Hi Guys

I spent this morning at Lucky bay trying out the new range of SUP put on by 2nd Wind, good turn out..thanks guys. I was pleasantly surprised at the 10'5. I ride a 11'2 and thought that the reduced length would effect the glide of the 10'5....it doesn't. If it does it is very minimal. Stability wise I can't say that there is much difference either. What was obvious was it's manouvrability, it spun easily when I moved my back foot back. The less distance to step back to the spin spot probably helped, but it was a groovey little board. I was expecting a greater diffrence in glide and stability according to previous posts.

Interested in further thoughts - I didn't try it in the waves, which would be the next stage.

What did you think Greenie? (I know you have tried both boards)
Casso why don't you test Starboard boards?

Cheers

Gooch

Yes, I also tried the 10'5" and 11'2" (both 30" wide) at Lucky Bay today (thanks guys!) and found little difference. I weigh 93 kgs and am 6'4" tall. The 10'5" seemed to be right on the edge for me, so I would probably err to the 11'2" as a beginner.

But the big surprise for me was the Whopper (10' x 34"), if I can throw that into this mix. I found it super stable (of course) - but couldn't notice much difference in glide or yaw compared to the other two. It felt sort of in the middle of the above two boards, but with a much more fun/loose feel to either (at least as far as I could tell on the flat water).

The glide aspect was surprising given the greater rocker and width - but may be due the wider more stable platform allowing more powerful stroking for a rank beginner like me ?

The width didn't seem to be an issue in terms of yaw, but may be due to my long arms.

It was the easiest to spin on the spot by a long shot (again, more rocker/stability?). Loved it. I'm thinking this one is going to be best for me on the ocean in chop and whitewater - with not much penalty in terms of glide/river cruising.

The only thing holding me back on this view would be whether this wide type of board is going to turn on beginner swells. This link says too wide is not good: www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Stand%20Up%20Paddle/Top-5-SUP-Myths-Mistakes-Misconceptions_1661237.aspx

So I guess I'm still not sure. I'd be interested in others' views on the above link.

Downwind, the article is by Dave Parmenter, one (knowledgeable!) guy and it is his opinion and the Whopper didn't exist when he wrote this. Starboard basically started the whole wide board phenomena in windsurfing when all the other "gurus" thought they were wrong.

If it feels good, ...do it....I think Wardog at Surfingsports.com has ridden and written on this board and there was an earlier quite lengthy post on the Whopper on this forum. From memory the short wide shape leads to a very curvy outline or plan shape that in fact really does turn. The beauty of a new sport is that writing "rules" is a pretty risky business.

Probably the best thing would be to have someone experienced demo it in the waves that you hope to be on soon. Some info below.

www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=3387.0

Good luck with the choice!

I really enjoyed the demo day today was tops.
Thanks to those who came down made the gear available and answered the many questions.

I tried all the boards but became especially fond of the 10'5" others seemed to me too long, harder to turn and being from a surf background felt a bit bulky.
Mind you i am a total newb.

It was a fantastic morning, myself and a friend were first there and took two boards right out into the river we were joined by three dolphins who came right up to my friends board. Felt very privileged.

Thanks again.

Sounds like you all had a blast this morning? Wish I could have made it.
I have two young kids and they enjoy sitting on the nose of my 11'2.
When I put my 4 year old boy on the nose of the 10'5 it was quite difficult to paddle. He moves around on the board alot.
I think that having less board is good if you dont have the space.
Both seem to have a longboard feel on the wave. Riding the nose is possible with both.
If I had a quiver of SUPs it would be the 9'8 for big and faster waves for that shortboard sensation,
the 10'5 for the longboard sessions in all conditions without the kids
and the 11'2 for smaller waves requiring less paddling to get on the waves and for the whole family to enjoy.
I more than likely would have the 10'5 but for me its too close to the 11'2 and wouldnt do what I would want it to do.
By all means the 10'5 is a totally insane board and I wish I had one but my kids would be very very unhappy if they couldnt come paddling with me

Awesome review right there by Reflex
Its almost like the boards are exactly the same apart from the obvious lengths.

elbeau said...

Except for the child bearing properties.
Good on you Mr Room.
You could have sold that old 11'2'' and selfishly accommodated yourself.
You wont though will you?

I will always have an 11'2. Thats where stand up paddling is for me
Wish I made more money to expand the quiver

I had an awesone time on the 10'5 today. It was glassy perfection around shoulder to head high and I could not believe that I had the whole end break to myself for 2 hours.
Fifty meter rides and no one to avoid or to share the stoke, except for the two dolphins I shared a wave with. They rode the whole wave not more than a paddle distance away from me - magic!!!!!

Any how taking my gumby ability into account I have a few points to share for comparison.

The 10'5 is way easy to control in the turn by moving to the back, with out the possible bounce that you can get with the 11'2, due to the shorter length. If it does start to bounce it is much easier to move forward quickly to calm it down. My perception is that it is more balanced once moving on the wave than the 11'2.

If you catch the wave a bit late it still can push the nose in and trip up but less so than the 11'2. I really need to try to get into a better position rather than fault the board. The 9'8 would have put me in the drink also in the same instance and I don't have the ability to run across the face at that steep a section just yet, on takeoff.

I can still run right to the nose and back to trim the board with ease. I also found it very easy to get the 10'5 from mid face to the bottom and back with slight trim changes far more easy than the clunkyness of the 11'2.

I am starting to experiment with harder turns on the rail further up the board with the hard lean on the paddle and the board responds very well. Getting the board to the lip with a turn rather than a fade is much easier for my 75kgs than the 11'2.

Watching the guys on the east coast and their serious surfing ability and manouverability is inspiring. To watch me would not even catch anyones attention, its like a gumby longboard beginner, but the 10'5 make me feel like there is hope of real improvement.

The only downside is the drag back when having to bail at the foot of a closeout sneaker set and then getting the next three waves on the head when caught out of position.

Still can't believe how I had the perfect day today - to myself. A 2 hour surf session till the tide changed followed by a 2 hour river run after lunch. All by chance too as the swell graph wasn't promising - drove to Cott early to find ankle high and crowds - decided to drive to mandurah to paddle the glassy river foreshore but checked the coast first to find it almost as good as it gets.
Great day.