I've been riding a 9.5 mana for a while now and recently bought a 9.0 Hokua.
I've only had about three paddles on it in marginal conditions but have so far really struggled.
I'm 6'2 and weigh 85kg and the Hokua is fine on the flat but anything less than glassy and I find it a battle. Don't get me wrong, once it's on a wave it's great, it's just the time spent in between waves that is not a fun experience.
So here is the dilemma, today I paddled the Starboard 9.1 x 29 pro and the 8.5 x 29 pro as well as the 9.0 Hokua and found both starboard to be far more stable and was able to have fun between sets rather than battling to stay upright. As a result I'm left with three options. Do I:
a) keep persevering with the 9.0 Hokua hoping that some improved conditions and the battle with the board will make me a stronger rider but face months of frustration in the process,
b) sell the 9.0 hokua and get the 8.5 x 29 pro (same volume), so I still have a bit of a challenge on my hands but with a better distribution of volume for my height, enjoy the experience, or
c) sell the 9.0 hokua and get the 9.1 x 29 pro and have nice cruisy ride between sets but something that performs better in the surf than my 9.5 mana?
Over to you?
Personally I would stick with the 9 hokua because you are certainly not too heavy/big for it and I reckon it'll click very soon - BUT if you are determined to change then the 9'1 Starboard pro would be my choice over the 8.5 pro. The 8.5 is incredibly stable but a really frustrating board to paddle into fatter and slower waves - even bigger ones. It is also not the quickest board down the line and really is most happy surfing tight in the pocket on punchy beach breaks. The 9.1 pro is a great board though and will take anything you can throw at it and its a nice paddler, easy to paddle in, fast down the line and turns on a dime - its simply a very good board.
Face it though - you are gunna lose just as much on the naish in 3 months as you are this week so you might as well tough it out for a few more weeks and see how you go - I am very confident that you will get is sorted and you'll feel at home on the naish in no time.
stick it out it will get easier with every surf .
when i get a new board i take it out in the crappiest surf i can find onshore slop and fall off over and over again but its actually the quickest way to get a board worked out and then when you go surfing in smooth waves its like standing on a stable table and wouldnt you rather a board that surfs good on the wave rather than a board that you keep your hair dry with?
My SB 9'1 pro 2010 camo snapped in 2 (in less than 6 months). Waiting for warranty reply.
Apart from resistance, the 9'1 is excelent. Glides straight, great secondary stability, fast down the line, precise.
One inconvenient is the little nose rocker that somehow limited too steep take offs. In 2011 they will pull up the nose. It'll be a trade off with less nose surfing ability.
Is a great board! (I'm 185lbs 6'1)
Thanks everyone for your feedback and yes Goatman, I think I had a chat with you on Sunday.
I've decided to keep the 9.0 Hokua and buy a SB 9.1 x 29 pro as well.
When the wife asks, I'll do what she does with shoes and say "What this old thing, that's my old old board I bought that last year".
Only joking, I'm going to sell her SB Drive. No seriously, I am. She's been using my 9.5 Mana, so she can use that whilst I'm riding the SB 9.1 pro and I can keep working on the Hokua whilst using the 9.1 as my daily drive.
Na!!!
When I surf i like to have wave performance. Not standing around performance.
All good you will get used to it. Just use it as much as possible and stay relaxed.
NG
I went ahead and traded my wife's board for the 9.1 pro and kept the hokua.
I took the 9.1 up to Noosa for a week and absolutely loved it. Works well in big surf, small surf, clean conditions and choppy conditions.
I am still using the Hokua, but limiting that to small clean days whilst I get used to it and when I only have an hour to surf (as apposed to the 4 hours I spent on the 9.1 without getting tired).
Everyone is a winner, except maybe my wife.
