at 105kg.

The board is sweet looking exactly what I want to be able to ride. Very good quality finish and relatively light. Crap fins as others have noted, all stock fins whatever brand are the same. I have good fins so no biggie.

Ultimate Traction thread on the zone had me wanting to try some better traction; so this was my effort with a little help from my kids.




Now the acid test onshore 2 foot crap.
Paddled out very wobbly, the board is very corky from rail to rail and any chop causes it to move. Into the first wave nosedive. Note to self stand further back needs to be ridden off the tail. Next wave much better nice pump up to speed and good off the top. Really good on the waves but cheez I was falling in a lot.

But the grip is the sh1t totally stocked with that no movement at all.

Next day 1k paddle to outer reef head high, wind solid cross-offshore, standard fare over here.
Glide with a lump like me on it was not good, lots of changing sides finally got out and with the current and wind just could not get into the waves. Bit depressed paddled in and swapped to my wifes 9 8, it felt like an ocean liner really different board. Slimey grip though after the mosaic deck.

In my mind I thought if I could ride a 9 8 easily then 9 6 is not that far off but for me it is a Sunday too far I think. Will try again. It is such a sweet looking board and I want it to work for me but.

Here are some plan shape shots the bottom shot shows the main contrast. The nose has heaps less area.




The PSH is streets ahead as far as wave riding and if you are 90 - 95kg this board would be awesome. I wish I could, I wish I could.

If you are in Perth and want to try it pm me.

He He He 105 on the 9'6 hmmmmmmm now I have a goal, justneed skill laughs.

Give me 6mths and I will get there, but for now I have a 10'6 I love.

And i dont care what anyone says it is perfectly normal to sleep with your SUP

PMSL

Phill

Hilly

The 9'6 will work, like anything else it jus takes time. I can paddle and catch waves on the 9'6 in perfect glass. But a few ripples and I am totally screwed so your miles ahead on me.

2 thoughts fg5 side fins work well for me as they make the board track straight (less death wobbles) until you force a turn then they exagerate the turn. and install a bigger maybe 8 or 9 inch center fin untill the death wobbles stop or slow down.

Oh and if I stop paddling on the 9'6 for oh lets say 1 second or less lol i fall in!

Forward momentum all the time is the key and a nice big step foward on take off helps.

Phill

Yikes Hilly! With the 9'6 Wide AA arriving tomorrow I have never been so motivated to shed some kegs.My morning cap and fruit muffin has for the last week been replaced with green tea and a celery stick.
It is a fair bit fuller in the the nose than the ripper though so time will tell.
Lurve you deck pad design.
With my shoulder still out and away for a few weeks I might need you to "continue the research"
Will pm you.

Hilly,

The 10'6 wide AA works in pretty much all conditions for me!

I tried the 10'6 AA and found the same thing as you did with the 9'6 wide, I can ride it in good conditions but we seldom get that here in OG. Mainly onshore sw.
I tried 13 boards before I chose the 10'6 wide AA, it was the best compromise between the performance I wanted and the stability to suite almost all conditions that we get.

I put a vid on Seabreeze last night surfing the 10'6 wide for the very first time in glass going into close outs and white water and it works great. I have also ridden it in 25+ kn offshore and 20kn onshore and again it was fine.

I am not going to the surfing olympics, so it would be ripable for you I am sure

I had almost a thruster fin set up in it in the vid and it was quite unstable, but i want to push it a little. If i had left the 6.5 center fin in woulod have been no issues at all. So much for chaning the fins it cam with laughs.

PS if you PM me I know where there is a brand new 10'6 wide and I can hook you up.

Regards

Phill

Nice grip Hilly, well done. Looks like an awesome board too - a real "ripper".

Great job on the grip , love the shot with kids.

Hilly,

I am just a few kilos lighter than you and I paddled the 9'6 wide ripper and the 9'6 wide AA in a lake. They both floated me no problem, but I found the 9'6 wide AA noticably more stable than the ripper. If you fell you are close with the ripper then the AA could be the answer.

Good luck with your search.

Steve

AAWWWWWW NICE,
Robbo

That looks real sweet Casso.
Hilly I'm straight down to C.E. after work to get some cammo grip and then into it tonight.
I wanna make sure the AA wide is ready to go asap (even if my arm is still in a sling!)

Cammo said...

hilly

what fin set up are you using on your 9'6" ripper?
cam

FG7 side fins and stock centre fin it needs a better centre fin.

How you going Hilly? nice looking board & great looking deck grip Dont know how much different the 9 6" naish Is than the 9 6" psh, But I am a bit heavier than you and have no trouble what so ever paddeling the 9 6 " naish In anything and It rips In the surf.
For the heavier guy I dont know how many times I have reccomended the 9 6" naish , It rips in the surf, check it out if your over 100kgs

9 6 is really growing on me in nice conditions.

Little trip to Bombing range with John on a JL 10 8. Small waves but clean.

Board felt loose surfed really well, take off's are a bit late due to the lack of glide caused by shape and rocker but to be expected.

AA said...

Casso, you have been outdone!

Hmmm ... bugger. Now I need new blank canvas for my next piece. When's my 12 footer getting here?

Brooko said...
I reckon that 9 6" psh you have looks unreal, just keep going at it mate, In no-time you will find it easy

Getting better all the time, think there is a song in that.

hilly said...

Gone to PG5(same as FG5) sides

Except with a bit less flex and no inside foil. They probably won't be quite as loose but should be good for the 9'6".