Disclosure: No link to BWS
My Comments:
First up I was concerned that the board at 5ft9 would be too small for me. I am 6ft2 and 85kg and normally ride a 6ft1 BWS Resin8. The main difference in the boards is the outline shape and rocker. I love the Resin8 in bigger swell with footstraps while I rode the Drifter strapless in smaller conditions.
I have had the board out for 4 sessions so far (3 kiting and 1 surf). The first thing I noticed is how forgiving the board is. Riding strapless was great as you can move your feet all over the board when riding. It responds quickly to slight inputs from the kite and responds to the wave really well when you park the kite. I put this down to the wider outline and almost flat rocker from tail to about 3/4 up the board. When riding upwind I hardly had to move my back foot forward from the tail pad. While the board wasn't designed as an upwind board it does this better than any surfboard I have ridden.
The construction is really tough. There are extra pads undrer the heel and foot positions. After 4 sessions I only have a slight indent under the front foot which is normal. Seems to be a lot stronger than the Mulcoy Stretch boards from what I have heard.
The board comes with screws for foot pads however I reckon best results are achieved riding strapless. Also comes with fins and tail pad so price is good too.
Only downside is that due to the flatter rocker you cant do anything too vertical in terms of re-entry or ride in anything too sucky. Just takes a bit of getting used to at first riding on a different part of the wave. This is far outweighed by the benefits that you get being better speed in smaller waves and riding in mushy 2-3ft swell as we often do. In conditions where I used to get bogged down on my Resin8, this board really excels.
I normally paddle surf a 6ft4 board so when I took it out for a surf I was a bit sceptical if I would be able to paddle it at all. It paddles better than a lot of 6ft1 boards that I have ridden and gets up and going really quickly.
In my opinion it's a must as an addition to any quiver. One of the most fun boards I have ridden.
There is already some commentary on this board here.. can you link to this?
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/new-bws-board/
I am only saying, as I was interested in this board also
cheers
Just wondering if you have ridden or seen a BWS Mulcoy?
And how do you find the volume of the board, is it pretty chunky (I reckon there is too much foam in my Mulcoy)?
Any reason why you went the Drifter instead, seeing as though you concerned that the 5'9" would be too small.
And what sort of a review is it without pics!!!
I know, big fail without the pics. I took a heap on my gopro for the review and they are on my other laptop at home and I'm now away from home for 6 weeks.
The board isn't chunky at all for me. When I sit on it in the water it sits really low. I was really considering the Mulcoy board - had seen it in shops and read reviews. I hadn't seen a drifter before I ordered one - went straight off the write up and some questions I had asked on the BWS Facebook page.
Question was: Looks like an awesome board. Keen to get one for kite and paddle. Just concerned about the volume for paddle though. I normally paddle a 6"4' as my standard board (85kg). Dimensions look pretty straighforward. Does it have a bit of extra width through the tail and forward of centre? Obviously the flatter rocker would make a bit of difference.
Answer was: Hey Nick, it has a little more width near the front foot, but other than that it's pretty similar to a standard short board in terms of volume, but yes as you mentioned, the flatter rocker really makes a difference for paddling and motoring though those flat sections on the wave. Hope this helps.
