Hello,
After a good experience with the Naish Hokua 2014 9'10 GT on the surfing side and bad experience with the same board on the build side (very very fragile)
I have decided to go for a shorter board, I'm about 1.85 m on 95 KB so I will need the wider boards for that extra stability.
I would like to ask for some honest reviews on the Starboard 8'2" WP.
especially on the topics below:
- solid build board that you will not have to be afraid that it will get dings from normal use
- a board that will improve my surfing
- stable board
- easy wave catcher
- easy to pass the white water (the nose looks very smooth comparing to the Hokua pointer nose)
- can be paddled on those flat days (we have a lot of them)
thanks,
Moshe
you summed it up well. That is a great little board and is super stable . Only difference is Im about 3 kilo lighter than you . You will love it.
188x90kg and pretty much the same experience with the WP8.2 AST the crappier the conditions the better it is.I was very much in doubt between getting a WP8.2 carbon or a Airborne8.8. In the end the AB won just on availability (and that is a pretty similar lovey board as well).
I have ridden the wp 8'2 and loved it. I am 10 kg,s heavier than you so it was a bit on the edge volume wise but despite this I found it to be very stable, it caught waves relatively easily and was fast and loose once on the wave. I couldn't really imagine it being a good flat water paddler though
Maybe they have the occasional "oops" in the factory........have thrashed my hokua GT 9'10......has only had one visit to "the doctor" in two years or so........also the pointier nose board is logically able to get through white water much better than a fatter shape.
Kind of like a backward step if you are wanting to surf bigger waves with a board of considerable pedigree and proven performance I would suggest ?
Select to expand quoteJacobMatan said..
I have ridden the wp 8'2 and loved it. I am 10 kg,s heavier than you so it was a bit on the edge volume wise but despite this I found it to be very stable, it caught waves relatively easily and was fast and loose once on the wave. I couldn't really imagine it being a good flat water paddler though
agree, flatwater isnt its forte, but no wave sup is. (I got a 12.6 and used to have a 14 for that).
Hi Guys,
thanks for the comments :)
@GizzieNZ - why do you think that it is a backward step?
What about the white water? with my Hokua 9'10" I cut the white water with no problems (if the wave doesn't scare me off) but since the nose is so delicate a ding it twice...
I know that small board is not fun for paddling on flat water and the longer and narrower the better...
For me it is very scary to late drop with my 9'10" I feel like the board is about to split into 2 parts, I hope that the shorter 8'2" will scare me less :)
As for the "Oops" in the factory, sure it can happen and my local dealer try to help me and offer me to get a new 2015 for almost no additional cost (I thought about the 8'3" Hokua X32 GT), unfortunately even the almost no additional cost is a bit too much for me...
for the 8'2" I will trade my board and will add even less than almost no additional cost :)
I have a bad experience with Naish and I'm afraid that I will get anther defective board...
more reviews on the 8'2" will be appreciated....
Hi Moshe......I think the Naish board construction is actually of a good quality. It probably comes down to your own personal preference and what the waves you surf are like. I like the narrower longer sup shapes myself
Select to expand quoteGizzieNZ said..
Hi Moshe......I think the Naish board construction is actually of a good quality. It probably comes down to your own personal preference and what the waves you surf are like. I like the narrower longer sup shapes myself
Have you tried the Naish GT as a quad? It becomes a much friskier creature :)
GizzieNZ - I haven't tried it as a quad... and as for the construction I believe that Naish do make strong boards, mines is just weak maybe it is a manufacture defect...
If I had the money, on the table trade my 2014 Hokua to a brand new 2015 Hokua XL 8'3 or 8'8 is the best thing that I can ask for, it is much better than getting a used 2014 Starboard 8'2 WP for additional $...
but when you feel that your board is about to break or when you get a ding every other time, you cannot have fun...
so if the 2014 8'2" WP is a fun board for all wave heights (6-7ft) and its easy on the wave than I think I found my board...
BTW how is the 8'2" WP compering to the Hokua X32 8'3"?
Thanks again...
