Ok so is the 12'6" 2017 maliko better than the 2016 falcon in as much as glide and speed
14' is going to be better for glide and speed , also if you do get into the sport most races in Australia are 14' and you can get some great deals second hand at the moment 
and as far as the falcon /maliko I would say the maliko
If you have a bit of skill then the Falcon would be great.
If you are useless (like me) then the Maliko would be better as i think it is more stable.
FYI i own the Falcon and yes 14' is best
I've had the 2016 and the 2017 falcon... The 2016 is more manoeuvrable on waves and bumps and maybe slightly quicker but is quite tippy... The 2017 feels a little bulkier but tracks a little better and is much more stable... Both 24.75 wide models...
I'm not sure the Falcon 12-6 design works terribly well. I've tried various Falcon 14s over the years and found merit in them. But I've also tried various 12-6s, and found each of them disappointing. I thought that the 2016 12-6 Falcon was particularly unimpressive. Maybe it would be ok if you were seriously lightweight. So, if I were buying a Falcon I'd be going for a 14, which is an interesting design concept, rather than the 12-6, which I think might be compromised by the differences in the tail, principally. Other opinions are available however...
It's amazing how little support the Fanatic race boards (as contrasted with their successful surf SUPs) get whenever I ask about them on this forum. I'm hoping the Strike2 might garner a little more, maybe. It's a completely different board from the first Strike. But I haven't had a chance to try one yet. Has anyone else tried one?
I think they are excelling in surf sup Area10 , but the riders are leaving in droves in the race division at least in Aus from what I am seeing
I tested the 2017 falcon 14' × 26.75" on an onshore windy day. Went well on head wind 1ft chop (maybe that tail design), its stable, not out putting tippy, felt narrower than 26.75", caught some little dw runners on the way back and didn't fell. I'm 82kg 5'6" and this would be my all condition board if I like fanatic falcon. Somebody said demo demo and choose the toy that you like!
Would be nice to test that new maliko 14' x 26"?
Dont dismiss the new Javelin as an all round board. It performs in the bumpy stuff better than the advertising would have you believe. I will be posting a little video of one of our local guys doing a bit of an upwind down wind on it today.
Never thought of the 2017 Javelin as you say it's advertised as a flat water board. Would be interesting to see the video and the feedback on it. What size board is the javelin?
Worth considering the 14 x 25" Jimmy Lewis Sidewinder....Unreal in all conditions & very stable
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Thanks to kite republic for the test (82kg rider) of 2017 Naish Maliko 14 x 26 elite.
Conditions were perfect (windy st.kilda and choppy).
Head wind was nice though not as good as the bulbous nose board's like the nsp etc perhaps the maliko nose were design to do good in dw not up wind.
Side wind and little wave chop were stable with that rail and recessed deck. On my way home small dw runners was awesome fun for a hack like me and coming from a 24 width was nice to be on a 26 width board.
Would be nice to test the board on flat days to see how it feels but I'm sure it goes well.
Depends on your taste but I like this board. Looks great and it feels nice and light. I would do all conditions on this board and learn to foot work and watch that nose dive on rough days.
i find the 17 Falcon much more stable than 16 but of course at a cost - slower in flat and the most disappointing thing is the increase in weight - at over 13kg compared to last years just 10kg, it is very noticeable added with ALL that added volume - it seems to have way more volume than any like for like size board on the market??? I pose the question to all race board aficionados - when is too much volume too much for a race board - surely it has to have an element of cutting the water balanced with bouncing on top - the new 17 falcon feels like a bloated pig compared to a greyhound or the titanic compared to a ski boat???
thoughts welcome and think i'll be back into a maliko or something with less volume very soon
ps. 17 is still a great open ocean board and surfs unreal - just a bit heavy and bloated and kind of lost the plot???
