PTWoody said.. PeterP said..
Interesting with the Naish boys choosing 12'6's for the tech race, it really did not seem to be an disadvantage at all, in one of the interviews Kai and Casper even indicated they were surprised they were just fine in the flats out the back. I like the fact that the 14ft rule allows the paddlers to make a choice. I do think going forward most guys would choose 14's as it seemed to me that it was the unfamiliarity of using 14's in the surf more than anything that had some of the guys go 12'6.
My suspicion is the Naish boys expected their 12'6" boards designed for waves would compensate for the slower speed out back while hoping everyone else crashed and burned on their less suitable 14'ers. If 12'6" gets the arse from surf races from now on, I imagine all the board companies will scramble to redesign more surf friendly 14' boards.
I know mo's board was narrow and he nailed it today but to me it just went awesome. semi boof nose with what looks like a quick transition to flat bottom with some bottom rail still up past his feet. looked to have some nose rocker too
not to much nose to catch in the white water but enough volume and flatness to get up on a plane chasing down wave bumps with still good paddle speed.
flatwater ish displacement nose and rounded bottom boards at that level of surf racing aren't going to cut the mustard imo.
the starboard all stars looked pretty good on the bump catch stakes too. pt often says to me 'what if they good rid of that funny reverse bit under the nose how good would they be.
