Well i'm up in sunny Darwin for a couple more weeks, and i've been giving my uncles Mistral Pacifico quite a bit of use.
Mainly getting out in the Knee high max slop out the front of the Rapid Creek Mouth, but i'm having one drama in particular:

Why is it that my board will often rail over and spit me off in the take off phase of catching a wave?? it seams to happen worse on smaller waves i think (but not sure)?

Am i just standing too far forward?
Is the stock 28cm fin too big??
Is my take off speed too low?
WTF can i do to stop it??

I think it's because you're not getting back enough..

Trying to turn these big things from mid way will often make them screw the wrong way that you want it to go and rail up and spit you off.

DJ

Hey Bertie,

The longer boards dont release well except from the tail. I had smilar problems with the Laird 12 fter.

On take off you need to step forward to get momentum down the wave and then get back fast to make the bottom turn.

Normally the fin the supplied has to much base area and this makes the board track on take off. Using a more upright cut away fin will assit in this area.



Also with the Mistral you effectively have a large longboard with lots of swing weight, so you need to get back as far on the tail as you can. Your back foot needs to be over the middle of the center fin for the board to release properly other wise you will pull a rail all the time.

Put a line of wax across the the board from side to side to locate your foot or something you can feel that will locate your foot in the right spot.

The lighter weight you are the further back you will need to get.

Hope this helps.

Phill

OG SUP said...


Also with the Mistral you effectively have a large longboard with lots of swing weight, so you need to get back as far on the tail as you can. Your back foot needs to be over the middle of the center fin for the board to release properly other wise you will pull a rail all the time.

Are you talking about catching a wave or riding a wave? When I used to surf my 11'6" I caught the waves with my feet in the middle of the board and only moved to the tail when on the wave. Seems tough catching a wave with your back foot above the centre fin...

Agree with OG - the big beasts quite often require you to take a bit of a step forward to get your momentum onto the face and then get back quickly to at least the back quarter or further of the board and get that turn in. start getting used to laying the paddle on the water on the side you are turning too also cos it will give you a bit of an outrigger effect and may stop you falling. Big boards turn unreal and just take a while to get that sweet spot for the initial turn. As far as fins go stick the bloody thing roughly in the middle of the box and don't get talked into changing fins all the time - get used to the board and it will just happen. too many people are way to prone to blame their equipment and not their lack of ability or perserverence. Most sups/mals/shortys come supplied with fins that work really well for most people on that type of board - when the time comes way down the track then play with the fins a bit but until then enjoy the ride and just get used to moving around on the board and see just what works and what doesn't in different conditions.