DJ ....Maliko and Jav

hi DJ, could you spell out the differences in the Jav and Maliko please? Just what they are like to paddle on the flats and downwind. Thanks.

What are the differences between the 2016 28 Allstar and the other Allstars in the range? Might be a nice all round flat water, race and DW board? I take it isn't a full on DW version.

Very.. very different boards..

I've just taken some pictures of my Jav-Jav next to my Maliko-Jav..

I'll try and put my thoughts into words soon..

i tried the carbon 12'6 x 24 javelin last week on a light ish down wind run (20knots) with a little flat water to start with. i have always liked the look of the board and after trying a few noise a year or two ago was expecting to love it. On the flat it felt fine it has a little wobble to it like you are standing on a very v shaped bottom and fairly high up to which surprised me as i though it would sit a little lower(I'm 78kg with a winter suit i would think) I have no gps data, the glide felt ok nothing amazing it liked to be fully power the hole time, if you slowed the speed dropped of fast.
Turning down wind was interesting, i realise its more of a flat water board than a dw board but normal they still perform well and with its shape i thought it should be some fun. The nose didn't mind going under and coming back up without any issues if it was straight however it did seam to have a mind of its on if it got stuck in cross chop. Very much like on the flat when the board is on plane it goes great and surfed well however it vey much seamed to have two speeds and if you couldn't get it to break fee it just kinda stuck there and you watched the swell go buy.
Expecting to love this board coming from naish i have to admit i wasn't blown away by this board, to me it was quite average and it didn't feel like any giant leap in design and that there were plenty of boards out there that felt just as good especially for the huge price tag that these fetch.

I would be keen to try and see how the maliko compares with its quite interesting shape and rails but it would have to feel like a totally different board to wow me over the javelin.

Does the Maliko have a very slight V under the nose? Looks like in the last pic. Or Belly? Or flat?

Didn't realize it had such soft rails? What is the difference in carving feel between the Jav and the JavMal?

What about cross chop? Are the softer rails an advantage?

I'm compareing my 2015 28" wide GX Jav to the new 2016 26" wide LE Maliko Jav..

On flat water I prefer to paddle my 28" Jav because it feels noticeably more stable and as fast as you paddle the faster it goes with no feeling of pushing the board past its comfort zone and I love the way the nose pierces at times without a splash and when paddling into a wave chop or boat wake the nose pulles straight up through the water very quickly due to the added volume in the nose.. But the Maliko Jav is noticeably faster.. Maybe that extra speed is due to the 2" of less width but it's fast for sure.. I don't like the way it doesn't like being paddled past its comfort zone and feels like it's pushing water and does the sprinkler thing when the normal Jav doesn't.. You also feel a slight slowing when the nose is pushed through wave chop and boat wakes where the normal Jav slices though like a hot knife through butter.. The Maliko Jav has an annoying inital quick tip where the normal Jav doesn't.. But if you can put up with the slight wobble and speed is your main concern the Maliko Jav is the better board.

Downwinding I also prefer my 28" wide Jav.. Maybe because I'm more used to it and maybe because I'm old and wobbly on narrow boards but I like the solid planted feeling of the 28" Jav.. You tip a rail the slightest bit and you feel a solid resistance.. You tip a rail on the Maliko and it feels like you're standing on a log and it wants to roll over until you get to the point where you feel like you need to jump off and then you feel some solid resistance.. Maybe it's just a matter of spending more time on the board and reassuring yourself that it won't tip over if you tip the board far enough but in the meantime I feel my skinny legs are shaking and getting a real workout.. I like to stand relaxed and I'm more used to doing that.. I'm thinking at my ability and weight 27-28" width is my limit and the 26" width of the Maliko is just under it.

But if I push myself and put the effort into paddling the 26" wide board I'm rewarded with amazing speed and glide that I've never felt in any other board.. It takes very little effort to get this board going and at times the acceleration has been so great I've almost fallen off the back like someone's pulled a rug out from underneath me.. Also when you feel the board is fully planing and that's it's top speed a few quick strokes gets the board going even faster like there's no top end.. I don't feel like I need to move forward and back as much as my normal Jav to raise and lower the nose and the board is quite happy for you to stay back where my normal Jav requires constant moving forward to keep the glide going.

Another reason I like my normal Jav downwinding is the nose.. I've always thought what makes a good DW board is how well it deals with pearling.. Pearling is pretty unavoidabl when downwinding and the normal Jav loves to poke its nose under and there's often not a splash or any slowing down.. The big volume quickly lifts the nose and the Maliko Jav is very different.. Poke the nose on the Maliko and you see a splash.. It doesn't boof but you do feel a slowing.. and it takes longer to resurface due to the lower volume.. But because the Maliko has a noticeable added nose rocker especially the last 10" it's much easier to prevent pearling.. Also the ability to stay back more often raises the nose even more.

So for an experienced paddler who has the ability to anticipate and prevent constant pearling the Maliko will reward you with amazing speed.. The Maliko can be wide stroked to change direction on a runner much better than the Jav because the softer and rounder nose will slide sideways and not catch like the Jav.. With the Jav you need to conciously step back.. raise the nose.. before wide stroking to change directions on a runner.. I know it sounds like the Makilo is the better board.. and it is.. So why do I still prefer the normal Jav.. Easy.. 2".. For me stability is key to a good DW board.. A lighter or more skilled paddler.. Or even someone who doesn't mind making the extra effort should choose the Maliko.. I've not given up on my 26" Makilo Jav but until they make a slightly bigger big-boy version I think I'll be using my 28" wide Jav more.

I agree with everything DJ says - I think which one you choose is very much down to rider weight and ability. I have ridden both boards extensively and for me the Maliko is the clear winner - but I'm lighter than DJ and the 26" Maliko suits my weight and ability perfectly. The Jav is really fun around cans because is so stable when turning and accelerates so fast, but on a downwind the speed of Maliko is addictive.