Hello,
I need your advice.
Facts: 40 y, 185lbs, 6'1
flat quiver: Nidecker 2011 12'6 all water race + SB 2010 10'5 drive technora
surf quiver: SB 2011 9'1 pro BC + Jimmy Lewis 8'7" Kwad
Regarding the surf toys: Both glide great. Both are quite stable. I really love the weight of the 9'1, but prefer the JL thin rails. Sometimes I found the 9'1 a litle too slow. Maybe I'm not using the best fins config. Nevertheless it's my favourite toy.
These days, if I could find good deals for these boards, I would sell both and buy a single surf board: I think that 8'5 120 lts would be the ideal solution.
On the other hand, I rarely surf beach breaks, but when I do, I miss something smaller/faster.
That's where the 8'0 comes in.
It might be a good solution to keep the 9'1 for the big winter days and the 8'0 for the summer clean days. The problem is, I'm not living so close to the sea that I can go back home grab the best suited. I have to guess from MSW or windguru. In such a situation, I would say the 8'5 is the swiss knife.
After this long intro, the questions are:
a) Do you think 8'0 pro is too small for my weight namely when there's some chop?
b) Is the 8'0 too thick? The back rails seem not so sharp.
c) Is the glide, (when paddling out) so bad that one of the advantages of sup surf is gonne?
d) The 8'5 pro is a mature (improved) board. Do you think it has a range too close to the 9'1, and in such a situation I'll keep ridding the 8'5 and keeping the 9'1 would be pointless.
e) what would be your choice, 8'0 or 8'5?
Thanks 4 your attention,
Hi - I have had the 2011 9'1 pro and have the 2012 8'5 pro bc and am same weight/ht ...2012 8'5 pro is a sick board - pretty tippy though once it gets choppy and not heaps of glide though picks up speed quick when on the wave - havent tried the 8'0 but have only heard very good things but at our weight i think range of use is limited - i'd keep the 9'1 for big days, the 10'5 for super small and go the 8'5 for high performace 9-5 shortboarding and a good game change for your surfing :)...by the way i liked the 9'1 but changed it to a 9'8 pro - its quicker and has more differentiation to the 8'5 and can get you out in even bigger stuff than the 9'1
i am kilos and have the 8'5" pro in carbon. i have tried the 8'0 in flat water only and could stand on it. In surf I think it would be too small for me and you would ideally like dead calm water. i have a custom Laguna Bay 28" wide by 8'4" which fits between the two boards. i am transitioning to it now. it is tougher than the pro to paddle yet on a wave it is a better board. What i find is that the Laguna Bay teaches me a lesson when i go out on it. When i jump back on the Starboard I am a lot more comfortable on it. it also makes me paddle and push it harder too!
i think we all need a chaig a challenge as it helps to improve which what it is all about. How big a challenge do you want?
I'm a similar height and weight to you.
I tried the 9.'1 " Pro, 8' 5 Pro ,8' 0" pro and 8' 2" wide point all in carbon, back to back on a demo day.
Do yourself a favour and forget the 8' 0", it's too small to be practical even for a summer board. You could ride it but you will need to take off in the peak with the surfers and what's the point of that.
I bought the 8' 5" Pro carbon and love it in everything from 2 - 6 ' surf. This board is great fun, it's so fast and responsive, I had to sell my favourite PSH ripper because it suddenly felt heavy and slow by comparison.
The 8 ' 5" volume is good , you can stand easily in onshore chop, but it's not the fastest to paddle and prefers clean conditions. The only real negatives I've found with the board is paddle speed in strong rips and big days (double overhead) with chop on the face, where you tend to fight for control due to the high board speed.
I'm now looking for something to handle the bigger days a little better, Considering the SB 9' 8" Pro or one of the bigger PSH Hull rippers but need to demo first.
My feeling is the benefits of the light carbon will be less in the bigger boards .
Cheers JR.
Hi JR,
how did you find the 8'2 WP ...was wondering what they were like for choppy, rippy days versus a pocket rocket
2012 9'8 pro is a good board for bigger days - similar nose kick to 8'5 pro 2012, same speedy feeling - pretty gunny so not loose just super solid, holds rail really good and very directional when your paddling in against wind or trying to hold line on a rising swell line when you're paddling in ...i have the bc in this board but i think you could go other constructions and not lose much performance - bit of weight sometimes good to hold board down in offshore etc
Hi fm1,
The 8' 2" wide point is very stable and easy to stand and paddle it catches waves quite but does bobs around in chop and strong rips which slow momentum.
I've tried it on 3 different occasions because people said to give it time, but it just feels wrong to me. Perhaps as a 3rd or 4th board in the quiver it could be a good small beach break board if you have the cash.
The Pocket Rocket is more versatile but I didn't really like that board either compared to the 8' 5 " pro.
Thanks for the feedback on the 9' 8 " Pro bc, that's exactly the sort of the sort of board I need for the bigger days this winter on east coast. I still want to try one of the bigger PSH hull rippers as well though, i've heard they go really well and I like the brand.
I agree the heavier weight construction could be even be a benefit in the offshore's on bigger days.
Yesterday I left the 9'1 at home and used the JL KWAD 8'7". For sure this would be my fav if it was BC. At 115 lts it is still very confortable (these days i'm less than 180lbs).
Since the 9'1 is 130, the 8'7 115, the 8'0 would complete the quiver with less 5 lts. Based on the kwad I thought there was still some margin to decrease. And maybe there is, but as you mentioned, this would be an option in very limited conditions.
According to your feedback, I've made my mind and ordered the 8'5.
Thank you ALL :)
Hi,
Received the 8'5 this week. 2 sessions so far.
First time on the water, didn't find it challenging for my balance/weight :s
(I guess that with 80 kgs I could deal with less 10 to 15 lts).
The board became instantly my quiver favorite. Great shape, feels indeed a very "tuned" equipment. Started using BC and now is dificult not to :P
By the way, installed transparent "rail saver pro" and it seemed very effective with no aesthetics impact.
have fun!
