WOOOO!!!!! I LOVE THIS THING!!!! YEW!!!!
tried it out in two places....
first i had a drive down to Collaroy and it looked really clean but not much size to it...so i trudged back up to my local break Dee Why...
Test Arena 1: DEE WHY POINT.....
Conditions: 1.5 head to double overhead... (5-6ft)....
Wave count: 0.5... (flat bellied it back into shore)
What happened:
So once i got out of the shorie i was stoked... it was a realatively easy paddle out to the middle of the rip (on the knees mind you)... Stood up first go first time..> STOKED!! < so then went for a small paddle around.... Board was really stable surprisingly for a shoter board with a big bloke on it..(about 115kgs).... kept falling off when the waves came though.. was pretty annoyed i didnt get onto any of the big suckers!
I got cleaned up on a couple of waves and then kept falling off <ballance really wasnt working for me> as the surface chop got worse.... as i was paddling to get over a wide set after falling off the lip cought me and dragged me back <yep... going backwards down a 5ft face on the belly... not good..
.> but amazingly the board spun around WHEW!
! so went in and went back to Collaroy....
Test Arena 2: Collaroy Beach
Conditions: 2-3ft... light offshore winds
Wave count: 10/12ish
What happened:
Paddled around for a bit to get a handle on the board to find the best spot to paddle then headed over for some waves..... first 5/6 attempts were dismal... i either nose dived the board as i was paddling or i kept catching a rail as i was dropping in... (felt like an uber douchebag..
..)... so i tweeked my stance and weight distribution a bit and then the magic happened! FIRST REAL WAVE WAS CAUGHT!! (after about 8 attempts.. haha) although it was a straight hander as i couldnt turn the board but i was chuffed!! STOKED!!
.... took me a little while to do it again.. but i eventully found the sweet spot and started having some awsome fun.... after a couple of waves i eventually figured out the best spot for me to be on the board, which inturn started turning.... Towards the end of the session i was back to my old self... catchin waves and having fun!!
YEW!!!
Biggest difference i noticed between the old board and the new:
The rails! On the whopper they dig into the wall a bit more which makes for alot sharper turns .... even allows me to make some quick backhand cutties WHICH IM SO STOKED I CAN DO NOW!!!! YEW!!!
11'6'' just took too long to get around... meant i had to surf the shouler more to make sections...
I found myself surfing the pocket a bit more towards the end of the session which is a big contrast to surfing the 11'6'' where i was on the shoulder a bit more... i think its because the board is alot easier to turn with the thinner rails than the thick boxy ones on the 11'6''
For those who talk about glide and all that stuff... i found that the 11'6'' was a bit better paddling.. but if your a lighter bloke the Whopper will do just fine.... it was a bit sluggish for me when i started paddling however when a wave came underneath it and the board spead up.... I found that it was easier to catch waves that had alot steeper face then the surgy stuff (BIG contrast to the 11'6'') which made it all the more fun...
Turning wise while paddling... not a problem.... board paddled really straight but when i needed to turn i just put my weight to the back and it turned on the spot....
All in all... An excellent board... especially if your a bigger bloke looking for a shorter board... No regrets at all!!!
YEW!!
Sorry lads no photos DJ style.... that man is hard to beat!! Ill try and grab some pics this arvo if i have a late one... just hope the wind doesnt pick up!
Keep the peace!!
Matty Boy
.......Definately can see why they call it the wopper!!!!
