Change to a laird 11"0 or stick with my 10"0 Mana

[gsievwright]

Hi I am currently paddling a 10" mana, I am six foot four inches tall and 110kgs (230lbs).  I can get my hands on a Laird Hamilton Pearson Arrow 11"0 for a great price.

I have been doing my research and like the pin tail and recon it will give me great glide and help me to carry on improving my surfing.  I have only been surfing for a year.

Most of my surfing is on small east coast new zealand surf, with the occasional session on the west coast, but nothing really much bigger than 4 foot at the most.

The mana has been fantastic and nothing wrong with it, just think the 11"0 laird might be a better fit, especially with Laird Hamilton's pedigree.  Or do i stay with the Mana

Any help would be much appreciated

cheers

graeme

[DavidJohn]

I've used both and I say stick with the Mana.. or choose one of the other Laird boards.

I'm not a fan of the 11' Laird and IMO the newer Laird shapes are much better.

DJ

[gsievwright]

Any particular favorite Laird model DJ please

cheers

Graeme

[DavidJohn]

Sorry Greame.. A friend had an old Laird 11'er and I didn't like it.

I notice on the new Laird site that it's changed now to the new Laird-Pearson shape boards and I've heard that these new shapes are great.

So.. Forget what I said.. and if you get an 11' Laird just make sure it's the new shape and not the old one.

Check out the new Naish 10'6".5 Nalu.. I'm so happy with mine that my old 10' Mana doesn't get used much these days.

DJ

[dave808]

I have an 11' Laird Ron House and love it. It's definitely my go to board in the small east coast swells under waist high. It took some getting used to due to the narrowness(27" for that board with those rails is pretty tippy) but once you get it dialed in it can catch anything and performs much better than some of the newer wide boards(imo). I haven't ridden the new Pearson Arrows, but I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. It just takes time to get them figured out. Good Luck!

[southwesterly]

I surfed the new 11 foot Laird for a week in Wakiki.
I don't think you are gaining anything by getting the Laird and dumping the Mana.
Once you get a wave on the 11 foot Laird, you're surfing a... well, 11 foot board. No mistake about it. It might even surf bigger than 11 feet. The flat nose makes you run for the tail on any semi-steep take-off. Once on the wave face, you have to run 2/3rd's the way forward to trim the thing. Once there, there is no turning except running back to the tail again. There is no advantage by having the board so big, as it isn't very stable anyway.
I've ridden a lot of stock production boards and the 11 foot Pearson/Laird has to be one of my least favorite of any of them.
Save the Mana.
Sorry If I offended Laird or Bob Pearson. But that's just my humble opinion.

[gsievwright]

Hi guys thanks very much for your opinions, much appreciated,

cheers

graeme

[sup_surf_giant]

I echo the others, adding a foot to your board is not going to do you any favors in the surf dept.

[TallDude]

I'm with DJ, the 10'6 Nalu is a great board in the waist high waves your talking about. The Nalu has more nose rocker than most all-arounders. You can actually carve the thing. You don't have to get way back when you drop in. The Nalu is a little narrower and goes rail to rail with ease. It paddles really well too. I have a 10'6 Rivera and it wants to pearl if you don't jump back. There is no carve to it, you have to stick the tail to make it turn. I've never surfed the Mana, but I have tried similar 'jumbo wide' shorter boards and found them less responsive than the Halu. IMOP of course.... 

[gsievwright]

Guys thanks very much, looks like I am on the look out for a 10"6 Nalu to Demo

cheers

Graeme

[JimK]

I STILL stick with the Mana 10Ft over either board

JimK
www.extremewindsurfing.com